Just a place to talk about Kalashnikov rifles

[Podmonkey]

Also one company I'm now getting interested in checking out is Meridian Defense.


Id settle for an Arsenal

Meridian Defense seems pretty top notch. Arsenals are overpriced for what they are.
I am trying to remember how much I paid for my AK74 back in 2005. It wasn't much, I bought it from a pawn shop on a whim after one of my buddies told me how cheap 7n6 was. It was a large shop with a proper gun shop in the back and they had barrels with milsurp rifles standing up in them. In one of those barrels was that AK74, I think it was less than $400 as I remember paying for it and a couple crates of 7n6 after payday and I had money leftover. This being in my Army days when I could blow a whole months worth of pay and not worry about it not having any real expenses and free quarters and food.
Rifle in question was a no name Bulgy parts build but it was put together extremely well, rivets were perfect, front sight assembly was straight and the fit was excellent. I shot the living daylights out of that rifle, went through one entire crate in one weekend just bumpfiring away like a maniac. I really miss that thing.

 

[Will556]

Meridian Defense definitely makes some sweet builds. I also know CW Gunwerks has been really killing it lately and has been putting out some impressive looking stuff. I like when they take a Zenitco PT-1 Stock and covert it to a brace with a Gear Head Works Tailhook Brace. Looks badass. If you check out Bandito Bill on Facebook or Instagram you’ll find a bunch of CW Gunwerks builds there.

 

[Podmonkey]

Ok.. so now I kinda want to maybe see if we/i can figure out AK tiers, similar to the dozens of AR manufacturer tier memes that im sure most of us have seen if not here is one someone made (not saying this is the correct list or that this list is even wrong)

View attachment 84322

But I wonder what the AK version of this would be.

Like mid tier be Arsenal and high tier who knows?

That tier list is absolutely ridiculous, its not so simple. As far as I know of the "operator tier" only LMT, Knights Armament and HK are in service in NATO. Where is FN? They are the US contractor. And I think BCM is a "mid tier" manufacturer charging "high tier" prices.
Noveske doesn't do anything that puts them above the "high tier" manufacturers unless you count their fancy billet receivers, but that is cosmetic, same goes for LaRue.
What that list really is is the author's perceived "range props" hierarchy.
Frankly I think Centurion Arms deserves to sit among the best for a fighting rifle. If they were selling rifles back when I first moved to PA that is what I would have ended up with. Not that I am at all displeased with my Daniel Defense. And on that note while I own a DD I try very hard to not be snobbish about it because the name alone doesn't mean anything. There are a multitude of excellent AR manufacturers out there, some charge less and some charge more. Why I have come to really like Daniel Defense is they offer a quality product, one of the best barrels in the business, excellent QA and excellent customer service.

 

[Edwardteach72]

That tier list is absolutely ridiculous, its not so simple. As far as I know of the "operator tier" only LMT, Knights Armament and HK are in service in NATO. Where is FN? They are the US contractor. And I think BCM is a "mid tier" manufacturer charging "high tier" prices.
Noveske doesn't do anything that puts them above the "high tier" manufacturers unless you count their fancy billet receivers, but that is cosmetic, same goes for LaRue.
What that list really is is the author's perceived "range props" hierarchy.
Frankly I think Centurion Arms deserves to sit among the best for a fighting rifle. If they were selling rifles back when I first moved to PA that is what I would have ended up with. Not that I am at all displeased with my Daniel Defense. And on that note while I own a DD I try very hard to not be snobbish about it because the name alone doesn't mean anything. There are a multitude of excellent AR manufacturers out there, some charge less and some charge more. Why I have come to really like Daniel Defense is they offer a quality product, one of the best barrels in the business, excellent QA and excellent customer service.

Thats why I said I wasn't saying that list is true or not. It was just the one that I was actually able to find

 

[Edwardteach72]

Meridian Defense definitely makes some sweet builds. I also know CW Gunwerks has been really killing it lately and has been putting out some impressive looking stuff. I like when they take a Zenitco PT-1 Stock and covert it to a brace with a Gear Head Works Tailhook Brace. Looks badass. If you check out Bandito Bill on Facebook or Instagram you’ll find a bunch of CW Gunwerks builds there. View attachment 84327

I really love seeing CW Gunwerks on IG and thought about sending my Saiga to them for them to go over and finish up my conversion (minus the barrel)

 

[Will556]

I really love seeing CW Gunwerks on IG and thought about sending my Saiga to them for them to go over and finish up my conversion (minus the barrel)

I’m sending them my AK to build. I had originally planned on a different company doing it, but after seeing how much work CW Gunwerks is putting out and they have great customer service...I knew I wanted to go with them.

 

[Jcp123]

The only reason 5.45 was ever a thing over here was due to the extremely low cost of imported 7n6 milsurp ammo.
5.56 is otherwise superior, in particular in terms of cartridge variety. For 5.45 you have military FMJ and a small amount of Hornady V-Max.
In 5.56 you have everything from 40gr varmint grenades, two varieties of cheap military fmj and a whole rainbow of match and SD ammunition. 5.56x45 is one of the most flexible centerfire cartridges around. Once 7n6 imports were sadly banned the 5.45's reason for being disappeared. And let me be clear, I enjoyed the hell out of my AK-74 and it's $174, 2160 round ammo crates. Those 420 round LC cans went for, what, $90 back in 2005? The only round cheaper than 7n6 was .22lr!

Yeah I’ve been coming around to the little bore guns lately. I’m not saying that I would really compare 5.56 to 5.45, but I’ve always had a thing for AKs and having one in 5.45 just sounds like a ball of fun to me.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Yeah I’ve been coming around to the little bore guns lately. I’m not saying that I would really compare 5.56 to 5.45, but I’ve always had a thing for AKs and having one in 5.45 just sounds like a ball of fun to me.

Hell I wish 5.56 aks were more prevalent, if we had a solid US supply chain of mags and bolts

 

[Podmonkey]

Well, 5.56 AKs are indeed becoming more prevalent even if they have been available in one form or another all along for some time.
A 5.56 AK gives much the same impression as a 5.45 one.

 

[Edwardteach72]

update. Blue Force Gear "Standard Ak" Sling in OD green of course

I will say as far as NY "compliant" guns go i don't "hate" this set up so far.. is it good, do I love it.. meh and nope. Does it work yea weirdly it does

I can get to all the controls without any modifications or changing my grip in any way that I wouldn't with a standard set up, is it as comfortable as a stock and pistol grip no but its not uncomfortable as other options...



I still need to get a WML, and optic

 

[Will556]

update. Blue Force Gear "Standard Ak" Sling in OD green of course

I will say as far as NY "compliant" guns go i don't "hate" this set up so far.. is it good, do I love it.. meh and nope. Does it work yea weirdly it does

I can get to all the controls without any modifications or changing my grip in any way that I wouldn't with a standard set up, is it as comfortable as a stock and pistol grip no but its not uncomfortable as other options...

View attachment 84486

I still need to get a WML, and optic

Now send it to CW Gunwerks to install the KOP. Also time to upgrade to a modern rail system. Maybe even a new ALG Enhanced trigger. Do it now!

 

[Edwardteach72]

Now send it to CW Gunwerks to install the KOP. Also time to upgrade to a modern rail system. Maybe even a new ALG Enhanced trigger. Do it now!

Yes the ALG trigger is something I've been chasing for well since it first came out.. but fuck the good one is always out of stock.

As for optic mounting I've decided on the Attero Arms "Bravo Mount". Seems really solid and inexpensive which is the whole idea around this rifle.. get it up to an actual solid fighting rifle but do so on a budget (while I am going with a Holosun 403b, which is an optic I would not, never, go to "war" with, it will get the job done until i get up to the point when I can justify a the cost of an aimpoint)

Also even found a more budget friendly handguard similar to the RS regulate 7" mlok handguard

 

[Will556]

Figured I’d throw this post in here too since it’s for AK’s. I ordered some more parts for my AK build...ALG Enhanced Trigger, ALG Recoil Spring, ALG Braided Trigger Spring, Zenitco RP-1 Extended Charging Handle, Krebs Custom Mk VI Enhanced Safety, DoubleStar FSM-AR folding adapter, KNS AKM Adjustable Piston. Also grabbed an AKFST Front Sight Tool. Should make for a sweet build with all my other parts I already have.

 

[BDinPutnam]

That braided trigger spring is an interesting idea. Whats the idea behind it, durability and consistency?

Not really an AK guy though definitely on the list even if not in the safe yet.

 

[Will556]

That braided trigger spring is an interesting idea. Whats the idea behind it, durability and consistency?

Not really an AK guy though definitely on the list even if not in the safe yet.

ALG also makes the “High Energy” spring but with the increased power also comes the increased resistance of the action working when it is resetting the trigger. So it would actually create the need for increased force to cycle the bolt carrier. I don’t see an issue ever arising with the braided hammer spring’s power since there aren’t really any issues with standard trigger springs “power”. As for braided springs, the concept acts as a harmonic damper and energy absorber by allowing the springs to flex separately from each other. This flex helps displace excess energy which decreases the chance of spring failure and assists with making the spring more reliable and also increases the springs longevity of life.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Cool, thanks. Because physics, that's why.

 

[Will556]

Cool, thanks. Because physics, that's why.

 

[Will556]

Them pushing the envelop is the best thing right now to show how stupid the whole NFA is

The triangle brace is cool for it to look old school and try and stay nostalgic, but it’s definitely not the best brace. Neither is a triangle stock for that matter. When it comes to stocks/braces, adjustability is the most key factor. Everyone is built differently and requires a different length of pull. That’s why I’m going with the SBA3 on my AK.

 

[Will556]

My ALG trigger and spring came in today.

 

[Edwardteach72]

The triangle brace is cool for it to look old school and try and stay nostalgic, but it’s definitely not the best brace. Neither is a triangle stock for that matter. When it comes to stocks/braces, adjustability is the most key factor. Everyone is built differently and requires a different length of pull. That’s why I’m going with the SBA3 on my AK.

Question (because this just came up with me and some friends)

Why 3 over the 4?

 

[Will556]

Question (because this just came up with me and some friends)

Why 3 over the 4?

I already have the SBA4 on my 10.5” AR and wanted to try out the SBA3. The main reason for going with the SBA3 instead of the SBA4 is the location of the QD mounts on the brace. The SBA3 has them in a more traditional location being the rear section of the brace. The SBA4 has them far forward on the brace which can become slightly cumbersome when the rear portion of the sling is mounted to the QD on the outside (primary hand side) of the brace.

 

[Edwardteach72]

I already have the SBA4 on my 10.5” AR and wanted to try out the SBA3. The main reason for going with the SBA3 instead of the SBA4 is the location of the QD mounts on the brace. The SBA3 has them in a more traditional location being the rear section of the brace. The SBA4 has them far forward on the brace which can become slightly cumbersome when the rear portion of the sling is mounted to the QD on the outside (primary hand side) of the brace.

Right on. Buddy is building a pistol and he asked why one over the other and that's literally what I told him.

But he plans on using a qd endplate

 

[Will556]

Right on. Buddy is building a pistol and he asked why one over the other and that's literally what I told him.

But he plans on using a qd endplate

You’re not going to go wrong with either one honesty. Even though I stated that the QD mounts on the SBA4 are not ideal, it still hasn’t stopped me from running it and I haven’t taken it off my pistol yet. The SBA4 is definitely a little sturdier. I’ll definitely be picking up the Lunar Concepts SlitFix for the SBA3 just to keep it’s nice and tight. Which style QD end plate is he going to go with?

 

[Edwardteach72]

You’re not going to go wrong with either one honesty. Even though I stated that the QD mounts on the SBA4 are not ideal, it still hasn’t stopped me from running it and I haven’t taken it off my pistol yet. The SBA4 is definitely a little sturdier. I’ll definitely be picking up the Lunar Concepts SlitFix for the SBA3 just to keep it’s nice and tight. Which style QD end plate is he going to go with?

He hasn't said. Just said end plate lol

 

[Will556]

He hasn't said. Just said end plate lol

If it’s one of the end plates where the QD is on the rear towards the brace just be careful, because some extend a little bit too far backward and won’t let you completely collapse the brace/stock without the brace/stock butting up against the QD swivel. Which if pushed to far in can actually depress the QD button and cause the swivel to come out of the socket. Or if when fully collapsed it can hinder the movement of the sling. It all depends on how it’s setup and how it’ll be used. Just some food for thought.

 

[Will556]

My custom Childers receiver that includes my initials in the serial number that also matches the entire side folding AMD-65 parts kit (which I also am in possession of now) is here. I’ll most likely be selling the extra parts of the kit that I don’t need.

 

[Edwardteach72]

My custom Childers receiver that includes my initials in the serial number that also matches the entire side folding AMD-65 parts kit (which I also am in possession of now) is here. I’ll most likely be selling the extra parts of the kit that I don’t need. View attachment 85534 View attachment 85536

I keep thinking of grabbing one of their recievers just to have

 

[Will556]

I keep thinking of grabbing one of their recievers just to have

Yeah, they’re nice. Many high quality builds have used Childers receivers. This one is a Polish stamped receiver.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Yeah, they’re nice. Many high quality builds have used Childers receivers. This one is a Polish stamped receiver.

Yea i think the last time I looked at them I was looking at the Egyptian stamps cause for some reason I'd like to have a Maadi or clone there of

 

[soylentBlue]

Any opinions on this one by Riley Defense? I'm kinda partial to wood furniture, but I don't know about using a spur grip.

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Riley Defense New York Legal AK47 Rifle. Semi automatic NY legal 7.62x39 rifle, great home defense and sporting option. RAK102.

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