I'm looking to build up an AK-74 and was currious as to which kits and receivers are the best to use and who has them?

I've built a AK-47 using a Global Polish Kit and an Arsenal milled receiver which I was very happy with. Are there milled receiver options for the AK-74 and how do the OOW Stamped Steel receivers stand up by comparison in building up the 74?

Fac has really nice Bulgarian 74 kits on sale right now for $166.49 K-var may have some kits but they're always a little pricier.

I'm pretty certain the Firing line may have milled receivers for the 74. They're located in Oklahoma.

I built my Bulgarian on the OOW, but I prefer the Hesse receiver. I've built on the Hesse, OOW, and the Krinks receivers. The Hesse has the holes punched for the front and rear trunions that may or may not require a little dremel work. The OOW has no trunion holes drilled. The Krink's was originally produced by a fella in Florida. Somewhere along the line he ceased production and I believe Sarco bought up his stock. I'd rate the Krink's as the Century receiver of the AK world.

Jen,

AR15.COM has spun up to have a Special Edition AK-74 built by Ohio Rapid Fire.

Check out the Dark Side of AR15.COM and look for the tacked thread.

KF

I don't know jack about nuttin, but it's my understanding that there were never any milled AK74 variants mfg, so I'd assume any milled receiver would use press fit trunions, not threaded? Otherwise, where would one find a threaded barrel?

I got a couple of K-Var kits that are REALLY nice, but for the money they are now asking for them I'd try FAC.

Byron

Jen, there are no milled AK-74s, so you need a stamped receiver. I've been told the Hesse receivers are good--enough that I bought 4 on the info--but I've never used any of them.

FAC has the best deal on the bulgy kits right now (heh ... the only deal is more like it)

I went with OOW receivers because theyre 5 miles down the road from me, and I couldnt bring myself to buy anything that said hesse on it

OOW are the best choice for a 74 build. It's dimensionally correct, and if you want to splurge, you can have it heat-treated to combloc specs for $35 more at www.ak-103.com. It's arguably better to heat treat it, but the every country who produces them goes to the trouble...

take care,
Tec

My two kits came from K-VAR. The FAC kits also came from K-VAR (from what I understand). They are Bulgarian, new, and probably unfired (well, one is still unfired, the other has now been fired a lot). I think they are a pretty good deal. I used an OOW receiver, and it went together just fine. But Golbal Trades is coming out with a receiver in December for the 74 (or so they say), and I think I'll try it. Good luck.

I used a KVAR set back when they were around $160 and a now unavailable FEG receiver ( I have seen post stating that you can still get them but at $200 or so )
But I think if I do another that I would use a FAC 74 set ( only ones availble that
I know of ) an Ohio receiver with a H/T job and cut the barrel down and fit a KVAR
AK-142B FSB for a mean looking AK105 type carbine.

Jen - I agree, the OOW 74 stamped is correct and can be heat-treated (anecdotal evidence based on member comments).

However, in reply to a question about matching serial #'s, Jimmy Streetman at Global Trades/Arsenal USA (the other Arsenal!) has commented:

1)Their 74's will be built with matching # kits, and the receiver serial # will be mimic the parts set #'s.

2) Receiver will be 1.6mm thick, arguably, overbuilt!

3) Dies and tech support for this project come directly from Kazanlak (that's pronounced "Kahzahnluk," says a friend) and the former director there who now works for Global in the USA.

Arguably, you will have the closest thing to a real '74 by just buying one from them. I think the OOW receiver is pretty but...

Jen,

You had better act quickly on the kit. I just bought a '74 kit from FAC for the sale price $166. The woman I spoke with told me they were out of the wood stock kits and the plastic stock kits were moving fast. These kits are supposedly like new with matching numbers and as far as I can tell are the only kits around.

The firing line makes milled AK-74 recievers so a build on one is possible.

Harlan posted that they are out of AK74 kits. I ordered one tuesday and it shipped today. I MAY have gotten lucky and got one of the last.


and no plans for any more......

I'm currently sitting on two AK74 kits. I purchased both sometime last year. (I told my wife at the time that they might be a good investment. Price is up and availabilty seems to be down.) I have two OOW recievers as well, but I am not exactly sure how to proceed with a build. Would a US made AK47 replacement trigger group work in the '74? And, this riveting stuff has me spooked. I've built FALs, but the AK seems a bit more complicated.

yes, 47 and 74 trigger assemblies are generally interchangable. Just buy a Red Star Arms trigger assembly.