Anyone here install a used milled barrel onto a non-matching trunnion/barrel combo?

kurbelgehause · Aug 13, 2014

Anyone here install a used milled AK47 barrel onto a non-matching trunnion/barrel combo? I have built FALs before but they headspace differently. The AK is more like a M1 Garand or M14.

Barrel timing could be achieved by either turning the barrel collar backface if the barrel undertimes or by using a shim if the barrel overtimes. The same as an inch pattern FAL.

For headspace: This might work for a bolt/barrel combo that headspaces short, I don't think you can make a too-long headspace combo work. The AK chamber, being chrome plated, can't be reamed so it looks like the only options are to remove material from the bolt lug/receiver abuttments or to remove material from the bolt face (assuming headspace is short). I suppose swapping bolts is the easiest option if serial number matching is not important and you have a large supply of servicable bolts to fit until you find one that headspaces well.

So has anyone here tried any of the above methods or some other methods?

Thanks!

Stottman · Aug 13, 2014

I had Mario use some used Soviet AK47 barrels, but he turned the threads down, and then pressed them into the Bulgarian milled receivers.

I would think the barrel / receiver threads would be the most critical. as the barrel still has to time. When the rifles were first made, that was not an issue the the RSB/GB/FSB were all added after the barrel was installed.

kurbelgehause · Aug 13, 2014

I don't want to cut the threads of the barrel as the receiver is threaded so that's not an option for me. I figured all the barrel hardware and the extractor cut, gas port, and all the other cuts were made after screwing and torquing the barrel to the receiver. Any other way would be too painful and time-consuming. I think the barrel timing should not be too much of a headache. The rifle can still safely fire with a mis-timed barrel but bad headspace could be ugly.

Thanks

Stottman · Aug 13, 2014

That's exactly my point though. When using a used barrel, all the barrel parts have to time perfectly anyways.... Or, you are essentially going to have to start from scratch with them. If that's the case, then having the bolt fitted is not going to be the issue.....

evolixsurf · Aug 13, 2014

I know that the best way to use a non matching stub/barrel is to just turn down the shoulder so it clocks, then try a bunch of different bolts and see which works....

Turbo might have other options, but not that I know of. Shims, ect.?

evolixsurf · Aug 13, 2014

From the factory, they torqued, then timed the barrel, then fitted the bolt, says allengibbonswat(sp?).

Anyone here install a used milled barrel onto a non-matching trunnion/barrel combo?

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