3 ms·

> For what it's worth, the "AR family" of rifles (AR-15, M-16, M-4, etc.) actually surpass AKs in terms of field reliability and use in hostile conditions. They

by rascul 4y ago

> For what it's worth, the "AR family" of rifles (AR-15, M-16, M-4, etc.) actually surpass AKs in terms of field reliability and use in hostile conditions. They're built to tighter tolerances, but with the dust cover closed there isn't really any way for sand/mud/dirt to get into the action, so they continue to work. That dust cover is a big gotcha. You have to remember to close it after firing, and sometimes the spring wears out and it doesn't even stay closed anyway. Another problem is the carbon buildup from the direct gas impingement system if you don't clean it enough, and there are some tough to get spots. > I can build a working AR lower receiver in the US with tools I have laying around my home (drill press, rotary tool, etc). I can't do the same for an AK because I don't have a spot welder to attach the rails. Interesting. I'm familiar with the process of building up an 80% AR style rifle, and a 1911 handgun. I know there are 80% AK-47 blanks available but I never looked into what it would take to build one.

zhengyi13 4y ago
You generally need at a minimum: * riveting tools to mount the trunnions to the receiver, * welding tools to attach the rails to the receiver, * a bunch of jigs to place various holes in the right places in the receiver, * ...and a 12(?)-ton press: you'll be pressing the barrel into the front trunnion, and you may be using the press (and an appropriate jig) to press a steel flat into the proper shape for a receiver. There are at least a couple companies out there that offer AK build classes that will walk you through all this, and then transfer the results of your work to your local FFL.
- Ancapistani 4y ago
  The only thing that can’t be easily substituted with fairly common tools is the spot welder. I’ve thought about making one from an old transformer (or was it a microwave oven?), but didn’t pursue it. I only had a few AKs, and have mostly abandoned the platform since the dirt cheap ammo for it has dried up. It’s easier and more practical for me to reload for NATO cartridges.
  - technothrasher 4y ago
    It's not like a spot welder is terribly expensive or difficult to get your hands on. That said, I've never bothered to try and build an AK from an 80% receiver. It always looked like a hassle, and frankly the AKs that I own just sit in the back of the safe anyway. I've built a handful of 80% ARs though, pretty simple. But nothing is as simple as the 80% Glock pistols. Those are literally ten minutes with a Dremel once you've done a couple, if you don't care about it looking a bit scruffy.
qball 4y ago
>You have to remember to close it after firing You actually don't (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAneTFiz5WU&t=110s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAneTFiz5WU&t=110s). The trick is that the bolt carrier itself seals the action so mud doesn't get into it; most other modern rifles eschew the dust cover entirely and just rely on this. It seems to work pretty well since they keep doing it.

by rascul 4y ago

zhengyi13 4y ago

You generally need at a minimum: * riveting tools to mount the trunnions to the receiver, * welding tools to attach the rails to the receiver, * a bunch of jigs to place various holes in the right places in the receiver, * ...and a 12(?)-ton press: you'll be pressing the barrel into the front trunnion, and you may be using the press (and an appropriate jig) to press a steel flat into the proper shape for a receiver. There are at least a couple companies out there that offer AK build classes that will walk you through all this, and then transfer the results of your work to your local FFL.

Ancapistani 4y ago
The only thing that can’t be easily substituted with fairly common tools is the spot welder. I’ve thought about making one from an old transformer (or was it a microwave oven?), but didn’t pursue it. I only had a few AKs, and have mostly abandoned the platform since the dirt cheap ammo for it has dried up. It’s easier and more practical for me to reload for NATO cartridges.
- technothrasher 4y ago
  It's not like a spot welder is terribly expensive or difficult to get your hands on. That said, I've never bothered to try and build an AK from an 80% receiver. It always looked like a hassle, and frankly the AKs that I own just sit in the back of the safe anyway. I've built a handful of 80% ARs though, pretty simple. But nothing is as simple as the 80% Glock pistols. Those are literally ten minutes with a Dremel once you've done a couple, if you don't care about it looking a bit scruffy.

qball 4y ago

>You have to remember to close it after firing You actually don't (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAneTFiz5WU&t=110s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAneTFiz5WU&t=110s). The trick is that the bolt carrier itself seals the action so mud doesn't get into it; most other modern rifles eschew the dust cover entirely and just rely on this. It seems to work pretty well since they keep doing it.