Building a faux-Krinkov

[Ian]

About once a year or so, I get a real craving for a Krinkov. It usually fades in a week or two, but it always comes back eventually. Well, I haven't indulged myself in a long time, so I decided to finally succumb to my Krinkov craving.

However, I want one in 7.62, not 5.45, because all my other AKs are in 7.62 and I don't want to add a new caliber to my ammo stock (or have to buy new mags). The only available 7.62 Krinks are Yugo M92s, which have underfolding stocks. Ick. I want an AK-100 style sidefolder that will give me a nice solid cheek weld. And I don't want to deal with a virgin kit.

So here's what I came up with:

Take one of the Romy G kits I still have, and send it to this gentleman to have the barrel, piston, gas tube, and handguards cut down to 9.5".

Find a triangle sidefolder and trunnion for sale on one of the boards.

Get an NDS-1KP receiver from NoDak Spud, which is their 7.62 receiver cut for a trangle sidefolder stock.

File a Form 1 with the ATF to manufacture an SBR (on a trust).

Build the gun, and replace the rear sight with a LaRue IronDot.

Giggle like an evil madman at the incredible coolness to the resulting gun.

 

[PTK]

I can't offer much input, but thanks for that link! It shows very clearly the mods needed.

 

[Sam1911]

You will need to drill an extra hole in bottom of the Romy front trunion to allow the (gawdawful hard-to-install) front side-folder latch retaining pin to seat securely.

But I think the rest of it would work.

And, I believe that if you're registering this as an SBR -- you're "creating" a Title II firearm and thus will not be held to the 922(r) silliness.

I believe this is right, though, of course, you will need to check. IIRC this is how a friend of mine built his AKS-74U kit -- and it's GORGEOUS!

-Sam

 

[DMK]

Can the cool Kinkov rear sight be adapted to a regular AK sight block?

 

[Sam1911]

Can the cool Kinkov rear sight be adapted to a regular AK sight block?

Not that I've ever seen. The AKS-74U rear sight block is way shorter than an AKM rear sight block. The rear sight sits on the dust cover which is permanently attached to the sight block with a hinge. Lifting the dust cover cams back the pin which retains the gas tube. The parts are a whole system that works together. I suppose you could hack up a real -74U parts kit and then tig weld the rear sight onto an AKM dust cover, but it wouldn't be as tight and accurate as the original set-up.

And the angels weep when a really good parts kit dies...

And, while the -74U type rear sights are cool, they're still rudimentary. Not much better than an AKM's sights.

-Sam

 

[akolleth]

Big thing to think about is sight radius. Your sight radius length coming from the RSB of a G kit to a 9.5 inch barrel is horrible on a good day.

This is going to effect your shooting at anything past extremely close range distance. There is a reason they put the rear sight on a krink on the dust tube shifted back about 6 inches, to gain more sight radius.

IMO If its going to be a fun range toy then by all means go for it. But if you want it as a serious firearm, you really need to find a solution to the sight radius length.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

Since when is an AK for long range accuracy??? Kruschev is turning in his grave!

7.62 krinkov sounds awesome, go for it!

 

[Prince Yamato]

You could probably send it to Red Stick Guns and they could add an HK style rear sight to your dust cover.

 

[Sam1911]

This is going to effect your shooting at anything past extremely close range distance. There is a reason they put the rear sight on a krink on the dust tube shifted back about 6 inches, to gain more sight radius.

Hold on, let's not go overboard here. The AKS-74U rear sight arrangement places the sight only 2.5" or so inches back from the location of the AKM type rear sights.

Here's the original version:

Here's the short version:

And, the reason they moved it back WASN'T sight radius concerns, but rather that, when they shrunk the rear sight block to make the gun as compact as possible, there was no longer room on it for the standard AK rear sight.

IMO If its going to be a fun range toy then by all means go for it. But if you want it as a serious firearm, you really need to find a solution to the sight radius length.

The "Krinkovs" or AKS-74U, etc. are VERY serious firearms. But they aren't battle rifles, and really aren't even Assault Rifle/Carbines. They're built as PDWs -- Personal Defense Weapons. They are closer to an M1 Carbine in purpose than an M16. More firepower than a pistol and probably twice the effective range. But, for shots out to 100 yds or so, you don't need better sights than these came with.

Not many of us rely on these weapons for anything like their intended use -- short-range defensive use easily stowed and deployed from vehicles, aircraft, tanks, and such. Not being in a military situation, legally defensible shootings happen at very close range where our handguns really shine and are even more portable than a "Krinkov." So, any of these weapons is likely to be a "range toy" -- nothing wrong with that. I don't recall that the OP was suggesting that he'd be buying one to make 200 yd. head shots. If you want to build one out of an AKM, it will still have a longer sight radius than your 1911 or even an 8" barreled revolver. You'll be able to make reasonable hits with it. No reason to go screwing around with the sights that are on it.

-Sam

 

[DMK]

Ian hasn't commented further since the OP, but he apparently plans to put a red dot on this gun, so I guess the iron sight issues are moot.

 

[Ian]

Yep, my solution to the sight radius issue is an IronDot.