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Okay, let's say someone has a 16" .45ACP barrel that needs to be turned down on the lathe so the various AK barrel blocks can be installed. What would be the minimum safe thickness that the walls of the barrel could be turned down to?
IIRC, the 1911 barrel O.D. is around 0.575". This would leave a wall thickness of about .063". That's fine for the short pistol barrel, but I am going to have about 14" of barrel hanging out past the receiver. I had planned on cutting the barrel blocks apart and welding them to custom sleeves to press onto the barrel. This may not be necessary if I can track down some of the larger variations of the AK parts...
The specs I have for European and Chinese 7.62 barrels is:
CHINESE BARREL: O. D. DIMENSIONS
Chamber .764" (19.25mm w/ .005 - .006" press fit)
Rear Sight Base .734" (18.5mm w/ .005 - .006" press fit)
Handguard Retainer .691"
Gas Block .634" (16mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Front Sight Base .594" (15mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
EURO PATTERN BARREL:
Chamber .908" (23mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Rear Sight Base .694" (17.5mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Handguard Retainer .671"
Gas Block .594" (15mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Front Sight Base .575" (14.5mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Another option would be RPK parts. The only issue I have with the RPK parts is the sphincter-puckering price tag. The dimensions for those RPK parts would be:
RPK: O. D. DIMENSIONS
Chamber .908"
Rear Sight Base .885"
Handguard Retainer (unknown)
Gas Block (unknown)
Front Sight Base .608"
There are some varying dimensions on a few parts listed on K-Var and Global Trades.
Any suggestions on barrel wall thickness or parts variants to fit larger O.D. barrels would be appreciated.
IIRC, the 1911 barrel O.D. is around 0.575". This would leave a wall thickness of about .063". That's fine for the short pistol barrel, but I am going to have about 14" of barrel hanging out past the receiver. I had planned on cutting the barrel blocks apart and welding them to custom sleeves to press onto the barrel. This may not be necessary if I can track down some of the larger variations of the AK parts...
The specs I have for European and Chinese 7.62 barrels is:
CHINESE BARREL: O. D. DIMENSIONS
Chamber .764" (19.25mm w/ .005 - .006" press fit)
Rear Sight Base .734" (18.5mm w/ .005 - .006" press fit)
Handguard Retainer .691"
Gas Block .634" (16mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Front Sight Base .594" (15mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
EURO PATTERN BARREL:
Chamber .908" (23mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Rear Sight Base .694" (17.5mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Handguard Retainer .671"
Gas Block .594" (15mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Front Sight Base .575" (14.5mm w/ .003 - .004" press fit)
Another option would be RPK parts. The only issue I have with the RPK parts is the sphincter-puckering price tag. The dimensions for those RPK parts would be:
RPK: O. D. DIMENSIONS
Chamber .908"
Rear Sight Base .885"
Handguard Retainer (unknown)
Gas Block (unknown)
Front Sight Base .608"
There are some varying dimensions on a few parts listed on K-Var and Global Trades.
Any suggestions on barrel wall thickness or parts variants to fit larger O.D. barrels would be appreciated.