Type-81 pictures, range reports, and modifications thread

cr5

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
151   0   0
First of all, let's try to keep this clean please, no trolling, no bashing. Yes, we all know it's a cheaply built, overpriced POS made in China.
I have no problem with owners posting problems with their rifle looking for advice or help but if you don't own one I don't care what your opinion is of the rifle, I'm sure you've already posted it in another thread and we've all read it so please go back to masterbating rather than clog up the thread trying to provoke an argument (there are plenty of other threads already full of that).

You don't have to own a T-81 to post questions or comments, I just don't want to have to read through post after post of negative comments from someone who has never even seen one.

Hopefully if this thread can be kept clean it can become the T-81 sticky :)

Thank you.

I'll start off, all these pics have been posted in other threads already and I'll add more later as I get more time with the rifle.

I've modified the sights by removing the top bar and widening the V for a little better sight picture.
T81modSight2.jpg
T81modSight1.jpg

Modified an AK Pmag to work in the rifle.
Lower the front lip and trim the sides a little where you can see in the pic, then lower the back notch to allow the bolt carrier to pass through. I also removed a little material from the follower where it hits the rivet to allow it to insert on a closed bolt.
AK Pmag mod.jpg

I also modified a Magpul AK MOE+ grip to fit. A little crude and sloppy with the dremel but it works and is solid.
T81moe+2.jpg
T81moe+1.jpg

So far accuracy with Cabela's corrosive 1500 round crate stuff has been around 8 moa and while nothing impressive it will do for a fun basher around my acreage and wandering the bush with something that looks AKish.

50 yards, meh. I'll eventually buy some different ammo to try in it but I didn't buy it for accuracy so I don't really care.
T-81 50yds.jpg

And my T-81 sitting next to the real deal. The AK felt more solid even though the weight felt very similar.
T81nSTYER.jpg
 

Attachments

  • T81modSight2.jpg
    T81modSight2.jpg
    73.3 KB · Views: 19,607
  • T81modSight1.jpg
    T81modSight1.jpg
    72.6 KB · Views: 19,556
  • AK Pmag mod.jpg
    AK Pmag mod.jpg
    83.9 KB · Views: 19,606
  • T81moe+2.jpg
    T81moe+2.jpg
    109 KB · Views: 19,704
  • T81moe+1.jpg
    T81moe+1.jpg
    95.6 KB · Views: 19,619
  • T-81 50yds.jpg
    T-81 50yds.jpg
    58.8 KB · Views: 19,413
  • T81nSTYER.jpg
    T81nSTYER.jpg
    109 KB · Views: 19,635
Last edited:
I don't have a Type 81 but it's on my bucket list.

It is my understanding the bar on the rear sight is for use when launching grenades. Is there anything in the owners manual about how it works? It seems to be unpopular.

When you fired the 50 yard group did you use a front rest, rear bag or anything? Caliber magazine tested seven types of ammo and the 5 round groups ranged from 4.28 to 5.43 MOA using a front rest and iron sights.

I think the MagPul grip improves the look, nice job.
 
Your 50 yard group is not bad for 10 rounds fired. Aside from the top 3 the rest are pretty tight.

With a new rifle, with sights that obviously didn't work for you as factory, I call that pretty good.

Among the non permanent mods that I will be doing will be swapping in a better grip. Thanks for showing what works. I will also be doing the pmag mods when I can get my hands on a couple.
 
IMG_20171209_013045.jpg. I took mine out to BRRC in burlington and put 120 rounds with zero cleaning. Just opened the bag and left for the range. Patterned well but slightly to the left. Sks sight tool time.

3 mags rock and need to be held to properly chamber at times. 2 mags were not pinned very well at all.

For all the flak I've seen norinco/poly get over the years, I'm 3/3 new purchases with them. No complaints in my rifle at all.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20171209_013045.jpg
    IMG_20171209_013045.jpg
    134.7 KB · Views: 19,538
I swapped in a fab defense ak grip I like the curved back and it fits with just a little bit of trimming at the front. Also been pondering for some time now of grinding a flat for 90 deg safety. I am also going to lengthen the mag release this week to tighten up the mag wobble and make the bolt hold more reliable.
 
I don't have a Type 81 but it's on my bucket list.

It is my understanding the bar on the rear sight is for use when launching grenades. Is there anything in the owners manual about how it works? It seems to be unpopular.

When you fired the 50 yard group did you use a front rest, rear bag or anything? Caliber magazine tested seven types of ammo and the 5 round groups ranged from 4.28 to 5.43 MOA using a front rest and iron sights.

I think the MagPul grip improves the look, nice job.

I only flipped through the manual to figure out how to take apart the gas system, once I had that figured out I just tossed the book back in the box so no idea if there is anything in the manual about the sights.

The top bar seemed to really limit the field of view and I was having troubles focusing while looking through it, since the chances of me shooting grenades is pretty much zero I decided to remove it and I like it much better now.

T81sights2.jpg

Front rest, rear bag. My rifle has only seen Cabela's corrosive crate ammo. A buddy of mine came out to my place with his T-81 and had a couple other types of ammo and his groups were pretty similar. You don't buy a rifle like this for bench shooting though and we both had a blast ringing the plates on my private range at 25 and 50 yards most of the afternoon.
We also went for a walk out to the sandpit behind my place and standing shots at around 75 yards were hitting whatever we pointed at, accuracy seems to be good enough for field use and ringing steel plates even if they aren't overly impressive on paper.

The Magpul MOE+ is one of my favorite grips, I also have one on one of my AR's, it definitely improves the feel of the rifle.
 

Attachments

  • T81sights2.jpg
    T81sights2.jpg
    48.9 KB · Views: 18,814
Last edited:
in my quest to modify ak mags just for the hell of it i did an ak74 mag and it worked! fits and feeds fine still needs to be cleaned up but works good
DYPoXts.jpg

it does need alot of body sanding but oh well...
2lkjBPw.jpg
 
I now have more modded AK mags for my type81 than t81 mags! Lol.
View attachment 141443
Just got three steel AK mags back from hical. Two Chinese 5 rnd mags and a made in Korea 5/10. Mags look great. Only had time to put 10 rnds through each mag but all three fit and functioned 100%. Very happy with the service from hical, great guys to deal with.
Pic of 5 rnd mag
View attachment 141444
Pic of 5/10 mag
View attachment 141445
 
I now have more modded AK mags for my type81 than t81 mags! Lol.
Just got three steel AK mags back from hical. Two Chinese 5 rnd mags and a made in Korea 5/10. Mags look great. Only had time to put 10 rnds through each mag but all three fit and functioned 100%. Very happy with the service from hical, great guys to deal with.
Pic of 5 rnd mag
attachment.php

Those look good - in a perfect world we'd be able to enjoy the full benefits of 30rd mags, but in our Canadian reality they're not practical - could fit a bunch more of those 5 rd'ers in the range bag LOL! Def will look into those.
 
I now have more modded AK mags for my type81 than t81 mags! Lol.
View attachment 141443
Just got three steel AK mags back from hical. Two Chinese 5 rnd mags and a made in Korea 5/10. Mags look great. Only had time to put 10 rnds through each mag but all three fit and functioned 100%. Very happy with the service from hical, great guys to deal with.
Pic of 5 rnd mag
View attachment 141444
Pic of 5/10 mag
View attachment 141445

So you had hical convert them for you?
 
So you had hical convert them for you?
Yes. Bought the steel mags off the EE and sent them to hical for modding. My dremel tool broke a while back and I havnt replaced it yet. I didnt want to screw them up as I'm not sure how easy it is to get more.
They didnt charge me for the 5/10 mag cause they said it didnt feed well. Soon as I got them back I took the 5/10 and drilled the follower as per your tips in your thread put 5 rnds through it twice with no probs. I'll test it more this weekend.
The 5 rnders worked with no further modding(didnt have to touch follower.)
Hical did a great job, mags look nice and clean
View attachment 141490
View attachment 141491
 
I gotta modify me an AK mag so I can use my Type 81 in the 2018 Riflechair Cabin fever challenge ! 3 type 81 mags wont quite cut it haha

I would think the Pmags or other polymer mags would be the easiest to modify, much easier to work on plastics than steel and don't need to worry about finishing the cut edges to prevent rust.
Plus they're $20 each so cost is negligible.
 
I would think the Pmags or other polymer mags would be the easiest to modify, much easier to work on plastics than steel and don't need to worry about finishing the cut edges to prevent rust.
Plus they're $20 each so cost is negligible.

I got 2 plastic tapco mags off EE coming
 
I would think the Pmags or other polymer mags would be the easiest to modify, much easier to work on plastics than steel and don't need to worry about finishing the cut edges to prevent rust.
Plus they're $20 each so cost is negligible.

Yes, where did you find them for $20 per mag ? I ordered the Fab defense AK magazines since they are cheaper but for $20, I would take Pmag instead.
 
Yes, where did you find them for $20 per mag ? I ordered the Fab defense AK magazines since they are cheaper but for $20, I would take Pmag instead.
Try gravel agency. They have 5 rnd pmags. Also have 5/20 which I haven't seen anywhere else. Was thinking of getting a couple.

*Edit- nvr mind I was looking under the dealer section not customer, lol. Wonder if someone could get these in stock?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom