Kit selection
For this tutorial I will be using a Romanian AKM parts kit. These are the most plentiful at this time and the lowest in price. I have purchased parts kits from:
http://www.copesdist.com/ak47.htm
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/
I have also bought them from individuals on the different chat boards. These are only the suppliers I have dealt with and there are many others out there with kits available. I strongly advise you to check out whoever you decide to buy from. The best way is to do a search on the AK chat boards. These are the people that have had the most experience, good or bad, with the suppliers. Even though I will be using a Romanian parts kit, the process for building an AK type rifle is the same for all of them. When you are looking at the kits online there will be several "Catch Phrases" that you will see:
All Matching
This means that all of the parts have the same serial number. This is important for headspacing.
Matching
This may indicate that the barrel, front trunnion and bolt all match but other parts may not. This type of kit should still headspace correctly.
NONMATCHING
This means that the primary parts do not match. The barrel, front trunnion and bolt may have different serial numbers. This may be due to how the kits were de milled or may be due to arsenal repairs or replacements.
Virgin Parts
This is not a de milled kit. It is a package of unissued parts that will require considerably more work to complete than a de milled kit.
All NFA Rules Apply
This usually indicates that the kit, if assembled as supplied, would fall under the National Firearms Act. You would need to make changes to the build to conform to ATF regulations. Examples of NFA kits would be the AMD-65 or the M92 Krinkov. Both of these have barrels less than 16" in length. You would either need to add a barrel extension or register them as an SBR on form 1 with the ATF for $200.
922(r) compliance
Under current federal law you can not build an AK type rifle without using a specific number of US made parts. Here is what the law says:
TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 44, § 922(r)
(r) It shall be unlawful for any person to assemble from imported parts any
semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is identical to any rifle or shotgun
prohibited from importation under section 925 (d)(3) of this chapter as not
being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes except
that this subsection shall not apply to—
(1) the assembly of any such rifle or shotgun for sale or distribution by a
licensed manufacturer to the United States or any department or agency thereof
or to any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or
(2) the assembly of any such rifle or shotgun for the purposes of testing or
experimentation authorized by the Attorney General.
27 CFR section 178.39
(a) No person shall assemble a semiautomatic rifle, or any shotgun, using more
than 10 of the imported parts listed in
paragraph (c) of this section if the assembled firearm is prohibited from
importation under section 925(d)(3) as not
being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for sale or distribution by a licensed
manufacturer to the United
States or any department or agency thereof, or to any State or any department,
agency, or political subdivision
thereof; or
(2) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for the purposes of testing or
experimentation authorized by the
Director under the provisions of section 178.151; or
(3) The repair of any rifle or shotgun which had been imported into or assembled
in the United States prior to
November 30, 1990, or the replacement of any part of such firearm.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term imported parts are:
(1) Frames, receivers,
receiver castings, forgings or stampings
(2) Barrels
(3) Barrel extensions
(4) Mounting blocks (trunnions)
(5) Muzzle attachments
(6) Bolts
(7) Bolt carriers
(8) Operating rods
(9) Gas pistons
(10) Trigger housings
(11) Triggers
(12) Hammers
(13) Sears
(14) Disconnectors
(15) Buttstocks
(16) Pistol grips
(17) Forearm handguards
(18) Magazine bodies
(19) Followers
(20) Floorplates
The parts on the list marked in GREEN are the ones that apply to the AK series rifles. The parts highlighted in RED are parts that are not readily available from US manufacturers. The parts highlighted in BLUE are available from many sources individually or as sets. As a rule of thumb I use 6 US made parts on all of my builds to ensure that I will be in compliance. I recommend against using magazine part for compliance purposes since this would limit you from using the inexpensive imported magazines. As you can see there are 9 readily available compliance parts that can be used. I prefer the following:
Receiver
Muzzle attachment
Trigger
Hammer
Disconnector
Gas piston
Other than the muzzle attachment all of the parts are internal and do not effect the appearance of the finished rifle. The US made parts set that I use comes with a slant brake that looks just like the original so the overall appearance is unchanged. Here are the suppliers that I have used for these parts:
http://www.copesdist.com/ak47.htm They offer 2 compliance parts sets as well as individual parts.
http://dpharms.com/ They offer several compliance parts sets as well as individual parts.
http://www.k-var.com/shop/ They offer compliance furniture as well as other individual parts.
Again this is not a complete list of all suppliers, but only the ones I have done business with. You will want your compliance parts in hand for the build. All US made compliance part should be marked as such. They will say "Made in USA" or may be marked only with the manufacture's mark such as a "C" for those parts made by Century.
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