Valmet M78 - AK74 clone project

b-wingpilot

b-wingpilot

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Just wanted to share my latest completed project. A Valmet M78 in .223 that I re-profiled and shortened the barrel (18.6” so still non-restricted) and installed an AK74 front sight / muzzle brake combo. Also fitted an AK74 buttstock, top cover, pistol grip, and Bakelite magazines. Handles much better than in the original LMG configuration.

D75-BDF23-E768-4832-924-C-4-A245-B63-AB33.jpg
 
Very nice job . I saw an AK that made in Bulgaria that had similar furniture like the handguard on yours but the butt stock was made out of the same material . I never saw it in person just on the net . Arsenal was the company ? I heard that they made decent stuff . a buddy in Texas bought one of the AK's made by Century International ? I told him to buy one of the Yugo produced ones but he didn't listen . I don't like the looks of the one he bought . made in the US. then his neighbor's wife treated herself to a Yugo AK like I told him to buy and he said the other day Gee it was made very well .

I said gee mister Bonehead why do you think I told you to buy one of those instead of the one you bought . SIGH . Valmet makes from what I know excellent firearms . I hope it shoots as good as it looks . Happy shooting .
 
gorgeous. You are a talented individual.

Hopefully some of the rest of us can acquire some of your products in the future;).
 
Thanks guys!


CobraGT said:
Gorgeous!! I was planning to do exactly the same thing with mine, except I was going to switch the caliber to 7.62x39. I'm jealous :)
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Well, if you’re going to go to the trouble of removing the barrel, I’d definitely profile the barrel to AKM spec and install the rear sight base, handguard cap, gas block and front sight base haha.


CZ Shooter said:
Excellent job...would it still be NR if it had a folding stock?
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Yup! But I wouldn’t modify the receiver in any way to put a triangular folding stock on. RCMP might then consider it to not be an M78 ��
 
Would the receiver be compatible with a Zhukov variable length of pull folder, or would it need to be modified?
 
Jeepcommander said:
Is it easy to change barrels and calibers on m88s or m78s?
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On m88s or milled receiver M78s it wouldn't be too horrible, but on stamped receiver M78s, it would be pretty difficult. The factory spec for barrel torque is 250Nm (~185ft-lbs). To put that into perspective, AR15s are about 40ft-lbs, Reminton 700s are about 80-100ft-lbs. On stamped M78s I suspect the barrel was torqued onto the trunnion, then the trunnion rivetted to the receiver. So, unscrewing the barrel from a stamped M78, you would need a well designed "action wrench" to properly support the receiver and trunnion, so as not to damage it. Plus you would need to remove and replace 1 rivet that prevents the barrel from unscrewing. It has been done before by one or two gunsmiths in the US, but most won't touch it.
 
b-wingpilot said:
Just wanted to share my latest completed project. A Valmet M78 in .223 that I re-profiled and shortened the barrel (18.6” so still non-restricted) and installed an AK74 front sight / muzzle brake combo. Also fitted an AK74 buttstock, top cover, pistol grip, and Bakelite magazines. Handles much better than in the original LMG configuration.

D75-BDF23-E768-4832-924-C-4-A245-B63-AB33.jpg
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Like I said to ya on IG, definitely a BEAUTY!!!
So wish I still had both my m78s.
 
b-wingpilot said:
On m88s or milled receiver M78s it wouldn't be too horrible, but on stamped receiver M78s, it would be pretty difficult. The factory spec for barrel torque is 250Nm (~185ft-lbs). To put that into perspective, AR15s are about 40ft-lbs, Reminton 700s are about 80-100ft-lbs. On stamped M78s I suspect the barrel was torqued onto the trunnion, then the trunnion rivetted to the receiver. So, unscrewing the barrel from a stamped M78, you would need a well designed "action wrench" to properly support the receiver and trunnion, so as not to damage it. Plus you would need to remove and replace 1 rivet that prevents the barrel from unscrewing. It has been done before by one or two gunsmiths in the US, but most won't touch it.
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Herron Arms was going to do mine, before I gave up and sold it. It wasn't going to be cheap though!!
 
Very nice project !

It blows my mind that someone on here hasnt taken a .308win model and made a PSL clone yet.... guess everybody has a bigger hard on Galils and RPKs. if i had the money.... haha
 
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