Advice for AK Building Newbie

[golfball]

What is the one piece of advice you would give to someone considering building their first AK? Full disclosure I do not have a shop press or know how to rivet but I am a quick study.

[m4brian]

It ain't no AR! To do it right you need a press and tools including riveter. You likely need to meet with people who know what they are really doing to get it done. Tons of vids and of course AK specific sites can help. If you want to make more than one, and turn a hobby, good, but if not, just buy one - a good WP one while still available. Their heyday is gone. Cheap kits with CHF barrels are over.

[96 SS]

Learn from someone who actually knows what they are doing. ;)

Read read read and then practice on some sheet metal before you use your parts.

[Berserkr556]

Buy Gunplumber's Guide to Gunsmithing Kalashnikov Rifles. Read the work book several times and watch the DVDs several times. Then find someone local who is experienced to walk you through your first build. Buy all of the proper tools, they aren't cheap, but worth the money. If you only plan to build one or two then don't bother with any of this. Box up your parts and pay a Pro to build your AK. AKs are a lot harder to build than an AR. There is a lot of hand fitting and things that must be done to precision.

[SamM]

Just buy a Bulgarian rifle.

[Bret]

You will not save any money by building one or a couple of kits. In fact, parts alone will generally cost you as much as you can get a new AK for.