AK - How much can I get done w/o receiver?

[BASE45]

I have recently purchased my first ak [parts] :

Romanian AK-47 parts kit w/ virgin US barrel (gas port drilled)

Bullet Button

Bulg. 30 rnd rebuild kit and 10/30 mag plug

Tapco FCG

US slant brake

Rivets

and various accessories - front sight adjust tool, leather sling, bayonet)


My Question is how much can I get done before I save up and DROS a receiver(NDS-1 EZ)? Would it be possible to head space and drill/install barrel pin without the receiver?

My goal is to have the least amount of work to do when my receiver comes in.

I have already parked a bbl for my retro ar build so Im not worried about that. Also my kit seems to lack a shepards hook so I will probably just get the "retainer plate" style one. Anything else I'm missing?

[goober]

I have recently purchased my first ak [parts] :

Romanian AK-47 parts kit w/ virgin US barrel (gas port drilled)

Bullet Button

Bulg. 30 rnd rebuild kit and 10/30 mag plug

Tapco FCG

US slant brake

and various accessories - front sight adjust tool, leather sling, bayonet)


My Question is how much can I get done before I save up and DROS a receiver(NDS-1 EZ)?

you can demil the parts kit. get all the pieces ready for installation in the new receiver when you get it.

Would it be possible to head space and drill/install barrel pin without the receiver?

No.

[kcstott]

And yes if you have the tools or send the barrel, bolt, and front trunnion it can be head spaced ahead of time.

[BASE45]

you can demil the parts kit. get all the pieces ready for installation in the new receiver when you get it.


No.

It's already de-milled which is awesome haha.

And I cant headspace even if in building on a receiver with pre drilled trunnion holes?

And yes if you have the tools or send the barrel, bolt, and front trunnion it can be head spaced ahead of time.

What tools will I need? Will a vise, drill press, and mallet get the job done? I say mallet because the barrel and trunnion don't have a suuuuper tight fit like i see in most build videos where they are using a Euro barrel.

[Carsgunsandchics]

Buy a flat and hit up a party, your already doing some of the hard stuff.

[kcstott]

It's already de-milled which is awesome haha.

And I cant headspace even if in building on a receiver with pre drilled trunnion holes?

If you have the tools or send it out. YES you can. the barrel will have to be removed from the trunnion to rivet to the receiver and then the barrel reinstalled and headspace checked.

[atsaubrey]

First off get the barrel headspaced and populated, the receiver is NOT necessary for that. Nicoroshi on here is my go to guy for that.

[BASE45]

Buy a flat and hit up a party, your already doing some of the hard stuff.

I think I just missed the last build party in the bay area. I'm very eager to finish the build so what ever comes faster I'll do. Also the guy at the local gun shop (Irvington Arms) loans his stainless steel tanks to me during the DROS, using the receiver as collateral.

First off get the barrel headspaced and populated, the receiver is NOT necessary for that. Nicoroshi on here is my go to guy for that.

Alright great thanks for letting me know. Ill park it and then assemble everything on it. And decide flat or pre bent/drilled in the mean time haha.

[CptDan]

If you press the trunnion on to headspace then you have to take it off to rivet the trunnion. That's a lot of work especially if you have a real tight fit. I'm with CG&C about buying a flat no DROS no wait. Lots of AKbuilder dies around.....

[BASE45]

If you press the trunnion on to headspace then you have to take it off to rivet the trunnion. That's a lot of work especially if you have a real tight fit. I'm with CG&C about buying a flat no DROS no wait. Lots of AKbuilder dies around.....

I have a gunsmith video by AGI where he cuts a groove on the non impact end of the rivet, inserts it w/ groove parallel to barrel , supports the head of the rivet and hammers the support. End result was perfect looking rivet.

[Carsgunsandchics]

End result was perfect looking rivet.

The problem is the "looking" part. Hell when the Yugo {the car} came out it looked like it would run ok. Without seeing the actual squish of a rivet I wouldn't want to trust it to much with my face and sight. You can't visually inspect it to make sure the rivet didn't just split and snap off if you can't see the back of a non-blind designed rivet.

[BASE45]

The problem is the "looking" part. Hell when the Yugo {the car} came out it looked like it would run ok. Without seeing the actual squish of a rivet I wouldn't want to trust it to much with my face and sight. You can't visually inspect it to make sure the rivet didn't just split and snap off if you can't see the back of a non-blind designed rivet.

But isn't a rivet's job basically only prevent rear/forward and up/down movement between trunnion and receiver. So in theory if they were just sitting in there tight enough without being "squashed down" they would accomplish the same goal preventing movement. Only in the event of a rivet falling completely out/becoming loose would present a risk. I'm in no way trying to argue with you, its just how I understand it and I do agree that visually inspecting is more fail safe.

[Carsgunsandchics]

In my understanding of the "notch the rivet" they notch it to cause the rivet to split and spread. Thus in my and many opinions would prefer the tried and true squish method. Because if the rivet does split you are lowering the shear strength with a purposely damaged fastener.

[BASE45]

In my understanding of the "notch the rivet" they notch it to cause the rivet to split and spread. Thus in my and many opinions would prefer the tried and true squish method. Because if the rivet does split you are lowering the shear strength with a purposely damaged fastener.

Understood. I have the feeling the method pertains to those on a very budget orientated build lol. Thanks for the heads up tho, its definitely making me think twice.

[Carsgunsandchics]

It's also the old way, along with screw builds. More time and tinkering has brought us rivet squishers, and squeezers. At one time a Tapco flat was the thing to have, now forget about it AK builder's are the prevailing way to go.