AK-74 question???

AMHsix · August 23, 2001, 12:20 PM

I'm going to order a black polymer stock set for my AK-74. There are 2 sets, one with a gas tube in the upper handguard and one without the tube. It's a $10 difference in price.

How hard is it to remove the tube and put it back in the new handguard? Is it worth the time and effort to save $10 bucks?

I'm out of the country right now, so I can't just fiddle with and find out. I want to order the stock set now, so when I get home it will be there.

Thanks!

Destructo6 · August 23, 2001, 12:35 PM

It depends on your gun. My Chinese MAK-90 is super easy to remove with just a 180 degree twist with a bare hand. My Romanian AK's upper handguard couldn't be budged at all.

AMHsix · August 23, 2001, 12:43 PM

I've got a Romanian....

AndrewWalkowiak · August 23, 2001, 12:45 PM

I have some US poly AK furniture on order from K-Var myself.

My last similar experience was fitting my Russian SKS with a Choate Dragunov stock, and the top handgaurd on the gas tube wouldn't come off either.

I tried to drive out the pin on the rear (plate?) of the handgaurd on the gas tube to no avail. I wound up using a tight fitting nail, in place of the pin, cutting the excess with a Dremel, and peening the end flat with a hammer.

It looked like crap, but the damage was hidden by the reciever end of the gas block/tappet housing where the rear sight is, and it works fine.

The fact that it is buggered up on the inside still bugs me though, and I don't want to mess up my AK the same way.

Anybody with ideas/experience in changing handgaurds on various AK's?

Andrew

Intel6 · August 23, 2001, 05:39 PM

I just put a K-Var plastic stock set on my SAR2 last week. I didn't get the whole gas tube, just the plastic. I wasn't really sure how to switch it out at first but figured there had to be a way. I took a big crescent wrench and tightened it at the rear of the gas tube and grabbed the plastic and and twisted. The wood just rotated off and I rotated on the plastic part. It went on easier than I thought and looks great.

GgnubrKihn · August 23, 2001, 10:00 PM

Place the end of the gas tube in a vise grip and the grab the old handguard and twist. should rotate 180 degrees then remove. No problem once you have the trick down.

yankytrash · August 24, 2001, 03:36 AM

For $10, I wouldn't mess with changing the tube.

AndrewWalkowiak · August 27, 2001, 09:35 AM

Hmm.

Sounds like "just twist hard" is the consensus. On an AK? I should have known.

Andrew

August 23, 2001, 12:20 PM	#1
AMHsix Member Join Date: February 12, 2000 Posts: 74	AK-74 question??? I'm going to order a black polymer stock set for my AK-74. There are 2 sets, one with a gas tube in the upper handguard and one without the tube. It's a $10 difference in price. How hard is it to remove the tube and put it back in the new handguard? Is it worth the time and effort to save $10 bucks? I'm out of the country right now, so I can't just fiddle with and find out. I want to order the stock set now, so when I get home it will be there. Thanks!

August 23, 2001, 12:35 PM	#2
Destructo6 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 1999 Location: Nogales, AZ USA Posts: 3,521	It depends on your gun. My Chinese MAK-90 is super easy to remove with just a 180 degree twist with a bare hand. My Romanian AK's upper handguard couldn't be budged at all. __________________ God gave you a soul. Your parents, a body. Your country, a rifle. Keep all of them clean.

August 23, 2001, 12:45 PM	#4
AndrewWalkowiak Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2001 Location: WI Posts: 193	Handgaurds I have some US poly AK furniture on order from K-Var myself. My last similar experience was fitting my Russian SKS with a Choate Dragunov stock, and the top handgaurd on the gas tube wouldn't come off either. I tried to drive out the pin on the rear (plate?) of the handgaurd on the gas tube to no avail. I wound up using a tight fitting nail, in place of the pin, cutting the excess with a Dremel, and peening the end flat with a hammer. It looked like crap, but the damage was hidden by the reciever end of the gas block/tappet housing where the rear sight is, and it works fine. The fact that it is buggered up on the inside still bugs me though, and I don't want to mess up my AK the same way. Anybody with ideas/experience in changing handgaurds on various AK's? Andrew

August 24, 2001, 03:36 AM	#7
yankytrash Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2001 Location: Farnham, Va Posts: 2,176	For $10, I wouldn't mess with changing the tube. __________________ Right turn, Clyde.

August 27, 2001, 09:35 AM	#8
AndrewWalkowiak Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2001 Location: WI Posts: 193	Handgaurds Hmm. Sounds like "just twist hard" is the consensus. On an AK? I should have known. Andrew

August 23, 2001, 12:43 PM	#3
AMHsix Member Join Date: February 12, 2000 Posts: 74	I've got a Romanian....

August 23, 2001, 05:39 PM	#5
Intel6 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2000 Posts: 426	I just put a K-Var plastic stock set on my SAR2 last week. I didn't get the whole gas tube, just the plastic. I wasn't really sure how to switch it out at first but figured there had to be a way. I took a big crescent wrench and tightened it at the rear of the gas tube and grabbed the plastic and and twisted. The wood just rotated off and I rotated on the plastic part. It went on easier than I thought and looks great.

August 23, 2001, 10:00 PM	#6
GgnubrKihn Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 1999 Posts: 100	Place the end of the gas tube in a vise grip and the grab the old handguard and twist. should rotate 180 degrees then remove. No problem once you have the trick down.