Gunsmithing Romanian AK-47

[Texasshooter30]

I was looking at making my Romanian ak into a short barreled rifle. I know how to do all that paperwork and have done it before on an ar15 so dont worry about that.

Is it possible or easy enough to remove the barrel and reinstall it? I want to remove it to cut it down and maybe put the front sight base directly against the gas block.
Any thoughts.
I dont want to buy a pistol ak and start over. that would really be the way to go register a pistol than find a way to bolt on a stock.

 

[locked&loaded]

Re: Romanian AK-47

You will have to grind the front rivets, remove the front trunion and barrel from the receiver, press the barrel pin from the trunion and make a jig to press the barrel from the trunion. Then do the reverse to reinstall the barrel. You will also have to fabricate a rivet squeezer to re-rivet the receiver to the trunion.

Piece of cake....

 

[daybreak1199]

Re: Romanian AK-47

 

[gunnergirl81]

Re: Romanian AK-47

We used to have the jigs and could press a barrel out of a trunion still in the receiver. But, its a risky venture. Hell, just pressing the barrel pin out can be tough enough.

I dunno. Personally I'd want a nice Krink to SBR, not a Romy. But it can be done. There used to be an outfit called AZEX in the Phoenix area. Try looking them up, I'd bet they could do it.

 

[jrhan762]

Re: Romanian AK-47

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: daybreak1199</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

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Love this!

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Romanian AK-47

Cutting a chrome lined barrel is never a good idea, just buy a SBR AK if you want one, in 1947 the AK-47 had a milled receiver with screwed barrel, later to reduce production times and cost a 1mm sheet metal receiver with riveted trunions was introduced.

 

[Kells81]

Re: Romanian AK-47

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: locked&loaded</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You will have to grind the front rivets, remove the front trunion and barrel from the receiver, press the barrel pin from the trunion and make a jig to press the barrel from the trunion. Then do the reverse to reinstall the barrel. You will also have to fabricate a rivet squeezer to re-rivet the receiver to the trunion.

Piece of cake.... </div></div>

WUT? To remove the barrel of a Romy (or any AK) you just take it out the same way it was put in....

You push out the barrel pin and push the barrel out. Its fairly easy to do but takes a couple times to get good at it with the proper tools. There is NO need to remove the front trunion from the receiver or cut anything.


I have the tools to do this but won't be home for a bit longer if your near DFW.

If you need your own here is most of what you need,

Barrel Removal Tool….


As far as the pistol route there is mod of adding an ACE style block to the rear. There is a kit out there where you line it up, drill 2 holes and bolt it on to accept ACE, Redjacket, and other style stocks.

Lots of people cut chrome lined barrels without much effect. The only real issue is the possibility of the chrome chipping on the cut area which would eventually become a crown. The only issue I see with the "don't cut the chrome lined barrel" crowd is that its an AK, If there is an accuracy issue most likely you would never notice.

 

[JimT]

Re: Romanian AK-47

I agree with the above about getting a Krink kit and leave the barrel as is. To cut down your current barrel properly, you will:

Press out the barrel pin (Romie pins are in there but good)
Press out the barrel
Punch out the pins holding the gas block and front sight assembly on the barrel
Press off the FSB and GB
Cut the barrel to length and then crown it on a lathe (see possible chipping issues above)
Thread the front of the barrel for the brake (remember, metric left hand threads)
Press the FSB and GB back on and pin them (make sure they're plumb)
Press the barrel back in
Hope the gas port is correctly sized for the reduced back pressure from the shortened barrel (if not, you may have to adjust, Krinks have a funky muzzle device due to this)
No rivets need to be harmed during these operations

You're gonna want a folding stock with an AK SBR, which will require either an add-on to what you have or a new rear trunnion. The new rear trunnion is not gonna work with your receiver due to hole patterns and cutout differences. I think the add-on folders are kinda lame compared to the commie versions. JMHO

I vote for a nice Krink kit. Get 'em while you can.

 

[WadeP]

Re: Romanian AK-47

Unless you're intending on suppressing it, no need to remove the barrel to SBR a Romy. Done carefully, threading by hand is sufficient for most flashiders and brakes.

Easiest is to press the front sight down to the gas block and repin it. Cut the barrel 0.60" in front of the front sight (don't worry about the chrome, it won't flake enough to matter), recrown and thread by hand. Done. You end up with an overall length savings of 2.75" compared to the factory, depending on your flashhider. It makes for a better handling rifle but only you can determine if it is worth the NFA paperwork and cost. You can also skip the NFA and do all the above but cut and thread the barrel for a long and permanently attached flashhider so you make 16".

Harder, but better: Ditch the front sight and gasblock and use a 90 degree gas block/front sight combo unit. You'll save about another inch over the technique described above but the combo units are pricey and there's more work involved so the cost is more than double.

Don't worry about gas port issues and the shorter barrel. Most AK's are so overgassed that it's not a problem.

Making it Krink-length with an 8" barrel is going to be very expensive. By the time you change out the whole front end, carrier, piston and do the barrel work (and a folder. A Krink just has to be a folder) you might as well sell the Romy and buy a Krink kit or a SLR107UR.

If you have any further questions, feel free to PM or contact me in at the website in my profile. I'm in San Marcos TX and specialize in AK and Saiga builds.

 

[JimT]

Re: Romanian AK-47

I stand corrected by someone with more experience than I. Go with what Wade says.

One point I didn't mention.....if you get a Krink kit and build it, then you will have two AK's, which is better than having only one.

 

[kortik]

Re: Romanian AK-47

If you want to shorten and crown AK barrel, just get hold of hacksaw and muzzle crowning tool kit from Dave Manson. AK, which he's crowning in this video, is my NHM-91, which I've tricked a bit to shoot and look a little better than original... Cutter uses serated carbide blades and cuts chromed line barrels with ease.
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