sapper1371usmc 107 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Figured Id start a build thread for my S308. Started with a stock, unconverted, 21.8" gun purchased at KVAR. Gun was built in 2009. First phase consisted of removing the existing trigger and linkage setup along with the plate on the bottom, and replaced with a Texas AK double hook trigger, a surplus safety lever, MD Arms grip, and a CSS handguard. For magazines, so far I've attained a few CsSpec 20rnd magazines. For aesthetics, I removed the sheet metal cover spot welded to the gas tube. I touched up the bare spots with a gloss Rustoleum paint (All I had on hand, but it shouldnt stay for long). Heres a few pics of it's current state. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Run and Gun 25 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Nice rifle. I'd love to have a 308. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted March 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) Next stage, I will be removing the barrel from the receiver, chop to 18", recrown and thread 5/8x24. Also, I will be replacing the rear sight base with the Kalashnikov Optics Platform (K.O.P.) designed for the PSL/RPK. I'll be running the long picatinny rail along with a Burris PEPR mount and a Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42 scope (already aquired). A Griffin Armament 7.62 Flash Comp, CSS AR stock adapter, and either a MOE or CTR stock with cheek riser will be added. The third stage will be to weld shape, cut, and weld the factory trigger guard to the mag release tower and rivet it in place. I will probably remove the left side scope rail and weld up any remaining holes. Once all the metal work has been done, I will throw the gun in my media blaster and prep for parkerizing. Thinking of going with a moly resin top coat or just leave it parkerized. Nice rifle. I'd love to have a 308. Thanks, but its far from done. It should end up a pretty capable battle rifle when its all said and done. Edited March 26, 2013 by sapper1371usmc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Norotor 1 Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Nice rifle, your plans sound great. How is the handguard mounted? I've got some of the same parts, like the griffin comp and stock. Mine isnt finished either, but heres a pic. Looking forward to seeing your progress Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted March 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 CSS supplies a front mount that clamps to the barrel via 4 bolts which is installed just behind the gas block. The handguard then screws into it. Very solid and does not utilize the gas block pins in any way. Norotor, What front sight are you running? Is it a clamp on ACE? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Norotor 1 Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Ah thats really nice, I might have to switch to that handguard, I haven't finished modifying the Midwest industries handguard on mine, it's a pain grinding down the mount to fit our bigger 308 barrels. Yeah it's the ace clamp-on. It's a nice solid piece but if if you buy directly from ace, AKA riflestocks.com it takes a long time to get it; think I waited almost 2 months till it arrived. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted March 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Got the KOP ordered. I will be pressing the barrel out soon to send off to be cut down and threaded. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted April 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2013 Received the sabrewerks KOP system in the mail yesterday and was immediately impressed with the overall fit and finish. The two pieces fit together with no movement whether vertical or horizontal pressure applied. The scope mount is solid and should have no problems maintaining zero. Theres room for some minor improvements that i will touch on later, but overall, im completely satisfied with the purchase decision. Ill link some pictures later Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted April 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) .... Edited April 6, 2013 by sapper1371usmc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
unclejake 428 Posted April 26, 2013 Report Share Posted April 26, 2013 (edited) The Texas AK d.h. Triggers Are The Bomb! I Recently Sold My Saiga 223 And Had Built It With The Texas AK Dh And Had Had To Sell The Rifle With It Still In Said Rifle...One Of The Main Things They Loved About The Rifle. I Put A Tapco B2b In The &08 Build, DBut Will Change Out Asap . There Is A.world Of Difference! Edited April 26, 2013 by unclejake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
N4KVE 14 Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Why are you guys removing the barrel to have it shortened? When I bought my 308, I sent it to my smith to be restored. He shortened the barrel, crowned, & threaded it w/o removing the barrel. He works on AK's all the time & made a special jig to turn the whole gun on his lathe. His work is excellent, & people send him guns to work on from all over the country. GARY Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 N4KVE my uncle that's a machinist did the same thing. I know that was easier. But I think sone people have an easier time removing the barrel and just taking that to any old machinist. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
notguilty 0 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Why are you guys removing the barrel to have it shortened? When I bought my 308, I sent it to my smith to be restored. He shortened the barrel, crowned, & threaded it w/o removing the barrel. He works on AK's all the time & made a special jig to turn the whole gun on his lathe. His work is excellent, & people send him guns to work on from all over the country. GARY Can I get a # to contact your smith?Thanks Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nailbomb 10,221 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Very cool! Looking forward to updates! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodi1 23 Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 Why are you guys removing the barrel to have it shortened? When I bought my 308, I sent it to my smith to be restored. He shortened the barrel, crowned, & threaded it w/o removing the barrel. He works on AK's all the time & made a special jig to turn the whole gun on his lathe. His work is excellent, & people send him guns to work on from all over the country. GARY Can I get a # to contact your smith?Thanks Gary I would also like to know who this is. Please PM me his information. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 It's been awhile since I've made any updates. I've since pressed the barrel out, and is on it's way to ADCO to be shortened to 18", crowned, and threaded 5/8x24. They are also going to contour the barrel directly behind the threads for me to reattach my front sight. Using them, they guarantee the threading will be concentric to the bore. And they're reasonably priced. For everything mentioned plus reparkerizing, I'm out $130. I could have found someone local, but I have all the tools, and I don't know any smiths who are knowledgeable about the ak platform. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted October 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 I will say this, the Russians idea of a press fit is .02", even up to .025". That included, not only the barrel journal, but also the front sight and gas block. It took quite a bit of force on my 20 ton press to bust them loose. Even the barrel pin. I bent 1/4" plate I milled out to support the trunnion when pressing the barrel pin out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted October 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2013 Well I got a little more work done. Got the barrel back from ADCO, which turned out great. While I had the barrel out, I went ahead and removed the side scope mount, tig'd up all the extra holes including the bho slot, and welded the original trigger guard to the mag release tower. It was riveted in place, along with re-riveting the forward most hole of the rear trunion which was removed when I took off the scope mount Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted October 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2013 Picked up a rdak stock adapter with all the AR parts to include a magpul ctr. Added a magpul Moe grip and a YHM 30LT suppressor mount. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted October 26, 2013 Report Share Posted October 26, 2013 Won't it void the warranty on your suppressor to put it on a kalashnikov? There are so many people whose threads are not concentric to and paralell with the bore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
netpackrat 566 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Won't it void the warranty on your suppressor to put it on a kalashnikov? There are so many people whose threads are not concentric to and paralell with the bore. I think it depends on who you buy your suppressor from. YHM doesn't seem to say anything about it on their warranty page. Some suppressor makers don't even offer their products in M14x1LH to keep them from going on an AK. Kind of irrelevant here since Sapper's rifle was threaded on a lathe. I had mine done on a lathe also, in case I ever want to put a can on it. But my gunsmith was able to do it without having the barrel removed. A friend had his VEPR done at the same time, but we had to remove that one, since his jig wouldn't work with the slant cut receiver. MIne was done in 9/16-24, which gave 100% thread engangement. Wouldn't have gotten that with 5/8-24 according to my smith. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Nice. I thought I had actually read the AK prohibition on YHM. I'm still pretty sure GemTech and SilencerCo have that rule. It actually makes sense to me to deliberately get an overbore suppressor. I can't remember the name, but there is a company which makes a can with a 9mm hole that is rated up to mid power .308 rounds and had fairly decent decibel ratings even with smaller projectiles. It was on the heavy side, but it was remarkably versatile. The steel version was just under $700. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zagumennyyilya 51 Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 How will the suppressor companies ever know what gun you had it on? When you get a suppressor it isn't registered to a gun, but as an individual you pay the tax stamp and can put it on any gun you want , so how would they really prove it was on an Ak anyway? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sapper1371usmc 107 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 (edited) Like zagumennyyilya stated, the suppressor co will never know what weapon their can was attached to. The barrel not be concentric/parallel to the bore doesn't apply to mine as my threads were cut concentric on a lathe, which is why I sent it off to adco as they guarantee it to be right. I wasn't comfortable with any local smiths to do the work nor knew of any with a jig like those who did netpackrats gun. I'll check with a dowel rod also to ensure no hang ups. Edited October 28, 2013 by sapper1371usmc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.