[malibu12]

Anyone build there own Ak from an parts kit ? I am on #2

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[Stonewall]

Yup, built one at a build party last year. Have still 2 Romy kits bought when they were cheap that need to be built.

You can buy a WASR for what kits go for these days, LOL.

This one:

 

[SubGunFan]

I have 8 - AKs that need some "work" to be finished....... Sorry, more on this later....

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[captain-03]

I have 8 - AKs that need some "work" to be finished....... Sorry, more on this later....

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WHAT IS THAT YOU SAY???? WoW!!

 

[captain-03]

Swabby on this forum use to build 'em!! Don't know if he is still into it ... From looking at the parts kits that are currently available, you can almost buy a completed weapon for the cost of the parts kit!! The kits have really gone up in price. Since the price of AKs seems to be coming back down some, maybe the price of the parts kits will follow ...

 

[Rbelote]

Hand built from parts kits seem to be prized as better weapons. I got two kits that need to be built. I want one just stock and one tricked out with xs sights and a pheonix flashhider.

 

[msredneck]

AKMAN51 also builds...Have not seen him on in a while

 

[SubGunFan]

OK.... Back to my (and 2 buddies from work) AK builds. Sorry for the "pause"......




This shows the 8 - AKs loaded up for the trip home after a LONG day of setting rivets and installing barrels, and blackening 6 of the 8 receivers. This was our second AK build. The first one was 5 AKs using Armory USA receivers. These receivers were bent by us......




Another view of the AKs "in progress"...... My problem is our spot welder crapped out on us and the rails are loose. I think I have found someone to "weld" the rails. After that all that is left is fitting the mag catches and grinding the ejectors (plus fitting the stocks and installing the guts - the easy parts).

We were going to move into building AR-15s, but the kits dried up (THANKS OBAMA) before we got started.....

Build AKs is pretty easy if you have the correct equipment. But the kits are gone (or HIGH $$$), so building them has come to an end...................

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[captain-03]

Good work there!! Should have something ya'll can be proud of owning and shooting!!

 

[bigsig]

OK.... Back to my (and 2 buddies from work) AK builds. Sorry for the "pause"......




This shows the 8 - AKs loaded up for the trip home after a LONG day of setting rivets and installing barrels, and blackening 6 of the 8 receivers. This was our second AK build. The first one was 5 AKs using Armory USA receivers. These receivers were bent by us......




Another view of the AKs "in progress"...... My problem is our spot welder crapped out on us and the rails are loose. I think I have found someone to "weld" the rails. After that all that is left is fitting the mag catches and grinding the ejectors (plus fitting the stocks and installing the guts - the easy parts).

We were going to move into building AR-15s, but the kits dried up (THANKS OBAMA) before we got started.....

Build AKs is pretty easy if you have the correct equipment. But the kits are gone (or HIGH $$$), so building them has come to an end...................

.

Can Y'all picture MHP's faces if they would have pulled SGF over that day? I'll bet we would have heard about it on the news! :smile:

 

[AKMan51]

AKMAN51 also builds...

Yep. I've hosted a number of build parties over the past few years and have assisted in over 50 builds. We built mostly on receiver we bent from flats. My avatar shows an AK bullpup I built.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Whats the cover charge on one of these partys? :awesome: How much cheaper was it to build it yourself?

 

[ftsibley]

sounds like a whole new type of "fun party" althogether.

 

[AKMan51]

Unfortunately, the "build your own" days are pretty much gone. You can buy and AK for just a little more than the parts kit and other stuff needed to build. When I started building, parts kits sold for as low as $79 and the receiver flats and compliance parts were another $50-$70. Now the same kit, if you can find one, sells for $300-$400 and the other parts run $100+. This doesn't include the cost of tools and time required to build. Building an AK is NOTHING like building and AR. Nothing just "drops in" with an AK. Parts have to be filed, ground, fitted, pressed, welded and riveted. It's somewhat dirty work.

It was a lot of fun when you could build an AK for $150. Those days are over and now I'm retired from AK building. However, I will be happy to answer questions if any of you want to give it a try.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Gotta love the "good ole days"! Thanks for the info! I just hope we don't look back 2 years from now and say the same thing "I remember when you could find ammo @ WAL*MART for only $25 a box and buy a AR for as little as $1000. :tears:

 

[AKMan51]

Talk about the "good ole days". I once bought a NIB Colt AR15 for $175.

 

[SubGunFan]

........... Building an AK is NOTHING like building and AR. Nothing just "drops in" with an AK. Parts have to be filed, ground, fitted, pressed, welded and riveted. It's somewhat dirty work.

It was a lot of fun when you could build an AK for $150. Those days are over and now I'm retired from AK building. However, I will be happy to answer questions if any of you want to give it a try.

+++1 on AKs being dirty work requiring much "fitting" and "tools"............ They are super simple guns to operate, take down for cleaning, and shoot, but the build process is nowhere as easy (and clean) as ARs. Yes, it is sad that the $100-$150 kits are long gone. I bought some of the last $100 kits, and a buddy got 3 of the very last kits at $150 each. Rumor is any new kits will not have barrels.......

Since I am NO AK GURU myself, you guys that still want to build an AK should tap AKMan51's vast knowledge of the process............. If you can borrow the equipment, that will save BIG BUCKS..... If you lack the skills of working with sheet metal (like myself), you will need help from a buddy that does (or buy a receiver via an FFL).

I have a flat bending jig that uses 1/2" bolts (not hydraulic press) and a front trunion rivet setting modified bolt cutters. I will lend these to "trusting souls"..................

OK..... Enough on AKs......... When are my AR receivers ordered on 11/3/08 going to arrive.....?

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[gnslinger]

no but I built my friends

I did not build one for my self but i loaned my garage out to my friend and we built his not sure where he got all the parts...as in what website he used....we spent about 2 days off and on working on it. Have to admit we had a good time, had to make many trips to Home Depot for little things here and there...new Bench Grinder, cut of disk for dremol, new punches, even had to make a few tools to get us by. After a couple days we took it shooting and it shot fine..( after strapping it down to a bench with zip ties and pulling the trigger with rope).....only trouble we had was the rivets a couple of them were hard to get to to flatten out.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Gotta love the "good ole days"! Thanks for the info! I just hope we don't look back 2 years from now and say the same thing "I remember when you could find ammo @ WAL*MART for only $25 a box and buy a AR for as little as $1000. :tears:

Maybe I'm a prophet and didn't know it....3+ years later....

 

[Jarhead5811]

WOW, you nailed that one!

Well, almost, I think we might be looking back on the good old days when we could buy one period.