LA/OC AK Build Party **** Technical support thread****

[mrlonewolf]

Hey guys.

I've decided to create this thread to facilitate the interaction between party attendees, experienced builders, helpers and AK addicts in our Calguns community.

This is not the place to post your interest to attend the party or to make changes to your reservation. Please go to the official party thread for these kind of inquiries.

http://calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=507761

Now:

- If you have any questions about the build process, parts involved and/or needed.
- If you have any doubts about the vast and different AK variants, calibers, countries and configurations.
- If you have a concept or idea idea for your build and would like to comment, ask and receive feedback from our members.
- If you would like to share your experience, build approaches, tool designs, tricks,etc.
- If you have recommendations about parts deals, suppliers, hard to find parts,etc.
- If you have stories to share.
- If you just love to build AKs and would like to help new builders.
- If you would like to post pictures of your build after the party.

Well, guess what.

You are in the right place.

That being said, what should we talk about.........


* Edit. Please consider this thread the official party hang out lounge.
The anticipation and the aftermath are alway something fun; let's help our new builders, let's share our tips and knowledge, let's enrich and support our AKbuilder community.
In essence...Let's have fun and enjoy our party.

[DavidRSA]

I know that virgin barrel work must be done before the build party. But what if that's all we want to do/learn... ie how to populate a virgin barrel?

[valley82]

I know from you (mrlonewolf) that the yogo's are more difficult to build for a novice. I have 2 romy g kits so I would like to get another country/variant maybe an egyptian??? My problem is that I don't know enough about the differences.
I know for me it would be helpful if you "guys in the know" listed some of the other country/origin Ak's in order of parts quality and/or difficulty of build.
Thanks in advance.

[tujungatoes]

I know that virgin barrel work must be done before the build party. But what if that's all we want to do/learn... ie how to populate a virgin barrel?

There probably won't be time for that at the build party. That's why we don't do it there. It's pretty time consuming, and we're usually running full steam. trying to help everybody get their rifles finished.

I know from you (mrlonewolf) that the yogo's are more difficult to build for a novice. I have 2 romy g kits so I would like to get another country/variant maybe an egyptian??? My problem is that I don't know enough about the differences.
I know for me it would be helpful if you "guys in the know" listed some of the other country/origin Ak's in order of parts quality and/or difficulty of build.
Thanks in advance.

I'll leave the parts quality reviews to someone more nit-picky than me(like munkeeboi). IMO they're all the f**kin same. For the most part an AKM is pretty much an AKM, and with few exceptions nearly all parts are interchangeable between them. Thats why you see alot of super mutt/parts bin builds. The differences are mostly furniture and trunnion markings. One of the best sources on the net for common and obscure variant specific information is probably theakforum.net. Go register there and read till blood starts coming out of your eyes. Don't be surprised if you see some familiar faces.

[kcstott]

I see that you had a note for Saiga conversions.
What if you wanted to reverse the process on a Romy?? Give me back my detachable mag

[69Mach1]

I see that you had a note for Saiga conversions.
What if you wanted to reverse the process on a Romy?? Give me back my detachable mag

Why not just go with a (non grip) grip wrap?

If you're interested, check out this thread.

http://calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=333676

[69Mach1]

I know from you (mrlonewolf) that the yogo's are more difficult to build for a novice. I have 2 romy g kits so I would like to get another country/variant maybe an egyptian??? My problem is that I don't know enough about the differences.
I know for me it would be helpful if you "guys in the know" listed some of the other country/origin Ak's in order of parts quality and/or difficulty of build.
Thanks in advance.

Standard AKM builds and rifles are all the same really. If you like collecting or have OCD, then many different builds are for you. Otherwise it's just about what you like.

Mainly, the differences in AKM's is their furniture or types of folding stocks.
Variations:
Underfolders
Wire Sidefolders
Triangle Sidefolders
Collapsible AR stocks (blah!)

Other rifle variations you could build.
RPK's
Yugoslavian AK's
AK 74's in 5.45x39 Caliber, or .223

[bigbob76]

I see that you had a note for Saiga conversions.
What if you wanted to reverse the process on a Romy?? Give me back my detachable mag

An interesting idea, I never considered that. There are certainly an abundance of leftover parts from conversions. Drilling a few holes and working the puzzle of a fire control group and bolt hold open device. But then you have the crappy trigger pull that goes with all that linkage. I guess the grip fin doesn't sound so bad after all.

[yari]

anyone have an opinion on bulgy 74 barrels? i see a few us made ones out there now, would you go new us or used original?

[69Mach1]

Your choice. I've built with both. Both worked out fine. Atlantic still has Bulgarian barrels by the way.

[00Medic]

I know that virgin barrel work must be done before the build party. But what if that's all we want to do/learn... ie how to populate a virgin barrel?

Could there, someday, be a clinic for this? I also would like to learn this.

[69Mach1]

Could there, someday, be a clinic for this? I also would like to learn this.

Roccobro does this all of the time.

[4thSBCT]

Could there, someday, be a clinic for this? I also would like to learn this.

The thread below was all I needed to get myself going on some virgin barrels

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=193742

[bigbob76]

I continue to see the occasional Bulgarian 74 matching numbers original barrel kits on the boards. I guess the main drawback for most buyers is that you can't use a credit card to buy them.

[porky]

How much easier is a saiga conversion than a kit?

I noticed that many are pre-drilled etc.

Are there specific steps that one gets to skip on a saiga build?