Now there is an understatement. There are a lot of aftermarket pieces out there for many of the milsurps we like to rebuild. Of course it is best to use original but sometimes that is a difficult if not almost impossible option.
"Some fitting may be required" I have learned means, "Ready access to machine shop", "Some cutting and welding required", "Complete rebuild of part needed" "Have original part handy to re-scale and modify" "If you are not a millwright,,, don't bother" etc.
A few examples.
My latest was a flash hider from Numrich for an original #5 barrel (I didn't realise it was aftermarket) It looked nice, and that was were the similarity ended. It was so sloppy that 24 thou shim was required to get some of the slop out. I had to solder it on as the pins do nothing as they were so far off the mark. The dovetail slot was so large I had to modify the foresight blade to make it fit. After test firing it, I discovered that my light soldering touch was not enough as there was blowback through the sloppy fit.
I bought 2 SVT40 mags. Both required the rear lugs cut off and brazed on 3/16" lower. Then filing and polishing to make the mag fit into the well.
2 Hakim mags. Both looked perfect. Till you tried to fit them in. Filing and polishing required inside and out.
A Hakim extractor. Thankfully it was oversized and not under as I had to file it down on several faces to make it fit.
So how do they build these pieces so far out? I think someone takes a grainy photo of the piece, with a cigarette butt beside it to scale and let the guy who makes it take some artistic liberties with production.
I am glad there are after market parts out there but couldn't they get them a bit closer? I suppose it is all in the fun of rebuilds. My rant for the day.
"Some fitting may be required" I have learned means, "Ready access to machine shop", "Some cutting and welding required", "Complete rebuild of part needed" "Have original part handy to re-scale and modify" "If you are not a millwright,,, don't bother" etc.
A few examples.
My latest was a flash hider from Numrich for an original #5 barrel (I didn't realise it was aftermarket) It looked nice, and that was were the similarity ended. It was so sloppy that 24 thou shim was required to get some of the slop out. I had to solder it on as the pins do nothing as they were so far off the mark. The dovetail slot was so large I had to modify the foresight blade to make it fit. After test firing it, I discovered that my light soldering touch was not enough as there was blowback through the sloppy fit.
I bought 2 SVT40 mags. Both required the rear lugs cut off and brazed on 3/16" lower. Then filing and polishing to make the mag fit into the well.
2 Hakim mags. Both looked perfect. Till you tried to fit them in. Filing and polishing required inside and out.
A Hakim extractor. Thankfully it was oversized and not under as I had to file it down on several faces to make it fit.
So how do they build these pieces so far out? I think someone takes a grainy photo of the piece, with a cigarette butt beside it to scale and let the guy who makes it take some artistic liberties with production.
I am glad there are after market parts out there but couldn't they get them a bit closer? I suppose it is all in the fun of rebuilds. My rant for the day.
