Category Archives: AK & Related Rifles

Used to discuss AK-47, AK-74, and related rifles

AK & Related Rifles

I miss the Romy G AKM Kits – They were a great learning experience, reliable and fun to shoot

You know folks, I miss the old Romanian Garda kits.  I literally built about a dozen of them trying different variations on rivets, screws, welding and so forth.  You could get them from $79-119 with the barrel and sometimes even a Tapco G2 fire control group (FCG) included.  Copes, Centerfire, DPH and others had pallets of them.  My wife would give me the eye any time a box showed up from one of them 🙂

That was the good times and then thanks to yet another ridiculous ATF ruling, the kits with barrels were forbidden for import, the well dried up and prices rose.  I actually cut most of the completed rifles up and sold them for parts when kit prices went in the $300+ range.  I sure had a ton of fun with friends and family at the range.  What I personally enjoyed most was making them.  Boy, I made a ton of mistakes along the way but learned too and also learned to respect a lot of concepts that Kalashnikov and his designers put into the rifles including pushing for reliability, simplicity, and so forth.

At any rate, I was going through some photos from January 2013 and thought I would share a few pictures of guns that ran like tops.  These two rifles work great and I learned a ton making them.  The finishes are shades of Minwax stain with hand rubbed urethane stain on top.  I eventually moved to boiled linseed oil but that was long after I built these.  I always liked seing how the stain would take to the wood.  This is also before I started making grips – the wood one is from Ironwood and I don’t recall who made the plastic one.  The finish would have been air dried Duracoat on these.

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on branches outdoors CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on branches outdoors CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on branches outdoors CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on branches outdoors CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on branches outdoors CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete blade with wear marks

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AK & Related Rifles

How to cut the folding stock weld on a Vepr IV

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

Back in 2014 I bought one of the 5.56 Vepr IV RPKs.  Boy was it nice but it had a folding stock that was spot welded.  I installed a Tapco G2 FCG, the appropriate muzzle device and one of my Molot Gen 2 grips and then US mags.  I’d planned to replace the gas piston but wound up selling the rifle to fund other projects.  I did, however, snap some photos.

The rifles were amazingly allowed into the US and were gorgeous but I could not abide by the tack welded open stock or funky US grip.  First, I removed the butt stock to get it out of the way and protect it.  I then used my cordless Dremel with a cut off wheel to slice the tack weld enough to pull it open and then sanded the edges smooth.

 CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on a fallen branch in grass

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on a fallen branch in grass

I then applied Brownells’ Oxpho Blue to the fresh bare steel to blacken it.  The end result – you’d never know the tack was there.

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

 CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

To the left is the grip that IO put on the rifle when they imported it.  To the right is my Molot Gen 2 grip and it is in subsequent photos also.  We make each grip by hand here in Michigan so they count as a 922r compliance part.

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete cutting through a thick branch

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on branches outdoors

CRKT HalfAChance K920KKP machete resting on branches outdoors

Like so many of my firearms, it sat in the safe for a year or two and I never hard time to fire it.  Eventually, I decided to sell it to fund other projects.

7/20/19 Update:  This rifle is #1 on my list of “I wish I never sold it”  They are worth a fortune now.

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AK & Related Rifles

Video: Two Computer Graphic Videos of AH-94 Nikonov Operation

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Here are two videos that use computer graphics to demonstrate the operation of the Russian AK-94 5.45mm rifle.0

Rehydrating a khukuri wood handle in oil for maintenance.
Rehydrating a khukuri wood handle in oil for maintenance.

Here’s the first video that gives more overall information (in Russian though):

Rehydrating a khukuri wood handle in oil for maintenance.
Rehydrating a khukuri wood handle in oil for maintenance.

Here’s the second video that gives a very clear view of loading:

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AK & Related Rifles

Video: Rocket Surgery: Inside the Russian Nikonov AN94 by Forgotten Weapons

The Russian AN94 Nikonov is a rather bizarre rifle that is often described as complex and expensive.  Just those words alone should make you realize the rifle is a hard departure from the relatively simple and inexpensive Kalashnikov design maxims.  I have been hoping to see a more thorough breakdown of the AN94 and Ian of Forgotten Weapons does just that.  This is a great video released April 11, 2017.  You definitely should check it out as he does a great job taking the rifle down and explaining how it operates.  When I saw the pulley, cable and extra sub-assemblies required to do the two round burst, I just shook my head.  Time will tell how rugged it really is.

Rehydrating a khukuri wood handle in oil for maintenance.

Close-up of a weathered wooden khukuri handle, showing texture and grain.

Close-up of a weathered wooden khukuri handle, showing texture and grain.

Close-up of a weathered wooden khukuri handle, showing texture and grain.

Close-up of a weathered wooden khukuri handle, showing texture and grain.

Here’s the video:

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AK & Related Rifles

Video: Zastava M91 7.62x54R Sniper Rifle and also Inside the Zatava M91 by Graham Baates

Zastava factory building exterior and interior views of Zastava M91 rifle.
Video of man firing Zastava M91 sniper rifle outdoors with a target

I find the Zasatav designated marksman rifles (DMRs) very interesting.  I own a M77 in 7.62×51 currrently and its sibling, the M91 in 7.62x54r, looks very intriguing with its folding stock.  Here, we don’t always get the really interesting 7.62x54r, but if you are in Russia or other parts of Europe, you have a ton of different loads available.  I have a 7.62x54r Vepr and it is a very capable rifle.

At any rate, Graham Baates travelled to Kragujevac, Serbia, with his wife and they posted a video of their great opportunity to actually test fire a M91 at Zastava.

He also did a second video called “Inside the Zastava M91 Sniper Rifle” that is next:

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AK & Related Rifles

Video: Infantry Weapons of Yugoslavia 1924 – 1999

Yugoslav infantry soldier with rifle, part of Yugoslav Infantry Weapons content Yugoslav infantry soldiers with rifles, 1924-1999 weapons M-93 Black Arrow sniper rifle, Yugoslav infantry weapon from 1993 Zastava M-72 assault rifle light machine gun with drum magazine Yugoslav infantry soldier firing an AK-47 from prone position Yugoslav infantry rifle with mounted scope displayed on a white background

This video covers handguns, rifles, submachine guns, light machine guns and so forth used by Yugoslavia from 1924 to 1999.  It does not have anyone talking, just music.  What it does have that is interesting is tons of photos of various weapons and in some cases even footage showing use.  I watched in interest the parts with the AK-related rifles such as the M70, M72, M85, M92 and so on plus the M93 Black Arrow that I’ve always found interesting.  I got to hold and inspect one at Ohio Rapid Fire years ago.

At any rate, it’s interesting and worth 28 minutes to watch what the author assembled:

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AK & Related Rifles

Video: How the SVD Dragunov Works Using 3D Animation. — Pretty cool!!

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3D animation of SVD Dragunov rifle action, showing cartridges being loaded.
3D animation showing the internal mechanism of an SVD Dragunov rifle.
3D animation shows SVD Dragunov rifle mechanism and cartridges
3D animation of SVD Dragunov rifle mechanism in action

I love computer animations that show how a firearm’s action operates.  This video on the SVD Dagunov is narrated in Russian but you can definitely see how the gasses flow and hit the piston, push the operating rod back, and then operate the bolt and trigger.  I think videos like this provide valuable insight into what all is going on.

This one is very detailed and fascinating.  Definitely worth watching!

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AK & Related Rifles

Video: SVD Dragunov 7.62×54mmR Sniper Rifle by ArmlistMedia – Great Overview Plus Field Stripping

One of my regrets is that I have not had the funds and opportunity (at the same time) to buy a SVD Dragunov.  For those of you who do not know it, the Dragunov was developed as a designated marksman rifle (DMR) by the USSR and has evolved over the years.  Contrary to what some say, it is not an oversize AK – the Drag’s bolt carrier does not have an attached piston and all the mass associated.  Instead, there is a short stroke piston operating under left & right handguards over the barrel.  You get to see all of that and very straight forward field stripping guidance in this video.

SVD Dragunov sniper rifle in use by soldiers during training exercise.
SVD Dragunov 7.62x54mmR sniper rifle with scope on dry grass
Close-up of the SVD Dragunov sniper rifle's receiver and wooden stock
Man holding SVD Dragunov 7.62x54mmR sniper rifle, field stripping

 

SVD Dragunov bolt assembly, part of a 7.62x54mmR rifle field stripping overview.
Close-up of SVD Dragunov sniper rifle parts during field stripping

I really like this video.  The narration is very straight forward with a touch of humor and the video quality is solid.  Some day, I will own a Drag 🙂

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