The Midwesternized Alpha AK Project

[@BrassFacts]

AKs are basically milsurps at this point. Can you get shit done with a milsurp? Yes of course. But you're spending more money, effort and training, to get something that's not even as effective as a "trash tier" Ar15. Which is fine imo, that loss of performance will likely rarely matter. Personal skill makes up a much larger piece of the performance pie. So trading some performance for a platform you're much more passionate about is probably okay. Especially if it keeps you training. If only the AK crowd would admit that and stop trying to infect others with their autism. In other unrelated news, I bought a AK.

[@borkwoof696]

Gives me flashbacks to all the early 2010s videos of guys trying to turn Mosins into precision rifles😩

[@BlueLoneWolf54]

You've caught the disease; I'm afraid it's terminal.

[@SquallWulfhart]

As a fan of AKs, I'm ready for more AK content from y'all, even though it pains you. Of course, I love AR too... maybe a head to head video?

[@christopherbrice5473]

didn't ask

[@chadwik4000]

Haters gonna hate. Space AK > AR

[@lambchop777]

"Hi guys I'm Hop. I hate this platform, so I'm going to throw money at it and then still end up hating my bastard creation" Always fun to watch hop loath something from being to end

[@MrGible]

Reminds me of the PTR videos he did

[@CarbonPrecisionLLC]

On this episode of “Can you make a non modern rifle a modern rifle?” Hop does a thing, everything moves, and why didn’t he buy a galil Ace?

[@ozarkman291]

​@@MrGiblehe probably hated the PTR for the reasons 9 hole said he did. He wanted a super high speed night vision gun and not a DMR/hard use battle rifle which is what it does better at.

[@mabs9503]

Remember when he did the PTR91 project and I suggested a bunch of stuff and made the whole situation so much worse than it should have been? Haha classic mabs.

[@albundy7459]

@@ozarkman291I shoot 200gr ELD-X out of mine. Barely any recoil and accurate. Mine hates anything under 178gr bullet. It’s a weird one.

[@navrhy3075]

Never thought I would see the day where my favorite lesbian character is reviewing an AK

[@no1washere98]

Womp womp , go back to watching porn

[@PJ_Perry]

Her and her lesbian lover Catsfacts 😂

[@daviddrago9360]

Hop could easily pass as a butch

[@BVBSEAN]

Grandma Deb💕💕

[@richiejim6063]

😂😂😂😂

[@KrinkelsNG]

You know how old, old buildings these days got wires and satellite dishes and antennas and whatnot all over them? that's kinda what kitted up AKs look like.

[@Hoplopfheil]

Old inner city apartment buildings with a hodgepodge of A/C units on the roof ...

[@Austrveg]

Legend spotted :0

[@michael9r9r]

I would never have expected to see madness combat man commenting on a hop video

[@brainc0la-_-]

Space AK Kowloon.

[@PHIllip324]

That butterfly was trying to tell Hop that the AK platform is his destiny and that he should embrace not having a bolt release.

[@kevinmarrett9532]

Just use bolt hold mag followers. Same advantages as last round bolt catch on ARs, same manual of arms as normal AK so no re-learning

[@PrintShootRepeat]

The Sureshot 2.1 chassis would have solved most if not all of the problems the MI had and doesn’t require any modifications to your AK. You gotta try one.

[@MitzvotTV]

Gotta boost this comment cause it’s from PSR

[@christopherbrice5473]

Is it possible to get a MK.1? Specifically the 5 slot version that deletes the handguard retainer? I'm wondering if only their MK.2 and onward furniture is available in the US.

[@lurtiskoe]

I think his point was to try something obtainable for the public at not a ridiculous price point. Fuck it I just got a galil ace. Currently on the hunt for either an old school one or a gen 1 556 with rock in mags

[@DrumBlitzKrieg]

watching AR guys work with AKs is one of the funniest things known to man

[@turnermd1302]

It warms my heart lol

[@christopherbrice5473]

"gun experts" when AK platform

[@wolfgang_h3t]

It's on par with AK guys working with AK, absolute hilarity

[@CQBWarfighter]

Hop is a homie but he did not make good choices here. Would have done much better with a WBP jack and SLR front end. Wouldn’t have had any of these issues.

[@HangdogNat]

*calls the midwest alpha stock with a riser hipster garbage* *complains about cheekweld with higher optics*

[@Sheppard2030]

“Go summon the eagles.” Deep cut, sir. 👍

[@JetorgXIII]

Fifteen minutes of quality Kalashnikov content and half the comments are going to be about that lovely butterfly, because sometimes you just can't shake off a nice thing. Definitely looking forward to seeing more out of this platform on the channel, mostly out of morbid curiosity because the system is so limited due to a nearly centennial design. I feel like you had fun with this actually, I'm glad. : )

[@KilroyMosin38]

What people tend to forget is that the AR-15 was designed in the '50s with literal space age technology, it's really only been in the past 20 years or so that ARs have been economical to produce and purchase, which is also why we're seeing so many countries adopting AR platform rifles despite it being 70 year old technology. The AK, by contrast, was designed in the '40s with '40s era technology. Imagine how difficult it would be to modernize any WW2 era firearm and realize that the AK is a contemporary to that.

[@dariuswilliams7509]

That's why the ak100 series was developed in the 90s even Russia realized they needed an update😂

[@wurzel9671]

​@@dariuswilliams7509Just 74s in different calibers though

[@dariuswilliams7509]

@@wurzel9671 Hey it's almost like most ARs today are just the AR18 😂😂😂

[@irongiant_actual]

Hop is one of the few channels that'll make a video on something I'm not even into and I'll still watch it just because.

[@thisismyname2936]

Interestingly he makes videos about stuff we're not into, and stuff he's not into either. And still we watch. Incredible

[@slickwillie5681]

This is the modernizing the PTR 91, 51 and 9 all over again.

[@xj53pq7]

Where hop adds the most half assed, cheapest parts he spent 5 minutes researching and ends up still hating the gun in the end.

[@ryand2939]

PTR 91 normally comes with the picc rail welded on the top which causes 0 issues.

[@echodelta2172]

@@ryand2939 throw an mlok handguard on and....its still heavy as shit but hey you have a grip and light now

[@meatsaulce]

This hobby is in a very different place than it was 20 years ago. I still love AKs, but those glory days of $350 rifles that come with a free ammo can are long gone. I will always be greatful that I was able to learn to shoot these things so cheaply when I was stocking shelves.

[@Romanus-]

PSA’s AK’s are surprisingly good for the money. I prefer my Zastava but for the price, PSA is about as good as you’re going to get in terms of value for money

[@NobodyAtAll56]

@@Romanus- I want to trust PSA’s AK’s, and I’ll probably get myself one of their type 56 spiker’s one day, but some people have had abnormal wear issues with them that give me pause. I hope they can continue to improve their reputation with results as they have so far

[@j.thomas3207]

Bought my first SKS and 1000 rounds at a Gun Show for $198, around 2002..

[@chizorama]

​@@Romanus-I don't have issues with PSA, I have issues with American made AK's.

[@mysteryman4915]

I agree, its gotten easier over the years, but the landscape now is so much more different than it was in yesteryear that you need to almost rethink the ak platform.

[@TheCarryHandlePodcast]

I love that AKs maliciously refuse to be modernized. They are like little dogs people keep trying to dress up for pictures.

[@Token_Black_Guy]

Based chihuahua bro

[@Lv-sl3rm]

They run and can be upgraded but yeah it's a hell of a thing to try and do.

[@bobsmith7916]

I don’t know what you are smoking. Free float AK74s absolutely rock.

[@DinoNucci]

@@bobsmith7916 all that effort and you wound up going in a complete circle to arrive back at a . 22 caliber rifle that should just be an AR then.

[@stevemc6010]

>"Modernize" AR by putting the quiet pipe on the muzzle >It starts gassing me through the hole in the rear of the receiver

[@riskyflash6812]

You can tell Hop actually wants to give the AK a chance to endear itself to him because he took the MRO off

[@ArmsForThought]

Nice MRO

[@Hoplopfheil]

🤬

[@Tenneyson]

What's an MRO?

[@dtomamerican3471]

​@@Tenneysona trijicon red dot optic

[@Romanus-]

@@Tenneysontrijicon

[@cristianarreola8582]

According to hop, its the worst red dot on the market. He made a video about it. ​@Tenneyson

[@PistolsPlayground]

As a guy that builds my own AKs, my morbid fascination with Hops hate for AKs compelled me to watch this. I was not disappointed. 🤣 Like Jim Fuller says, "If you want to work on AKs, you have to be part gunsmith, and part blacksmith." Nowadays, theres a lot better aftermarket than there was when I bought my first AK in 2002... That was a shit show.

[@J.Panxer]

Oh, dude, trying to get a smith to do a conversion on a Saiga in 2008 was like finding a unicorn and leprechaun and a winning scratch off at the same time. Market got much better and easier after 2013 when Century was caught defrauding people with their S. Korean "American" milled AK's. Glad you build them. It's going to be a sought after skill if they ever pull the plug on this country.

[@PistolsPlayground]

@@J.Panxer man I remember when I got my first AK back in 2002, it was a thumb hole stock MAK90. There was no aftermarket, and you could forget having any Smith touch an AK. In 2004 there started to be a small aftermarket, but getting a gunsmith to touch them was still a hell of a task. Being such a monsterous pain in the ass was why I went and took a build class from Jim Fuller back around 2008. The best part about being able to build an AK is that you can just buy parts kits and do the work yourself. Unfortunately parts kits have skyrocketed in price since 2020. But there's been a huge increase in the ability to get high quality Polish parts kits.

[@J.Panxer]

I know how to work on them and mod them. I'm not on your level though. I can't pin a barrel or fold a flat. Thankfully I just went all Zastava, now that they have an aftermarket. They're the best thing going now on the import side imo. Beryl are really pushing what can be done with the platform though. Mishaco has a ton of great videos on that.

[@PistolsPlayground]

@@J.Panxer yeah man, a build class is a worthwhile investment. It's cool to be able to do things like re-barrel an AK, my main AK is on it's second barrel. I modified the hell out of that thing, and it performs the way I want it to. I added a RAM extended ambidextrous extended magazine release, I put a Krebs Custom speed load magazine election spring in it, a Krebs Custom extended safety, I also welded on a left side charging handle, amongst a slew of other things. I've changed out so much shit through the years, in the end it's all about finding what works for you, and helps you get what you want out of the gun. Edit: Zastava is the shit, they're cranking out great guns, and I'm happy to see the aftermarket booming for them.

[@martyr77]

One of the coolest things Robski at AKOU will teach you about slings is: FIRST, make loops with paracord where you want to attach the sling to the rifle. Then attach the sling to the paracord loops. This paracord method eliminates the metal on metal rubbing/clicking for better stealth.

[@monochromehysteria9111]

Finally some AK content. So cozy.

[@leckercidre160]

I can see where your loyalties lie...

[@Shimitzu]

As an European: What the fuck 1/2x28 even mean? Americans: What the fuck is M14x1LH?

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

14mm diameter, 1 thread, left hand.

[@brianisaacs5457]

1/2 inch (12.7mm) 28 threads per inch (25.4 mm)

[@randomidiot8142]

As a machinist: what the problem is?

[@gavindooly2375]

1/2×28 is the standard thread pattern for ar15s and has been forever. 14×1 is a left handed (reverse threaded) standard thread pattern for AKs and has been forever.

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

Americans know metric but the foreigners cant speak Imperial.

[@GabeDubU]

"If I had to take a 200 yard shot with an AK I would take it into the roof of my own mouth." - Hop ModCast 368

[@RandyTheB_]

"If I owned that gun I would use it to kill myself" - Hop to me on my birthday

[@scaryginganinja6548]

Skill Issue

[@cathittingfatvapereal1954]

@@scaryginganinja6548poast groops

[@hagostaeldmann]

Any well made AK will shoot 1-2 MOA with decent ammo. People insist on comparing a 700 dollar AK shooting wolf ammo to a 1500 dollar AR shooting federal....for some reason.

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

​@@hagostaeldmann Damn who'd have thought about a BluFor vs RedFor discussion where RedFor gets to pick ammo they wouldn't be issued on the field?

[@iornlint]

This is not a drill - he is using an xps 2-1. Obscure-maxxing has never been so chic

[@OSM541]

The xps2-1 is NV compatible??

[@fakename287]

​@@OSM541 >he doesn't know

[@OSM541]

@@fakename287lmao I don’t think he does, I’m almost certain the xps2-1 is not night vision compatible.

[@iornlint]

@OSM541 yeah i dont think it is, unless its some sort of xps 3 that ive never heard of before

[@TaylorWilmes]

@@OSM541no

[@_Fren_]

“Do you have a toolbox?”

[@Hoplopfheil]

I leave my tools on the floor like an adult

[@professorwikipedia2115]

What film is that from?

[@zekitactical7980]

Bro i was thinking to buy this alpha rail thanks for the review because now i will get the SLR RAIL LOL

[@coppertone3293]

@@professorwikipedia2115 Darude: sandstorm (1999)

[@Regular_Guy_Training_LLC]

The Sureshot chassis I reviewed never required modification of the rifle and didn't have any issues as far as configuration after installation literally does everything you wanted to do without any of the experimentation.

[@Mauser_Saint_of_Shovels]

This exactly, or if he really wanted to keep the magpul handguard, ultimak gas tube. Either way, problem solved.

[@Hoplopfheil]

Brassfacts will be doing one of those.

[@talltale9760]

Main issue is goofy goobers buy non russian spec AKs without realizing what that truly means. Always die a little inside when someone complains their zenit was hard to install on their PSA.

[@cordyzank3625]

@@Hoplopfheil Then I'd guess that he's going to mount a magnified optic on it. Definitely looking forward to seeing how his build will turn out to be.

[@mshark8246]

@@talltale9760so you need an ak47 straight from russia

[@wellingtonbruh3756]

I'm impressed by the lengths AK guys go to pay premium AR prices to make a suboptimal AR. However, I still want an AK because I too enjoy eating paint chips.

[@jeremywatson9129]

I have an AK it's still stock. They ate like classic cars enjoy them for what they are but should not be your daily.

[@Romanus-]

Love AK’s but it’s such a pain in the ass to modernize that I’m not really sure why people do it. Get an optics mount and a hand guard for a flashlight and call it a day. If you’re using NV just run an AR, it’s really not worth the trouble at that point IMO

[@zweihander7465]

i eat the red crayon cuz the red one tastes the best.

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

As an AK guy, I find that weird too. They aren't gamer guns, and all the gamer equipment has been developed around the AR. It's like trying to get a body kit to make a honda look like a ferarri. It can be done, at extreme prices and at a point where nothing is stock or even original spec, so is it even an AK?

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

​@@Romanus-agreed.

[@GooseThaThug]

It’s way more enjoyable watching this knowing I have no intention of building out an AK to this level.

[@thomaseric8662]

The algorithm requires engagement

[@IceNinja2007]

Thanks Civvie 🤙

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

Hop calls for aid. And Comment Section shall answer.

[@ENKTDeeColon_and_randomnumbers]

​@@IceNinja2007 Also, what is the time?

[@hakjobtm7472]

​@@ENKTDeeColon_and_randomnumbers _it's jank-o'-clock_

[@brew4557]

I know comments can be a mixed bag of bullshit, but I mean it when I say this channel has made me a smarter consumer and really helped me appreciate this hobby in a way I never would have normally. Thank you for all that you do Hop.

[@PrinnyKnight]

So Hop turned an AK into something less capable than a Galil Ace but more expensive.

[@greencreekranch]

I can't even begin to explain, how much it offends me, when hop says things about the ak i secretly whole heartedly agree with

[@generalgreevus8773]

Never have I been so offended by something I 100% agree with.

[@Slivyr]

"Butterfly of the field, what is your wisdom?" - Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ "Fuck import bans" - And so, we went to war

[@ASS_ault]

Thank Russian govt for that lmao

[@brenttrent8811]

​@ASS_ault nah, we can thank Victoria Nuland and the US state department along with the CIA for setting the stage on that one

[@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu]

​@@ASS_aultRussian gov. has nothing to do with American imperialism

[@ASS_ault]

@@brenttrent8811 blah blah blah. You don't know anything about the war. You don't even speak Russian.

[@ASS_ault]

@@Cesko_Plny_Fialovejch_Zmrdu lmao.

[@frankholub4673]

Getting earlier Hop PTR saga vibes from this, love it. As a recovering AK guy, I can attest that trying to modernize the AK to try and make up for it's many ergonomic shortcomings is an exercise in frustration, expense, and futility. They're fun to shoot and use but compared to basically any AR they're not great candidates for a go-to fighting rifle.

[@last_raven]

Exactly why I sold my space AKs. Rifle truly was fine. Just want an SBR krink or beryl and call it good.

[@SourpatchAirsoft]

I love how you just say it as it should be. You back up your words with experience in what works and what doesn't and I appreciate that

[@DC4EVA]

Hop isnt flashy or any of that,he just gets down to bizness,facts and the truth!!

[@PaulyP_13]

I have an alpha stock on my RD AK. It like it. The adjustable cheek riser is helpful to get the right cheek weld if you are running a higher optic mount.

[@chrisjm981]

I got all excited for this build when I saw the title. I started researching and pricing out parts. After I watched the video I tossed my AK back in the safe. It's good enough stock. 😅

[@tackytrooper]

Rifle is fine.

[@Name-iv6rt]

The AR15 has enjoyed 50+ years on the ever changing US commercial market, if the AR15 were invented in Russia they’d just now be cutting carry handles off and bolting on weaver rails. Things like the Zenitco sport package, the Sureshot chassis and even the AK12/15/19/308 are all attempts at modernizing a rifle where the guts haven’t changed very much at all, things like the Galil Ace and the AKV-521 are genuine attempts at modernization rather than just slapping new hand guards on the same old rifle.

[@digital_footprint_safe]

Sureshot MK2.1 can be found for ~$500 (PA when they have site sales), requires 0 modifications and is a really solid mounting platform.

[@MannElite]

Fixed Magpul Triangle stock is seriously the best, been running it forever, extremely tough, rigid, light, and comfortable. Probably like it better than the CTR stock honestly lol

[@austinboston5643]

I have one on my mongrel of an ak and it feels so right

[@MannElite]

@@austinboston5643 Lol if they made a fixed triangle stock for the AR I would get it lmao

[@handsomeivan1980]

As someone who's personally been in Russian service, I get your frustrations. They're not as easy to work with west side as they are back home. Back home it's like how people work with AR's here in the US. however that doesn't fix your issue because you still have to go through hoops that you wouldn't with an AR because of aforementioned location funny part is back in Russia an AR is a bitch to get certain parts for

[@austinhuber3131]

Do you guys have a lot of like modular zenitco guns there?

[@dariuswilliams7509]

Opinion on the ak100 series? Seeing as most these AR guys just pick up AKMs or AK74s?

[@handsomeivan1980]

@@dariuswilliams7509 they're way easier to work with and swap parts with Like an AR just with the exception of certain parts like hinged dust covers or anything requiring machinery also you'd need the sight rail Unless you buy a model that already has this installed or a well built rail dust cover like on the AK12. they're fine and definitely great

[@ASS_ault]

Tf are you both talking about

[@austinhuber3131]

@@ASS_ault Modular aks, read oc.

[@toddinfl]

Hop wants to review the Mini 14 next.

[@poip202]

The Attero arms mounts are great I have a few of them. I dropped my MRO mount one on a rock and it tweaked it enough that it could not be zero'd again so I'd advise against doing that

[@chost-059]

20 round ak mags are so cool looking tbh

[@Jsperal]

Hey brother, Try the Ultimak gas tube with the Mawl c1. Thank you for showing love to the AKM. Regards,

[@snafu_vfx]

Tried my hand at the modern AK deal, SAM7 with folding skeleton stock, slapped a light, eotech, handguard, and suppressor on it. Now my nice lil folding stock AK is 44” overall and weighs 16 pounds loaded 😂 love my trash rifle

[@TollMister]

“Makes it unpleasant to look at” 🤣 Good review, Hop.

[@MichaelLakota-vc4tk]

I just love the straight talk from HOP. No holding back 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jimmydigriz362]

>straight

[@arsenal_616]

* butterfly lands on Hop * Hop: "And I took that personally."

[@spicychich1718]

Have never bought an AK but they're pleasant to shoot. In an unrelated comment: at 9:13 it's cool to see that the end of the sling is fed into the buckle again for a secured hold. Thought I was the only one doing this.

[@tysonatkinson2916]

I have the alpha rail and the t1 mount on a 5.56 gun and have noticed that the brass will hit the mount occasionally. The ejection pattern of my gun hasn’t caused it to jam however so i think it is on a case by case basis.

[@cdragen]

Thank you, Hop, for once again affirming my adherence to the AR platform. I appreciate anybody who has the time and resources to muck around with this kind of stuff, and as a hobby it even sounds fun. Would I like to own some AKs (or AR-18 variants, or whatever) and play around with modifying or modernizing them? Hell yeah, but as an everyday slob of limited means, I get a lot more for my money on the AR platform. Anyway, thanks for going through all that for us, if I'm ever lucky enough to meet you drinks are on me.

[@Jooglesberry]

The AK platform is 100% second kind of cool at this point, in my opinion.

[@carvin112]

Yeah there’s not really any reason to unironically put pick an AK over an AR anymore other than “I just think it’s cooler”.

[@DinoNucci]

TNP

[@Romanus-]

@@carvin112that’s reason enough tbh

[@turnermd1302]

@@Romanus- Literally, all these dudes bringing up practical reasons why AKs suck as if 99% of AK enthusiasts don't own them simply because they like the rifle, I don't know why these dudes sit here and act like everything you own needs to be combat-tested and have a designated purpose, half the guns I own are either because I have autism or they're collector's pieces, I don't expect to be in combat, especially with a rifle anytime soon lol

[@carvin112]

@@Romanus-sure, as long as you're aware that's the only reason.

[@D.M.Luiz.]

Glad someone made a video about modifying an AK instead of getting one pre built

[@BlueLoneWolf54]

Welp, that one guy did ask for caterpillar footage. We got metamorphosed caterpillar footage.

[@lucasblanchard47]

I recently had a 14.7” PSA GF4 built out by Redbeard Gunworks here in south Texas. I went pretty nuts with some tanodized JMac Custom parts and had everything else cerakoted. Even had a custom “mustache camo” pattern applied to the receiver. It’s my first AK to own. Can’t wait to run it in the competition at Kalash Bash in April!

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

Thoughts on the PSA? Theyd be the one I would get, but considering I can build an AR for cheaper than their AK, and I don't have to get new ammo/mags/accessories......😅

[@lucasblanchard47]

@@OutsideTheTargetDemographic I will hopefully be sighting it in and training with it this weekend! The build quality seems quite nice upon first inspection.

[@talltale9760]

@@OutsideTheTargetDemographic nab a KUSA if you can swing a bit more cash

[@mitchschutter4302]

Whether people want to admit it or not. The AK is slowly (or quickly) joining the ranks of the G3, FAL, and other 60s battle rifles. They'll have their dedicated forums and enthusiasts who are 100% convinced it's the greatest rifle ever built. The rest of the community who is being realistic about training won't take them seriously. This is because they know any real emergency scenario will produce a bunch of guys with AR's and STANAG mags and there won't be any x39 to be shared. You can call me an AK hater but I used to own one. I believed it was crucial to own one and train on it in case you needed to use one. Yet, I can't find anyone who owns one other than the guy I sold mine to.

[@SeahawkeyeGough]

I disagree. The 7.62x39 round might be falling off but the AK platform is still very much alive and healthy. 5.56x45 AKs are a thing too.

[@JustSumGuy01]

​@@SeahawkeyeGough and hops basically pointed out you might as well get an AR if you want 5.56

[@MassJass]

The entirety of the rest of the world has solved every single problem you and hop are having with the AK. The platform isn't dying. The US is just behind the curve.

[@Whiskey11Gaming]

​@Excalibur01 why though? I have two AR and three uppers to fit all of the "missions" so I bought a 5.56 AK to have something different. Didn't want to pay stupid price per round on an AK when I have an M1A that only likes FGMM 175gr....

[@mitchschutter4302]

@@Whiskey11Gaming If you want an AK because it's different, then you're telling us that you wanted it because it's fun. Hey! That's all good man! Nothing wrong with buying a gun for fun. But like you said, you have a couple AR's and multiple uppers for real world stuff, and the AK was just for fun. My original point was a real scenario is going to have you meeting up with your buddies and more than likely a bunch of strangers who, statistically, will most likely only have 5.56 and AR pattern mags. If you solved the 5.56 part of the problem, great. But now you can't pass ammo back and forth with everyone else, and you won't have time to unload and reload mags after an engagement. Ammo does not belong to the individual in a team, it's all team ammo.

[@El_Chef]

Nice video Hop. I found a ton of success running an Ultimak gas tube with an rs regulate handguard. Makes it light weight and no compatibility issues.

[@gavinmullet688]

Hops voice isn’t nearly as buttery smooth in this video :((( Also Socko cameo at 14:58

[@BikeGuyFPV]

9:10 I'm actually happy to have been watching this video since I was wondering if the Magpul paraclip would fit onto my GF3 or not. Or if there was any sort of quick attach clip that would fit the AK front clip without needing to special order a specific one. Thanks Hop!

[@DriveCarToBar]

If AKs were cheap, it would be a great tinkerer's gun. There's really nothing wrong with them as a range toy or even a lower level competition gun, especially in 5.45. But the second you want them in a caliber you can find at Cabelas, good luck. But that's really the issue, they aren't cheap. Even buying from PSA, they're still not cheap. In fact, I suspect that the price of the AKs is partially what led PSA to make the JAKL. The JAKL is basically an American AK but you can get parts for it. You can get it in different calibers. You can use AR mags. It actually has a concentric bore so you can suppress it without baffle strikes. I still have this crazy idea of making a modular upper and lower that takes AK parts from kits, but even kits have gotten too expensive to fuck with.

[@_iso_553]

I haven't seen an AK in 5.45 in the last 3 years at a gun store. They are all 556 or 762 39 these days

[@waylonk2453]

15:27 "Go summon the eagles, c'mon man" Grin! You got a laugh out of me

[@scottie876]

This video has overlooked one of the key reasons of why you should modernize an AK. That reason is that it is very cool.

[@DinoNucci]

2nd kinda cool. TNP

[@ozarkman291]

AK's will always have more drip than AR's

[@scottie876]

@@DinoNucci AKs are first cool if you have a dremel tool and dump enough money into them

[@DinoNucci]

@@scottie876 nope

[@scottie876]

@@DinoNucci oh yeah? I’ll prove it to you in two years when my ultra-rare parts kit comes back from my builder. You’ll be sorry.

[@jasonkeating9958]

I think it's best to just pay a bit more for a top end psa AK and get the FN barrel but get the top tier optioned gun with a factory railed dust cover and hand guard and stock, Nice and easy.

[@eggnog3469]

15:28 Hop makes a LOTR reference

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

I understood that reference.

[@rondobrondo]

damn dude, the money that you have to spend to make a normal budget AK work even half as well as an AR is staggering

[@timunderbakke8756]

AKs made more sense in the 2010 meta where folks weren’t able to bolt on all the possible things and really only needed a sling, a weapon light, and maybe an optic. I love the AK, and I cannot ever recommend it as a modern project

[@jordanjoestar8839]

Even more reason for me to need one

[@talltale9760]

@@jordanjoestar8839 slap on a SAG mk3 slim. One stop solution.

[@christopherbrice5473]

@@talltale9760 they don't know about SAG. Hell, the MK.1 will do the job.

[@dariuswilliams7509]

Nyet that's all I need 😂😂😂

[@nathancomalander4417]

I got a Texas weapon systems Dog leg rail for my Reverse dong Romanian parts kit Psa. Took a tiny bit of fitting, then struggle with the recoil spring because you swap out the dust cover release button.. but i do like the thing. Easy to take on / off and so far held zero.

[@devileyedelvis3739]

No, You do not need to make modifications to the the rifle for the Sureshot Chassis.........lol. The only exception being the slim but that's a customer demanded item and on them if they want to snip the retainer. I offered to send one and still will do so.

[@Hoplopfheil]

Which version? People keep telling me I need to do the Mk3 that requires you to remove the handguard cap and rear sight tower.

[@devileyedelvis3739]

@@Hoplopfheil we make one lower handguard that was special requested for 18 months that require trimming or removing the retainer. That would be the slim that tripod hunters and people with smaller hands really wanted. Nothing requires touching your sight block,or rear sight. The MK3 is Allen keys and some locktite.

[@Hoplopfheil]

Dude your website is carpeted with pictures of solid top rail chassis' with no rear sight tower. It's the header image for the "AK Chassis" category. If that product doesn't exist you gotta get those pictures off of there.

[@devileyedelvis3739]

@@Hoplopfheilare you on Sureshot-USA? Because no there’s not a single image of an AK with a removed sight tower on any of our stuff. If you’re speaking of the Russians then that’s not even really an AK. It’s pretty much an BRN180. And breaks down like an ARIt was at one point called the 521. The other thing they tinkered with is AK12s with a flat top. But we are a US company and none of that stuff is available in the states and hasn’t been for many years. So when you state Sureshot here in the US you’re speaking of us. We have absolutely nothing to do with them. We design, produce and optimize everything here.

[@MrMistako]

I just saw Hop enjoying AK for 15 minutes. What's this world is coming to?

[@qpeghnl97x]

Here for the mental gymnastics from AK dudes rationalizing why going through the clusterfuck of a modernization attempt that Hop demonstrated in this video is better than buying literally any AR15 on the rack at your nearest Cabelas My personal favorite flavor of copium is when they say “not everyone wants a super tactical modern rifle!!” okay, that’s fine, do what you want, but the fact remains that if you do want a super tactical modern rifle, then AK’s fucking suck lmao Edit: Everyone in the replies needs to realize that (1) no amount of yapping is gonna change the fact that modernizing an AK is the least cost effective way to get to 80% of what every AR15 offers from the factory (and if you disagree, then watch the fucking video you’re commenting under again); and (2) my opinion is objectively correct (cool, smart, awesome, i enjoy whole milk) and yours is objectively incorrect (dumb, loser, you drink soy milk).

[@Lv-sl3rm]

There's a reason why I don't call them obsolete but do call them obsolesent. Yeah they can work for the task fine but getting them there is another ball game.

[@agoodenoughgunner6698]

Whole Lotta yapping. Your gun lacks sovl simple as

[@CupidChud]

Yeah because Stoner invented mlok, picatinny rail, free float handguards, low profile gas blocks, etc etc.

[@ozarkman291]

My favorite things about AR guys is them absolutely seething the second someone prefers something other than a cookie cutter AR. The concepts of cold weather use and a manual of arms for it, better brush and barrier penetration, and a system that can operate long term with little service and no resupply are all met with excuses and mental gymnastics. Also AK's have SOVL which is matchless

[@DronesUnder2A]

​@@ozarkman291 put a light on yours. *mental gymnastics* Yes. All of it😂

[@kristian762]

Thanks for your review, I'm planning on doing the same thing to my AK, I think you've saved me some money and some trouble with the optic mount. I was gonna use the one that gave you reliability problems. Now I know to use a different mounting system for my optic. I'm not planning on replacing the dust cover. I think to start off with I'll just mount my micro optic on the hand guard rail and see how that goes for me before I try mounting it further back.

[@minkshaming]

Very telling how every attempt to "modernize" an AK consists entirely of trying to turn it into an M4

[@borkwoof696]

I always find it weird how people think "add rails" = M4. The M4 wasn’t the first to feature rails and didn’t originally have them either. It bad rails bolted onto or machined into it just like the AK only that it isn’t as shitty at that.

[@NoahFriend-hz3lh]

​@@borkwoof696what weapon, pray tell, was the first to receive a railed handguard whenever dick swan invented pic rails?

[@edward_the_bruce]

I get what you are saying but adding a rail isn't making an AK more like an m4/AR anymore than piston ARs/sig spears being made more like AKs. It is just modernizing the platform for different use cases.

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

Because the AK just doesnt modernize well. And in its defense almost nothing from that era does, and the AR only does by accident after 40+ year (because not much as been done for the past 20 years. Quality of life improvements but nothing fundamental)

[@borkwoof696]

@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz nah, the AR has a number of unique design and institutional advantages over other platforms of its era.

[@fabiorod91]

6:15 found Hop's favorite red dot!!

[@michaelkerusenko6307]

"cant get a high cheek weld on aks but I hate these hipster stocks"

[@timgleason2910]

I just received the full Midwest industries Alpha series in FDE..took 4 months to get it all on back order but yesterday it all came in to put on my G5 PSA 47.. not going to lie. I love that AK…even the way it came. I have the EOtech for also.

[@timgleason2910]

I went with the 10” rail for room

[@jurassicturtle3666]

Why buy a $2400 Daniel Defense AR when you could buy a $700 AK and put $1700 in parts on it to get rail space and a stock made for people over 5'4"?

[@JWit28]

Glad to hear Midwest is aware of it. Had the same issue with Midwest optic mount and had to switch to the railed dust cover.

[@ssspencerjr]

So what you're saying is... you really like the AK.

[@Hoplopfheil]

The AK is one of my favorite rifles and one of my least favorite platforms.

[@Fadaar]

I did a similar project last year (or maybe it was 2022, I forget this was a slow process): same PSA GF5 you have Sureshot Mk3 chassis KPYK left side folder stock Sig Romeo 8T -- complete overkill, I just wanted one Dead Air Wolverine suppressor KNS piston Zenitco Perst 4 -- had one from a long time ago, this seemed like an appropriate home Surefire 640V light Far more expensive than your build but it was a project I was deadset on In a more budget build that's more in line with what you did here, another one I did: PSA AK-105 Midwest Alpha handguard w/ Aimpoint Micro mount -- had an Aimpoint T2 that had been homeless for a while, figured this was an excellent host Lage left side folder I pulled off my MPX. Forget who makes the side fold pic rail mount I added to the back of the receiver for it. Inforce WML white/IR light Dead Air Wolverine suppressor -- had extra money last year, got two Both shoot great but good lord that 7.62 one is smooth. She's on the heavy side but pleasant to shoot even indoors.

[@FocusTripp]

What a nightmare.

[@DinoNucci]

PizzA

[@Spartan73799]

RS Regulate Handguard extended handguard is a good choice too. Drop in and doesn't require any modifications.

[@kyledriscollmusic]

Hop pretending to have AK autism when we all know he just has regular AR15 autism, cute

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

When did Segorney Weaver start buying guns??

[@bananaoperations7624]

The way they can fix the top portion of the rail by replacing the gas tube with their own and that will allow a full length picatinny section. The original extended midwest AK handguards had its own gas tube that fit under the top portion of the handguard completely and had a full top rail with no interruption.

[@Windowlick_]

Wow, thats a lot of money sunk just to match a basic AR

[@Hoplopfheil]

Match? No no, it doesn't even come close.

[@spoonsfordinner1138]

New hop vid, is good day

[@alexisdetocqueville9964]

"AKs are fine bro just add on $1200 in accessories bro there's literally nothing they can't do that an AR can once you spend the price of the gun and 20 hours installing and tweaking it bro" The hipster nonsense isn't the midwest stock, Hop - it's the entire platform itself. If people admit that they just love the aesthetic and being special for not using ARs that's fine, but it's pure cope trying to pretend it's even close to the functionality of any AR.

[@PatrickBergersen]

True

[@slowbutsure504]

I switched from the AR 3yrs ago to the AK and never looked back. Freaking love the AK.

[@jscampz]

All you needed to do was throw an ultimak and RS Regulate on there and you’d be golden - Instead you dropped like $500 and wound up with a front heavy monstrosity. Why do you do this?

[@paulboissiere1278]

I love hop’s potty mouth. Perfect inflection and timing for his explatives

[@Hoplopfheil]

Thanks I work at it

[@gregc247]

There is zero reason to run AKs now that the ammo is more than 5.56, absutely no benefit

[@Hoplopfheil]

Please don't say that you'll upset the tankies

[@gregc247]

@@Hoplopfheil true dat lol

[@duneregent1033]

That butterfly footage was fun.

[@UnknownUser-fe5zu]

All of those “cool dudes” are ironically leviathan shills

[@foxxoboxxo1611]

I thought Hop was a shill too if were labeling that as a definition?

[@ZER0_G]

That butterfly just wanted to see the Alpha AK up close. If my lifespan was less than a year, I'd crash one of Hop's videos too. Carpe Diem.

[@medieval_flail]

Tries to make modular AK, deliberately avoids several of the most modular options 🌚

[@Romanus-]

For example?

[@austinboston5643]

Alright fart sniffer, we're waiting.

[@medieval_flail]

@@Romanus- the folding alpha rail has different geometry near the ejection port and is overall a more modular option, not explained why it was avoided, and the adjustable riser stock was avoided while then having to contend with limited fixed riser positions on Magpul stocks. The handguard rail issues are legitimate.

[@zachplank3191]

I have the same issue with ejection. I took off the top rail and it works great now.

[@NamedMyTaco]

Thank you Hop! Finally, someone points out the lame obsession over folding stocks!

[@alexanderm8880]

I went with the TWS Itty Bitty mount for my RH10 and I've loved it so far.

[@GR1NDVHOL1C]

Gotta love the honesty. Great material!