Gauging interest in a new AK service - Bull barrel swap

[digitalpaladin10]

I'm thinking about offering a service where I take your existing imported AKM and swap a completely new front end in it. See the pic below.

It has a 1913 rail integrated into the rear sight block and an adjustable rear sight, a combo gas block with a AR15 sight post for finer tuning of zero and aftermarket selection, a 5/8”-24RH concentric-to-bore threading for worry free suppressor mounting. All of the other parts from the donor imported AKM will work with the new front assembly.

Any thoughts?

DP

 

[IUHoosier429]

Looks like the Acu Tec Arms product with the billboard photoshopped out?

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/01/25/acu-tec-arms-ak-bull-barrel/

What is the barrel coating? Is the price still $1,200ish for the assembly plus parts, finishing, and labor? Also, there have been some reports this thing is finicky with steel-cased ammo. Not sure how many 7.62x39 owners run steel through their guns though...

Honestly, I'm confused what the intended functionality or improvement of this thing is for the vast majority of AK guys. Seems very boutique/"Gucci." And at the ballpark total OTD price point I'm guessing in my head, you're in VEPR-FM territory and still getting a heavy (and in the VEPR's case a Russian chrome-lined) barrel.

Not trying to poo poo on your plans whatsoever, DP, but these are just my cursory thoughts.



ETA - no bayonet lug??

 

[digitalpaladin10]

Photoshop?!? That's MS Paint, baby.

Yes, it's the same product but without the banner print name laser etched. My service will be for less than half the price you listed. The assemblies current coating is lathe and mill marks. Until recently you had to buy the entire rifle from them but the magic is all in the forward assembly. I've met and build AK's for lots of guys on here and they all have the same problem when suppressing the AK, concentric threads. The Wolverine, with it's progressively widening conical baffles and end cap, is just a band aid on the real problem. I've tried to help several guys on here to get their bores concentric and they all had to do the same thing, pay me to remove the barrel and components, send it to ADCO (or another shop) for concentric threading for about $140 plus shipping, then pay me again to install the barrel and all the blocks. It adds up fast. My Silencerco Omega 300 mounts up nice and tight with no adapters, shims, QD mounts, nothing else.

Also, some guys have no luck with the side mount optics holding zero or the parallax associated with European/Russian optics. Ultimak's heat up too fast for my taste and the Sabrewerks KOP with rail add on is $222 and Occam Defense 1913 RSB's are $200 and back ordered into oblivion. Plus labor to install the RSB's and you're getting to the price territory of installing the bull assembly.

I'm not selling a rifle, just an idea to a guy with a spare WASR/PAP/Saiga in the safe that he can now suppress and optic it very easily and keep all the furniture and accessories he already has bought. This assembly takes all AKM and Yugo furniture.

No offense taken, brother. I'm stuck at home trying to think of ways to help guys.

 

[IUHoosier429]

I'm stuck at home trying to think of ways to help guys.

And we appreciate the help, my friend! As long as you're not stuck at home with COVID-19 hacking up and hacking on our guns. Still loving my two Romies from you.

Are these barrels nitrided? Can't imagine they are chromed, but I seriously don't know - I just recognized your photo instantly because the Acu Tec assembly looks like a piece of the Terminator's endoskeleton. Have you had any issues in yours with the various steel ammo?

Speaking of Romania, now my brain is flying and I'm wondering what one of these would look like built into something like this, based on the PM md. 90 kits from Midway:

 

[digitalpaladin10]

I like my PM.90's underfolding. No issues with the test unit I had installed and sold to a customer. It shot steel cased just fine. I like traditional looking AK's myself but this arrangement is more user friendly for reasons I stated. The SBR'd Draco below had to be rebarreled and put back together to use a suppressor. It wasn't cheap.

I'll build you that SBR'd PM.90 clone. All it takes is money.

 

[Exspiravit]

Variety is good, but it's not something I would be interested in, as a build or as something I saw in a shop.

 

[Burt Gummer]

https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?account/upgrades