AK: to build or not?

[les strat]

I picked up an AKM recently, a WASR 10/63. No mag wobble, straight sights, and reliable as the sun setting. I bought it with intent to put collapsable stock, a few rails, red dot, etc, but after shooting it for a while, I have fallen in love with the traditional look of the wood furniture. I sanded and stained the wood lightly with a feww coats of red Danish oil wet sanded and am thinking about leaving it this way. Maybe add a side mount rail and a red dot reflex cause my close up vision with that short stock is terrible.

I like a tactical SHTF gun, and a longer adjustable stock and red dot sure would help, but I don't want to bastardize it into an AR wannabe at the same time. Plus I hear the plastic handguards can melt on these babies! They do get hot!

Would love to see pics of your AK's or AR's if you got em.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/KevinJenne/AK47.jpg

[Markis82]

I say leave it alone. It is a beauty as is. If you want a "black gun" then buy an AR or like gun. Just my $0.02.

[Bawanna]

^^^^^^^what he said. I'd leave it as is. Nice just the way it is.

Give me wood over tupperware any day.

[Wolvie70]

Everything you want to do can be switched back and relatively inexpensive so why not try it. The only expensive thing you mention is a red dot, that can go on your AR if you go that way.

[les strat]

I am not talking an Eotech or other $500+ red dot. There is one by Leatherwood/Hi Lux I have been looking at that is a short tube 1x30 red dot that gets great reviews. I also like the more open reflex red dots too for fast sight aquisition.

A quick release side mount rail holds great zero compared to ones that mount on the top cover, which in not very stable anyway. I just need something to help me focus better with this particular weapon. I can hit with it, just my eyes can't focus well with these sights.

Right now, I am buying up lots of ammo and need a couple more mags (have 4 now). Hard to beat $4.50/box!

[KoBear]

Looks awesome as is

[les strat]

OK, here's what I ended up with. I used a red dye on the wood and several coats of Danish oil. I really like the red on AK's, but don't like shiny poly finishes on top, so I used a top protective coat of carnauba wax for a more satin look.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/KevinJenne/AKfinished.jpg

[BEARDOG]

That looks great Les!

My AK that I have had for years, I painted the wood flat black right after I got it, It looks tough flat black but sometime I want to strip it and refinish it back to a nice natural wood grain finish.

Right now it is wearing the "tacticool" look, Strikeforce folding stock,grip and forearm+cheap red dot. It does feel so much better with the longer adjustable stock on it. And like Wolvie said it is not that pricey and easy to switch back when you want to. (Sorry no pics handy of it, it was bought pre-digital camera era, and I haven't had the rifle out in a long time)

[gb6491]

That's a nice rifle Les:)
Here's mine:
http://i53.tinypic.com/33u2vkk.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Armadillo]

I built this one from a saiga and a Bulgarian ak74 kit. Was fun and pretty easy to do just takes a little time and effort.
http://www.lubrikit.com/saigaconvert.jpg

[les strat]

That looks great Les!

My AK that I have had for years, I painted the wood flat black right after I got it, It looks tough flat black but sometime I want to strip it and refinish it back to a nice natural wood grain finish.

Right now it is wearing the "tacicool" look, Strikefire folding stock,grip and forearm+cheap red dot. It does feel so much better with the longer adjustable stock on it. And like Wolvie said it is not that pricey and easy to switch back when you want to. (Sorry no pics handy of it, it was bought pre-digital camera era, and I haven't had the rifle out in a long time)

I still might buy some Kvar or Makko poly furniture with a NATO length stock or maybe a collapsible just to have a different wardrobe for her :). A longer LOP would be nice. I am putting a quick disconnecting sidemount scope rail and Leatherwood red dot on (if Mrs. Claus sees fit!;) ). My eyesight ain't what it used to be, especially with these sights. I've also considered a peep sight with front night sight. Might help a little.



That's a nice rifle Les:)
Here's mine:
http://i53.tinypic.com/33u2vkk.jpg
Regards,
Greg

Sweet! Is that a maple handguard or just a blonde finish?

I really have enjoyed this rifle and am in the process of building a nice little collection of ammo for it

[Armadillo]

Meant to add that the Romy wire sidefolding stock like Gregs is a quick and effective addition to a standard rear trunion. Just unscrew the fixed stock and screw on the folder. Makes carrying much easier (fits in a backpack)

[les strat]

I built this one from a saiga and a Bulgarian ak74 kit. Was fun and pretty easy to do just takes a little time and effort.
http://www.lubrikit.com/saigaconvert.jpg

Awesome looking rifle! What kind of brake/flash hider is that? I am about to cut the muzzle nut weld off of mine, but do not want to go with a traditional 47 slanted brake. I like the more uniform brake/hider like you have. Here's why....


Here's my theory: it is known that a rifled weapon that has a badly crowned muzzle suffers in accuracy. So there is no way a slanted brake can't affect accuracy when the escaping gas/pressure is escaping at different rates around the muzzle. I am not saying lack of a brake will turn them into a target match rifle, but physics says it can only hurt accuracy having a slanted brake. Maybe this adds to the notion that AK's are "not for accuracy". Maybe not, but for me, it's going to be no brake or one like yours that is more uniform.

[gb6491]

...Sweet! Is that a maple handguard or just a blonde finish? I don't think it's Maple, but some other light color wood (Birch/Ash?) and with a blond/gold/yellow finish.
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

It looks a lot like that Osage Orange stuff I just got done playing with. Nice looking.

I don't have an AK.:eek: I researched awhile back considering getting one and seem to recall that the Arsenal was the one to start with.

Maybe you AK guys can enlighten this poor dumb farm boy. I'd much prefer the wood furniture, over the black stuff. Just want one that will run till the cows come home, no plan to mount everything but the kitchen sink on it or any of that.

Where do I start? I do have a small stash of ammo for my SKS which I don't think I've ever shot. It's a good one, Russian, milled not stamped, bought it when they said they were gonna ban em. Never wanted one till they said I couldn't have one. Just to be safe I bought 4. Still have one.

[les strat]

It looks a lot like that Osage Orange stuff I just got done playing with. Nice looking.

I don't have an AK.:eek: I researched awhile back considering getting one and seem to recall that the Arsenal was the one to start with.

Maybe you AK guys can enlighten this poor dumb farm boy. I'd much prefer the wood furniture, over the black stuff. Just want one that will run till the cows come home, no plan to mount everything but the kitchen sink on it or any of that.

Where do I start? I do have a small stash of ammo for my SKS which I don't think I've ever shot. It's a good one, Russian, milled not stamped, bought it when they said they were gonna ban em. Never wanted one till they said I couldn't have one. Just to be safe I bought 4. Still have one.

The Aresenal Saigas are good guns and run a bity over $700. You could always look for a pre-ban, but they have gotten pretty high. Mine is a Century Arms Romanian WASR 10/63 and is as reliable as any other AK. It is a bare-bones-stamped reciever-bury it in the mud for 2 months and it'll run -AKM.

The thing is, a few years ago, many of the AK's Century was putting out had canted sights or gas chambers, and they got a bad rap. They were also imported with 10 round single stack receivers and are milled out to take double stack large cap mags. The WASR's lack the "dimples" that secure the large mags, so they have to small pieces of metal welded inside the receiver to secure the mags. They were having a problem with mags being a little too loose, but the WASR's I have handles lately mate with the mag perfectly. From what I have seen and reports here on the net, the problems are much better now. Mine is a great SHTF gun/range toy. I just had to do something with that wood!

Once you get a good running AK, one is as good as the next IMO. Milled, stamped, country or origin......they are all very dependable weapons once you find a shooter. Me thinks its best to pick out your AK by hand rather than ordering as the problematic things I mentioned can be found on all makes of AK's.

[jlottmc]

Aside from the above what else are you looking for to find a good shooter?

[JCP281]

IMO, an AK can be dressed up as a black rifle and look better than an AR... and be more reliable and cheaper to use to boot.

An AK is a nice platform if your into the tacticool thing. go crazy on it, just use QUALITY parts. Thats the key.

[jlottmc]

I just want to find one that shoots somewhere near where I point it.

[gb6491]

Where do I start? I do have a small stash of ammo for my SKS which I don't think I've ever shot. It's a good one, Russian, milled not stamped, bought it when they said they were gonna ban em. Never wanted It hasone till they said I couldn't have one. Just to be safe I bought 4. Still have one.
Joe,
The SKS is an excellent rifle in it's own right (good info:http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php), so get out there and shoot that puppy:) I have a "Cowboys Companion" (Navy Arms offering: 16.5" barrel, rear/side scope mount, and no bayonet) that both the wife and I enjoy shooting.
http://i41.tinypic.com/fo2jdd.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/20u4eoi.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/99ieyd.jpg
Another variant of the AK platform that I like a lot is my Saiga .308
http://i44.tinypic.com/5uenx0.jpg
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Probably a good plan Greg. I did shoot the others that I had but just not this one which is the nicest. Looks a lot like yours, mine has the underfold bayonet and doesn't have the glass on it.

That 308 blows my dress completely over my head. I keep telling myself to stick to handguns but occasionally the little people infiltrate my head and tell me I need more long stuff. I'm a sick man.