AK handguard length - differences?

[W.E.G.]

I snagged this pic from somebody's web site.

[W.E.G.]

The pic shows the difference in length between a Yugo AK handguard and a Choate aftermarket handguard.

Please explain to me what is going on with this.

I figured all AK handguards would be the same length. Evidently Choate patterned their product after something other than a Yugo handguard.

Are there more than two length's of AK handguards?
(recognizing that there are some "Krink" AK's that might have an oddball length).
I'm just talking about your basic Kalashnikov-pattern handguard. Do we have a large interchangeability problem here?

Does this issue of variable lengths also carry over to the gas tube?
Do we have to deal with different-length gas tubes too?

I was thinking about replacing the somewhat-pitted Yugo gas tube on one of my kits. But, all this has me wondering whether I can use just any old gas tube.

[shingen]

The Yugo gas tube looks half an inch longer than the other Euro gas tubes. I compared it to a Romanian. The gas block is located further forward a similar amount on the barrel.

The good news is a lot of Yugos are being parted out. You could probably find a better example.

[W.E.G.]

Originally posted by shingen
The Yugo gas tube looks half an inch longer than the other Euro gas tubes. I compared it to a Romanian. The gas block is located further forward a similar amount on the barrel.

The good news is a lot of Yugos are being parted out. You could probably find a better example.

I was afraid of that.

Any suggestions on a source for a Yugo gas tube without pits?

[shingen]

Member "goesboom" has them listed here and on the AKfiles. I've never dealt with him so I don't know how reliable he is. Obviously CFS will have small parts like they did with the AMDs. Look at all the Yugo underfolding stocks being kitted with Romanian front ends.........surely there's a mother lode of gas tubes somewhere.

Where is it pitted ?

[W.E.G.]

It is pitted at the forward end of the gas block where the spew from gas port barrel enters the gas tube.

[ThunderGod]

The Coate lower HG is patterned after the Chinese stamped rifles, which are slightly shorter than Eastern block. There is also a difference in the AK74 gas tubes being longer than the AK47. To use a Coate one on a Euro-standard rifle, you'll need to add something to the front edge of the lower HG, I cut up a nylon zip-tie and epoxied pieces in place to use on a WASR. Also, had to drill a hole thru for the cleaning rod, as Choate neglected it since the MAK90s they built them for had no rod. I guess you could mod it to accept the spring-tension thingy from a Euro-type, which would add the 1mm it needs to be tight. The Choate upper HG seems to work in Chinese and Euro without problems. Yugos may be another animal, altogether.

[ftierson]

I have used the Choate handguards on several Chinese AKs, including MAK-90s and NHM-91s, and they fit well on all...

I haven't tried them on any other AK variants...

But I have a couple of other variants, so now I'll take a look and see if the handguards are different.

[Brian in MN]

Yugos are a whole different deal, Gary. The upper & lower handguard are different as is the tube as is the receiver, the gas block, sight parts, furniture and probably more. I have always suspected that they did it just to aggravate the folks in Moscow.

[W.E.G.]

Here is a pic of the Yugo top handguard and gas tube in comparison
to the same parts from a SAR-1 (Romanian).

Also comparison of the bolt carriers and gas pistons.
(Each carrier is in contact with the white wall)

The gas tubes and upper wood clearly differ greatly in length.

[W.E.G.]

Same set shot from 90 degrees.

Don't let your eye fool you with this picture. There is no
discernible difference in dimensions between the two carriers and pistons.

[W.E.G.]

For shits and grins, I cleaned up all the cosmolene from the Yugo
bolt carrier and installed it in the SAR-1. Seems to fit just fine. I racked
the bolt back and forth a few times. Feels the same with the Yugo carrier
as it does with the Romy.

I didn't try to put the Yugo bolt into the SAR-1 rifle. It looks like it would
fit too. But it was too nastified with cosmolene for me to get inspired
to deal with it today. To my eye, the two bolts look dimensionally alike.

[W.E.G.]

Another Yugo/SAR comparison.

Here the bayo lug is hooked just over the edge of the box.

[W.E.G.]

Another pic.

Not the greatest because I don't know what was going on with the lighting.

Anyhow, this shows the comparison with the rear edge of the
BOTTOM handguards lined up.

Note that the SAR-1 does NOT have the metal cap on the end
of the handguard like the Yugo.

[W.E.G.]

another pic

rear edge of top handguard lined up

[HawaiiFALer]

Yep, Yugos have longer handguards than Soviet Bloc AK. Most after-market handguards, like Choate, follow the Soviet dimensions. This info has been posted on other forums (AK Files, Gunco). Chinese Norinco mostly follow Soviet dimensions, except receiver wall thickness at 1.5mm.

[W.E.G.]

Originally posted by HawaiiFALer
...info has been posted on other forums...

Links?

[justashooter]

are you gonna build that thing, or just ponder the possibilities?

the yugo govt had a hardon for the russkies, and were just pissing in their wheaties by making the changes. surprised they didn't cut them for 7.62X45.

[HawaiiFALer]

Originally posted by gary.jeter

Links?

Gary,

This one says Yugo handguard is 0.5" longer. http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showth...6599#post36599

Here is an interesting one regarding carvings. http://www.gunco.net/forums/showthre...ugo+handguards

HawaiiFALer

[W.E.G.]

Originally posted by justashooter
are you gonna build that thing, or just ponder the possibilities?

This is kinda like a tantric build gotta let it settle in before I pull it off.