Type-81 pictures, range reports, and modifications thread
- Thread starter cr5
- Start date
No, those Romanian drums fit and work with no modding.
My Range Report
Been waiting to write this for a couple months and finally got my rifle last week. After a thorough cleaning involving some rust removal from the trunion and cleaning up the wood on the hand guards I took her out today. After reading these and watching the videos I was mostly concerned with accuracy and I was hoping to pull off anywhere from 3-5 MOA which would be right where a rifle of this type should be. Always difficult reading other people's opinions and seeing their groups because I have no idea what their baseline level of shooting is.
I have a couple hundred thousand rounds down range in the last quarter century (mostly thanks to the tax payer) and have competed for Her Majesties favor a few times in my life at Connaught so without betraying my requisite Canadian humility my skill with a service rifle is on the right hand side of the bell curve so maybe I have something to add to this discussion for would-be buyers.
I bought this rifle for one reason only: it was the closest thing (in appearance) I can get in Canada to an AK, full stop. I have ARs up the yang for playing dress-up at my Neptune Spear recreationalist society (jokes) and other "tactical" rifles so this is definitely not filling a hole in my collection. As crazy as this sounds I actually wanted a crappy commy built rusted up rattling corrosive fed bullet launcher. I have had a lot of AK time during my penance and there is something about taking a POS gun and making it dance. Anyone can win the race in a sup'd up Ferrari. So I jumped on this.
Handling this thing is actually not really all that much like an AK, save for manipulating the magazines (which are much further forward than the trigger guard making spetznaz reloads tricky). I guess I would say it "fits" like an AK in the shoulder but the operations are very different. The safety switch is completely without merit. Putting the rifle on safe is like trying to push a fat chick over a roll of concertina wire. 180 degrees is excessive to say the least and although it is nice to have it on the thumb side (for righties) trying to run it like an Ak is not possible until someone comes up with an AK style safety/cover to replace this one. Currently it is completely unusable and I can't imagine trying to do any sort of run and gunning without relying on 2nd digit manual dexterity.
For zeroing my setup is pretty simple: support the rifle as best as possible and get the best ammo you can find. I don't have a bench vice and have not modified the rifle for a bipod at this time. The sights adjust using a standard SKS tool and I don't know why everyone was ragging on the hooded rear sight; I kind of like the thing.
I always get a rough zero at 50m and the initial group was just barely on the paper.
After the necessary adjustments I put 10 more in and came up with this group:
Although I was only 15 rounds in I took a quick break to stretch and question my life choices. This thing even kicks on gas setting 1 and I opted for the folding stock making for a sub-optimal time. In fact this is probably the least friendly rifle I have ever fired. To put that in perspective I first started shooting on an #4mk1 and the FNC1A1 at the tender age of 13 (this rifle actually made me a little nostalgic for the old "right arm" given the gas setting and that feeling of "what have I got myself into" after the first group). Since then I have put on a few pounds. For those of you who might think I am being a bit of a man-baby I will just say I am 220lbs and can bench much more than my weight (not bragging about my physique only that I have some padding in the upper torso) and this thing still gave me pause for thought. It is by no means a fun or comfortable gun to shoot IMHO in it's current configuration and with this ammo. Which by the way was:
After I got over myself and manned up I tried to repeat my previous group at 50m but was unable to reproduce it:
Going to the 100m increased the spread exponentially:
I have a picture of a paper target but have reached my photo limit and this is just as good.
As a point of order I should note that I adjusted the gas system to setting 2 and I was unable to hit steel at 100m; the group moved that much between the settings. Not sure if this is something that others have encountered.
At the end of the day I both love and hate this rifle. I will definitely keep it and use it to torture new shooters and myself from time to time but I have no intentions of using it for much more than a collector's novelty. In hindsight I wish I would have gone with full wood instead of the folding stock. As much as I have a slight feeling of satisfaction for owning something somewhat maybe kinda maybeish like an AK that itch hasn't been fully scratched and I hope that one day we will fix things with our laws or, much more likely, I will move to the states. Until then there is the type 81.
Been waiting to write this for a couple months and finally got my rifle last week. After a thorough cleaning involving some rust removal from the trunion and cleaning up the wood on the hand guards I took her out today. After reading these and watching the videos I was mostly concerned with accuracy and I was hoping to pull off anywhere from 3-5 MOA which would be right where a rifle of this type should be. Always difficult reading other people's opinions and seeing their groups because I have no idea what their baseline level of shooting is.
I have a couple hundred thousand rounds down range in the last quarter century (mostly thanks to the tax payer) and have competed for Her Majesties favor a few times in my life at Connaught so without betraying my requisite Canadian humility my skill with a service rifle is on the right hand side of the bell curve so maybe I have something to add to this discussion for would-be buyers.
I bought this rifle for one reason only: it was the closest thing (in appearance) I can get in Canada to an AK, full stop. I have ARs up the yang for playing dress-up at my Neptune Spear recreationalist society (jokes) and other "tactical" rifles so this is definitely not filling a hole in my collection. As crazy as this sounds I actually wanted a crappy commy built rusted up rattling corrosive fed bullet launcher. I have had a lot of AK time during my penance and there is something about taking a POS gun and making it dance. Anyone can win the race in a sup'd up Ferrari. So I jumped on this.
Handling this thing is actually not really all that much like an AK, save for manipulating the magazines (which are much further forward than the trigger guard making spetznaz reloads tricky). I guess I would say it "fits" like an AK in the shoulder but the operations are very different. The safety switch is completely without merit. Putting the rifle on safe is like trying to push a fat chick over a roll of concertina wire. 180 degrees is excessive to say the least and although it is nice to have it on the thumb side (for righties) trying to run it like an Ak is not possible until someone comes up with an AK style safety/cover to replace this one. Currently it is completely unusable and I can't imagine trying to do any sort of run and gunning without relying on 2nd digit manual dexterity.
For zeroing my setup is pretty simple: support the rifle as best as possible and get the best ammo you can find. I don't have a bench vice and have not modified the rifle for a bipod at this time. The sights adjust using a standard SKS tool and I don't know why everyone was ragging on the hooded rear sight; I kind of like the thing.
I always get a rough zero at 50m and the initial group was just barely on the paper.
After the necessary adjustments I put 10 more in and came up with this group:
Although I was only 15 rounds in I took a quick break to stretch and question my life choices. This thing even kicks on gas setting 1 and I opted for the folding stock making for a sub-optimal time. In fact this is probably the least friendly rifle I have ever fired. To put that in perspective I first started shooting on an #4mk1 and the FNC1A1 at the tender age of 13 (this rifle actually made me a little nostalgic for the old "right arm" given the gas setting and that feeling of "what have I got myself into" after the first group). Since then I have put on a few pounds. For those of you who might think I am being a bit of a man-baby I will just say I am 220lbs and can bench much more than my weight (not bragging about my physique only that I have some padding in the upper torso) and this thing still gave me pause for thought. It is by no means a fun or comfortable gun to shoot IMHO in it's current configuration and with this ammo. Which by the way was:
After I got over myself and manned up I tried to repeat my previous group at 50m but was unable to reproduce it:
Going to the 100m increased the spread exponentially:
I have a picture of a paper target but have reached my photo limit and this is just as good.
As a point of order I should note that I adjusted the gas system to setting 2 and I was unable to hit steel at 100m; the group moved that much between the settings. Not sure if this is something that others have encountered.
At the end of the day I both love and hate this rifle. I will definitely keep it and use it to torture new shooters and myself from time to time but I have no intentions of using it for much more than a collector's novelty. In hindsight I wish I would have gone with full wood instead of the folding stock. As much as I have a slight feeling of satisfaction for owning something somewhat maybe kinda maybeish like an AK that itch hasn't been fully scratched and I hope that one day we will fix things with our laws or, much more likely, I will move to the states. Until then there is the type 81.
Attachments
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Took my Type 81 out 3 times in the past few days! This is my new fav rifle. I have done a few mods likr take out the to bar on the sight and stain the wood, got a 40rd RPK mag and modified it to fit. It sits too low and produces FTF so I need to weld up some material on the rear locking lug and file fit it. Other then that it ate any crappy surplus I fed it!
It aint milsurp, its newly made
WOW At the difference in opinions you come across in the firearms world.... the smoothness, soft recoil impulse and comfortable folding stock is one of the biggest reasons why I kept my Type 81 !! such a comfortable gun to shoot IMO. And that opinion runs true to everybody else who has fired my Type 81.
Im glad to see I can add another Canadian Type 81 to the memory pool of 5 MOA Type 81s. This helps to redeem my reputation on youtube for not being a crappy shot haha
Im glad to see I can add another Canadian Type 81 to the memory pool of 5 MOA Type 81s. This helps to redeem my reputation on youtube for not being a crappy shot haha
boss351cleveland
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Down by the river
I just ordered some tools and parts for my own project. Barrel threading dies, grips etc. The classic laminated furniture i will try to make out of cabinet grade plywood using original parts for size and reference and some elbow grease. I did make this "concept art" in photo shop to serve as some inspiration for myself.
Sorry i just don't get it lol , why modify a perfectly good rifle to look like another rifle that its not . Seems so many people on here just treat firearms as ornaments and jewelry . The T81 was a improvement on the AK , the Chinese built it to replace the T56 , its better than a AK and way cooler!! US collectors would kill to get these rifles, theirs only a handful of pre ban examples there ,i could only imagine their reaction to some guy cutting one up to look like a wanabe fake AK .
When I think about it, it may have had a lot more to do with my position and hold using the sandbags for the zero. I did take a few shots from a proper position and didn't notice a better fit but at that point I had placed my sand sock between the butt and my shoulder because I had started to bruise something fierce.
Should point out before haters chime in; I did not have a gap between the stock and my body and I know how much pressure is required in the shoulder to accommodate recoil.
I am sorry I doubted your skill, I just don't know you personally but a sincere thanks for the videos.
Now that she is zeroed I will take her back out with a mountain of milsurp ammo and give her a torture test. Doubt from everything I have seen and read that I can tighten the group up but like I said I am content with 5 MOA; it is realistic for this tool.
I do love her for her merits and, I have already rubbed it in my Yankee friends faces. Hopefully I can report a different experience with some adjustments to position and hold. I will agree with you that she is smooth and although she has a fairly long pull I actually prefer her trigger over many lower end ARs and the AK from what I can remember. The bolt hold open is also very refreshing but wish there was a button/device so I didn't have to put an empty mag in to show clear. Minor detail.
Happy shooting
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I struggle with things like this myself but actually thought of doing a project like this myself on a second type 81 (will keep mine pristine after coming to a similar conclusion). It always makes me wonder why guys chop up Valmets to make Galils, try to transform SKS's into some sort of Dragunov looking things, and Mosin's into weird ark angel stocked junky sniper rifles. At the end of the day guys mod Harleys, sport bikes, make custom cars, and do all sorts of crazy things for many reasons. Some want to practice or get into smithing, some just want to make it their own, some are just trying to get around or make do with our laws that prevent them from getting their dream guns. As weird as they look or how ever it isn't "my thing" I think that doing this to old commy junk is probably no diservice to humanity but then I think of all the sporterized number 4s and weep. Maybe one day SKS's and type 81s will be worth thousands of dollars for pristine guns in their original configuration but part of the equation that will make them increase in value and rarity will be the ones that are removed from circulation or moded beyond value. We live in a great transitional time of firearms, there will likely never be another period in history when so many surplus rifles are available, even SKS's are starting to dry up. On the flipside what I really can't relate too is when guys keep rifles packed in cosmo hidden away; I could never resist the temptation to shoot it just for value maintenance. Guns are acquired to be enjoyed but to each their own.
Not sure if it is in the same vain but if a new safety came out that was more AK style and conducive to this platform I would switch it out in a heartbeat (of course keeping the original in a safe place) but that is a matter more of function over form.
Ah well, happy shooting and tight groups.
had to do a little filling on the back of the mag
LMFAO
Oh thank god you mentionned that about the broken front camera...because it was the one thing that got me wondering what was wrong with the rifle...
/endsarcasm
Youza.
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Valmet Hunters are pretty much sportorized AKs for the civvie market, Galils were made on Valmet tooling. So who cares about chopping them up same with the Type 81, its not like they are special at all. No history behind them really. Lee Enfields and Mosins on the other hand they at least have some history behind them
Range Report Follow Up
So some thought I was a little harsh on the gun the other day after I took it out for a quick zero. It was always my intent to take her out for a longer test drive once she was dialed in no matter how the zero went. I had used some higher end ammo for my zero as I tend to do but today I busted out the cheap Chinese corrosive crap (I'm big on alliteration). Set up at this range is a bit different:
The benches are higher which actually made a huge difference. I'm pretty sure it was my position and hold the other day that lead to all my man-whining about the rifle being uncomfortable. Shooting today was 90% better and I actually had a blast after spending the morning dumping about 150 12 gauge shells (so you would think I would have been a bit beat up already when I started on the Type 81).
First group was low and changing from good to crappy ammunition had no effect on this thing, it is a 5+ MOA gun and that is just reality.
My group dropped a bit but it probably had a lot to do with the change in position and not relying on the sandbags for support so I dialed her up a scoutch:
Once she was on I went to town. there were 8 metal targets and I just alternated between all of them at the 100m. I put 300 rounds down in various positions. The most comfortable were the standing, prone, and high bench. The least comfortable was the sitting and prone supported, and the kneeling was ok. I am pretty sure at this point the rifle (with collapsible butt stock) just really needs to be in that sweet spot and I am a little embarrassed I didn't realize this the other day.
After I got bored at the 100m point I migrated over to the longer range and had a go at some distance targets. At 200m I could hit steel reliably on the second elevation adjustment, talking 4.5/5. My attempts to reach out to 300m were futile because the steel had been painted brown (thanks guys really appreciate that) and I could barely make it out with the naked eye. That said I think I hit the target by guessing where it normally hangs 2/10 shots.
All in all I exceeded 400 rounds of the cheapest ammo money can buy and blasted it off about as fast as I could load 4 mags at a time and never had a single issue.
I owe the rifle an apology and I guess I acquired some humility here. I should know better than to jump to conclusions and I should have the experience to know that the larger the area you concentrate force on, the more spread out that force is and the less whining and looking like a baby you have to do.
Happy shooting and tight(ish) groups
**** if anyone could tell me how to rotate pictures I would really appreciate it****
So some thought I was a little harsh on the gun the other day after I took it out for a quick zero. It was always my intent to take her out for a longer test drive once she was dialed in no matter how the zero went. I had used some higher end ammo for my zero as I tend to do but today I busted out the cheap Chinese corrosive crap (I'm big on alliteration). Set up at this range is a bit different:
The benches are higher which actually made a huge difference. I'm pretty sure it was my position and hold the other day that lead to all my man-whining about the rifle being uncomfortable. Shooting today was 90% better and I actually had a blast after spending the morning dumping about 150 12 gauge shells (so you would think I would have been a bit beat up already when I started on the Type 81).
First group was low and changing from good to crappy ammunition had no effect on this thing, it is a 5+ MOA gun and that is just reality.
My group dropped a bit but it probably had a lot to do with the change in position and not relying on the sandbags for support so I dialed her up a scoutch:
Once she was on I went to town. there were 8 metal targets and I just alternated between all of them at the 100m. I put 300 rounds down in various positions. The most comfortable were the standing, prone, and high bench. The least comfortable was the sitting and prone supported, and the kneeling was ok. I am pretty sure at this point the rifle (with collapsible butt stock) just really needs to be in that sweet spot and I am a little embarrassed I didn't realize this the other day.
After I got bored at the 100m point I migrated over to the longer range and had a go at some distance targets. At 200m I could hit steel reliably on the second elevation adjustment, talking 4.5/5. My attempts to reach out to 300m were futile because the steel had been painted brown (thanks guys really appreciate that) and I could barely make it out with the naked eye. That said I think I hit the target by guessing where it normally hangs 2/10 shots.
All in all I exceeded 400 rounds of the cheapest ammo money can buy and blasted it off about as fast as I could load 4 mags at a time and never had a single issue.
I owe the rifle an apology and I guess I acquired some humility here. I should know better than to jump to conclusions and I should have the experience to know that the larger the area you concentrate force on, the more spread out that force is and the less whining and looking like a baby you have to do.
Happy shooting and tight(ish) groups
**** if anyone could tell me how to rotate pictures I would really appreciate it****
Attachments
T81, now grandson approved. He's not new to shooting but first time with the T81, and once he had the hold figured was banging away at the 100M gong no problem - it's a challenge for me and I've shot it a bit now....iron sights + younger eyes is my excuse lol.
