WE AKS74UN Build & Review

[localfreerider]

The WE AK is the gun I hate to love it is nothing like its namesake and is closer to an classic Italian car, It looks beautiful from the repair shop window.



Noticing a crack forming on top of the firing pin guide hole, I thought before my AK trigger box kicks the bucket I would reinforce it after seeing a tutorial on YouTube. I know of no aftermarket replacements and OEM WE pot metal parts have a nasty habit of crumbling like a dry cookie.



Figuring I had some rusty 16 gauge sheet steel that I had lying around from an older project.



I mocked it up with thick carton paper and cut a rough piece with my dremel cutoff wheel.



I finished the part with hand files checking for fit in between, I cleaned both surfaces with 99% alcohol.



Then J-B welded it in place.







Figure one represents a real AK, the force of torquing the screw is stopped by the back side of the trigger guard riveted to the frame. Figure two is the problem of the WE, I see so many trigger guards horribly disfigured when people put real AK grips on.







Figure three is my hodge-bodge solution. After bending the back of the trigger guard strait, I cut the block of wood to press fit into the grip and take the load off the front trigger guard. It stops all movement in any direction and centers the grip. I would recommend following the grain of the wood so it can the compression force without splitting. Also note the lack of a magazine guide and trimmed fire selector as I am a lefty and it would dig into my stomach and get knocked into the fire position while slung.





Filing of the magazine release so it no longer interferes with the magazine valve. Its very shallow and polished smooth. I've also used all types and thicknesses of tape to shim my wood hand guard so they do not rattle around and have a tight fit.

In the last photo I re profiled and stained the horridly off looking RA-Tech laminated wood handguard as the blonde color was off-putting, it is now a deep shade of mahogany red that matches better the color of the red bakelite grips. Its finished in a semi gloss poly coat that really highlights the different layers of lamination.

and............. LOCTITE! lots of loctite! or the gun will disassemble itself and rattle all the grub screws loose.


before

after

I would be interested to see what other people have done to solve gremlins with their suchka.

My P226 -->http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=149201

My PPK/S -->http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=166456

Also you may or may not have seen this already but here is another top notch build to ogle and lust for:http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=163171

[Warnipple]

Whats with the duct tape and piece of string on the bottom on your mag?

You need that to pull it out of one of your M4 mag pouches? :|

[xav1982]

Originally Posted by Warnipple

Whats with the duct tape and piece of string on the bottom on your mag?

You need that to pull it out of one of your M4 mag pouches? :|

It´s called ghetto magpul

Cost nothing and do the same job !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wilkie]

Originally Posted by Warnipple

Whats with the duct tape and piece of string on the bottom on your mag?

You need that to pull it out of one of your M4 mag pouches? :|

It's an incredibly common DIY mod. It acts like rubber MAGpul without the $3ish price tag per magazine. I'm surprised you've never seen anyone do that.

Edit: damn, too slow...

[mr_nuts31]

Only thing I replaced in my WE AK is the trigger and nozzle and that was after a year of using it as my primary (probably about 3000 rds or more). I remember getting bbs jammed around the chamber when I first got it. The weight of the bolt smashed the bbs to pieces and no jams and no further problems after that. Dunno about that trigger box crack you have, don't have it on mine as of yet. But good to know about the RS AK grips fitting on the WE AK.

[Warnipple]

Ah I see, very interesting

[localfreerider]

Originally Posted by mr_nuts31

Only thing I replaced in my WE AK is the trigger and nozzle and that was after a year of using it as my primary (probably about 3000 rds or more). I remember getting bbs jammed around the chamber when I first got it. The weight of the bolt smashed the bbs to pieces and no jams and no further problems after that. Dunno about that trigger box crack you have, don't have it on mine as of yet. But good to know about the RS AK grips fitting on the WE AK.

I had one lockup with my P226 when I rode the slide home slowly two bbs fed and one got stuck between the nozzle and the slide causing the gun to jam, I had to get a tooth pick to get it out.

I thought it was awesome that stray bbs just gets eaten by the AK action. I once put my finger behind the bolt and the gun when off when I tripped the sear trying to diagnose trigger issues, damn near took my finger off.

I wish they would release the CO2 version of there magazines but I think WE didn't because it would destroy the trigger box prematurely.

The ghetto tape magpuls have a big difference for me at least, it makes fishing for mags out of my vest easier.

[Thenooblord]

for what its worth on two of my WE AKs the trigger boxes broke off behind the hammer/valve knocker and there have been no ill effects thousands of rounds later even with the valve knocker almost hanging out when its retracted