My first AK build: using the barrel as a buckign bar? Go or no go

[matchinson14]

So here in NY state it's impossible to find the only safe act compliant AK the saiga sporter so I am going to assemble my own NY safe act compliant AK from A Polish AKM kit. The kit I ordered is from Arms of America and has the nitrided barrel already headspaced and installed into the trunnion. I am a poor just out of college guy building on a budget. I cannot afford a press or proper air hammer for riveting. So I plan on using the barrel as a bucking bar. I have heard mixed opinions on this. It used to be an accepted method though. Whats wrong with it? I am going to slot the rivet so it expands against the barrel easier, and so long as I use enough force the rivet should smush nicely. There's no old rivets in the kit drilled out: all the old stuff has been removed so there's plenty of room for it to expand. What do you guys think? Go for it or no go?

 

[MartinS]

I have not built an AK, but I know a critical part and operation when I see one. It would be great if one could safely streamline the building of an AK as you propose. Whatever you find out here go get a second and third opinion.

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