Couple of AK questions

[m4brian]

1. I have a SAR-1, SA 85, and CAI Yugo. If I picked up an extra bolt, could it be used if the same make, OR does one have to repress the barrel/headspace?

2. Are these good?

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ak7630slmosy.html

3. Why did the Soviets go to a plum colored stock set?


Thanks.

[TOrrock]

1. I have a SAR-1, SA 85, and CAI Yugo. If I picked up an extra bolt, could it be used if the same make, OR does one have to repress the barrel/headspace?

2. Are these good?

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ak7630slmosy.html

3. Why did the Soviets go to a plum colored stock set?


Thanks.

1) AK's aren't AR's, the bolt would definitely need to be headspaced.

2) No. The only Bulgarian polymer magazines worth a damn are the Arsenal Bulgaria Circle 10 "waffle pattern" magazines.

3) The Soviets wanted black, but the dye that they initially used made the polymers too soft, so they went with the darkest dye that they had which would still stabilize the polymer. Plum. A few years down the road and they developed a black dye that worked fine.

[m4brian]

Thanks Templar - does headspacing always lead to breaking the barrel lose from the trunions and repressing?


Are Circle 10s the ONLY poly mags worth using?

Thanks.

[doodi1]

I'm not Templar but the other polymer mag which is nice but pricey is the US PALM AK 30 mag. They are pricey, but very well made and comparable to the Bulgy Circle 10's.

[jsbcody]

I'm not Templar but the other polymer mag which is nice but pricey is the US PALM AK 30 mag. They are pricey, but very well made and comparable to the Bulgy Circle 10's.

You mean these US Palm Mags?

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...highlight=Palm

Not too good, stick with the Bulgarian Circle ((10))s.

[titsonritz]

Unless something has changed very resently US Palm mags suck ass.

[TOrrock]

Thanks Templar - does headspacing always lead to breaking the barrel lose from the trunions and repressing?


Are Circle 10s the ONLY poly mags worth using?

Thanks.

Dave did a very good write up on AK mags here:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=40068

The only other synthetic 7.62x39mm mags I'd consider are the slab side Polish magazines. Bear in mind though that they will usually exhibit small cracks at the top near the metal lined feed lips, but they don't effect function.






***Edited to add that the Bulgarian Circle 10 waffles are by far considered the Gold Standard for a polymer AK magazine. The Russian AK-103 mags are great too, but collectors items.***

As far as head spacing......you might get lucky and bolt will be headspaced fine, but have a smith check it.

Again, an AK is not an AR. I've NEVER, and I mean NEVER, heard of an AK bolt from a military rifle ever breaking one of it's locking lugs.

[kal]

This is something new to me.

what exactly is headspacing and why is it different from AK to AR?