View Thread: New RPD


dk8019
Well, I made it home early from hosting a black powder shoot, just in time to pick up my new RPD from Atlantic, courtesy of Vector. First off I would like to say that Atlantic did an excellent job getting it here quickly, and working with the FFL to have everything ready to roll.

Comments on the gun itself:

The fit and finish is pretty much unbelievable, this is the first gun I've transfer to this dealer in town, where they pretty much stared at it all week long waiting for me to pick it up. It's also the first gun that resulted in a invite to come out to the owners farm and shoot, a big plus, as they have a 1000 yard range, and in trade for let them shoot the RPD, I get to take a few shots with their Barrett M82!

Anyhow, as I was saying, the gun is pristine. It's a Bulgarian kit, 1960 build date, factory 11. The Vector receiver is a nice even number, >690 but < 710, so you'll have to guess, which makes me wonder how many they've built and are planning to build.

The accessories etc. were in unissue states, the canvas bag for it was nice, as was the drum pouch. I had ordered 4 more drums from Numrich's the first two arrive with 75 round belts, but the L type, as opposed to the old type that came with the gun.

Field strip was easy, the manual is well written, the gun cycles rounds through by hand very well, so I'm guessing it will run just fine.

Now questions:

I heard that adjusting the gas setting to 1 might be nicer to the locking flaps. I tried to loosen the gas nut with the included tool, but no luck! Anyone know how this is done?

Second, I went ahead and cutout the area for the cleaning rod and restained it, and also cut the stock for the cleaning kit in the buttstock. Anyone know why Vector doesn't do this at the factory?

I'll be shooting it this weekend over Memorial day, pics and links to videos to come!

allesennogwat
Sounds like a nice one. I haven't seen or used one in a long time. There are different versions but as I remember turn the wrench side counter clockwise to loosen. Back it out a couple of turns or so. Tap on it with a piece of wood after it's loose to loosen the gas regulator if needed. Not all are the same. If you get it loose you can take it completely apart to clean it. It doesn't have to be super tight unless it tends to comes loose. Don't over tighten it.

dk8019
I'll give it a try, it sounds more or less like what I was doing, but I couldn't for the life of me get the nut to turn with the included tool.

allesennogwat
You can try a six point socket wrench if that is the type lock you have on the gas regulator. The best are the strip-proof sockets at Sears. These are the ones with rounded contact points inside of them instead of flats.

dk8019
So I finally got it out to shoot it this weekend over memorial day. It ran flawlessly the entire weekend, although I only put 4 belts through it. It was quite amazing that you can more or less shoot as fast as you can pull the trigger and keep it on target due to the weight etc. It was the highlight of the memorial day weekend when it came to my wife's older relatives, a few of them are Korean and Vietnam vets, and they were pretty happy to get a chance to fire something like this.

dvanncvann
mine is scheduled to be delivered Friday.

dk8019
Awesome, and congrats! If you don't mind, let me know if the SN exceeds 700, I'm trying to determine how many they have built, I talked to a lady at Vector, and she didn't know how many they had built.

dvanncvann
Mine came in today ser#002xx. Im going to try to get to the range this weekend and testfire along with my MG47.

dk8019
Great, what's a MG47? Has anyone seen a serial number higher than 690?

dvanncvann
Great, what's a MG47? Has anyone seen a serial number higher than 690?
http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38708

dvanncvann
Testfired the RPD yesterday. 100rds with no issues. Its a BAD BOY!!!!! Im going to work the trigger over though.

dk8019
I've ran 400 rounds through mine, and it's never missed a beat. The trigger pull is a bit long, On mine it just takes up like a long military 2 stage, and then breaks pretty clean, so no need to mess with it yet I suppose!

aksrbest
Let us know how the trigger mods go.

I haven't been brave enough to mess with mine.

aksrbest