A Birthday AK

[DaRkWoLf]

My friend is ordering those AK flats right now and Ive just diverted a load of my AR and .454 1911 stashed cash to make dad an AK-74 for his birthday in mid-august. This will be one heck of a unique gift. Talk about feeling charitable :dgrin:

I going to leave him in the dark about it as it is supposed to be a supprise gift. And since I dont have a credit card, I must use the aid of friends.

Ill keep you all up to date on how this project is going. My bet is that the hardest part is going to be getting the flat bent to the right dimensions. Everything else should be a breeze.

It will be an AK-74, 5.45x39. The wood grips will be collectors grade, chances are ill get them here: http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/bstakwood.html if no one answers my wanted ad on GunWantAds. Im topping it with a 3 picatinny rail rreceiver cover and a little Simmons scope. If I can find some way to shove a CAR-15 extra long Flash Suppressor on the end for good measure, that will be on there as well. I will send the bolt and trigger groups to be jewled. Estimated max project cost 500$

Im looking at this for a parts kit, but Im open to cheaper selections, or just the individual parts i need (I dont need furniture included in the kit): http://www.floridagunworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FG&Product_Code=747&Category_Code=_SALEPK

Ill post pics of that flat as soon as it arives.

[Flinter]

Darkwolf.........if you want to build an AK that's one thing, but for just a few dollars more or less you can buy the same gun from Arsenal. They are considered top notch. I think a black synthetic stocked AK from them is going for about $525 at the local gunshop here. Wood stock is probably about the same.

You need a jig to bend the flat and I think a good one is around $150. I could be wrong about that........I looked into it about a year ago, they may have come down some.

It may not have the goodies, but they can be added as money permits.

Ohio Rapid Fire had mags on sale awhile back.......you got 4 in a pouch for 30 bucks.

[Flinter]

If you do decide to build, the Bulgarian parts set is a good idea. They make the best ak's.

[DaRkWoLf]

Flinter,

I examined the Arsenal guns a while back. You do have a point. However, I do really want to make it myself, so its more of a gift from me, not the arsenal company (ordering it and requiring a signiture would also screw over the suprise, and the personal element of the whole thing).

For bending the flat I was just going to use one of my friends metal brakes. Rika told me about the brakes so I figured it was a pretty good idea.

As far as the wood goes, I bet it will take up over 50% of the budget. Im going to be real finicky when I talk to them. Good wood will probably add te flavor that Im looking to put into it to make it slightly more of a "prety piece" and less "anti-human" looking (we all know it dosent really make a difference).

It appears that great minds think alike, I saw those ORF imported mags and pouch. Thats where Im getting em from.

[gripper]

You are pretty classy....Hell the best I was able to do for my Dad was to scare him up a commemorative(WW2)1911A1 when he turned 73 back in '98(Dec 1).Since then,he's made it to 79,and I'm (STILL!) not back on legal (Massachusetts)for firearms status...Oh well,maybe the review board will get around to my case beforeI'M 79.....or Ill just get the hell out when I sell the house.

[gripper]

You are pretty classy....Hell the best I was able to do for my Dad was to scare him up a commemorative(WW2)1911A1 when he turned 73 back in '98(Dec 1).Since then,he's made it to 79,and I'm (STILL!) not back on legal (Massachusetts)for firearms status...Oh well,maybe the review board will get around to my case beforeI'M 79.....or Ill just get the hell out when I finish what I have to.Hey ,New Hampshire (for now) is still a better place for gun ownership so far....

[DaRkWoLf]

The flat and rails are in! My friend just called me. Im having everything sent to my friends place so that its a true supprise. Must be the best birthday plan Ive ever concocted. Ill put up pics tommorow after I get it from him.

I found a good set of wood that costs 80$, Ill order that after Im totally doone with the receiver.

Next on the to buy list is the front trunion and the bolt group I guess. I have to get the rivet set too.

Im thinking of going wih the 16" 5.45 barrel from K-Var. Pricey for what it is, but It looks good.

[brass hammer]

hey FRIEND! have you 'studied' on hardening/tempering that lower reciever?
as it is a 'MUST' . the flats are shipped 'soft', i had the hots to build a akm-65? i'm sorry,but i'm of the mind set that your name is put on a 'list'[hell, i'm still mobilizing for the CLINTON/GORE FORCES to KEEP RAMMIN' TANKS]

just my .02,,,,and i'll shut-up.

[DaRkWoLf]

Heres some pics of that flat and the rails. Im forming it and hardening it on Saturday at a friends shop.

[RIKA]

Hmmm. That looks good. Will be interested to see the outcome. Now, how are you going to harden it? Seems like you would need a heat treat oven. Don't think a torch would do the job.

RIKA

[DaRkWoLf]

I was thinking torch, but Ill look into ovens now.

Heres the bluepriont im working off of, yes i know its for a 47, but I am unable to find a 74s. It should still work, as my rails appear to be of the sufficient length that the 74 uses.

[RIKA]

DW, the reason I said I didn't think a torch would do it would be the difficulty of getting that large piece of metal up to temp and holding the same temp all over until you could quench it. Also you have to get the correct Rockwell RC. You don't want 58 or 59 like a knife but maybe RC40 so it will be tough and long wearing. See if there is a heat treating company in your town who can do the job. Oh, be sure to block up your frame so it won't warp.

RIKA

[DaRkWoLf]

Will do Rika. Thanks.

I owe you one.

[krept]

ditto absolutely on the heat treatment using an oven and professionals. Do you know what kind of steel it is? You'll need to soak the entire piece at critical (actual temp varies depending on steel type) then probably ramp it down slowly to certain temperatures, holding for a specific length of time at each level. Then you still might need to temper to bring the hardness down like RIKA said.

Absolute key is to know steel type. Unless it's close to simple tool steel (which it probably is not) then the heat treatment is going to be complex.

[Flinter]

Darkwolf.........who did you get your flat from? Is it OOW? Tapco? Are you planning to heat treat the entire reciever or just the pin holes?

[DaRkWoLf]

Its a Tapco. I was planning on doing the entire receiver.

[Magnum88C]

You'll have to properly heat treat, probably up to Rc55, then, reheat it, and draw it back to whatever the spec for the AK is.
You can't do it accurately with a torch, either the initial heat treat, nor the annealing. Send it off to heat treat.
I've done a lot of business with these guys:Suncoast Heat Treat, Inc. (http://www.heattreatinc.com/main.html)

They have a place near you
3181 SW 15th Street
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
Ph (954) 968-6200

[DaRkWoLf]

Magnum 88,

Thank you very much. I owe you one. I will send it to them as soon as I form it.

Now heres the fun part I just found out, I just started marking all my measurements I need to accurately brake the thing, and its cutting REALLY close to the holes right behind the mag well, and the bottom will miss contact with the right side rail by less tham a millimeter. How close can I brake to those holes before they crack along form the ride? Dad wont let me gt hs cammera so I cant show you so Ill use numbers. The left brake line is exactly .07" off of the 2 magwell holes on that side and there is a rivet area that is .1" off of that line.

Can I make it or what do I need to do?

[Flinter]

I'm not sure about the Tapcos, but I know OOW only heat treats the pin holes. That's on their finished rifles. The level of heat treating depends on the thickness of the reciever, 1.6 mm (sound right??) are ok with only treating the holes, thinner ones aren't. I can't remember........but if you are going to treat the whole reciever then I guess it's irrelevent anyways.

[ABCF]

The plans you are using are for an AKM, which is, functionally, the same as an AK74, so there shouldn't be any issues. The AK-47 used a milled steel receiver which started out as a six pound block & was machined down to a 2 pound receiver. The originator of the blueprint has it marked incorrectly.;)

[DaRkWoLf]

Bad News:

My friend decided to go out of town and I couldnt use his brake this weekend.

Good news:

Mom essentially gave me her house (I shant disclose reasons why). This makes it potentially used for three things: partys, the dogs living area, and a large garage that will soon be used to accomidate lots of arcane devices to assemble and maintain weapons. It makes me want to move back to palm beach so I can stay there full time... divorce is such a bitch (especially when it was me who wanted to move with dad)...

I shall soon put in my own damn sheet metal brake.

[RIKA]

Careful with those arcane devices. Glad you got a house though.

RIKA