AK-47 built with screws...

[Flintlock Tom]

Last year I assembled a couple AR-15s and was very satisfied at how they came out.
Now, I've decided to try something a little more challenging: an AK-47 built from a surplus parts kit and an 80% receiver.
The parts and receiver came from AK-Builder.com. They also provided the jig for hole placement.

Receiver:


Romanian parts kit:


I decided that I didn't want to mess with rivets so I am using machine screws and tapped threads.

Thread tapping the front trunion:


Here's what it looks like with all the holes tapped and screwed together:



After heat treating all the holes I screwed it all together and took it out to function test it with various ammo and magazines.

After the first 10 rounds I checked all the screws to make sure nothing was backing out: all tight.
It ran flawlessly. No fail-to-load, no fail-to-fire, no fail-to-eject.
I have never touched an AK-47 before this build, but, I have to tell you I love this gun. Solid as a rock, easy to shoot, smooth cycling.
I fired 20 rounds each of 4 different boxes of ammo, all ran without a burp.
The 10-round ProMags fit and function perfectly. My Tapco mags won't go in and I will probably shave them down a little to fit.
Now I'm going to take it all apart and CeraKote the metal and refinish the wood.

My next one will be a Polish under-folder.

[MustangO4]

People will nay-say, but screw builds work just fine if you do it right.

[CSACANNONEER]

Rivets are faster, easier and better than screws. There is no good reason to do a screw build today.

[Alex$]

Peen that center support rivet already!

[Flintlock Tom]

Rivets are faster, easier and better than screws. There is no good reason to do a screw build today.

Gosh, then I wonder why I did it this way?

"Better?" Do you have something besides opinion to support that statement?

[Flintlock Tom]

Peen that center support rivet already!

Yup, I just wanted to make sure everything was working right before I made it permanent.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Rivets are faster, easier and better than screws. There is no good reason to do a screw build today.

I have one... I have no riveting gear, and might not want to wait for a build party. I do, however, have the skill and tools to tap threads and do a screw build. That would be good enough for me, whether it's good enough for you isn't my issue.

[killathrilla]

...

[Flintlock Tom]

Screw builds r gangsta
Just make sure to prep the screws and threads and loctite thw shizz out of it!!!

I hear ya'.
After I CeraKote the metal and refinish the wood I'll use JB Weld to seal the screws. It's rated up to 550 degrees, I figured that would hold.

[CSACANNONEER]

I've got a little experience building AKs. I've got a little experience rebuilding screw builds with rivets. My engineering degree tell me to use the fasteners that were originally designed to connect two objects togetjer unless I do the math to prove that another fastener would be better. In this case, I'd rather trust the mushroomed heads of rivets to screws that can back out. Rivets are just too easy to do to mess with trying to do it another way.

[nicoroshi]

Congrats to the OP.
My first couple were built with screws.
After I had a chance to try rivets I built everything else since with rivets and even went back and rebuilt my screw builds with rivets.
I understand the cost issue for jigs, and impatience/ travel waiting for a build party.
So although I am one of the 'rivet crowd' I know first hand that screws 'can' work, and understand the reasoning of going that route.

Now that you know my position I can tell you that I have seen rear trunnion screws shear right off. I have seen screws back out or become loose over time.

http://img29.imageshack.us/i/imagelxq.jpg

http://img834.imageshack.us/i/imageldtx.jpg

This rifle survived about 4000 rounds before these pictures were taken.

I have NEVER seen a good rivet shear or come loose EVER!
(and I have rifles I personally have more than 10,000 rounds through).

Great thing about a screw build is it can be changed to a rivet build easily later.
Enjoy your build (she's a nice looking rifle) When and if you decide to change to rivets the help will be available for you to do so.

[Flintlock Tom]

Congrats to the OP.
My first couple were built with screws.
After I had a chance to try rivets I built everything else since with rivets and even went back and rebuilt my screw builds with rivets.
I understand the cost issue for jigs, and impatience/ travel waiting for a build party.
So although I am one of the 'rivet crowd' I know first hand that screws 'can' work, and understand the reasoning of going that route.

Now that you know my position I can tell you that I have seen rear trunnion screws shear right off. I have seen screws back out or become loose over time.

http://img29.imageshack.us/i/imagelxq.jpg

http://img834.imageshack.us/i/imageldtx.jpg

This rifle survived about 4000 rounds before these pictures were taken.

I have NEVER seen a good rivet shear or come loose EVER!
(and I have rifles I personally have more than 10,000 rounds through).

Great thing about a screw build is it can be changed to a rivet build easily later.
Enjoy your build (she's a nice looking rifle) When and if you decide to change to rivets the help will be available for you to do so.

Thank you, I'll watch for signs of stress in the rear trunnion.

[Flintlock Tom]

I've got a little experience building AKs. I've got a little experience rebuilding screw builds with rivets. My engineering degree tell me to use the fasteners that were originally designed to connect two objects togetjer unless I do the math to prove that another fastener would be better. In this case, I'd rather trust the mushroomed heads of rivets to screws that can back out. Rivets are just too easy to do to mess with trying to do it another way.

Thank you for your qualified opinion.
For me it was easier to tap threads and use machine screws and they appear adequate for the application. With JB Weld applied to the threads I doubt they will back out.

[ramathorn]

Nice work, looks real clean!

[saki302]

Remember, they sell rivets to rivet up screw builds later if you decide to do it 'right'. That said, a properly tightened screw build will work just fine.