Can you give me a heads-up on this AK?

[Hokkmike]

I was wondering if anyone had experience or knew someone that did with this AK:

SA-85M imported by FEG, from Hungary

Also, would it be legal to mount the more traditional looking butt stock and separate pistol grip on this gun?

(I disdain thumb hole stocks)

Thanks for your help!

[King 5.45]

Your link doesn't work.

FEG makes nice stuff, and you're okay so long as you observe the parts count 922r nonsense.

Lookie here: http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21017

Just remember, if it's preban, permanent changes are sort of sinful.

[Hokkmike]

Sorry King 5.45, it wasn't a link. I merely underlined it for emphasis. Never thought of the confusion.

Thanks for your link though. Since that person (link) is trading I didn't see a price.

The Only AK's I have owned have been an SAR-1 and a WASR-10. I want to get my hand s on one that might be step up.

I am trying to find out how it compares on the AK evolutionary ladder.

[Garpman]

As far as the evolutionary ladder goes, it is pretty much your standard AKM with minor differences.

As it pertains to rifles that we mere civilians can own however, FEG is a step up from anything Century Arms will offer. The only Hungarian AKM variant CAI offers right now is the AMD 65, which historically is a tanker rifle whereas the SA85M you speak of is a more traditional full stock rifle.

You can change your thumbhole stock but you should Google section 922(r) to keep on legality.

On a side note, the only importer/company of pre ban Hungarian SA 85s was Kassnar. If it is from anyone else, it is a post ban, but you already knew this because you saw the thumbhole stock already. Post bans are subject to 922(r) if you want to deneuter them.

[PA Rifleman]

Originally Posted by Hokkmike

I was wondering if anyone had experience or knew someone that did with this AK:

SA-85M imported by FEG, from Hungary

Also, would it be legal to mount the more traditional looking butt stock and separate pistol grip on this gun?

(I disdain thumb hole stocks)

Thanks for your help!

I had an opportunity to use a Hungarian SA85 in the mid to late 80s. Not sure if it's the same gun you saw. It was excellent quality, fit & finish was better than anything I had seen at that point. I vaguely it had a dull finish, almost like wrinkle/crackle paint? Don't recall now, but I'd give it two thumbs WAYYYY up. Deep regrets not taking out a loan & buying a couple of dozen.

[RoyJackson]

Got a FEG SA-85. Definitely a well made AK style rifle. The bluing is very nice (compared to an old MAK-90). Nice trigger and the mags lock up well.
Although I don't care for the thumb hole stocks, the one on the SA-85 is really nice...kind of blond.
I have seen some nice furniture (also blond) for AK's. I definitely would not put one of those plastic stocks on a FEG.
I don't shoot my FEG often, but I do like to break it out of the safe and admire it frequently.

[Hokkmike]

Thanks Roy, PA Rifleman, Garpman, and King 5.45 - your answers have all been right on point and VERY helpful. I am eye-balling one of these, as you probably guessed, for addition to my stable.

[gold cup abuser]

just a heads up

if you are thinkinig about the pistol grip once you have taken off the thumbhoe stock go get the pistol grip screw retainer before your change the wood.

most thumbhole stocks do away with that part and just use a screw to hold the stock in place.

so have that part handy first and you will be good to go.

found that out the hard way as I was doing the same thing.

good luck

[nfafan]

Originally Posted by gold cup abuser

just a heads up

if you are thinkinig about the pistol grip once you have taken off the thumbhoe stock go get the pistol grip screw retainer before your change the wood.

most thumbhole stocks do away with that part and just use a screw to hold the stock in place.

so have that part handy first and you will be good to go.

found that out the hard way as I was doing the same thing.

good luck

True, the thumbhole stocks tend to use the "tang" screws on the top of the stock.

Also, may want to try shooting it with the thumbhole stock first...

I was pleasantly surprised and liked the way mine handled and shouldered on a WASR2 I have; once I thinned down the PG portion of it, I re-installed it and put a "normal" AK stock and PG I picked up in storage.
I never did bother swapping out the stock I have on one my other WASRs for the same reason, just enjoyed the fun of fitting the PG to me and "making it mine".

Every now and then I'll swap in a Bulgy poly set just for variety - which is what makes stamped-recvr'd AKs so great: cheap parts are so easily swapped among them.

[phillyd2]

I assume you want to go from:



to:



Beside the FEG plant no longer in the AK business the FEG is one of the best built and most accurate AKs out there. The blond wood IMHO makes them the prettiest AK as well.

I've done two such conversions, one on a SA-85 with FEG receiver and one from a kit with a Ohio Ordnance receiver. Check out the Tapco Compliance Kit (US made Trigger Group, Gas Tube, Muzzle Break, Pistol Grip).

The hard part will be finding a real Hungarian Blond steamed Elm stock. These guys may be of help:

http://www.globaltrades.com/ak_stocks.html

Otherwise, post ads on the AK boards and let google be your new best friend. They do pop up every now and then. On a side note, I ended up selling my thumb hole stock on AR15.com for $ 50 a few years ago so don't toss it.