RPK ?

[croc4]

I am looking at buying a romy RPK part kit and a M72 barrel, Does any one know if a M72 barrel will work in a Romy RPK it?

I did a search but didn't find any info, I have heard stories of AK's having different front trunnion dia, so I'm wondering if I might run into this issue.

Thanks,

Croc4

Edit, Found the answer, albeit a little late ;-/

[69powerwagon]

It will fit in the trunnion, but none of the barrel accoutrements will fit. I have a milled m72 and it is one of my favorite guns

[Gowking]

You can turn the barrel down but you will lose most of the fins which in my opinion is part of the M72 coolness factor. You can get a Romy pattern RPK barrel from Green Mountain but it will require some knurling to get a couple of the components to press fit correctly. I'm sure somebody will chime in on what they have had to do to make them work.

-MRA

[TURBOELKY]

I recently did a green mountain rpk barrel, all journals were perfect except the hand guard retainer area. A little lapping, it was gtg. Chrome lining is awesome on them too. I think the AK Team guys have done aa yugo rpk barrel on a romy kit.. Those guys are awesome, and do great barrel work.

[69Mach1]

Negative. We passed on that. Recommended that he go with green mountain Romy RPK barrel. Nothing fit except the trunnion.

[Richard Erichsen]

I am looking at buying a romy RPK part kit and a M72 barrel, Does any one know if a M72 barrel will work in a Romy RPK it?

I did a search but didn't find any info, I have heard stories of AK's having different front trunnion dia, so I'm wondering if I might run into this issue.

Thanks,

Croc4

Edit, Found the answer, albeit a little late ;-/

Croc4,

You'd be a lot better off building an M72 than mixing it with a Romy RPK kit - it can be done, but it's more work that its probably worth. M72 kits cost a bit more, but then again they are also typically nicer. Centerfire Systems sells the M72 barrels (Green Mountain is the source, a good thing compared to other unknown/inconsistent US makers).

Second approach is to get the Romy kit and get the RPK barrel straight from Green Mountain. If you want the fins, then nothing less than the M72 will do.

Good luck,

R

[atsaubrey]

Nico just did my RPK barrle work on my Green Mountain. Per him "RSB, and FSB barrel profile undersized, and in need of knurling. Hand guard retainer barrel profile too large, and needed to be turned down".

[wash]

I've got a spare US M72 barrel and a M76 handguard retainer, I'm thinking about buying a Romy RPK kit to make a Khyber pass RPK.

I might need a Yugo rear sight block and some lathe work on the barrel to get the gas block to fit and work with the Romy gas tube but it needs a cut and crown for a Khyber pass build any way, no big deal.

If you think of the things you have to do and take it a little farther, you can wind up with something pretty cool for not much more cash.

[69powerwagon]

I've got a spare US M72 barrel and a M76 handguard retainer, I'm thinking about buying a Romy RPK kit to make a Khyber pass RPK.

I might need a Yugo rear sight block and some lathe work on the barrel to get the gas block to fit and work with the Romy gas tube but it needs a cut and crown for a Khyber pass build any way, no big deal.

If you think of the things you have to do and take it a little farther, you can wind up with something pretty cool for not much more cash.

The best place for m72 parts is from RGUNS. Im building an apex romanian kit on a yugo milled stub in 308 that will use saiga mags.

[nicoroshi]

I have done 4 of them using GM barrels
All were the same
Hand guard retainer journal too large
Fsb, and rsb too small and needed knurling for a press fit.

[Richard Erichsen]

I have done 4 of them using GM barrels
All were the same
Hand guard retainer journal too large
Fsb, and rsb too small and needed knurling for a press fit.

Were the RPK barrels from the same lot, or spread over time and from different lots? My M72 barrel from GM (Centerfire Systems was the vendor if I recall) were perfect. Did you contact GM and let them know about the hand guard retainer journal (too big) and the FSB and RSB (too small) journal issues? They are finishing the RPK barrel run in February. I'd like to think they got feedback to correct any defects in their profiling.

R

[nicoroshi]

Nope
Just made them right

I didn't order any if them personally.
I did the head space, and population for other builders.

[wash]

The GM RPK barrel is not the same as a GM M72 barrel.

I bought my M72 barrels in Rguns virgin M72 parts kits and they are perfect, no problems headspacing and populating them with parts from the kit.

I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do yet but I think I will turn down the rear sight journal on the barrel, use the M76 handguard retainer to be compatible with the cooling fins, then turn down the gas block journal to take the Romy gas block and set it back to fit with the Romy gas tube.

Making handguards that look good might mean doing some work on the gas tube and probably an M72 style lower hand guard. The upper handguard will probably need to be shortened.

It's not a drop in but I think I can make it work because it's easier to remove material than add it.

[Richard Erichsen]

The GM RPK barrel is not the same as a GM M72 barrel.

I bought my M72 barrels in Rguns virgin M72 parts kits and they are perfect, no problems headspacing and populating them with parts from the kit.

I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do yet but I think I will turn down the rear sight journal on the barrel, use the M76 handguard retainer to be compatible with the cooling fins, then turn down the gas block journal to take the Romy gas block and set it back to fit with the Romy gas tube.

Making handguards that look good might mean doing some work on the gas tube and probably an M72 style lower hand guard. The upper handguard will probably need to be shortened.

It's not a drop in but I think I can make it work because it's easier to remove material than add it.

You are correct sir - the M72 is a much nicer weapon than the RPK - hands down.

My point was I wonder why GM would make spot on M72 barrels and goof up on the RPK - unless that was a one time, one batch botch.

If you're going to make a mixed bag work, you've got your work cut out for you but yes, much easier to remove the metal than to add it (shims and bushings add to the workload). Turning down the barrel in will probably be the easiest followed by shortening the upper handguards to fit into the gas block and if its RPK, cutting and rewelding the retainer to hold an M72 length upper HG. Milling out the gas block, RPK rear sight base to fit are probably next in line. If you are in it for the challenge, then have at it! BTW, how is that direct impingment AK coming alone Wash?

To the OP, good luck.

R

[wash]

If you turn down the barrel right, the rear sight block should not need any work.

The gas block is the same except if I have to set it back in to the barrel fin area, I might have to fill in one or two of the grooves before I turn down the barrel.

I really think it will be just a minor reprofile job, a gas tube mod and wood work.

I think I'm going to make my barrel work simpler by using an AK74 front sight with the 24mm threads, making it a reprofile, cut and crown job instead of a reprofile, cut, crown and thread job. I just have to open up an AK74 brake to clear a 0.311 bullet.

With a lathe, all of that is easy except for the gas tube mod.