Mak 90 question

[mssurrey]

I've just bought a Norinco Mak 90 AK and want to change th ugly buttstock to either a side folder or, failing that, a standard stock with pistol grip.

I udnerstand that in order to do so, I will have to change some other parts in order to be 922(r) compliant - is that correct?

How many parts do i have to change?
And can i use the original metal magazines?

If I change the stock, handgrip and forearm/guard, these count as 3 parts right?

What else can/should i change?

 

[Carne Frio]

I converted my Norinco Mak90 a couple of years ago.
I replaced the trigger group with a Tapco and replaced
the thumbhole stock with a Tapco polymer. The gun got
lighter and the trigger's pull improved. I use the Chinese
magazines. There are other ways to comply with the 922
B.S. but this method seemed to be the easiest.

 

[Fargazer]

You need 6 US made parts to comply with 922(r). Here are three easy groups of three parts:

• US made furniture: the stock, pistol grip, and hand guard count as three pieces (even though the hand guard can be two pieces, it only counts as one for 922(r).
• Trigger group: the trigger, hammer, and disconnector count as three 922(r) parts
• US made magazines count as three US made parts: the magazine body, follower, and floor plate each count. By doing this, you give up the benefit of cheap working foreign magazines.
  
  • If you use US made magazines as part of your legal compliance, then possession of foreign magazines is still OK, but the moment you place a foreign mag into your AK you violate 922(r).
  • For US made magazines, I tend to use USPalm; pricy, but reliable.

I tend to use Gunwiki's 922(r) worksheet when looking at AK compliance.

 

[mssurrey]

I replaced the trigger group with a Tapco and replaced
the thumbhole stock with a Tapco polymer. The

I assume you also changed the handguard and pistol grip?
Did you use a tapco double hook trigger group?

You need 6 US made parts to comply with 922(r). Here are three easy groups of three parts:
....I tend to use Gunwiki's 922(r) worksheet when looking at AK compliance.

That's different to what i've read elsewhere - I was under the impression that only 5 parts had to be changed (not that it makes much difference if I follow your 3 part groups) but i want to make sure of the law. Gunwiki's list seems to be for parts kits - not for imported post-ban rifles that came with receivers (for example). Please correct me if i'm wrong.
Could it be that the Mak-90 is different somehow or are all AK exactly the same - again, I've read that some magazines won't fit the Mak-90? and obviously due to the thicker receivers, stocks also have to be purpose made or at least adjusted to fit?

Looking at USPalm's mags, they don't have a floorplate - so i assume that wouldn't work as '3 parts'?

BTW, is it possible to put a flash suppressor on the barrel?
And is it possible to get a longer barrel?
How about a nice bipod?

 

[Fargazer]

Looking at USPalm's mags, they don't have a floorplate - so i assume that wouldn't work as '3 parts'

"Replace 6 parts" is an over simplified restatement of 922(r) requirements; the truly accurate way to state the requirement (which I should have done initially) is "no more than 10 imported parts".

That should clarify the domestically produced magazine question; though USPalm's mags do not have a floorplate, their use removes three imported parts from the AK, so they count as three for 922(r) purposes.

Most people replace the stock and the trigger group, so they don't need to worry about which magazines they stick into the gun. Many Eastern Bloc AK triggers don't have the best feel and suffer from trigger slap, so replacing the trigger group not only complies with the law, but also improves the gun.

That isn't so much the case with the MAK-90; they typically have a good trigger, so the benefit of replacing the trigger group is less to improve the trigger pull and more to satisfy the legal mumbo jumbo of 922(r). I think that's why some MAK-90 owners leave the trigger alone and go for the magazines to satisfy the law.

I've been working on a MAK for my wife; she fell in love with the AK platform at a shooting trip with my son-in-law, so my objective is smooth operation, durability, and good looks. To that end, I went with Ironwood Designs for the furniture, and Red Star Arms for the trigger group (adjustable). Innovation Arms is refinishing the wood in Soviet Laminate, and I've put a Krebs peep sight on the back with a XS Sight tritium front post set. An Ultimak scope rail will replace the upper hand guard. Once all the parts arrive (the refinished furniture is curing right now, and should arrive next week), I ship it to APWCogan for Cerakoting; since they have to completely strip the firearm for coating, they will remove the stock furniture and trigger group, and in reassembly will install the new furniture and trigger group.

I mention all this for a reason, to reply to your next set of questions:

BTW, is it possible to put a flash suppressor on the barrel?
And is it possible to get a longer barrel?
How about a nice bipod?

You certainly can do all of those things - HOWEVER - you need to recognize what the AK platform is, what it is not, and most importantly what your objective is. The AK / MAK is a durable combat accurate weapon that can take lots of abuse; it is not a gun you want to choose to "shoot out a gnat's a**". In my case, I'm going overboard for the MAK - there's a lot more money going into it than it's worth - but it's what my wife really wants, and to her the look is important, so it's OK.

• I'm no expert, but I'd skip the longer barrel, at least if the intent is more accuracy; if you really do want a longer barrel on a Chinese AK, look at the NHM variants.
• The NHM variants also typically have a bipod; how practical / good it is I don't know. Beyond that, others are more qualified to comment.
• There are many flash suppressors of various styles available.

 

[mssurrey]

Info is much appreciated.

I may go the way you have since i also want to change the stocks (and will have to get them finished). I'll also likely get the trigger group changed to be 922r compliant so that i can use the original mags.