Okay, time for an update.
I have spent an inordinate amount of time looking at one website after another and viewing many different videos on youtube.
One thing I have concluded is that the hardening process is a little more than I thought it was. It seems that I will need a very high temperature oven. I found a video that shows how to construct one but it seems like a staggering amount of work to make something needed for only a few uses. If I was going to be making several dozen AKs then it would make sense to invest in one but I don't have any notion of doing so at this point.
As an alternative, I am thinking about asking one of our local pottery makers if I can use their kiln for what amounts to just a few minutes.
Actually, I think that I will probably buy a fully finished receiver for my first build. I got an email from
Southern Armaments which said that they are going to be getting in a batch of receivers on this Friday or Monday. I have already made arrangements with my local gun dealer to do the transfer. I think that if I can see and handle a properly made AK receiver then I will be in a better position to know if I am making my own correctly or not. I'm looking at getting
this Russian one for $80
The next thing to look at is an AK parts kit. A parts kit is where you obtain the majority of the pieces you need to assemble your firearm. Like receivers, parts kits (especially good ones) are rather hard to come by these days but I think I have located a source in
Arms of America. They have a hand selected
Egyptian parts kit for a mere $379 which seems like a pretty good price in these crazy times. A hand selected parts kit is supposed to yield a better quality gun when it's all said and done. Several of the build videos that I have watched recommend a hand select when you can get it. Anyway, it is supposed to match up well with the Russian receiver. This parts kit comes with a bayonet which is convenient.
One of the things I have learned is that I will need to infuse my build with approximately a half dozen or so American parts in order for it to be a legal (BATF approved) firearm. There are
lists of recommended parts to be replaced...things like hand guards, stocks and muzzle brakes. I am also under the impression that one of the things that you get (and must not use) in the parts kit is the fire control group that would contribute to making it full auto. I imagine that you could hold onto it for a special occasion, though.
Oddly enough, 30-round magazines may become an issue for me here in Colorado. Even now, the Democrats in our state legislature are plotting to outlaw magazines with more than 15 rounds. This is really no more than an inconvenience since I can purchase anything I damn well please in Texas and bring it back. Or have them drop shipped there and then forwarded. Democrats are stupid and evil...a pretty retarded combination when you think about the implications.
On a related subject: I have also been looking at making an AR15. Since the AR utilizes a milled receiver there is no hardening to worry about. No, for the AR build the big ticket item is some way to finish the milling on an 80% receiver. After you buy the 80% receiver you need to acquire a finishing jig that matches your receiver. Some jigs will fit many receivers and some will only fit the receiver which comes out of the same shop. A jig seems to go for around $100 on average. Most of the 80% AR receivers are going for about $100 from
legitimate sites when you can find them. Problem is that you can't find them. So...if you want one quickly you will have to pay two or more times the normal rate. Gunbroker has 80% receivers
all the time for $175 to $290 or so.
As for the milling process, I can do it on one of my drill presses. Or, if I wanted to get really serious about building ARs, I could buy a cheapo milling machine. These can be had for around $500 or so on eBay (
this one is only $200) and other similar such places. The thing is, a drill press may not make for a very pretty finished product but you are using it to mill out a part of the receiver that you will never see unless you take the thing apart for cleaning or switching out parts so...maybe a milling machine isn't necessary.
So that's where I'm at right now. I'm hopefully going to be placing an order for an AK receiver and parts kit by this weekend or early next week. Another update will come when I have parts in hand.
