Is it reasonably easy and/or worth it to build an AK?

[Racinfan83]

Wondering how hard it is to build a 7.62x39 Semi-Auto AK? Can someone with reasonable mechanical ability and normal tools do it? I have read that there are "kits" that you can buy. Can someone point me to where I can buy one?
I would like to have an AK - but not willing to pay what they want right now. Wouldn't mind building one from a kit if it was cheaper and safely doable.

 

[HexHead]

I saw a video where a guy built one out of a shovel, so it must be fairly easy.

After all, they also build them in caves in Pakistan.

 

[rcmodel]

It is not especially hard, but it's not especially easy either.

But I doubt it is no longer much cheaper.
All the cheap & good parts kits were long gone about 5-10 years ago.

http://www.legionarms.com/categories/AK47-Parts-Kits/
http://ak-builder.com/

Today, a parts kits costs as much as a working rifle cost three months ago.
Then you need a receiver, 9 American made parts to comply with 922r, a barrel press, and the tools and skill to assemble it and get it to work.

Just before the recent craziness for the last two months, you could buy a working AK-47 for $450 bucks.

rc

 

[9w1911]

part kits are way too expensive now, just recently at a show, a Ak kit for 399.00 and 60.00 for a stamped reciever with rails but the rails were not welded or riveted yet so you had to do that, in all just not sure how much your time is worth to make one and usually it takes a few receivers before you get it correct, needless to say getting the head spacing correct etc. it seems like a fun project but i want to wait to se if part kits get lower.

 

[dcarch]

Just before the recent craziness for the last two months, you could buy a working AK-47 for $450 bucks.

Truth. I was fortunate enough to score an excellent converted Saiga for a very fair price a month or two before the panic. But I also remember last summer when Classic Arms had them for 499 apiece. How things have changed...

 

[briansmithwins]

No.

AKs aren't like Legos (or ARs). Lot of parts require fitting and you need specialized tools that aren't cheap. Back when parts kits were under $200 you could save some if you were building a few rifles. Now? I bought complete rifles.

BSW

 

[Sam1911]

Several questions being asked here:

1) Can someone with some tool-using experience and skill build one? Sure. I built my first -- and the first I'd ever fired -- in my garage, mostly with just a big hammer. Still works great.

It isn't an AR (assemble and shoot). You're drilling, pressing, driving, hammering, riveting, and possibly bending and welding depending on which way you go. You'd better be pretty darned handy. If you can rebuild an engine, you can do this. If you're a bit uncomfortable installing kitchen cabinets or swapping out your car's alternator -- maybe not. Call it "4 wrenches out of 5."

2) Is this reasonable and inexpensive. Not really, any more. If you want to say you did it (which is fine!) -- sure, go for it. If you just want an inexpensive AK, no way. Those days ended about 7 years ago.

 

[pseudonymity]

You are not going to really save much money at this point, and an AK is not a particularly simple project, although it is certainly not impossible. You will need more than hand tools and a bench like you would with an AR or 10/22, while you could get away without a lathe or mill, you probably would want a drill press and hydraulic press if you are doing receiver and barrel work.

 

[Racinfan83]

Good points all! Don't think I wanna go that route then. I could DO the "4 wrenches out of 5" part - but I don't have all the equipment it sounds like I would need. No 1 - I used to be a good welder - but I don't have one. Lathe? Nope. Drill Press? Yep - but its a p.o.s. Hydraulic press? Nope. I'm out....
Thanks for the input! Guess I will just wait til the prices come back down and buy one I like then....

 

[barnbwt]

If you ever get the itch again, check out weaponsguild.com . It is likely you can find a nearby member through that site willing and able to help you out if you don't possess all the knowledge, skill, and tools to do the job currently. Sometimes firearms can only be obtained by building them (the PE57 I'll be working on for example) and sometimes people just like a challenge. The upside and downside to making it yourself is it can be as good as you are capable of--maybe better than Century drunk monkeys, maybe not (but probably so )

It's definitely a niche project, and not very popular with most gunowners (which is why I don't feel very bad for directing you to another excellent forum ). Since looking into the "building" hobby, I'm suprised there aren't more build threads on the forum here at any given time (perhaps all the people saying "it's a waste of time and not worth it?" )

The only kits worth building for the money these days seem to be semi-auto Suomi re-welds; but that's only because they can be made from junk at Lowe's already

TCB

 

[GCMkc]

Check this guy out on Youtube. Has a lot of informative videos. Building an AK is definitely harder than an AR.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDarkKnightBuilds/videos?view=0

 

[carbine85]

My son and I are in the process of building 2 AK74's on Nodak Spud receivers. I decided to buy the tools with the intention of building a couple more and selling one or two later. With the market the way it is I could sell one AK and pay for the kits and most of the tools. I plan on selling the tools later. The receivers still sell for less than $100 and I noticed that the barrels we bought for $90 are selling for $130.00. I have seen cheaper receivers that need the rails welded. I called a couple of machine shops that could do it for less than $50. One place said he would heat treat it also and has done several for customers.

 

[Sam1911]

Carbine, be very careful making statements that you have a plan of building ANY gun to sell.

While you are allowed to sell a gun you've built, if you so choose ... again, LATER, building guns in order to sell them (to recoup your costs or whatever) is completely illegal without a federal firearms license as a manufacturer.

 

[dvdcrr]

You can still get a reasonable AK. Look at your local boards the local guys are not as apt to try and hammer their friends and neighbors. Just get the word out that you want an ak and one will come up. Somebody is always looking to move a wasr or tantal to move up to an AR. In 7.62 right now I am really looking at the 556r.

 

[zoom6zoom]

If your plan was to build only one, no way is it worth it to build one yourself.
I got started back when kits were under a Franklin, but still I could have bought several rifles for what I have invested in special tooling and equipment. It's more about the satisfaction of having done it yourself, and having variants not available otherwise., rather than saving money.

If still interested, check out forums such as weaponsguild or gunco and see if there's someone in your area who's got the equipment and is interested in helping out a noob.

All but two in this pic are homebuilds, most built on bent flats.

 

[Jim Mac]

my first build was a couple years ago. The matching barrel kits were sky high so I went for a matching milled M64 yugo kit. Basically found a guy on gunco that made the repair panels and after some measuring and careful cutting. I did a reweld and everything lined up. I went and bought a matching PSL kit (above left in the pic) Ive got everything for the build, just havent gotten around to it. Picked up a mismatched romy and a matching maadi crutchfolder kit and 1 barrel for the next build. Then last friday a guy local was selling a romanian G matching kit with barrel. Price was $340, Price was a bit high but not in todays prices. I have a demilled crushed reciever I cut a repair panel out. I didnt feel like trying to remove the barrel pin etc. So I decided Im going to first try this as a stamped reweld. If it doesnt work, Im going to demill it, pull the barrel and plug everything into a polish reciever shell I was going to use on the egyptian kit.
With the price of the kit $340, plus the trigger parts, $30. crushed rec. $15 US pistol grip $15, US brake, $12 and since basically I built the reciever I have my 6 US parts in the gun. and the price will be about 412 bucks. Not bad for a romanian G AK. I just hope the reweld works. jim

 

[JHenry]

i looked into this for awhile and to make it worth your while you need to build more than just one. From what i gather even if you buy a complete receiver(by far your best option, as bending jigs and a heat treating set up will set you back a good bit) you still need to spend a pretty big chunk of cash to get to a finished AK. You will need a 10-12 ton press, riveting tools, and a drill press is a good idea as well.

With the price of kits and barrels and lack of availabilty of receivers, building an ak at this point in time wont be cheap or easy.

As far as building goes there is a wealth of information on each individual step of putting on together on the internet.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Good points all! Don't think I wanna go that route then. I could DO the "4 wrenches out of 5" part - but I don't have all the equipment it sounds like I would need. No 1 - I used to be a good welder - but I don't have one. Lathe? Nope. Drill Press? Yep - but its a p.o.s. Hydraulic press? Nope. I'm out....
Thanks for the input! Guess I will just wait til the prices come back down and buy one I like then....

I've got the lathe, the hydraulic press (10 ton) and a slough of eager coworkers that might be on board if you change your mind.

 

[dmckean44]

Get yourself a flat, a parts kit and compliance parts and then find a local AK build party.

 

[rdhood]

Get yourself a flat, a parts kit and compliance parts and then find a local AK build party.

This. IF you can find a person/group locally that has the tooling, you can almost certainly build one for less than you can buy one. But it would only be worth your while if you don't have to tool up (especially for one), and if you could get some expert help.

I built three. By the time I was through with the third one, I couldn't stand the mistakes made on the first one any more, and rebuilt it. That is why you need someone to guide you with only one... to avoid the mistakes and pitfalls of being a newbie.