Here is the completed 308 Hunter to M76. Will post more later.
I have previously posted this project in the "Red Rifles" section but seeing how its not a commie made gun and it's going to be Black and not Red I figured it would be better suited here.
Anybody on here convert a Valmet hunter over to a M76? Well here’s how.
For those wondering these are Non-Restricted AK variants, the Lieberals bought them for the 1st Nations up North in the 80's and so they are specifically named "NR" in the Criminal Code along with the M78.
First find a Valmet Hunter, I am a .308 guy, then spend a year or so looking for M76 parts over seas on eBay or gunbroker. The parts used are a straight parts swap, with a little work.
I've added pictures of a basic breakdown for the benefit for those that were unaware that these beauties existed. The only tool required is a flat head screwdriver for 3 screws that fix the dustcover; it has screw to make it solid for the scope mount.
Trigger swap you say?
It's very simple;
- Disassemble the rifle
- Pull the trigger pin retainer (a little wire) out the top
- Twist safety lever out
- Push out the 3 trigger assembly pins
- Trigger group falls out
- Flip it upside down (belly up)
- Unscrew the single trigger guard screw (front is hooked in so trigger guard falls out at this point)
- The little 1 1/4"x 3/4" plate in front of the trigger has 2 rivets, use dremel and grind the tops
- Use punch and punch out rivets, plate falls off
- Take new AK trigger group (Tapco) and install using trigger pin retainer, the 2 forward most original pins and safety selector
- The trigger will now come out the hole that has been exposed by removing the 1 1/4"x3/4" plate
How to mount the grip and trigger guard? This step will depend on the parts you have been able to find.
A. Take M76 grip with nut/bolt and mount through the original Hunter trigger hole. The M76 trigger guard will mount to the grip and mag release by way of 2 slots, once the grip is bolted in the guard doesn’t move.
I couldn’t find a bolt so I had to buy a die and thread my own for the M76 bolt. An M8x0.75 die is required to match the stock bolt. I threaded the smooth shaft of a longer automotive bolt and cut the excess off.
B. Take AK grip and mounting nut and bolt cut and shape nut surround (polymer) to fit through Hunter original trigger hole
- Glue bottom part of nut surround in AK grip (gorilla glue)
- Thread (4M .7 Tap) rear rivet hole, the one that was hiding the plate
- Slightly ream out rivet hole
- Take a propane blow torch, nothing fancy, heat up original Hunter trigger guard and flatten out the front most curve
- Use the dremel to recreate the lip required to lock the front of the trigger guard into the stock position found on the mag release (little slot at the outer most point of the housing)
- Insert new trigger guard into stock position and use original Hunter trigger guard screw to fix the back into thread hole
- Bolt on AK grip with modified nut
C. Much the same as (B.) but instead of hacking up the trigger guard and reforming it you simply hook it under the mag release (near the mag release rivets) and screw it in at the back like (B.) this looks lame. Alternately you can cut the trigger guard and weld it to the mag release housing, exactly like a stock AK piece. This is also the way to go about it if you have a small mag release housing that doesn't have the slot for the M76 trigger guard.
I used "A." on my M76, "B." on my Galil and "C" was tested on another.
There's no modifications to the receiver, everything is either an existing hole or removed part.
Here's the trigger moved forward, Tapco trigger group.
Some Blacksmith work.....all badass!
The front most rivet hole tapped for the original trigger guard screw. The front end has been curled up and tucked into the trigger guard. The screw is hidden with a stock AK grip.
After Dlask made the front hand guard retainer and threaded the barrel.
I shaped a stock by working Birch ply that was laminated together. This process required: plywood, drill/bits, routers, table saw, sliding compound mitre saw, clamps and glue.
The Garand stock plate was a close enough match for the project, their are cheap and abundant. The added bonus is the ability to use Garand stock pads.
A completed unit.
The M62 brass catcher fit without issue once a 1/2"x3/4" notch was cut out of it, on the underside, to allow for the 308 mag. I didn't get a chance to test fire the with the brass using live rounds but I did load a mag with dummy rounds, tied some string to the charging handle and was able cycle the action. All the dummy rounds were caught in the bag.
Here's the project just before I tore it down for refinishing.
The refinishing should be completed in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned for updated pictures and........a Hunter Galil.
I have previously posted this project in the "Red Rifles" section but seeing how its not a commie made gun and it's going to be Black and not Red I figured it would be better suited here.
Anybody on here convert a Valmet hunter over to a M76? Well here’s how.
For those wondering these are Non-Restricted AK variants, the Lieberals bought them for the 1st Nations up North in the 80's and so they are specifically named "NR" in the Criminal Code along with the M78.
First find a Valmet Hunter, I am a .308 guy, then spend a year or so looking for M76 parts over seas on eBay or gunbroker. The parts used are a straight parts swap, with a little work.
I've added pictures of a basic breakdown for the benefit for those that were unaware that these beauties existed. The only tool required is a flat head screwdriver for 3 screws that fix the dustcover; it has screw to make it solid for the scope mount.
Trigger swap you say?
It's very simple;
- Disassemble the rifle
- Pull the trigger pin retainer (a little wire) out the top
- Twist safety lever out
- Push out the 3 trigger assembly pins
- Trigger group falls out
- Flip it upside down (belly up)
- Unscrew the single trigger guard screw (front is hooked in so trigger guard falls out at this point)
- The little 1 1/4"x 3/4" plate in front of the trigger has 2 rivets, use dremel and grind the tops
- Use punch and punch out rivets, plate falls off
- Take new AK trigger group (Tapco) and install using trigger pin retainer, the 2 forward most original pins and safety selector
- The trigger will now come out the hole that has been exposed by removing the 1 1/4"x3/4" plate
How to mount the grip and trigger guard? This step will depend on the parts you have been able to find.
A. Take M76 grip with nut/bolt and mount through the original Hunter trigger hole. The M76 trigger guard will mount to the grip and mag release by way of 2 slots, once the grip is bolted in the guard doesn’t move.
I couldn’t find a bolt so I had to buy a die and thread my own for the M76 bolt. An M8x0.75 die is required to match the stock bolt. I threaded the smooth shaft of a longer automotive bolt and cut the excess off.
B. Take AK grip and mounting nut and bolt cut and shape nut surround (polymer) to fit through Hunter original trigger hole
- Glue bottom part of nut surround in AK grip (gorilla glue)
- Thread (4M .7 Tap) rear rivet hole, the one that was hiding the plate
- Slightly ream out rivet hole
- Take a propane blow torch, nothing fancy, heat up original Hunter trigger guard and flatten out the front most curve
- Use the dremel to recreate the lip required to lock the front of the trigger guard into the stock position found on the mag release (little slot at the outer most point of the housing)
- Insert new trigger guard into stock position and use original Hunter trigger guard screw to fix the back into thread hole
- Bolt on AK grip with modified nut
C. Much the same as (B.) but instead of hacking up the trigger guard and reforming it you simply hook it under the mag release (near the mag release rivets) and screw it in at the back like (B.) this looks lame. Alternately you can cut the trigger guard and weld it to the mag release housing, exactly like a stock AK piece. This is also the way to go about it if you have a small mag release housing that doesn't have the slot for the M76 trigger guard.
I used "A." on my M76, "B." on my Galil and "C" was tested on another.
There's no modifications to the receiver, everything is either an existing hole or removed part.
Here's the trigger moved forward, Tapco trigger group.
Some Blacksmith work.....all badass!
The front most rivet hole tapped for the original trigger guard screw. The front end has been curled up and tucked into the trigger guard. The screw is hidden with a stock AK grip.
After Dlask made the front hand guard retainer and threaded the barrel.
I shaped a stock by working Birch ply that was laminated together. This process required: plywood, drill/bits, routers, table saw, sliding compound mitre saw, clamps and glue.
The Garand stock plate was a close enough match for the project, their are cheap and abundant. The added bonus is the ability to use Garand stock pads.
A completed unit.
The M62 brass catcher fit without issue once a 1/2"x3/4" notch was cut out of it, on the underside, to allow for the 308 mag. I didn't get a chance to test fire the with the brass using live rounds but I did load a mag with dummy rounds, tied some string to the charging handle and was able cycle the action. All the dummy rounds were caught in the bag.
Here's the project just before I tore it down for refinishing.
The refinishing should be completed in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned for updated pictures and........a Hunter Galil.
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