Author Topic: Rebarreling AKM to 35 Remington (Read 458 times)

BattleRifleG3 · « **on:** November 16, 2004, 10:53:35 PM »

It's been done, pressures are much lower than the original round, and there'senough space in the action to fit it in. I was hoping to take an old levergun barrel, say from Numrich, a Winchester or Marlin barrel, and fit it to the AKM trunion. I'm wondering whether it would be a better idea to thread the trunion for it or turn down the barrel threads and press&pin it the usual AK way.

Any thoughts on which would be better, and where the threading of the trunion (and perhaps headspacing even) could be done affordably if that were the way to go.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2004, 05:37:44 AM »

I believe threading would be the best way to go.. and probably the easiest, especially with the increase in chamber diameter reducing the thickness of the shank walls. The problem will be the gas port size and location. The location I suppose is kinda set in steel but the port size will have a definite affect on function. The AK's are a very adaptable design and this may well work although the length of the 35 is quite a bit longer and it is a lot larger in cross section. Have you tried the 35's in the magazine? As to a cheap gunsmith I have no idea. Your wanting a proto type or one of a kind thing and on the cheap. That may be hard to do. Looking for someone who has already done one MAY be the cheapest way to go. Unless of course it was a horror and the smith refuses to do another..

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2004, 02:26:03 PM »

I actually thought about it a bit and think I'll turn down the barrel smooth to fit the trunion. The pressures of 35 Rem are much lower than 7.62x39mm. And I think the barrel actually has more material to spare than the trunion.

Another reason, believe it or not, is that the trunion costs about the same as the new barrel.
The width of the case is roughly the same, though the X39 is much more tapered. It would certainly not feed in an AK magazine. I may well have to design a mag for it, or drastically modify an existing one. Maybe, just maybe an AR-15 mag will work. Maybe. I'll have to try it when I get the chance.

Depending on the barrel thickness and gas block size, I may end up making my own gas block.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2004, 06:43:28 PM »

Perhaps modifying the mag to feed from a nearly single stack configuration would work. Narrow the feed lips and alter the shape of the follower to something like a 45ACP magazine.. How about a stainless cup point set screw threaded into the barrel/gas block assembly and drilled for the gas port. Would allow altering the port size to adjust function..maybe even a proportioning valve like the L1A1..

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2004, 02:54:44 PM »

It just hit me! I have an AR mag that never worked right. I could flatten the sides in order to get the little bit of extra length needed, then maybe stretch it forward at the expense of width as you suggested.

I had a variety of ideas about the gas port myself. I think I'll play that one by ear.
I'll see if I can get my AR mag adapted soon, if so I'll get it to the gun show and test fit 35 Rem ammo in it. If that works out, then I'll pretty much have every detail nailed. I'm feeling really good about this. I think I'll go model my new design for a receiver on Pro-Engineer. :grin:

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2004, 08:10:59 PM »

Project is well under way. Did some ballistic measurements to find the most important psrts of the pressure curve, which will help design the right gas system.