Gun building fun

Freiwillige · 05-09-11, 12:57 AM

So I am contemplating trying my hand at building my first rifle out of a parts kit. Its a AK-74 Bulgarian parts kit. I have to find a receiver and figure out its assembly but I think it will be a learning experience.

http://whatacountry.com/bulgarian-ak...rts-kit-3.aspx

Anybody here own an AK-74? Built one? Have an opinion on one?

I was going to build an M-4 or an A-2 and will still sooner or later but this seems a deal that's hard to pass. An AK with AR like accuracy! And 5.45x39 ammo is cheap in bulk right now!

Opinions? Thoughts?

Sledgehammer427 · 05-09-11, 01:21 AM

as long as de-milled to BAFTE specs doesn't mean its non-firing, I think you're set. I'd look into buying a manual for the AK, a basic operating manual (link

)
its for the AK-47 but I believe that the two guns are the same other than the cartridge size.

if you go for it...Good luck!

Growler · 05-09-11, 08:39 AM

I'm with Sledge - good luck with it.

After you've finished, you might feel better if you get it checked out by a second pair of experienced eyes. I'm not saying you're not experienced, but I generally make it a rule that if I'm going to be holding something that might explode anywhere near my face, I want to be as sure as reasonably possible that I did it right.

nikimcbee · 05-09-11, 06:29 PM

I thought you were going to build one of those Cabela's musket kits.

Sounds fun anywhoo.

gimpy117 · 05-09-11, 07:00 PM

you still need a receiver...that won't come cheap...good luck

Platapus · 05-09-11, 07:27 PM

On that link, it appears that the barrel is demilled.

Quote:

Newly Manufactured Bulgarian AK-74, 5.45x39mm, 16" Chrome-lined Barrel.
Chamber Cut, Handguard Retainer cut, Gas Port hole Drilled, and Barrel Pin Slot Drilled.
Barrels are new and non-threaded style.

Make sure that what you are buying is truly what you think you are buying.

I would also recommend you start haunting some of the AK-47 forums there are a bunch of them discussing this very same issue. Might get some good advice there.

Good luck with it!

Rockstar · 05-09-11, 08:14 PM

you might find what you're looking for at www.gunbroker.com , www.auctionarms.com , SARCO, Northridgeinc, www.ak-47.us, etc etc. Also your local firearms dealer might be able to help you out with some parts resources too.

might be cheaper to buy real one

happy motoring

.

Freiwillige · 05-09-11, 08:51 PM

Well I took the plunge and ordered one. I was going to buy one from a local shop but I read that they have allot of issues with Key-holing. The problem is that most low end AK-74's on the market use American barrels that were originally designed for .223. So the twist rate of the rifling is off and the bullets tend to wobble in flight. Also the barrels are not chrome lined

This kit has a Hungarian barrel which are equal to Russian builds!

That was the number one reason to go this route.

And Platypus this
"Newly Manufactured Bulgarian AK-74, 5.45x39mm, 16" Chrome-lined Barrel.
Chamber Cut, Handguard Retainer cut, Gas Port hole Drilled, and Barrel Pin Slot Drilled.
Barrels are new and non-threaded style"

Just means that the barrel is pre prepped and ready for install without having to have all those things machined. AKA Its not just a barrel blank.

I have my work cut out for me but I found quality receivers for $45 online and I guess I will go from there!

Freiwillige · 05-10-11, 02:22 PM

Oh my god what have I gotten myself into! After researching I am finding that this is going to be a long and expensive task. To give you some idea a local company charges to build your parts kit for you for the low sum of $570 dollars +$100 if new barrel +you buy 6 American parts to make it legal ($100) +the price of the kit ($300) + receiver ($80 to $190) and that comes out to 1,000+ dollars!

When I could have purchased a top of the line model with warranty for $700-900

So instead I will do what I can, visit my old machine shop for any freebee time I can beg and borrow and save and build. This is going to be epic!

Pics forthcoming for sure, wish me luck!

the_tyrant · 05-10-11, 04:31 PM

good luck man

I hear you can also DIY cruise missiles, something to move up to after your done building a gun

Freiwillige · 05-11-11, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

good luck man

I hear you can also DIY cruise missiles, something to move up to after your done building a gun

Thanks but I think I will pass on this one

, Something about the ATF showing up at my door doesn't excite me much, I'll keep it legal.

Stealhead · 05-11-11, 10:19 PM

Wow that kind of sucks cost wise.You can learn from it though I have a buddy that has a .223 chambered Bulgarian 74 ex Marine so he loves the AR15 and M1A so I was a bit surprised at first when he got one and he seems to like his .74 of course not as accurate as say an AR-15 but really getting rounds down range is more important than pinpoint accuracy in a fire fight.

I have an old Egyptian Mysr that I bought many years ago I like the concept of the AK design to be honest it gets the job done.

Myself I am an oddball I like the FN FAL and have few different versions from various makers.FALs are love/hate you either love them or you hate them I suppose it is because their operation is a bit different than an AR or AK.

Anthony W. · 05-12-11, 12:26 AM

Old man once taught me how to make a bullet out of a bicycle spoke

Does that count as building a gun?

05-12-11, 01:29 AM

Oh this thread was about actually building a gun, I thought it was for designing one using this.

Stealhead · 05-12-11, 01:58 AM

That site is kind of neat but a bit too limited for example they dont have the GP25 or GP30 which are the common Soviet/Russian grenade launchers but they have the BS-1 which I have never seen a photo of a combat Russian soldiers AK being equipped with and I have tons of personal photos taken by Soviet troops in Afghanistan never a BS-1 plenty of AK-74s with
RPK-74 45 round magazines though and GP25 galore.

I did once out of boredom make every version of the M-16 from the A1 to the A4 including the CAR15/XM177 and M-4 using that page.
Noe if that guy would make that program be 3D so you could move the parts around in space and had a little more detail it would be awesome as is I dont think the guy has done anything to the site in some time.

05-09-11, 12:57 AM	#1
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Gun building fun So I am contemplating trying my hand at building my first rifle out of a parts kit. Its a AK-74 Bulgarian parts kit. I have to find a receiver and figure out its assembly but I think it will be a learning experience. http://whatacountry.com/bulgarian-ak...rts-kit-3.aspx Anybody here own an AK-74? Built one? Have an opinion on one? I was going to build an M-4 or an A-2 and will still sooner or later but this seems a deal that's hard to pass. An AK with AR like accuracy! And 5.45x39 ammo is cheap in bulk right now! Opinions? Thoughts?

05-09-11, 01:21 AM	#2
Sledgehammer427 PacWagon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Drinking coffee and staring at trees in Massachusetts Posts: 2,908 Downloads: 287 Uploads: 0	as long as de-milled to BAFTE specs doesn't mean its non-firing, I think you're set. I'd look into buying a manual for the AK, a basic operating manual (link) its for the AK-47 but I believe that the two guns are the same other than the cartridge size. if you go for it...Good luck! __________________ Cold Waters Voice Crew - Fire Control Officer Cmdr O. Myers - C/O USS Nautilus (SS-168) 114,000 tons sunk - 4 Spec Ops completed V-boat Nutcase - Need supplies? Japanese garrison on a small island in the way? Just give us a call! D4C!

05-09-11, 08:39 AM	#3
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	I'm with Sledge - good luck with it. After you've finished, you might feel better if you get it checked out by a second pair of experienced eyes. I'm not saying you're not experienced, but I generally make it a rule that if I'm going to be holding something that might explode anywhere near my face, I want to be as sure as reasonably possible that I did it right. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

05-09-11, 06:29 PM	#4
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I thought you were going to build one of those Cabela's musket kits. Sounds fun anywhoo. __________________

05-09-11, 07:00 PM	#5
gimpy117 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 3,243 Downloads: 108 Uploads: 0	you still need a receiver...that won't come cheap...good luck __________________ Member of the Subsim Zombie Army

05-09-11, 08:14 PM	#7
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	you might find what you're looking for at www.gunbroker.com , www.auctionarms.com , SARCO, Northridgeinc, www.ak-47.us, etc etc. Also your local firearms dealer might be able to help you out with some parts resources too. might be cheaper to buy real one happy motoring . Last edited by Rockstar; 05-09-11 at 08:26 PM.

05-09-11, 08:51 PM	#8
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Well I took the plunge and ordered one. I was going to buy one from a local shop but I read that they have allot of issues with Key-holing. The problem is that most low end AK-74's on the market use American barrels that were originally designed for .223. So the twist rate of the rifling is off and the bullets tend to wobble in flight. Also the barrels are not chrome lined This kit has a Hungarian barrel which are equal to Russian builds! That was the number one reason to go this route. And Platypus this "Newly Manufactured Bulgarian AK-74, 5.45x39mm, 16" Chrome-lined Barrel. Chamber Cut, Handguard Retainer cut, Gas Port hole Drilled, and Barrel Pin Slot Drilled. Barrels are new and non-threaded style" Just means that the barrel is pre prepped and ready for install without having to have all those things machined. AKA Its not just a barrel blank. I have my work cut out for me but I found quality receivers for $45 online and I guess I will go from there!

05-10-11, 02:22 PM	#9
Freiwillige The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phx. Az Posts: 1,458 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Oh my god what have I gotten myself into! After researching I am finding that this is going to be a long and expensive task. To give you some idea a local company charges to build your parts kit for you for the low sum of $570 dollars +$100 if new barrel +you buy 6 American parts to make it legal ($100) +the price of the kit ($300) + receiver ($80 to $190) and that comes out to 1,000+ dollars! When I could have purchased a top of the line model with warranty for $700-900 So instead I will do what I can, visit my old machine shop for any freebee time I can beg and borrow and save and build. This is going to be epic! Pics forthcoming for sure, wish me luck!

05-10-11, 04:31 PM	#10
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	good luck man I hear you can also DIY cruise missiles, something to move up to after your done building a gun

05-11-11, 10:19 PM	#12
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Wow that kind of sucks cost wise.You can learn from it though I have a buddy that has a .223 chambered Bulgarian 74 ex Marine so he loves the AR15 and M1A so I was a bit surprised at first when he got one and he seems to like his .74 of course not as accurate as say an AR-15 but really getting rounds down range is more important than pinpoint accuracy in a fire fight. I have an old Egyptian Mysr that I bought many years ago I like the concept of the AK design to be honest it gets the job done. Myself I am an oddball I like the FN FAL and have few different versions from various makers.FALs are love/hate you either love them or you hate them I suppose it is because their operation is a bit different than an AR or AK.

05-12-11, 12:26 AM	#13
Anthony W. Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 850 Downloads: 130 Uploads: 0	Old man once taught me how to make a bullet out of a bicycle spoke Does that count as building a gun? __________________ Sunken Mustangs Proud Ford Mustang owner "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" - Admiral David Farragut Run silent - run deep - keep the baffles clear - targets front and center. Private pilot and history buff

05-12-11, 01:29 AM	#14
Rilder Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Oh this thread was about actually building a gun, I thought it was for designing one using this.

05-12-11, 01:58 AM	#15
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	That site is kind of neat but a bit too limited for example they dont have the GP25 or GP30 which are the common Soviet/Russian grenade launchers but they have the BS-1 which I have never seen a photo of a combat Russian soldiers AK being equipped with and I have tons of personal photos taken by Soviet troops in Afghanistan never a BS-1 plenty of AK-74s with RPK-74 45 round magazines though and GP25 galore. I did once out of boredom make every version of the M-16 from the A1 to the A4 including the CAR15/XM177 and M-4 using that page. Noe if that guy would make that program be 3D so you could move the parts around in space and had a little more detail it would be awesome as is I dont think the guy has done anything to the site in some time.