Norinco MAK-90 question

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

pharm675

New member
Hello everybody,

I just bought a Norinco MAK-90 sporter for just under $500 (I know thats expensive but I have been looking for one for a while). I took it out to the range and was very surprised, it was accurate, did not have any problems with 600+ wolf rounds, and did not have too much recoil. Even so I want a muzzle brake on it, my entire barrel seems to be threaded so I ordered a 4" brake that is threaded for "all ak's" the brake looks like it would work great. My question is, is my barrel really threaded, people have told me that MAK-90's do not exist w/threaded barrels and that if the whole barrel seems to be threaded it is probably machine marks. Is this true? Does this mean I can buy a thread adapter, or do I have to use a pin-on brake? I also purchased a recoil buffer, does anybody have experience with those? Do they make a noticeable difference?

Thanks for your advice,

-Pete
 
My MAK90 is threaded but not along the whole barrel. It is threaded about 1/2" up to the front sight. Like yours, it is very accurate with low recoil.
 
You can't just go altering post ban rifles without making the rifle "illegal". MAK 90s were configured so that they could get around the then AWB. However, even with the sunsetting of that ban, the importation "laws" regarding non "sporting" firearms still applies.

So if you want to add a brake, you'll need to read up on Section 922(r) which states you cannot have more than 10 foreign parts in your non "sporting" arm. For the AKM platform (and variations) you'll need 6 US made parts if you want to put a brake on it.

This is unfortunate because the Chinese rifles have really smooth actions, and having to replace the FCG (which is the most easily and widely replaced parts) for a US made set would mean you'll lose that smoothness for sure.

Pics of your MAK 90 in its current state would help. I'd really like to see what you're talking about with your barrel being threaded the whole way.

Some post ban AKM variants do in fact have threaded barrels underneath a tac-welded muzzle nut or brake (again for 922r) but I'm not sure if all MAK 90s did.

Recoil buffers are not necessary and may somehow cause jams (read this from others' exp). I don't have one, nor do I need one for any AK/AKM platform but if you can't manage it, then give it a try.
 
The full length "threads" on the barrel are indeed machine marks. To put a threaded break on you would have to use a die and cut threads at the muzzle.
What CGSteve8718 is very true. Adding a flash hider to the MAK would change it from a "sporter" to an illegal-to-import "assault weapon" although a "muzzle break" would not. The difference is up to ATF interpretation. I also agree then CGStele8718 that changing out the fire control group to get 3 US made parts might be a bad choice since the Chinese ones are good. Mine are. Another route would be to use a US stock set (= 3 parts) and US mags (=3 parts). The whole charade is a pain in the patootie. It really makes feel safer from thugs with "assault weapons."

Drue
 
US mags (=3 parts).
Click to expand...
True but the reliability of U.S. made AK mags is terrible. If you want to use a mag for 922r purpose, just replace the floorplate and follower with U.S. made parts and each mag will then count as two 922r compliance parts.
 
Drue: I am pretty sure that any removable muzzle device can count as either a compliance part or an "evil" part if it is foreign made. You can use a US made muzzle nut, slant brake, flash hider, or compensator for this purpose. If this were not the case, there wouldn't be a US manufacturer providing them.

I would have to agree with dglockster about the US made mags (usually from ProMag) being of questionable reliability. Some have said they worked fine, but compared to the countless other reports of problems, I will never use them.

The best, and easiest parts to swap out for compliance will always be the FCG, gas piston, and muzzle device. This helps out a lot if you are one of those hated "correct" Nazis like I am and want to make the rifle look original as possible. I like to keep to use original furniture and add a US floorplate for the last compliance piece.

K-VAR is now offering US made followers, and the floorplates can be found by Googling. That's 2 parts right there.

Good luck.
 
A muzzle brake is not a flash suppressor.

A flash suppressor is an evil feature of an "Assault Weapon" *scary*.

Adding a muzzle brake doesn't make an import non-compliant unless the rules changed and someone didn't tell me.

Jimro
 
It's a shame that every AK/SKS thread seems to degrade into legal mumbo-jumbo as soon as you mention muzzle-brake/flash suppressor!:mad:
 
jimro said:
A muzzle brake is not a flash suppressor.

A flash suppressor is an evil feature of an "Assault Weapon" *scary*.

Adding a muzzle brake doesn't make an import non-compliant unless the rules changed and someone didn't tell me.

Jimro
Click to expand...

I know it's not, and I didn't mean to say that it was. I am just saying that you can use any kind of muzzle device as a compliance part which says to me just having a threaded muzzle and the ability to attach a muzzle device makes it "evil" and subject to the parts count rule.

I'll have to check it again.

EDIT: Checked it, and it says "muzzle attachments"

autopistola said:
It's a shame that every AK/SKS thread seems to degrade into legal mumbo-jumbo as soon as you mention muzzle-brake/flash suppressor!
Click to expand...

It is a shame, but we can't talk about without educating the person in question if they seem not to know. Believe it or not, some ATF agents take that seriously and can confiscate your gun and arrest you for that arbitrary nonsense. Most people I've spoken with say that agents don't really care about it, but it just takes one...
 
Now that I have 2 people confirming that the "threads" are in fact tool marks I went ahead and purchase an adapter (you place it at the end of the barrel with set screws and it has threads on it). I hope the brake will still work as good. I am installing the brake not because I need it, but because I want it. I have a few mini-14's and would have never thought to put a brake on them. When I used up the barrel on one of them I had a top of the line brake threaded on and now the thing shoots like a .22lr . The gun is definitely more accurate with less recoil. As far as the legalities the brake and adapter I purchased are both made in the US and their is no way somebody can mistake this thing for a flash hider. I am going to purchase a die set so I can just thread my barrels myself, (the pin-on brakes do not work ell in my experience). Has anybody had experience threading themselves?

Thanks again for your time and input,

-Pete
 
I noticed the spin threading on a mak-90's barrel too. I dont know why they did that. Maybe for an attempt at heat disapation -like spiral fluting ?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top