Tech Tip: Convert Your Ordinary AK Into an Alpha AK

Open up a tall beverage and grab some snacks because Brownells Gun Tech™ Caleb Savant is here to show us how to upgrade an AK rifle with the Midwest Industries AK Alpha Series components. AK Alpha components bring a new level of comfort, control, and versatility to your Kalashnikov. Caleb will be installing them on an old, totally basic Interarms AK-74. He walks us step-by-step through installing the AK Alpha Picatinny Stock Adapter, AK Alpha Gen2 Handguard, AK Alpha Optic Mount, AK Alpha Railed Top Cover, and the Alpha Stock.

TOOLS: Typical of Kalashnikov work, this process doesn't require a lot of tools. MI thoughtfully includes the necessary hex wrenches to install their parts. You'll also need safety glasses, a bench vise, nylon-head gunsmithing hammer, and Midwest's own AK Receiver Maintenance Block (vise block), which works on both 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 AKs.

SAFETY FIRST: Before you start actual work, Step #1 is to make sure the rifle is unloaded. Step #2 is to repeat Step #1.

OUT WITH THE OLD: Field strip the rifle to remove the dust cover, recoil spring, and bolt assembly. Remove the gas tube and upper handguard assembly. We'll be re-using the tube. Remove the lower half of the handguard - Caleb shows us the trick for doing it. If you're installing the Alpha Picatinny Stock Adapter, remove the buttstock and the pistol grip. A wood stock can be a bit stubborn about parting from the receiver. Caleb shows us the RIGHT way to apply some gentle persuasion with a hammer and punch.

The tail protruding from the rear trunnion has to be removed with a hack saw or a cut-off wheel in your Dremel Tool. Do this ONLY if you intend to convert your rifle to an M1913 Picatinny stock. Don't make the cut right up against the receiver. Leave a little metal standing proud of the receiver, and file it down perfectly flush. Test fit the Picatinny Stock Adapter as you work. If there's a gap between it and the rear of the receiver, file off a bit more material. When you're done, the hole in the top of the adapter should line up with the hole in the trunnion.

ON WITH THE NEW: Adjust the tension blocks on the Picatinny stock adapter so the fit inside the receiver is tight and requires a BIT of persuasion from the hammer. Torque the screw that goes through the top of the trunnion into the adapter to 35-in. lbs. To keep it from backing out, secures it with a dab of Vibra-Tite. Now you can reinstall the pistol grip.

Let's move to the front of the receiver and install the Alpha Series Gen2 Handguard. You will probably have to file off some material from the tenons on the rear of the handguard to get them to fit into the receiver. MI makes them oversized so you can achieve a tight, wobble-free fit. Test fit often and stop filing when the fit is still very snug. A tap of the hammer may be needed to seat the handguard, but it should be loose enough to remove it without tools.

Moving to the top of the receiver, Caleb shows us how to install both the AK Alpha Optic Mount and, for the maximum expanse of optic-mounting real estate, the Picatinny Railed Top Cover. Both anchor to the Alpha handguard. For the Picatinny top cover, you'll also replace the rifle's existing recoil spring guide with one that has a clip at the back for retaining the rear of the top cover. You'll have a "rock solid" platform that will not wobble and cause your optic to lose its zero.