Looking for info on building an AK

[prodgi]

So how does one go from a box of unknown parts, put in a some rivets and end up with a functional AK?
I don't have a lot of info on the parts.  It was a project someone started and didn't complete.   Surely someone around here has done this.

[Danjal]

What build process? You can weld, screw, and rivet build them. I only recommend the rivet builds TBH.

Basically you need to demil the whole mess. And it can be a bit more involved with a post '05 kit. They banned barrel importation after 05. Pull your front trunion out of the old receiver, stop there for weld/screw build. One rivet builds you pull the barrel off the trunion. The same for post 05 kits due to the backed barrel, plus the sight, etc.

Demil the trigger guard. Just the rivets. And the rear trunion.

Receiver wise do you want a flat (need to bend and treat), or get a ready to roll one? Some  have just one set of holes in them, some have none of all. Doing the easy route you can end up with more wiggle in the mag and dust cover. The no hole receivers take more prep but end up better typically.

Assembly takes a bit of check before you drill or rivet. Check the trunion, headspacing (new barrel), trigger guard (has the mag release), and rear trunion (dust cover).

[prodgi]

Looks like the receiver is already drilled.   
Danjal, what would be the best way to go about screwing it together?

[Danjal]

Basically you drill and tap your trunions,trigger guard, and receiver. You can leave the barrel populated and overcome most of the demil on the front area. You'd need to demil the front,rear,and trigger guard rivets though, so it's only saving you depopulating the barrel is all. In turn the extra effort saved is replaced by tapping. It's not recommended due to the screws backing out during firing from all the recoil. Some solder or hefty locktite might help keep it together, but I've always shunned screw and weld builds due to the inherent weakness of their attachment. Weld builds are even easier but ruin the heat treatment, they tend to just break on the HAZ.

One saving grace of the screw builds, well two honestly, is you can rivet a screw build up in the future, and much cheaper tooling costs.

You can see the screws here and tapped receiver and trunion in this picture.


You've got:
6 holes front trunion (3 per side)
5 holes trigger guard (4 by the mag release, one back of the tg)
4-6 holes rear trunion (1-3 through holes (tap each side individually) and 0-4 individual holes) stock, country, and type depending.

After that some folders can need extra work. Fixed stocks need less.