WE AKS-74UN First Impressions (Pic heavy)

[ST19AG_WGreymon]

On 6/23/2018 at 12:25 AM, renegadecow said:

This is with regards to the AKS74U? If so, the lower handguard retainer is too high by about a millimeter. Have not tried changing out the retainer but what I did instead was modify the handguard itself to sit lower by removing some material at the bottom and adding material on top.

Yea. It's for the AKS-74u. I'll change out the lower handguard retainer soon. In any case I decided to re-do the barrel on my AK-74MN conversion. I was not really comfortable with the 2-piece barrel solution I came up with. So I ordered a WE AK PMC barrel and pinned the gas block. The AK PMC barrel is a tad too long so I'm going to chop the barrel a bit and find a 74 FSB with threads or buy a real steel one. Here's my WE rifles next to their real steel counterparts.

[NonEx]

Sooo... I have finally "completed" my WE AK-74UN MAGPUL custom build and I am feeling pretty dang good about it

 
WE AK-74UN MAGPUL custom build, straight, raised, left side.

http://i.imgur.com/y4gzlEi.png

 

WE AK-74UN MAGPUL custom build, straight, raised, right side.

http://i.imgur.com/dzF5ea2.png

 

WE AK-74UN MAGPUL custom build, angled, raised, left side.

http://i.imgur.com/Z8iVTRb.png

 

WE AK-74UN MAGPUL custom build, angled, raised, right side.

http://i.imgur.com/DPL1LmA.png

 

WE AK-74UN MAGPUL custom build, angled, flat, magazine out, left side.

http://i.imgur.com/tnRPvyN.png

 

WE AK-74UN MAGPUL custom build, angled, flat, magazine out, right side.

http://i.imgur.com/uhIY3QO.png

 

Build Parts List
Base gun: WE AK-74UN GBBR
Receiver: WE AK-47 PMC
Hop up rubber: Maple Leaf Autobot 60DG (Yellow)
Muzzle brake: PTSxGriffin Armament M4SD Paladin muzzle brake (CCW)
RMR mount: Hephaestus Mount Base for AKS-74U / AKMSU Series
RMR sight: Ace 1 Arms RMR style red dot sight
Hand guard: MAGPUL MOE AKM AK47/AK74 (black)
Magazine (internals): WE AK-47 PMC
Magazine (external): MAGPUL MOE PMAG 30 AK/AKM 7.62x39mm (black)
Pistol grip: MAGPUL MOE AK AK47/AK74 (black)
Stock: MAGPUL MOE AK AK47/AK74 (black)

Full build details can be found in the Projects thread over here: 

 

[contessa]

Since I have sold away my we ak74, the well g74 has caught my eyes...

Does anyone know if its problem with rear trunnion has been conpletely solved?

Is there anyone who had the part explode with the new version of the replica?

[aznriptide859]

Question, does anyone know what outer barrels are compatible with this gun? I have an WE AK74, looking to shorten the barrel a bit, but not sure if I should just do it myself or someone else makes an aftermarket part.

[Dimitri MdP]

No aftermarket outers for these. 

[Bloodsword]

Is the outer barrel attached how? Is it similar to LCT or E&L?

[renegadecow]

Just the pin through the trunnion but it's advisable to drill and tap the trunnion for a grub screw VFC style to mitigate barrel wobble.

[Dimitri MdP]

On 11/17/2018 at 2:23 PM, renegadecow said:

Just the pin through the trunnion but it's advisable to drill and tap the trunnion for a grub screw VFC style to mitigate barrel wobble.

Any pics? 

Wouldn't that weaken the trunnion?

[renegadecow]

Have to take my rear sight block off among other things, but it looks like this only with the forward hole/screw done (in M4 size). There's a lot of material on the trunnion so doubt the hole makes any difference. 

[Dimitri MdP]

Thanks! I've never seen such problem develop in our 74Us, but our custom-build "WE" RPK has some wobble on the barrel. Will try this fix asap

[renegadecow]

I've observed wobble on pretty much every rifle I've handled with some being only a few months old. Sometimes though the kind of handguard installed can either help hide or make the wobble more pronounced but you can still observe it easily enough looking down the sights while pushing on the handguard/barrel side to side.

Edited November 20, 2018 by renegadecow

[Dimitri MdP]

On 11/20/2018 at 10:38 AM, renegadecow said:

I've observed wobble on pretty much every rifle I've handled with some being only a few months old. Sometimes though the kind of handguard installed can either help hide or make the wobble more pronounced but you can still observe it easily enough looking down the sights while pushing on the handguard/barrel side to side.

Weird, just checked ours with the handguards off and there's literally zero wobble, and they have about 4 years of use. The only one that has is because the owner pushed the pin in the wrong direction + he's using a RPK-length, full steel barrel extension.  Which I'm totally gonna fix with this technique, so thanks! 

[3vi1-D4n]

Finally bought a WELL G74D (AK74M), out of curiosity, and in my country its not a regular import.

 

Overall, its not bad.  Thought it was gonna be pretty bad, turns out it came with a few good surprises. Following from the previous reviews listed here on the WELL G74A (AKS74U).  Picking it up:

 

- It has creaky plastic imitation wood, the whole front section wobbles like a flag pole in the wind.  Its a flat black painted, with an aluminium barrel that has been surprisingly well made that has the early heat dissipating threads.

- It has a Steel based AEG receiver and barrel trunnion from a CYMA/JG AK.  The receiver has a rectangular cut for a motor cage, but it hasn't been cut all the way.  However the WELL pistol grip covers the rectangular cut.  (More on this later)

- Front sight is of a CYMA design

- It has a Marui gas tube/ rear sight block, and a marui based stock trunion, with the creaky imitation wood.  It can take only take wood kits that fit the original Marui systems. 

- It had trouble fitting WE AK47 mags without mods.

- It was full of grease, which was everywhere.  Basically out of the box the barrel was so dirty it was impossible to get consistent accuracy.  Spent hours degreasing it afterwards.

- The inner barrel is of a VSR cut, but fitted for the WE hop unit.  After degreasing the rifle is relatively accurate.

- It chronos at around 340-360fps with a 17" inner barrel with a WE AK47 mag @ 18*C, (the gun came with a CO2 Mag).   Blowback is similar to a WE, except its slower.

- The blowback unit is a low output power unit compared with the WE.  That can be easily remedied.  After some modifications the blowback unit is now outputting 460fps @ 18*C.

- The blowback unit O-ring is not undersized as some reviews have been suggesting.  It is actually oversized, no further work is required.

- The trigger unit is a replica of the WE, except it looks more heavy duty. 

- The hammer, semi-auto sear and gas release striker is steel, everything else is zamak.  Quite a nice surprise there.  However the area on the hammer which engages the auto-sear has a really shallow cut and leads to partial engagement of the auto-sear.  This leads to light striking on full auto.

 

Basically, after a few hours of work, by: '

- Degreasing everything

- Chopping the inner barrel down to 16", added an AK47 thread nut

- Modifying the trigger box to fit AK47 mags 

- Modifying the height which the mags engaged to the blowback unit, in order to get better gas route seal

- Shimming the outer barrel to barrel trunnion

- Chopping the recoil spring

- Cutting a deeper engagement area on the hammer for the auto-sear.

- Reinforcing the trigger box

- Chopping the flute valve spring to release less gas.

 

Now I have an AKM at 460fps with stuff all cooldown.  More pictures to follow.

 

Now, since it uses standard AEG style receiver cuts, has anyone considered using a WELL to converted a JG/CYMA RPK to a GBB?

 

 

Edited December 3, 2018 by 3vi1-D4n

[3vi1-D4n]

Above is a WE AK PMC, Below is the WELL

Uses the traditional AK47 front sight, gas block and furniture.  I added the AK47 thread protector (removed the AK74 muzzle break)

Side by side comparison

Note rear sight block and gas tube, reminiscent of marui AKs.

Note triggers, the white putty is reinforcement added by me to strengthen the trigger box.

Note the rectangular cut, similar to AEG receiver, but not quite.  The pistol grip covers up the hole quite nicely.

Edited December 4, 2018 by 3vi1-D4n

[Greg Head]

At long last I've finished my Well G74A build (sorry for the poor photo, taken with a mobile phone), the parts fitted are:-

1. 5KU AK to M4 Adaptor fitted with Nuprol AXE stock - hinge pin hole had to be drilled out to 4.76 (3/16") because the Well hinge pin is 4.67mm dia. Also stuck a small piece of flat rubber sheet (0.7MM thk) to the rear trunnion to take up play in the stock adaptor when locked in position.

2. Command Arms G47 grip - Fixing hole in the grip had to be enlarged to allow it to fit over the threaded spigot on the receiver, material removed from the front of the grip so that it would fit around the trigger guard. A plastic spacer was also made to cover the rectangular cut out in the receiver.

3. ACM replica of the Surefire M83U handguards - Material had to be removed from the inside rear faces of the top section to permit the installation of the rear gas tube cap & material removed from the front location shoulder so that it would fit the front upper handguard retainer. The lower handguard retainer also needed some small recesses filed into the top to allow it to clear the upper handguard.

4. Ares VZ.58 Czech Long Flash Hider - 14mm anti clockwise thread tapped deeper to allow it to screw all the way on. I also cut the inner barrel down to suit.

Since finishing this build I've started another project using the full length Well G74B (AK74MN) but there is an issue with the rear trunnion rivets. The rivet that goes through the side rail and into the rear trunnion is slightly loose, does anyone know how it can be reset ?

[DarkLite]

I suspect it would be a case of drilling it out and putting a new rivet in.

[Greg Head]

8 hours ago, DarkLite said:

I suspect it would be a case of drilling it out and putting a new rivet in.

That's certainly an option but I am having trouble finding the tooling to set the semi tubular rivets in the UK.

[Dimitri MdP]

I've removed the side rail for the RPK project, so had to replace the rivet with a round head screw and two nuts. There was no way in hell I could get the proper rivets and tooling in my area.
Then I filled the screw slot with epoxy and painted it. Looks pretty much like a rivet.

[Greg Head]

1 hour ago, Dimitri MdP said:

I've removed the side rail for the RPK project, so had to replace the rivet with a round head screw and two nuts. There was no way in hell I could get the proper rivets and tooling in my area.
Then I filled the screw slot with epoxy and painted it. Looks pretty much like a rivet.

That's a good idea, what type and size of screw did you use ? I may try the screw option if I can't figure out a way of re-setting the rivet. Yesterday I produced some drawings of rivet jaws to fit 24" bolt cutters, as used by DIY AK builders in the USA. The plan is to make the jaws from mild steel (probably won't last long) and fit them to a cheap pair of bolt cutters. The screw idea is simpler and less hassle though.

[Got Wood?]

How are people finding their WELL rifles months later? Toying with picking one up as a goofing around bad guy gun

[Batmause]

On 12/10/2018 at 12:16 PM, Greg Head said:

Sishing this build I've started another project using the full length Well G74B (AK74MN) but there is an issue with the rear trunnion rivets. The rivet that goes through the side rail and into the rear trunnion is slightly loose, does anyone know how it can be reset ?

 

It is worth to use some rivet nuts and rivet screws. Like this solution. 

 

[CobaltRose]

Welp, guess I might as well join in on the fun before I figure out what to do with this thing. My Black Market Special, complete with old granny chair:

WE PMC model with extensively hacked to bits I mean, gently modified Magpul furniture, MFT Battlelink Minimalist Stock, MacGyvered LCT dust cover and Veriforce charging handle extension. Internally it's got all the RA-Tech parts aside from the steel faux piston, FG-Airsoft low flow disk, Headquarters nozzle spring and the WE short-stroke kit.

Current problems: Does this weird thing where you can't insert a magazine unless the bolt is pulled back about a millimeter. Pushing the bolt forward then removing the magazine causes the bolt to cam back that same 1mm. The gun also refuses to shoot straight: it either overhops for the moon with .25s or the BBs do this weird curveball thing where they swerve up and to the left, then come back down and to the right. This all happens within 25yds; unknown if the problems are connected (airsoft gun headspacing, perhaps?).

Also just recently did the JB Weld mod for the trigger box, but the pictures that were oh-so-helpful in doing it broke recently (like within the past couple weeks). Any chance of a re-upload?

Edited February 25, 2019 by CobaltRose
spaced writing in between the photos.

[NonEx]

I'm not sure if I'm more impressed by the AK build or that chair 😛 

That OD MAGPUL furniture looks nice! Sometimes I regret going all black on my stuff but ya know, never goes out of style and is discreet 😐 

[Got Wood?]

Sorry to regurgitate here, but those of you who opted for the Well clone, how did they turn out over a few months?

[aznriptide859]

Anyone have suggestions to what kind of mags (RS or otherwise) I can mod to replace the casings for the AK74 mags? Multiple ones of mine have all cracked down the midline and refuse to be held together.