AK screw build

[AK all day]

Okay, this might be a dumb thread as well as a dumb question however....

What exactly does an AK build using screws consist of? I was looking at buying a kit with an installed and populated barrel and using a screw kit for a a little practice build but I am having trouble finding information about screw builds.

If i bent a flat and installed guide rails, do i just bolt everything else on? With a 100% receiver. would you simply need to bolt on the parts and install trigger group or am I missing something? Thanks in advance.

[Plisk]

Avoid screw builds, take the time to do it right and build with rivets. Screw builds are not safe.

[AK all day]

I have seen people doing rivets with bolt cutters, but I'm guessing that probably slightly on the ghetto side.. I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do to get a rifle built. I would love to build 4-5 rifles, but feel like I don't even know where to start. Thanks for your response on the screw l builds. I understand they don't flex the same and can fracture, but it sure seems easier.

[Plisk]

Easier yes, proper no. It is a Western approach to Eastern engineering and it doesn't mix.

The bolt cutter method is definitely ghetto and doesn't crush rivets perfectly flat. Flats require to be bent, certain holes reamed, rails welding on, heat-treated, and trunnion holes drilled. On a 100% receiver, like Nodak or 74uLLC, all is needed is trunnion holes drilled. Depending on what rear stock option you're using some variants may be pre-cut for the rear stock. Proper tooling for rivet forming is the proper way, such as the tooling sold by Curtis at AK Builder.

Pre-barreled kits (if headspaced properly) does make the process much simpler.

[AK all day]

Thank you for your help. Well alright then, screw build is out the window I suppose. I guess I will just need to bite the bullet buy all the proper tools. I just hope I can actually be successful... It's a shame build parties are stopped at this moment..

[hermosabeach]

Screw builds just don't hold up. There are some old threads on the leaded rivets used in an AK. The rivets can flex and bend while the screw will crack and fail with a decent amount of use.

Screws will mess up the trunions if you later want to convert it to a rivet built.

[CSACANNONEER]

Actually, rivets are easier than screw builds if you have a couple rivet jigs. Otherwise, you will need to tap all your trunion holes. The bolt cutter type rivet jig is far from getto. It's better than the other short rivet jigs on the market. If you want to do 4 or 5 AKs, it would be STUPID to do screw builds. Either make your own rivet jigs, buy some or just find the right rivet set and use some bucking blocks where needed. You can spend a couple hundred on rivet jigs or do it slower by using a rivet set and a bolt cutter jig. Personally, I'd get a trigger jig, bolt cutter jig and just use a homemade rivet set for the long rivets. That should run you between $100 and $200.

[AK all day]

Okay so $100-$200 just for the tools needed to do the rivets. What can I expect to pay for all of the tools needed to complete a rifle? I have virtually no tools as of now....

Do I NEED a press to bend the receiver? Thanks for the help guys.

[valley82]

http://t.harborfreight.com/12-ton-shop-press-33497.html#.Uy8d7ye9KSM

http://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29972

http://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29922

http://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30060

http://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=198

http://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30083

[AK all day]

Thanks for those links!

Would I also need a spot welder for the rails? How about heat treatment?

[valley82]

http://t.harborfreight.com/115-volt-spot-welder-45689.html#.Uy8lNSe9KSM

http://ak-builder.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29794

After these and the previous links you can get a bench top drill press and build as many AKs as your wallet will allow.

[AK all day]

It looks like I am looking at about $1200-$1300 in just tools. Quite a bit. Thanks for all the links, I wish I would have acquired more tools over time..

[Constant840]

Can the rails be tacked in with a mig welder?

[valley82]

Holes could be drilled in the receiver and the rails plug welded with a mig or tig.

[TaterSoup]

Dark Knight"s Spot Welding Rails Update:

http://youtu.be/3CByxiXW6zk

DK's YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDarkKnightBuilds

One day, or perhaps in my next life, I will attend an Armorer's class at Rifle Dynamics and learn the correct? way to build an AK variant. They appear to know their trade very well.