RPK Tips

[Pector55]

I picked up an RPK from my FFL on Sunday. Wow, if you like AKs, this thing is worth a look. Anyway, I'm a project and tinker kind of guy so I thought I would pass on a few things that I just learned (to hopefully save someone else some time)

For starters, the RPK came with a PKM bipod. The problem with this is that it moves a lot and it's too short. If you put the 40rd mag in the gun, you cannot set it down. A true RPK bipod is several inches longer. I begain the project of cutting the century weld on the bottom of the muzzle nut, then started to remove it. Here is a big tip. The thread are 14x1 but they are LEFT handed. I have only ever put a compensator on my AR so I didn't know this. Now I do.
When you are removing the muzzle nut, be aware of the pin on the FSB that pops into the grove on the muzzle nut. Push the pin in while you turn the muzzle nut clockwise to remove it.
After that, there are two pins on the FSB you have to knock out. They are bastards on some guns. The one on a friend's RPK came out easily but mine were horrible. I broke a couple of punches to get my FSB off.
Once the FSB is off, you slide the true RPK bipod on, restore the FSB and put on a more authentic U.S. compliant part / AK brake.

While I was ripping things apart, I took all the furniture off and cleaned it thoroughly. I let it dry and tonight put on the first coat of stain. Tomorrow night and Thursday night I will spray it with poly and wipe it down with 0000 steel wool to knock the shine off. I'll post up pics when I'm finished if anyone is interested in seeing my new toy.

At $399, even if you keep it as delivered from Century / Classicarms it's a cool gun. It's the big brother my SAR2 has been waiting for.

If anyone knows where I can get a wood grip for it, let me know. The pictures I see of RPK's have wood grips like this:

[Garpman]

Have you tried ironwooddesigns?

They make furniture specifically for AK/AKM's, I'm not sure if they'll have wood pistol grips.

Real Russian grips would cost over $50 if you can even find them...

[Pector55]

Originally Posted by Garpman

Have you tried ironwooddesigns?

They make furniture specifically for AK/AKM's, I'm not sure if they'll have wood pistol grips.

Real Russian grips would cost over $50 if you can even find them...

Thanks Garpman. My friend just sent me a link to them last night. I am going to get a grip from them. I love how the stain turned out. I'm just waiting for the polyurathane to dry so I can put the wood back on the gun. I'll have to put the wood grip on sometime next week (depending on how long it takes to get it from ironwooddesigns. Impatience sucks.

[Pector55]

I'm not sure if anyone cares to see it but here is my finished project. I am waiting for two pins for the FSB but K-Var will have them here on Tuesday.

[brian]

rpk's are a good time indeed.

[Pector55]

Originally Posted by brian

rpk's are a good time indeed.

The front one looks like the recent ones available from Century. Please tell me more about the one in the back.

[justashooter]

Originally Posted by Pector55

The front one looks like the recent ones available from Century. Please tell me more about the one in the back.

it's a yugo, and from the parkerising, prolly also from century as a rebuild on a new green mountain barrel. should be blued, but looks OK painted black.

try duplicolor #1634 engine enamel, in satin black. available at your local auto parts store for $4 a can. bake at 250* in the oven till it stops stinking, let it cool before handling, and is bulletproof.

[crlovel]

Pector, you did a beautiful job on your RPK, the wood looks beautiful. If you're looking for a pistol grip, try DPH Arms. http://dpharms.com/

I have a Yugo RPK also. I absolutely love this AK variant! She cost me $500, it's a Century, but the Yugo AKs Century released were built very nicely. Probably because Century's monkeys didn't swing their sledges on them.

Here's mine with a 75 round Romanian drum mag:

[scoutjoe]

Managed to squeeze a Yugo out before they dried up around here...bore is real purty


But that is what had me sold on it

[brian]

Originally Posted by scoutjoe

But that is what had me sold on it

i was going to get one of the parts kits that had a nekkid lady on it.