Apex Bulgy 74 Kit Report

[Tristan]

As usual, Jeff came through-this kit is immaculate. Ordered it on Saturday, got here today-nice turn time. All matching numbers, unissued and the proper barrel from Green Mountain Barrels! Whoo-hoo! Was worried about that one. Wish I had a camera. I have one on my phone, but don't know how to get the pictures of it. I'm technologically challenged-the numbers are crisp and clean, over painted yellow, everything very nice. Only flaws are a few replaced parts, like the rear sight, trigger guard and mismatched furniture-but the bolt face is perfect, carrier and all is perfect. I couldn't be happier. I'll have it built by the weekend and will see if I can figure out the camera phone thingy.
They are 320 with wood or 330 with plastic.
Dammit, posted in the wrong place again. Sorry!

[bryjcom]

Were these the ones that were built by a company here in the U.S and the messed up and demilled them all? Didn't they have some welds on the barrel also?

I was wondering if those were any good.

Also I have heard that the commercial barrels for some of the 74s were actually 5.56 instead of 5.45. Know anything about that?

[Tristan]

Yup. That was good ol' century for ya. They put the 5.56 barrels on many a few years ago. Shot like hell. And sold a few too many kits with the 5.56 barrel. I don't think there are too many of those around anymore.

These kits are straight from Bulgaria, in pristine condition. The real deal. The barrels are 5.45 barrels made by green mountain barrels. Got it finished Friday, but still need to kote it and go play. No ammo. Drats.

[bryjcom]

You should go play first then kote it. That way if you F'd it up some how you don't have to re- kote it.

Working on my romy/hungarian hybrid still...... I need a freaking press!!!

[FokkerSF]

Any update on how this kit turned out and how the american barrel shoots?

[Tristan]

The kit turned out near perfect, but I messed up the duracoat. So I tried some touch up paint and messed it up even further, lol. So I'm gonna go back and sand blast it again and re coat it with the usual guncoat. This was my first time with duracoat-pretty easy, but you can't touch it right away, lol.....
I haven't shot it yet becuase I forgot to get a mag or two...another brain fart. But I have some coming (damn, they ain't cheap) and am going to go out Tuesday.
I still haven't figured out the picture phone yet, but I figured out how to take still shots with the camcorder, so I'll try that.

[FokkerSF]

Looking forward to seeing pics and a report of how that american barrel shoots.

[Tristan]

Well, I keep messing up the pictures, trying to resize them. I will figure it out.
As for the report-
I really couldn't be happier, unless the barrel was a 20 incher.
1 in 7 twist, very accurate, very tight (for an AK) and the groupings with open sights offhand were decent, and I'm not that great of a shot.
100 meters I can put 10 out of 10 on of the paper. At 50 meters, I could clock the pop can 8 or 9 times out of ten.
I plan on putting a 4x scope on it-so we'll see in the future. It's all a matter of finding the time......
[Coffee]

[Tristan]

Okay. So I got the scope on (had to make a mount) and got some new pictures. I try to resize them to be bigger, but it messes it up. Oh, well. I'll post some targets after we go out Tuesday.

[bryjcom]

Looks good.... sort of. I think I need to bring my camera over and post it up.

[Tristan]

That would be nice, Bryan. Thanks!
Well, I went to sight it in with the new scope and the scope has some issues-that's what you get for $100.00, I guess. So I put on my failsafe $50 scope and we'll find out next week.
So, "To Be Continued......"