Florida Shooters Network

I have a post-ban Norinco Mak 90. It has the thumb hole stock. Can I replace that with a folder stock and pistol grip ? Since it is post ban do I have to weld the stock fixed so I am legal ?

First, is it milled or stamped? Milled is much harder to convert due to the rear of the receiver. Stamped is no big deal. Technically, when you deban the rifle, you have to make it 922r compliant, so put your folder and pistol grip, but add US parts to the rifle (usually FCG, gas piston, pistol grip, magazine parts, etc.). If you don't do this, will the ATF come raiding your house? Not likely, and some argue that it's not necessary for the 922 parts, but that's for you to decide. The Mak has a very smooth action, and I didn't want to mess with any of the Chinese parts, so both of my Maks wear ban type stocks...the black polymer. It's incredibly comfortable to shoot with, and is the same feeling as a pistol grip stock, but ban compliant. For my folders and non ban (or preban) guns, I do what I want. 9 times out of 10 I grab the Mak to shoot, none of the others. YMMV.

Wakkoss is right. It's not too hard if it's a stamped receiver, and you definately don't need to weld a folding stock in place on anything in FL.

But if it's a milled receiver, it's going to be too much work to make a new stock fit.

If you have a milled receiver and really want a pistol grip, i'd sell your rifle and buy another stamped AK. There's a decent demand for milled MAK-90s.

I am in luck mine is a stamped receiver. Thanks for the info guys. I have no problem making it 922r compliant. I wasn't to worried about the ATF knocking on my door. But I rather be legal and don't have to worry about it. Wakkoss, Is there a certain percentile of US parts you need to have ? Or are the parts you mentioned enough to be compliant.

I believe you have to have 5 US parts or 6 if you have muzzle brake.
Mine has US made FCG (3 parts), fore stock, butt stock and pistol grip for total of 6 but I don't have a muzzle brake.
You can also use magazine parts to be compliant but it gets a little tricky as you could technically not be allowed to have any non compliant magazines in your house.
A imported magazine with US made follower and US floor plate count as 2 US parts.

rug357 wrote:I believe you have to have 5 US parts or 6 if you have muzzle brake.

Kinda right, but not exactly. 922r actually says you can't have any more than 10 foreign made parts. On an AK there are 15 official "parts", 16 if you have a muzzle brake, so you were right about having 5 or 6 US made parts, but the wording was wrong.

Take a look at this website below. It has the list of parts and you can quickly unclick what is US made and it will confirm if your rifle is 922r compliant or not. The "official" parts that aren't on or available for an AK aren't able to be clicked.

http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/BuildAkVerifyCompliance

Also it should be noted that if the muzzle break is pinned or soldered to the barrel it is considered part of the barrel and not a separate "evil" part.

There were 2 different stamped MAK 90's. One with the normal square back receiver, & one with an angled rear receiver. The first is easy to work with, but the angled receiver isn't. However, if you just want a wooden buttstock, & pistol grip, Ironwoods Designs makes them for both types of stamped receivers, as well as the milled receiver. GARY N4KVE

I put a set of Ironwood Designs on an AK I used to have. It is very nice stuff.

N4KVE wrote:There were 2 different stamped MAK 90's. One with the normal square back receiver, & one with an angled rear receiver. The first is easy to work with, but the angled receiver isn't. However, if you just want a wooden buttstock, & pistol grip, Ironwoods Designs makes them for both types of stamped receivers, as well as the milled receiver. GARY N4KVE

I disagree. The only difference between angle and straight is appearance. Put a regular stock on it and it will look a little funny but that's it. Put some black paint on the exposed wood and most can't even tell the difference