Potential AK74U project. Need some help!

[MooseHead92]

Hello comrades!

I am pondering whether or not to invest my money in building a custom AK74U platform, and I need the input of experts here, if anyone is kind enough to help. This is what I'm thinking of starting with: http://www.torontoairsoft.com/Echo1-...PM_p_1146.html

Simple, rugged, iconic. I'm thinking of buying a mid-level AEG and using the extra cash leftover to upgrade it. I'm thinking of dropping in a Guarder SP120 FTK.
Now why a 350+ mm FTK when the AK74 has about 290mm? Because I want a Modify 500mm TB hybrid inner or a Systema 500mm TB innerfollowed by a PBS-4 suppressor to cover it up. That's about the same inner barrel length as an M14 DMR, on something a full foot shorter.

I need help on the barrel part though. The hybrid Modify one vs the Systema? Pros? Cons? The Systema says it's M16A1/A2/AUG... is that size spec, or does it have to do with how the barrel is machined?
I'm also looking for advice on what else I can add to improve this potential AEG. Hop-ups, etc. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks! Have a great Christmas Eve!

[XZIVR]

The barrel saying it's for m16/etc is just saying that because it's the same size as the stock barrel on those guns. Either would work in your application. Basically it's just for dumb ppl who go "dur, i have decided i need to 'upgrade' the barrel of my gun for super leet accuracy or whatever, but i dont have a clue what i'm doing so i will just buy one that says it fits my gun in the description"

I would probably go for the Systema barrel if those two were my only options. The Modify barrel has that black coating on the inside and I've read that it can wear down over time and mess with the dynamics of the barrel. That said, I have one in my CQB gun but put so few rounds through it that I haven't noticed anything yet.



Oh, and don't order from Evike. Ever.

[MooseHead92]

Originally Posted by XZIVR

[useful shit that probably saved me 30 minutes of paranoid internet research] Oh, and don't order from Evike. Ever.

Haha, okay. Why's that? I hear a lot of ppl give Evike hate. I never dealt with them so I'm clueless.
What's some other good sites to get my stuff and put this baby together?

[XZIVR]

Well, you aren't AV'd yet but I can still link you to some sites that sell parts.. There are two in Canada that I order almost all my parts from. The third site is in China but they sell guns too so I'm not sure I can link it?

Anyway the two in Canada are:

http://www.airsoftparts.ca/store2/

http://airsoftstore.ca/

Very good prices, service, shipping etc. I have had nothing but good dealings with both those places. The parts are all high end stuff too, no junk.


I have bought from Evike 3-4 times now, mostly back when I was a noob, and have never had a good experience with them. They don't give a shit about Canadian customers, won't do anything to help with shipping costs, and generally don't even get around to shipping your item until 1-2 weeks after you place the order. Each time I had to email them at the 1 week mark and ask if they were ever going to bother shipping my stuff.

[Off_kilter]

Ok first of all if your doing an AK build you want a AK that has VFC style construction. Otherwise your front end will keep coming loose(TM style construction).

Depending on which model CYMA(ECHO1 are cyma rebrands) some are TM some are VFC style.

Since your planning on replacing most of the internals anyway I suggest a Dboy/boyi/Kalash full steel AK. The externals are generally much nicer then CYMA Aks.

The caveat on that is that CYMAs have better internals...but you were planning on changeing them anyway.

I also recommend the links XZIVR posted. Those are two solid reputable Canadian parts
suppliers. Stealth(airsoftstore.ca) even tests all the parts he sells!

I wouldn't go with a systema barrel. My two barrel choices that i go with are Prometheus 6.03 Stainless steel for my main guns and madbull 6.03 aluminum.

[MooseHead92]

Originally Posted by Off_kilter

Ok first of all if your doing an AK build you want a AK that has VFC style construction. Otherwise your front end will keep coming loose(TM style construction).

Depending on which model CYMA(ECHO1 are cyma rebrands) some are TM some are VFC style.

Since your planning on replacing most of the internals anyway I suggest a Dboy/boyi/Kalash full steel AK. The externals are generally much nicer then CYMA Aks.

The caveat on that is that CYMAs have better internals...but you were planning on changeing them anyway.

I also recommend the links XZIVR posted. Those are two solid reputable Canadian parts
suppliers. Stealth(airsoftstore.ca) even tests all the parts he sells!

I wouldn't go with a systema barrel. My two barrel choices that i go with are Prometheus 6.03 Stainless steel for my main guns and madbull 6.03 aluminum.

Gotcha. I was actually drooling over an Boyi/DBoy steel AKS74U over at Huang's Airsoftdepot.ca, but it won't be in stock until March. I'm feeling dismal now. I got no idea where else I can get a steel DBoy in Canada, and I looked online till my eyes bled.
I need to get AV'd... if only the AV guys in my area would respond to my PM's. Maybe I'll find one retailing here.

[MooseHead92]

Since I got the time and finances, I'm doing some "shopping ahead". Even a properly shimmed stock box is gonna give way at some point, so I don't want to run around for replacement parts when it happens. I've had many airsofters tell me they love SHS gears for affordability and durability - including a good friend of mine who put in excess of 40k BB's through a carefully assembled SHS gearbox.

I was offered a 32:1 spare gearset from this guy, but I'm looking for around 350 FPS and about 20-25RPS. 32:1 is ultra high torque, I'm not building a M160 DMR yet (I'll wait for the CYMA CM048 to do that). I already have a SHS tuneup kit, minus gears cause I don't have a clue on that yet.

What gear ratio do you recommend, fellas? I'm not experienced when it comes to it.

[Kos-Mos]

If you want a very nice 74u, get the CYMA one (wood/steel version).

You don't have to replace anything. All that is needed is a clean-up and a shim job.

There is no reason to drop a FTK in there. Also, stay away from Guarder FTKs.

You are way better replacing the parts that break since the stock internals are already extremely good.

Even the stock barrel is nice. Really no need to replace it. It is a misconception that longer barrel = more accurate. You only get more FPS and a slight increase in consistency. But remember that you shoot plastic spheres that catch in the wind and are not made to the specs of a bullet.

Your rifle won't be shorter than an M14 by a foot... maybe by 6" at most. You probably considered the stock closed, but if you add a silencer and longer barrel, you will basically loose the ability to weld your gun efficiently with the stock closed.

And most (depending on the batch) come with a spring that shoots just under 400 fps. A SP120 will bust that limit and you won't be allowed to field it anywhere.

*edit* I hate AKs. And I got the chance to weld one CYMA 74u. Almost kept it since it was working so good out of the box. Ergonomics just don't fit with me, so I sold it.

[Off_kilter]

If you want a high ROF go with 13:1 gear set.

My rpk with a lonex red and shs 13:1 and a 11.1 25c Turnigy is firing at 31 rps.

I have it tuned down to 23-25 rps just to go easy on it.

Spring is a m110 or m100 can't remember which shoots just under 400 fps (has a huge tightbore though)

[MooseHead92]

Originally Posted by Off_kilter

If you want a high ROF go with 13:1 gear set.

My rpk with a lonex red and shs 13:1 and a 11.1 25c Turnigy is firing at 31 rps.

I have it tuned down to 23-25 rps just to go easy on it.

Spring is a m110 or m100 can't remember which shoots just under 400 fps (has a huge tightbore though)

I was thinking - since I'm gonna have a 500mm tightbore, might just as well make it my outdoors gun. I read that Orange has the smallest battery drain, and it provides crazy torque + decent ROF.

(I'm not a fan of LiPoly, I honestly don't have WHEN to keep a constant eye on them and I am deathly afraid of burning down my house AND my landlords).

[Off_kilter]

Lipo are not the sketchy unstable beast they used to be and if your still scared just keep them in a ammo can. It's basically fireproof. That's what I do.

[MooseHead92]

Update: I got somewhat of a loadout going on. Incomplete, still looking for stuff I'll need.

Anyone know good AK74 metal/poly mags that would fit the DBoys AKS74U?

[Cliffradical]

MAG brand waffles seem to fit well with most brands, and will feed with any brand I've tried whether they wobble or not. A little bit of tape on either side of the magwell can mostly fix most wobble most of the time, bit if it feeds and holds that's the main thing.

[Kos-Mos]

Originally Posted by Off_kilter

Lipo are not the sketchy unstable beast they used to be and if your still scared just keep them in a ammo can. It's basically fireproof. That's what I do.

If you don't remove the rubber seal around, it's basically a pipe bomb...

Ammo cans are not fireproof... they are just that cans for ammo.

If you remove the seal, it's a safe storage solution however. Make sure it is not resting on or against something flammable... the box will get red hot in the event of a LiPo failure.

[MooseHead92]

Originally Posted by Kos-Mos

If you don't remove the rubber seal around, it's basically a pipe bomb...

Ammo cans are not fireproof... they are just that cans for ammo.

If you remove the seal, it's a safe storage solution however. Make sure it is not resting on or against something flammable... the box will get red hot in the event of a LiPo failure.

When you see it...