Bored with AR's, I started on my first AK project. I have other AK's, but always intimidated by doing anything to them other than zeroing.
It started life as a complete Kalashnikov USA KR103 side folder with CHF barrel. Fired a mag through it, it functions smooth and reliable, does not seem over gassed, decent trigger for factory AK. Similar to an Arsenal feaux 2 stage. I decided it was worth keeping, and maybe do some work to. Wanted to blend some old school styling with new school functionality.
Parts added were:
•KUSA branded RS Regulate handguard. Fitting was easy and took minutes. The extra fun was while trying to line up the retainer, "U" bracket of the handguard, and the heat shield. 4 hands were not enough, and the hardest part of the project.
•KUSA oversized charging handle. I dimpled charging handle, buried set screw with blue loctite. We will see how it holds up.
• Optics were the Primary Arms 3X Micro Prism direct mounted in a RS Regulate side mount. I have a similar set up with full size PA prism on my Arsenal, and I quite like it. Both have good eye boxes.
• Blue Force Gear AK sling with wire loop mount.
•Streamlight TLR RM2 mounted in MOE rail. Bought this thinking it was just a light, turns out it has a laser. I have a aluminum rail on order and will be doing a 50 yard zero on it unless there is a compelling argument to zero at another distance.
• Cheese grater upper handguard.
•Rear sight leaf has had the "U" notch mod. Basically use a small file and open it up some, while not making it any deeper. Inside corners of notch rounded.
• Icing on the cake! I dropped off a box of magazines to local Cerakote guy. He looked at me puzzled. I said these were for practice, I want Fakelite. Don't worry if it's not right, don't bother stripping the mag, just move on to the next one and try again. Once done, I picked the one I liked the best out of 6. At that point I dropped of forearm, grip and stock.
Things learned:
•AK100 series folding stock sling loops are hardened. You will not get it out intact. I now have an unintentional Magpul QD socket installed.
•This forearm with "compatible" heat shield is an exercise in patience. 3 hours of labor, 7340 cuss words and having to hold my mouth just right finally got it how I like it. Once done, I was very happy with the results, but unsure if I would elect to follow the same path again.
Weather permitting, tomorrow is zeroing day.
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? I'm all ears. This was my first Pimp my AK project. I would like to do another. I just found out about the less commonly known green bakelite!
It started life as a complete Kalashnikov USA KR103 side folder with CHF barrel. Fired a mag through it, it functions smooth and reliable, does not seem over gassed, decent trigger for factory AK. Similar to an Arsenal feaux 2 stage. I decided it was worth keeping, and maybe do some work to. Wanted to blend some old school styling with new school functionality.
Parts added were:
•KUSA branded RS Regulate handguard. Fitting was easy and took minutes. The extra fun was while trying to line up the retainer, "U" bracket of the handguard, and the heat shield. 4 hands were not enough, and the hardest part of the project.
•KUSA oversized charging handle. I dimpled charging handle, buried set screw with blue loctite. We will see how it holds up.
• Optics were the Primary Arms 3X Micro Prism direct mounted in a RS Regulate side mount. I have a similar set up with full size PA prism on my Arsenal, and I quite like it. Both have good eye boxes.
• Blue Force Gear AK sling with wire loop mount.
•Streamlight TLR RM2 mounted in MOE rail. Bought this thinking it was just a light, turns out it has a laser. I have a aluminum rail on order and will be doing a 50 yard zero on it unless there is a compelling argument to zero at another distance.
• Cheese grater upper handguard.
•Rear sight leaf has had the "U" notch mod. Basically use a small file and open it up some, while not making it any deeper. Inside corners of notch rounded.
• Icing on the cake! I dropped off a box of magazines to local Cerakote guy. He looked at me puzzled. I said these were for practice, I want Fakelite. Don't worry if it's not right, don't bother stripping the mag, just move on to the next one and try again. Once done, I picked the one I liked the best out of 6. At that point I dropped of forearm, grip and stock.
Things learned:
•AK100 series folding stock sling loops are hardened. You will not get it out intact. I now have an unintentional Magpul QD socket installed.
•This forearm with "compatible" heat shield is an exercise in patience. 3 hours of labor, 7340 cuss words and having to hold my mouth just right finally got it how I like it. Once done, I was very happy with the results, but unsure if I would elect to follow the same path again.
Weather permitting, tomorrow is zeroing day.
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? I'm all ears. This was my first Pimp my AK project. I would like to do another. I just found out about the less commonly known green bakelite!
