AK Question....

[masek77]

Im thinking about getting an AK kit and either buying, or building my own receiver for it.

Any recomendations as to the best kits for sale?

Are the Saiga's true AKs? Seems like a decent deal if they are true AKs and not a SKS knockoff.

[patm41]

saiga's are the commercial variant of the AK.. there nice rifles too..
for some one who wants to start building get a Romanian fixed stock for a first build.. they are cheap !  $120.00 .. I wouldnt recomend a make your own reciever for a first build..

[masek77]

OK. So where do I find a good receiver?

[patm41]

well first decide what you want to build,, fixed stock, underfolder or side folder.. as now days
reciever manufactures offer all 3.. and what country of manufacture..
as a example.. Here is a Romanian fixed stock kit i did last fall....

I used a OOW reciever.. Ohio Ordnance Works .. 
The reciever was $60.00
There are really only a few companies that market a 100% reciever worth buying..

http://www.ak47review.com/AK47_Reviews_Receiver.php

[masek77]

Thanks for posting the info.

I think Ill go with a ready made receiver for the first one like you advised.

How hard was your build? Any problems I should look out for?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

[patm41]

are you going to do a proper build with rivets ?? or screws??
Its best to rivet ,, you will need a press to remove the barrel pin and barrel from the trunion
A set of bolt cutters can be modified to squeze the rivets .. again if you are lost as to what im talking about .. go to some of the dedicated AK sites on the web.. that have real good build it your self forums there.. read and study them.. I cant give you all the details here ...
I have built several kits.. the Romanian pictured i built in 8 hours on a saturday and was able to test fire it sunday.. just take your time and in the end you will have a rifle you built your self
and the smile on your face you wont forget..

Keep in mind on a AK kit you will also have to comply with the US made parts requirement
6 parts need to be made in the US .. on a Rommy you will need a reciever(1), trigger set(3),
gas piston(1) ,muzzle break(1) .... for a total of 6 parts to be legal..

[masek77]

I would prefer rivets.

I bought a DVD on how to build an AK receiver and it didnt look that easy to do although with the right equipment I am pretty sure I could do it. Does anyone sell the modified bolt cutters?

Ive found some really good resources on the net plus the one you gave.

On the legality issue....what are they going to do take it apart and look for the made in USA stamp? Or should I just carry around the receipts for the US made parts?

I found a decent source for most of the kigs but not the bolt cutters and I would prefer not to have to hammer it in...lol

BTW Thank you very much.

[patm41]

well as for a source for the bolt cutters  get a 48" one.. can be found in any pawnshop or you can get a new set from Harbor Freight for about $25.00

as for the US parts.. your going to have 4 anyway as the trigger set cannot be used
wether you install the others its up to you... but that law states 6 parts ..

[masek77]

Dont the bolt cutters have a special adapter on them?

All the ones Ive seen had been refitted with parts for pressing rivets and werent able to cut a bolt anymore.

[patm41]

yes after you modify the cutters they wont cut a bolt any more... thats why you need a CHEAP set ..

[masek77]

I understand.

Do you know who sells the parts for bolt cutters?

[patm41]

you dont need any parts for the bolt cutters ,, you modify them with a grinder like this..
http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/AK/rivet/boltcutters/DSCN1544.JPG

Here is a good builders site ...http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/
it will tell you everything you need to know