WE AK-74N Project

[Latvian291]

Well, it's not complete, but as usual I can't wait to show ASC. I've been working on a few projects and this is one I am most excited about.

This was a WE PMC turned into a AK-74N. Weathered for realism. Pretty easy to put together. Got a Russian furniture set from the Ukraine. Turned out to be NOS so it all required fitting. Plus the WE doesn't use the same receiver plates on the buttstock end. Gas tube required machining. Fitting RS selector is a PITA, recommend AEG replacement. Rear sight from a real AK-74 was a drop-in affair.

Real Steel Russian Parts:
Buttstock
Bakelite Grip
Selector
Rear Sight
Upper handguard
Lower Handguard

Other parts:
Guarder Flash Hider
LCT V2009 Gas Tube (stamped and welded with retaining spring)

Waiting on:
Receiver cover

[kullwarrior]

How did you mod so that the selector works?
I've heard if you drop in the AK selector without mod the safety does not work.

[Rommen]

That looks great... I wanted to do something similar but thought it impossible. Did you have to modify any of the RS parts to fit? Specifically the buttstock?

[Latvian291]

Originally Posted by kullwarrior

How did you mod so that the selector works?
I've heard if you drop in the AK selector without mod the safety does not work.

It does if you do it carefully. I haven't had many problems although the poster who wrote that thread is right about the force of the blowback sometimes dislodging the selector from its indentation.

If your installation doesn't work, simply add some material on to the internal part of the selector with glue, or welding if you fancy sparks.

[Latvian291]

Originally Posted by Rommen

That looks great... I wanted to do something similar but thought it impossible. Did you have to modify any of the RS parts to fit? Specifically the buttstock?

I was inspired by another ASCer who showed it was possible to fit an RS buttstock. You need to do a bit of dremeling on the RS stock shank to narrow it out a bit, but that's about it.

[Rommen]

Well that is a terrific custom job then. Looks better than the ghk akm, imo. Lots of acronyms haha : p you may have reinspired my love for aks...

[Latvian291]

Originally Posted by Rommen

Well that is a terrific custom job then. Looks better than the ghk akm, imo. Lots of acronyms haha : p you may have reinspired my love for aks...

The GHK AKM is close in quality, but because there are no 74 style mags for it, it makes this project impossible. Plus I still prefer real Russian furniture to even the best LCT products. There's just some je ne sais quois (sic?) about it.

I'm so glad I could help!

[Strelok]

Amazing work dude. Loving it! This is what I had intended when I tried on my AK PMC conversion.

What did you do to get a regular selector switch on there?

[Latvian291]

Originally Posted by Strelok

Amazing work dude. Loving it! This is what I had intended when I tried on my AK PMC conversion.

What did you do to get a regular selector switch on there?

Honestly, not worth it. I ground and cut the original internal piece, machined and filed the hole on the RS selector to the right shape, then popped it on, pressing it with a clamp and tightening the hex screw. Worked great but in the future I would buy an AEG selector with half the work already done!

[-=ArchAngel=-]

Dam! Nice rifle! Its an absolute beauty!

[paulwes83]

Very nice work man! All you need is the 74 gas block and a real front sight assembly and you'll be singin.

I don't think the real steel upper will fit though. I'm not sure where you're getting yours, but I got mine from Soviety Military Surplus in Ukraine and it's too short. Only seems to fit Real Sword.

[Latvian291]

Originally Posted by paulwes83

Very nice work man! All you need is the 74 gas block and a real front sight assembly and you'll be singin.

You're the only one to have pointed out those two small inaccuracies. However, I would say it's only the front sight that needs to be changed because at the beginning of AK74 production many AKM parts including the 45 degree gas block were used.

I don't think the real steel upper will fit though. I'm not sure where you're getting yours, but I got mine from Soviety Military Surplus in Ukraine and it's too short. Only seems to fit Real Sword.

Nuts. I guess I will see for myself if my order ever arrives.

[paulwes83]

Originally Posted by Latvian291

You're the only one to have pointed out those two small inaccuracies. However, I would say it's only the front sight that needs to be changed because at the beginning of AK74 production many AKM parts including the 45 degree gas block were used.



Nuts. I guess I will see for myself if my order ever arrives.

Cool, I never knew that. Totally sounds like something the Soviets would've done. Just change what needs to be changed, and leave the rest as is.

Really nice work though, looks awesome with the weathering.

[Latvian291]

Originally Posted by paulwes83

Cool, I never knew that. Totally sounds like something the Soviets would've done. Just change what needs to be changed, and leave the rest as is.

Really nice work though, looks awesome with the weathering.

The soviets only switched to the 90 degree gas block after it became apparent that bullet-shear was going to be a problem with the new 5.45mm round. Also there's a few pictures of AK-74s on the internet and AIMS-74s that have the vestigal dual bayonet lugs (one on the front sight and one on the gas block).

Thanks for the positive feedback. I think there are much better weathering jobs on this site. I keep asking people how they do them but I can never seem to replicate them.

[LoricTheMad]

http://www.tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/

For those not in the know, this website is a wonderfully detailed resource for recreating different variants of the AK-74. It also mentions the aforementioned 45 degree gas block on the earlier preproduction models.