SGL31, is it an accurate reproduction a service rifle?

Black fixed poly stock without folder, did this rifle exist in russian service.

Weren't all fixed stocks in russian service a laminate wood?

From my research, it's about as close as one can get without paying more than $700.00.

I think you are correct on the stocks, but I am sure there are variations. Someone with much more knowledge will answer I'm sure.

The current Russian service rifle uses the black synthetic stocks, just like those used on the Arsenal rifles. Arsenal claims to have the actual molds used for their production.

Here's a shot of a Russian soldier with an AKS-74:



Here's a history of the AK-74 and its variants.

http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/variants.html

That gives you the time-line for the wood stocked rifles vs. the plum synthetic to the current black synthetic.

Spend some time reading here. Probably more info than you need.
http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/variants.html

EDIT guess i'm slow

Their were plum fixed stocked rifles as well, but those were AK74's and not the new style 74M/100 series rifles. I have seen pics of 100 series style fixed black stocked rifles with Russian soldiers and cadets etc.

There is a thread in this section titled Russian cadets that clearly shows the use of black fixed stock AK74M's which is basically a full auto SGL31. The FSB's, sling, extra rivet, and long collar muzzle brakes in the pics

clearly show that these are not restocked AK74's and are new style 74M/100 series. Transitional maybe or for training purposes. Who knows with the

Russians. Def. no widespread use of black fixed stocked 74M's currently in Russian service from what I can tell. But from the pics you could say YES to your question though in limited numbers it would seem.


Of course, if you add the folding stock to the 31; then you have an exact S/A clone of Russia's current service rifle.

Well unfortunatly for me and alot of others not exactly the same. There's always a few minor details that differ from the 31 to the 74M. Like the other guy's said check out Tantal's web site for the details.

BTW I just picked up my second sgl, the sgl31-94, and I have to say WOW, they are getting sloppy over there at izhmash. The weld spots on the reciever compared to my old rifle are really shotty. The factory markings on the front trunnion and "S" "F" selector marks look like they were electro penciled in (little dots)(yes arrow in triangle+SN looks electro penciled in). Also the paint is kinda wierd compared to my old rifle. It looks ALOT more matte, aside from the dust cover the whole rifle looks really matte. My only hope as to why it's alot more different from my first SGL is because it's brand new. I've been to hell and back with my first rifle, there's alot of wear, oil, carbon, whatever in the pores. Sowith the wear+oil, it may look shiney and smooth with time, IDK.

Either way though, I think this is a solid rifle and I do plan on making it my b*tch lol. I can honestly say of all my guns, my first SGL is my Fav, so I've got high hopes for this new one.

In the picture above, what service is using the rifle? Always found the steel folders interesting, thought it was always on a laminate wood gun.

According to wikipedia the pic is of the Russian Naval infantry, or Marines. They probly got issued older rifles like some of our US forces still get issued the M16A2 today(me earlier this year, I'm a mechanic).

Anyway, that's a plum aks-74, Tellin ya, Tantal's website has way more info than you may want. Also if you're really into the hardcore details get over to theakforum.net. I think that's one of the more popular ak forums on the webs.

Yes, that marine pic is def. plum as I have never seen a black stocked AKS-74 in Russian service. I see you wrote that you got one of the new folder SGL's. Does it have the pistol grip reinforcement plate? You can not tell from the pictures, and we have asked K-VAR on the other forum with no answer.

No, it definatly doesn't have the reinforcment plate. Do you think if I were to buy the plate online, could I have anyone who's skilled at welding in my area, weld it on. I'd imagine it's a pretty simple job. I definatly would not sent this rifle out just for the plate. Don't get me wrong, I love all the little technical details but IDK about that.

Actually now that I think about it, the only cosmetic differences that I can see from the new side folder and the original 74m is, no plate, pinned on barrel parts (instead of punch pressed), and i think maybe there were 2 trigger bumps on the original. I think I might try to figure out how to get pics up today and I'll start a new thread.

Yes, pics would be great. Thanks for confirming our fears that it did not have the plate. I can't believe Arsenal left off the plate. What were they thinking. They know better than that considering that all their other folder

rifles in the SLR series had the plate. It should not be too big a deal to put one on, but I would send it to a builder myself - go ahead and have the correct selector marks engraved, refinished, and even add faux press weld dimples on the FSB/GB's.

Seriously though, all it needs is to be spot welded on and the trigger guard re-revited behind the tab I believe, but I am no expert on the building side of things.

How old is the AKS-74 vs. the AK-74M? I'm buying one of the new rifles but I'm torn between which to get... I love the look of the steel folder but I know the M is the latest and greatest in Russian service.

Thoughts?

Damn, there is riveting involved then huh, I may as well send it out then......... I can save that for later though, I've been killing my checking account lately so....... I'll definatly get some pics up within the next few though.

As far as how old are the AKS74 to the 74Ms, it was just a generation switch. The timeline of folding stock 74s is this–––––––––––––––––––––––– AKS74 w/ wood laminate furniture-70s and 80s, AKS74 w/ plum polyamide furniture-late 80s and I think really early 90s, then AK74M Black furniture w/ solid side folder only from the 90s till now.

So if you get one with the triangle folder you're gonna want to call k-var and see if they'd switch out the black furniture for the plum(probly for an additional charge, it'd be worth it), or buy a set of plum bulgarian from Apex for $45+ shipping and it is actually russian from what I've read. Or it would be correct to find a set of 74 laminate stock set, but that'd be mucho dinaro.

Should be about 1992 for the 74M and they discontinued the triangle folder at about the same time they introduced the poly folder with a 5.5mm folding trunnion instead of the AKS74 4.5mm trunnion.

Based on all I've read none of the 74M's were issued with triangles (and Tantal said the same thing during a discussion about triangles over on theakforum)...they only produced 5.5mm triangles for special orders for customers outside the Russian military. That answered a question I had about why I ended up with 5.5mm triangles from rusmilitary, which would be odd if they were never used on the 74M. In effect he said some customers either wanted the functionality of a triangle or wanted the retro look and thats the only reason Izhmash built them.

In any case there's nothing wrong with using a triangle folder on an SGL31, it only matters if you're trying to create a 74M clone where it wouldn't be technically correct. If you do want one just get a 5.5mm version for the SGL31-84, Bulgarians are all 4.5mm and so are the older AKS74 Russian stocks.



Z

dont want to deal with adding a grip plate.

for fixed stock 74, what would resemble Ruskie mil issue?

Not to concerned with the small details, nobody I know would even know the difference.

As stated earlier, the fixed stock SGL31 will be "mil issue' enough if you are not worried about small details or consistency. You can put laminate on it or plum furniture for an earlier look, and even the black furniture is "correct" on some level (current training or lower tier units maybe or transitional). So what ever floats your boat really.

Technically nothing modern since they all have folders, but you can easily do laminate or plum to cover everything that was actual military issue up to about 1992.

An SGL31 is basically a fixed stock AK74M with black poly furniture, but the new SGL31-94 has a 5.5mm folder installed already which makes it about the closest you can get out of the box.





Z

But folder is missing the buttplate. Sounds like plum fixed polymer is the closest thing before you start working on metal. Thanks. Can you get US plates and followers for 74 mags? This is a gun I dont plant to shoot much so 4-5 mags is plenty,then I could put real ruskie stockset on with a US piston.

K-Var has the floor plates for 5.45 polymer mags, I have about 50 of these and they fit fine.

http://www.k-var.com/shop/product.php?productid=16962&cat=360&page=2



Bluegrasshopper sells 5.45 followers, I have about 50 of those too .

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=123&t=737862




Z

What do you mean "But folder is missing the buttplate"?

I believe he may be referring to the reinforcement plate which is under the pistol grip? While not needed, it would certainly be more correct with it.

Does this mean that all Russian plum magazines are therefore pre-ban and thus legal in states like NY that allow pre-ban 30-rounders?

The plums and bakelites were definitely manufactured before the ban, I don't know if NY goes by when they were imported or when they were manufactured.




Z

OST

What is entailed in converting a regular SGL-31 to folding stock configuration? I am brand new to AKs although I have handled more of them in the pursuit of my job than I have the AR platform, I know very little about the variants.

I am picking up an SGL-31 when I go home for leave in a few weeks. The more I look around here the more I am wanting a folder. Is it more trouble than its worth? Should I just look for a factory folder for a second rifle?

http://www.theakforum.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=55848

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=21197&hl=skott

You may need a membership at both sites to view those topics, but there is a crapload of good info and pics in them.


The short answer to converting to a side folder is that you have to remove the fixed stock rear trunnion, cut the receiver to fit the folding stock trunnion and rivet it all back in place with springs and latches etc put together. The front latch also needs to be cut which involves a slot in the left side of the receiver and drilling the trunnion, then installing the latch, springs and clips. A lot of work, most of the higher end gunsmiths will charge $300+ to do it.

Right now the SGL31-94 is a simple way to get the 5.5mm folder installed, if you want an SGL31 with the proper hardware this is probably the best way to get it done. Folding hardware and furniture by itself runs $250+ and you'd probably need to pay someone to get it installed, so right there you'd be at the same price as the SGL31-94.



Z

Finally got a SGL31, local guy let me use consignment proceeds for $800 out the door. Black stock set.

I notice the stock mounting, sling and buttplate screws are torx screws, is this an Arsenal state side thing or does the actual russian gun use torx screws.

Also, for us parts count, I would surmise FCG, brake and pistol grip, that last choice seems like an odd one. Would rather have real russian buttstock, the US made seems a little lightly built.

Finally, how is the Arsenal brake is it a good reproduction or should I get an authentic brake and swap out the PG for a US one?

torx screws are not an Arsenal thing as far as I know....If it has the poly from Arsenal on it, its GTG.

The SGL31 has 7 compliance parts

FCG (3)
PG
Stock
HG's
Brake


The brake is perfectly functional but isn't exactly the same as the AK74M brake. Real 74M brakes are hard to find, I've only seen a few people that have them even though they entered service 20 years ago. As far as I can tell the stock is the same as the Russian, but again real Russian fixed stock in black poly are going to be hard to find. The 74M is built standard as a side folder, not nearly as many fixed stock versions were made so fixed poly is pretty rare. I don't ever remember seeing one for sale in the states though I suppose you could get them from RusMilitary.

74M brake on top, late eighties faceted in the middle and 70's/early-mid eighties style on the bottom, basically it's got the late eighties faceted style but with a longer collar





Z

does a genuine Russian folding stock use torx screws?

Since I have a fixed poly stock SGL 31, I always wondered myself if any fixed poly stock AK-74s were in service currently with the Russian military.

I was able to dig this pic up.

Russian railway forces - after a training exercise. Note the fixed stock:

i assure you there are two AK74's in the picture

are they in high school?

i am betting late teens or early 20's. was in odessa and saw a police class graduation. the women had to be the most beautiful police officers i had seen. most in their early 20's

Any leads on where to get a 31? AIM is out and I'm having no luck!

frontier?

KVAR Corp.

http://www.k-var.com/shop/home.php?cat=354

Copyright © 1996 - 2013 :: AR15.Com LLC :: All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.