Shorten barrel, re-crown and mount AK74 mb?

[sneakerd]

Just had a thought pop into my not-often-fertile mind. I have a standard barrel down-folder AK. I've screwed on an AK74 muzzle brake that I think is tits up, there is a touch of jiggle. What if I had the barrel shortened as much as possible, front sight post assembly moved back and had the brake permanently mounted, making all together a legal length. Anybody ever done that? Am I wasting time and money to look tacti-cool? Seems to me you have a pert-near brand new last inch or 2 of barrel, re-crowned for accuracy. My AK is extremely accurate at combat ranges as is. Watch'u think?

[sneakerd]

Also- what about a Krinkov brake? Anybody think those are better?

[jreifsch80]

Is it an original barrel built kit? A romy underfolder wasr? I think it would be pretty cool or what about getting a front sight gas block combo like the carbine 100 series russian guns (kvar has bulgy ones I think) then you wouldn't have to use an addapter to run a real ak74 brake since the factory originals are chrome lined. All though the various "krink" "brakes" look pretty cool they aren't brakes at all but gas boosters though I'm sure they reduce flash quite a bit but their main purpose Is to add extra back pressure to the gas system for the much shorter barreled aks-74u, yugo m92 and bulgy variants so original type boosters could over gas your ak (ak's are over gassed as they are in original form) but there are aftermarket clones of these boosters that are ported so instead of boosting gas pressure they seem to be modified into compensateors.

Just giving you things to think about

[jreifsch80]

Another thought, if you shorten the barrel and want to use a 74 brake I would be a lot easier to use a 74 front sight block as they have the 24mm threads attached to the sight and not a threaded barrel.

[micah360]

folks do this all the time. Here's a photo of an AK103 type rifle with that done to it. They call it an AK103K. With a photo of a real AK103 below that for reference.

Personally I wouldn't do it to my AKs. I think it looks weird, plus I like to be able to take my muzzle devices off and put on the thread protector when I want (and for cleaning).

http://www.krebscustom.com/RawPhotos/9-5-10/AK103K.jpg

http://world.guns.ru/userfiles/images/assault/as05/ak103.jpg

and yes... the Krink boosters are for adding more back pressure (like the guy above said) so the Krink will function 100% (although mine functions just fine without the booster also).

http://www.360wd.com/new-images/106u.jpg

[BPTactical]

If you are getting acceptable accuracy why mess with it. The slight amount of play in the muzzle device is normal. All you will accomplish is making the weapon a tad more muzzle heavy and louder.
If it aint fixed, don't broke it.

[sneakerd]

Thanks guys, I really thought it might make my folder a tad lighter and handier. I have a friend who has an older Clinton era Maadi, no muzzle brake and not threaded for one. Can that barrel be threaded to accept a muzzle brake?

[BPTactical]

Thanks guys, I really thought it might make my folder a tad lighter and handier. I have a friend who has an older Clinton era Maadi, no muzzle brake and not threaded for one. Can that barrel be threaded to accept a muzzle brake?

It is going to depend on the OD of the barrel as it sits. AK threads are 14mm x 1 LH so we need to have a diameter of 13.95 mm (.5492 in) at the least. While it is possible to thread with a slightly smaller diameter you will typically end up with too loose of a thread fit and stand the chance of sending a muzzle device downrange.

[micah360]

are you sure that there is not a welded on thread protector/cap on the Maadi? I had a 93 Maadi ARM and it was threaded 14x1LH underneath of the welded on cap.


Thanks guys, I really thought it might make my folder a tad lighter and handier. I have a friend who has an older Clinton era Maadi, no muzzle brake and not threaded for one. Can that barrel be threaded to accept a muzzle brake?

[sneakerd]

Nope- no threaded cap, and it looks like the end of the barrel was turned down to remove the threads.

[jreifsch80]

maybe you could have it threaded 1/2 28? there are some companies that make ak style muzzle devices with ar threads. as for wanting a shrt handy underfolder, why don't you get a romy draco sbr it and drill the rear virgin underfolder trunnion and install an underfolder stock? ;)