Fitting an AK-74 lower handguard to an AK-47

[Bang]

Grabbed what I thought was a lower hand guard for an AKM-47 at Oaks for ten bucks. Turned out to be for an AK-74. The front inner spring band fits an AK-47 barrel.

The inside rear of the AK-74 lower hand guard is cut out larger than an AK-47 hand guard and the end rectangular piece that engages the stamped receiver is smaller in height and width.

Cutting a rectangle out of a post card measuring 1/2" by 1-1/4" makes a pattern duping the AK-47's receiver-engaging rectangle. Placing the cut-out window over the end section of the AK-74 hand guard, centering it laterally, and touching the bottom of the undersized rectangle, I drilled holes in each open upper corner of the window and inserted 8-32 screws and cut off the heads.

The screws take the place of the missing dimensions of the wooden rectangle removing lateral and vertical play when installed in the receiver. Just to add support, I cut a piece of thick gasket material into a 1/2" strip, bent it into a U and used it to fill the too-wide inner cut toward the rear of the hand guard.

With a little bit of work, an AK-74 lower hand guard can be fitted to an AK-47.

[gold cup abuser]

Good job there

Reduce, reuse and recycle

I think I would have just used a hammer and started over

[raxar]

Grabbed what I thought was a lower hand guard for an AKM-47 at Oaks for ten bucks. Turned out to be for an AK-74. The front inner spring band fits an AK-47 barrel.

The inside rear of the AK-74 lower hand guard is cut out larger than an AK-47 hand guard and the end rectangular piece that engages the stamped receiver is smaller in height and width.

Cutting a rectangle out of a post card measuring 1/2" by 1-1/4" makes a pattern duping the AK-47's receiver-engaging rectangle. Placing the cut-out window over the end section of the AK-74 hand guard, centering it laterally, and touching the bottom of the undersized rectangle, I drilled holes in each open upper corner of the window and inserted 8-32 screws and cut off the heads.

The screws take the place of the missing dimensions of the wooden rectangle removing lateral and vertical play when installed in the receiver. Just to add support, I cut a piece of thick gasket material into a 1/2" strip, bent it into a U and used it to fill the too-wide inner cut toward the rear of the hand guard.

With a little bit of work, an AK-74 lower hand guard can be fitted to an AK-47.

What you have is more so a difference in national origin than different models. Ak 47/74 furniture is usually pretty interchangeable

[Bang]

^^ Could be! At the same table I bought a gas tube for 5 bucks. Got it home and realized wow...almost 11 inches long. Friend suggests it is from a sniper rifle. Too long for a 47 or 74.

[USMC3531]

pics or it didnt happen

[Bang]

I'm struggling with posting pics...

[RebelRaider5]

^^ Could be! At the same table I bought a gas tube for 5 bucks. Got it home and realized wow...almost 11 inches long. Friend suggests it is from a sniper rifle. Too long for a 47 or 74.

Maybe for a SKS?

[Bang]

http://www.reduceimages.com/download...age=1e9333839f

http://www.reduceimages.com/download...age=94e68d2c84

[Bang]

Maybe for a SKS?

Maybe for an SKS variant. My Yugo SKS is an inch shorter and has no flutes as this does.

[Bang]

Those two photo links will only be available for 6 hours if I read it correctly...




arrrgh...LOL...sorry...OOOPs! I done did it!