AK47 SKS parts

[grrifles]

I am looking at putting parts back for my rifles. I know AR15 really well but dont know AK and SKS very well. What parts do I need to get and put back for a SHTF and zombie problems. I am looking at what parts do I need that are prone to break or that would other wise make the gun worthless.


Thanks
Chris

[SksScout]

Welcome. I would suggest firing pins, springs, and extractors as a start. Then nice but not really necessary are bolts, gas pistons, and trigger assemblies if you have the cash.

[shoggoth80]

Spare springs first. Firing pin second. Spare extractor. If you want to go hardcore, a bolt. I'd say that you would be really hard pressed to break anything else on either platform.
Spare springs and firing pins are always a good idea, and are usually pretty affordable. I have spares for my own SKS, but none for my AK... gotta remedy that. Lol.

[MacAttack]

I was always told Soviet weapons NEVER break. And NEVER stop working.



Please. Someone had to say it.

[shoggoth80]

Lol Mac... way to perpetuate the internet myth!
They are incredibly robust, and *rarely* break... but anything mechanical will have a maintenance schedule of some sort, because all things mechanical will wear.
Springs are wear parts. Firing pins too to a lesser degree. Major components... can't say it's ever been a concern in my experience.

[Dogan]

I was always told Soviet weapons NEVER break. And NEVER stop working.

This stopped after Mosins.

However, you do not stock spare parts for Mosins.

You stock spare Mosin Nagants.

[MacAttack]

I would rather just stock a spare AK.

But the most likely part to break on an AK would be the main spring assembly, sights (rear mostly), maybe an oprod, firing pin and bolt. Other than that you need to rerivet the dang thing to fix it.


And I do think that of you like Mosins just get a 5 pack of them with at least three tins of ammo. It'll cost about the same as a good Ak and three cases of ammo for that.



As for an SKS. I wouldn't even think about one unless you already had one or it was real cheap. Since I have only ever played with a few at the range I have no idea exactly what parts are field replaceable.

[shoggoth80]

"As for an SKS. I wouldn't even think about one unless you already had one or it was real cheap. Since I have only ever played with a few at the range I have no idea exactly what parts are field replaceable."
-Like an AK, they come apart really easily. Carriers/bolts, recoil assemblies, piston, op rod, most springs can all be done in a pinch, and without any tools. Driving out the pin to remove your firing pin and extractor require some small tools. Trigger groups are a different matter I think though... those pop right off, but getting them apart, you would want some semblance of a bench. Never looked at how the assembly itself comes apart... it's the one area where I feel like I slacked in attention to details last time I had my SKS apart. You can pretty much break everything that moves down in a pinch... it's all held together by retaining tabs and springs. Most of the gun can be torn down in the field.

[ei8htx]

On an SKS the firing pin can get lodged in place causing slam fires. Tho this could probably be fixed with a thorough cleaning if you don't wanna fork out the cash for a new pin or bolt.

If you have a Yugo (where you can shut off the gas) those things get really dirty and corroded to the point it won't cycle at all. I replaced mine for $10 here. Might be worth it to have a spare.

[grrifles]

Thanks guys those are the parts that I figured but always better to ask.


Thanks
Chris

[Jeriah]

This was covered here: http://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/view ... 38&t=32329

There is some other good, AK-specific info in that thread.

[areswithguns]

If you are serious about the ak47 platform and considering that as your primary weapon then for trigger groups you need to go check out tapco and just buy the whole box which isn't much and contains everything for trigger group replacement.

However if you are really really serious about the akm ( which is probably what you have ) then get spare part kits. The akm isn't that hard to build youself using standard part kits and nodakspud receivers. For some serious info go to akbuilder.com and look around, and while you are there and don't want to order the receiver which requires a gun store that is willing to do it and fill out the same paper work that you do when you are buying a firearm. Then you need to look at the flat bending equipment, spot welding equipment, barrel press kit ( which you should buy even if you only intend to use the kit to replace parts on your already assembled akm ) guide rail alignment holder, good pair of bolt cutters that you will modify yesss very fun to modify them, a foredom ok ok you can buy the pos dremal then throw it away 20 minutes later if you want, and once you get everything go to youtube and start learning lol

[Dave_M]

AK's were/are manufactured by a multitude of different countries to different specifications with different materials with different testing methods and standards. Furthermore, after-market (mostly) American companies offering a myriad of 922R compliance parts get added to the mix.

Military units, both Western and Eastern (though Eastern is worse), are incredibly bad at keeping records for parts breakage and associated round counts--they run by a, 'run it till it breaks' mentality. Even if nations which use AK's kept meticulous records, those numbers would largely not apply to XYZ Kalash that you are using for the reasons given above.

I know that you are looking for a concrete/no-bullshit answer but it simply cannot be done realistically. What I can tell you are what I've seen break on an AK but I could not give you realistic round counts for two reasons:
1) I do not keep meticulous records on any of my AK's (Very important)
2) Parts that break are made by heaping countries to many standards.

With a weapon like an AR, it's much much easier.

Buy a complete spare bolt assembly in the same make as your AK. Ensure to check headspace.

Checking headspace is important. You don't want to lose any body parts. Did I mention you should check headspace?

Though a bolt is far less likely to break than a firing pin or extractor, a complete bolt assembly allows for field replacement if one of many parts fails (firing pin, extractor, bolt itself) and you don't have to mess around with any pins or small parts and pieces. However, you won't have to first check headspace before replacing a firing pin (please ensure it's of the same make! big problems otherwise....)

I'd recommend a double-hook trigger if your rifle is equipped for one. Spare trigger, disconnector and spring, perhaps a recoil spring too.

[AKFTW]

replacing a firing pin (please ensure it's of the same make! big problems otherwise....)

You mean for the same model, caliber, etc, or same country? I have a romanian AKM that I need to replace the firing pin on (rear was mushroomed from a high round count), and I bought an East German AKM one from K-Var. Is this a problem?

[Dave_M]

replacing a firing pin (please ensure it's of the same make! big problems otherwise....)

You mean for the same model, caliber, etc, or same country? I have a romanian AKM that I need to replace the firing pin on (rear was mushroomed from a high round count), and I bought an East German AKM one from K-Var. Is this a problem?

Ideally the same caliber/country at minimum. However, all may not be lost: Take some calipers to it to make sure it's of proper dimensions. Too short and it won't run, too long and well..... Chances are it will be just fine but since tolerances vary so much even within the same factories in some of these places, double checking before using is always paramount.

[AKFTW]

Yup I'm going to measure it to the other Romanian I have. I was thinking of swapping out the pin from the Wasr to the one in the GP75, and using the EG pin in the Wasr since I have read that romanian firing pins tend to mushroom sooner than most, and I figure the GP75's non-chrome barrel will be shot out before that becomes a problem again.

[theotherryan]

For about 200 bones you can get a spare parts kit from Atlantic Firearms.

[Whitenorth]

AK47 Spare Firing pin, Extractor, Bolt and Piston, Pins and springs, Sight parts, trigger group and spare hammer.
SKS Spare firing pins, extractor, Bolt and piston, pins and springs,

[Jeriah]

I would rather just stock a spare AK.

I own both a Maadi MISR and a MAK-90, and a lot of the parts (BCG, in particular) won't interchange. The MAK has a 1.5mm thick receiver, the Maadi is 1mm. I only bring this up because while I have two AKs, one of which could be called a "spare," I need to remember that I can't cannibalize parts from one to put in the other. So, if I crack a bolt on one, and bend the barrel on the other, I'm boned.

Not arguing for or against anything, just reminding anyone interested that not all AK parts are interchangeable.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Two saigas. BINGO! Sequentially serialed and identically converted, for extra fun.