AK Sponsor
Posted: 10/23/2010 9:03:15 PM EDT
|
Alright, so I've gotten bit by the AK bug. However, cash is tight at the moment, so I'm exploring my options carefully. I got a couple of the $43 NDS AK-74 receivers, and will be ordering a couple of the APEX $210 kits before much longer. What I need now is something to build them, as I don't really have the space to set up a "building area" in my apartment.
These are just going to be range beaters, I don't need the best of the best, just a good, solid build that won't break the bank, or blow up in my face. Anyone have any recommendations, experiences, or suggestions on who to look at and who to avoid? |
Derek at AZEX (Arizona Expert Arms) Built my Krink and AMD-65. Maybe not the cheapest builder, but the man knows his AKs and I've seen the build process first hand, they are VERY picky about proper front sight / barrel alignment, which is a good thing. 
I'm sure others will chime in with other suggestions . . . |
|
I was going to chime in for Inrange as well. Until I got my AK-74 in yesterday from them. The retention spring on the pin that runs through the trigger was installed backwards, and let go of the pin, allowing it to walk out. Plus the rivets on the rear trunnion look a bit mashed. The dealer is going to fix the spring issue, but these are unacceptable faults given his prices.
No, I'd feel safer with Mario at Piece of History Firearms. He did an outstanding job on my Krinkov. It's one of the best shooting, accurate guns I own. Of course, he may charge more than you want to pay for a beater gun. |
|
Overland built one of my Romy Gs and my Polish underfolder. Excellent workmanship and customer service. Pricing can be found in the AK Kits section of their website. |
| I'd definately recommend Piece of History Firearms, as well. Mario is not only a long-time member of the Kalashnikov Collecting Association as he has a great deal of knowledge and experience with the different Kalashnikov types/eras/builds, but he's also a fellow enthusiast and collector, and put a tremendous amount of time into getting things perfect. |
|
If you want it built on the cheap (you do the work), look for an AK build party in your area. This is where a few knowledgeable builders with the right tools get together and help people build their kits. Build parties are pretty popular in CA.
Check your home town forum. |
|
Quoted:
I was going to chime in for Inrange as well. Until I got my AK-74 in yesterday from them. The retention spring on the pin that runs through the trigger was installed backwards, and let go of the pin, allowing it to walk out. Plus the rivets on the rear trunnion look a bit mashed. The dealer is going to fix the spring issue, but these are unacceptable faults given his prices. No, I'd feel safer with Mario at Piece of History Firearms. He did an outstanding job on my Krinkov. It's one of the best shooting, accurate guns I own. Of course, he may charge more than you want to pay for a beater gun. Okieboy,was it a real shitty job they did on it? He has built 2 for me in the past (all lookin great) but now I have a romyg thats still there (prob. till Dec.) I hope its not a rush job on mie, seeing hes back to part time.What didnt sit well with you?  Thanks.
|
|
Quoted:
I'd definately recommend Piece of History Firearms, as well. Mario is not only a long-time member of the Kalashnikov Collecting Association as he has a great deal of knowledge and experience with the different Kalashnikov types/eras/builds, but he's also a fellow enthusiast and collector, and put a tremendous amount of time into getting things perfect. I second that statement! 
Custom rifle done by POHF. |
|
I would still recommend Inrange. I don't know what happened for others, but customer service was top notch and build was excellent. Troy helped me with my Form 1 and he shipped my rifle promptly after he received a copy of my Form 1. After the purchase I had a few questions and he was quick to answer them. I've seen way too many other people in this industry drop you like a hot potato after the purchase; not Troy.
I do make a non-recommendation and that is Elite Firearms in Texas. Don't go there. Look up many posts here and elsewhere on the internet about that guy. Here is my Inrange build. 
|
|
(Sorry for hijacking your post)
Here's my issues with the gun Inrange built. As stated before, the retention spring for the trigger retention pin was installed backwards and wasn walking itself out of the right side of the receiver when I pulled the weapon out of the box at the FFL. Upon closer inspection, the crook of the spring was hooked on the permanent cross bolt that runs from one side of the receiver to the other. So the only thing supposedly even remotely touching the pin was the very end of the spring. I also didn't like the way the rivets in rear of the receiver looked. Unlike the forward rivets, which were perfect and rounded, these ones were mashed. There is even a slight indentation on the receiver in the far left corner of the rear trunnion. While the rivets may not be any detriment to the weapon, they are definitely signs that whoever made it did not take their time, nor much pride in their work. It's a head scratcher for me, because the receiver is a NoDak Spud, so it's not like the original chrome lined barrel was already attached to an American receiver. Wherein the forward rivets were done correctly, it appears someone got in a hurry and just slapped the rear portion of the rifle together. I don't think you have to worry about your kits specifically though and I'll tell you why. I'd researched Troy Sellers and I had already chosen him to built a rifle for me, but then I found the auction and saw that I could buy a rifle for less than having to buy all the parts myself and then pay him to do it. Marcolmar firearms has a bunch of these AK 74 kits and sends them to Troy to build for them, which they in turn sell. So I think he, or whoever works with him, perhaps just slapped these parts together for Marcolmar. I think you will get a better product than I did because you are an individual customer, not a gun shop with a bunch of kits. Now, does this mean that my rifle is a piece of junk? Hardly. I was just really miffed at finding such a obvious screwup in what should have been for the price a perfect weapon. The rivets only make me uneasy because I've been warned that such indicators might hint at other problems in an AK. I probably will make a separate post on this to see if I should send the weapon back to Inrange for a better job. They may or may not go for it. |
| http://www.erieordnancedepot.com gets all my AK build business. |
| I believe I owe Troy Sellars at Inrange an apology. I emailed him today and asked him my questions regarding the issues on my AK. He was quick to get back to me and explained that the rivets on the rear ends of folding AKs correctly have the rivets flattened a bit. He even provided pics. As for the spring, he said it was an excellent idea to replace the spring with a retention plate. (He also blamed the spring's postioning on MarColMar, but I ain't getting into that.) My retention plate arrives on the 27th and I'm just praying that I don't have any further problems. |
|
Quoted:
I would still recommend Inrange. I don't know what happened for others, but customer service was top notch and build was excellent. Troy helped me with my Form 1 and he shipped my rifle promptly after he received a copy of my Form 1. After the purchase I had a few questions and he was quick to answer them. I've seen way too many other people in this industry drop you like a hot potato after the purchase; not Troy. I do make a non-recommendation and that is Elite Firearms in Texas. Don't go there. Look up many posts here and elsewhere on the internet about that guy. Here is my Inrange build. http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj157/bikeman543/PIC-0241.jpg VERY nice looks great 
|
|
Quoted:
I believe I owe Troy Sellars at Inrange an apology. I emailed him today and asked him my questions regarding the issues on my AK. He was quick to get back to me and explained that the rivets on the rear ends of folding AKs correctly have the rivets flattened a bit. He even provided pics. As for the spring, he said it was an excellent idea to replace the spring with a retention plate. (He also blamed the spring's postioning on MarColMar, but I ain't getting into that.) My retention plate arrives on the 27th and I'm just praying that I don't have any further problems. Yes, I was going to tell you that when I read your first post. Some rivets should be flattened on rear of folding AK's. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Chris Butler at AK-USA does excellent work although I'm not sure he's still in the game. ETA: Just spoke with Chris, he's alive and well and still doing AK work. He can be found at ak-103.com He did some work for me. Top notch and a nice guy. +1 You can also call him and discuss the build first. He may make suggestions depending on the type of build you want.
|
AK Sponsor