5.56 Bulgarian AK '74

[@therequiemjig]

I enjoy your videos very much, the more detail the better. I like the fact that you show everything, warts and all. Mistakes as well as success, making your videos a great learning tool. Thank you

[@Mel64d]

therequiemjig Thank you. I try not to edit everything out. People need to know what it takes to make one of these things come back to life. No matter how many I build, I always run into problems or make a simple mistake.

[@jimadams9874]

I tried same thing . Had to get 5.56 trunion then worked. Even tried changing bullet guide , Wish inwould have seen u'r video would have told you. A K-var 5.56 trunion will (would) have fixed . I went in circles trying to get 5.45 to work also. You make me feel less stupid . I realize its old video, my kit was $189 , that may tell u when it was ( 08 or 09). Should have looked at more youtube. Work in machine shop too. Keep up GOOD WORK. ROB SKI sent me to u. Thats a big complement from him in my opinion.

[@gunzstuff3526]

Thankyou for sharing your content and knowledge!! I'm thankful to have been turned on to your channel. I love the ak platform

[@xjboy550]

Thank god finally an entertaining engineering video

[@Mel64d]

+Matthew Rowe ...no, just a Goober doing things in the garage and filming it for You Tube. I do good not to screw to much up.

[@Thatguy-jz7fz]

Can you elaborate on why you use a 47 bolt carrier vs. one for the 74?

[@MrShreddykruger]

I've discovered a probably not so secret method to getting cosmoline off of parts; boiling hot water. It melts it right off and it all floats to the top. Little if any scrubbing needed!

[@Mel64d]

Yes I have done the boiling water also. But got tired of the oily film on top of the water that I have to pull the parts back through to get them out. The mineral spirits makes the cosmo come off with just a little scrubbing, and no oily film on top of the water.

[@gilmarsilva7212]

How do I get the box design?

[@Tjrissi96]

Do you know if Galil AR/ARM mags work? Do you know what modification are needed to make them work? I would like to build a 5.56 AK-101 clone specifically for use with Galil mags because they are the single most common and cheapest 5.56 mags.

[@Mel64d]

From what I have seen in forums is, yes they work. You will have to grind/machine the trunnion I think for them to fit and function properly though. I've personally never done it myself.

[@Tjrissi96]

@@Mel64d I read on a few forums that they lock up and seat best with AKM front trunnions. I also read that a Galil bolt and carrier will lock up with an AKM front trunnion, have to change the piston because of that star shaped thing on it tho, but it supposedly works, and the galil bolt would ride over the galil mags nicely as well, AKM carriers are too wide.

[@BadLuckBran]

Holy cow I'm doing this build this summer

[@Mel64d]

Hyde Zeronineseven Do it like everyone else. My trying to be crafty with the 5.56 Bulgarian bolt and the AK'47 carrier has not worked out so well.

[@BadLuckBran]

***** thats my plan. are you going to go over heat treating in your next video? could you weld the rails in and then heat treat?

[@Mel64d]

Hyde Zeronineseven Heat Treating is in the next video. I weld the rails in after treating. If done before the receiver will warp inward, and then when you install the center support it will push the middle back out causing wavy upper rails. It will work just fine but look bad.

[@jonathandesantiago564]

I had a question about heat treating the polish 80% receiver i got your temperatures for the surface hardening but my question is at what temp do you draw back the receiver ? Good luck with this 5.56 AK

[@Mel64d]

Jonathan Desantiago For the Polish blanks (1050) I draw them at 750 for 45 minutes. Sometimes I have to draw them twice to get them back down to 41-42Rc "C" scale. The 4130 flats I have been drawing them back at 500 for 1 hour (one draw).

[@jonathandesantiago564]

Thank you vary much - much appreciated

[@Mel64d]

Jonathan Desantiago You're welcome. I had some Polish cut receivers that I checked and they were 35Rc. I may be wrong but I think the specs are like 36-44Rc to be good. I just shoot for as close to 40Rc as I can get.

[@legacywoodworks7921]

I kno this a old video but I'll ask anyway... so that's a ak74 right? besides the barrel and bolt carrier? real question is if I were to convert my 5.45 to 556, will the mags fit in the well and all I'll have to do is change barrel and bolt?

[@Mel64d]

+nick bowman Change the barrel and keep the bolt. I found out the hard way that using a 7.62 style bolt and carrier will not work. The lugs on the 5.45 bolt are longer than the lugs on the 7.62 bolt. The best thing is to use the 5.45 bolt and file the extractor to get a better fit on the 5.56 case rim. Yes 5.56 AK mags will fit the well (circle 10)

[@legacywoodworks7921]

+Mel64d so pretty much all I have to do is change the barrel from 545 to 556, lil bit of file on bolt and I'm good to go? sounds easier than anticipated

[@Mel64d]

Yes change the barrel with an AK-Builder 5.56 barrel. They are designed to work with the Bulgarian AK74. File the extractor so it will lay over more and grab the case rim of the smaller 5.56 case. I tried to get cute and fancy with the Bulgarian 5.56 bolt and 7.62 carrier...bit me in the butt too. It can be done, but takes a lot of machining to get right. Got tired of jacking with it and went back to the tried and true method of just using the OEM bolt and carrier.

[@legacywoodworks7921]

+Mel64d hopefully I can get it right the first time and file the right spots at the right amount on the bolt, other than that sounds pretty simple

[@Mel64d]

I had to do my extractor twice. The first time it would not pull the empty case all the way out of the chamber from time to time, and jam the gun. File the section of the extractor that keeps it in the bolt. The first slot looks like a claw and holds the case rim for extraction. You want to file the second groove that holds the extractor on the bolt. When you remove the extractor you will see what I am talking about.

[@keith68454]

i have a 74 kit that Im gonna do a 556 build on. so my question is did you use the 556 bolt or the 545 bolt

[@Mel64d]

keith misenheimer 5.45, use the original parts.

[@keith68454]

i put a 556 round into my 545 bolt head and it had play forwards and backwards is that an issue

[@Mel64d]

keith misenheimer Yes it is. You will need to remove the extractor and file/grind the section that rests on the bolt and stops it from closing farther. Just remove a little at a time until the extractor holds the round and will not let it wiggle/move when jiggling the bolt and round by hand.

[@keith68454]

well i hope your happy your video inspired me to build my own Bulgarian 74 in 556. lol

[@Mel64d]

keith misenheimer I hope yours turns out better then mine did. It works but still has failure to eject from time to time. This is not something I would bet my life on. Just something different. One day it will most likely be turned back to a 5.45 gun.

[@keith68454]

where did you get the 74 parts kit

[@Mel64d]

keith misenheimer It was purchased at "What A Country"

[@johnnytoobad2979]

You sound like Hank the cartoon propane guy.

[@TheGuy030770]

You ever tried to bend a 1.5MM Chinese or Yugo receiver? That extra 1MM will kick your ass. I had to employ a cheater bar with my 12-ton press to get that thing to bend.

[@Mel64d]

vernon knapp Yes, I bent a 1.5 Yugo with my 20 ton press just fine.

[@TheGuy030770]

@@Mel64d I bet! That is what you need. I only have the 12 ton, and not enough space for another press, so I'll just have to drive on with my old Harbor Freight that I bought in Washington state in 2005.

[@Mel64d]

vernon knapp If it works it works. No need to spend the money if you don’t need or want to.

[@TheGuy030770]

Mel64D I got it bent. Now I have a nice Yugo M70 underfolder, I guess that’s all that matters. ;)

[@انساسعدالحجاج]

Vere good

[@omaiomai1074]

please friend metrc the template ak