AMD 65... should i?

[otis]

i'm pretty sure i need an ak...

told a buddy at work this, and he offered to sell me one of his, an amd 65 with a worn receiver, the rear trunion or some such wasn't tempered properly or something...

anyway, the gun still functions, and he's offered to sell it for about the cost of a parts kit, because that's what he considers it.
how labor intensive is it to build an ak, and would it be worthwhile/cost effective?

i'm a complete n00b when it comes to the ak, but am a little handy.

any advise/info/pics/etc. is welcome.

[Willieboy]

Hello Young lad. I cannot answer the question you asked, but thought I'd point out you can buy a new AMD 65 for about $400. I don't know how this compares to the cost of building your own AK but, given my low level of skills of any kind, this is the way I'd go.

I had a AMD from Centerfire for awhile and it was a decent rifle. However, I wanted to use Hungarian twenty round magazines in that gun and could not do so without being in violation of 922(r).

[grendal1989]

I had a century AMD-65 (yes, century) and it was a pretty nice rifle, reliable, with a very effective muzzle brake(it did not like a recoil buffer--->hella jams). I too paid about $425 all said and done. It shot 2-3" groups at 100 with my Tula as long as I did my part, which is pretty good especially considering the short barrel. I believe the century has a US barrel and came with surplus mags. I actually used 30rd steel mags with the original foregrip, which takes a little practice but is definitely doable. Also there is a cheek weld attachment available for it that does not interfere with the fold and lined up the sights perfectly for me.

The other thing, if the centerfire sys gun (which I don't think is a century but am not entirely sure since they could have done a slightly different build style for the barrel) needs 2 us parts to use surplus mags all you need to do is get a us pistol grip (probably a good idea ergonomically) and a handguard(there is a guide for the fairly minor fitment to get a tapco Saiga one work: www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_51/135243_.html )

All in all, if the question were "buy an amd-65?" it would be definitely. as to the parts kit price...depends on the price of the parts kit since they aren't very expensive guns built.

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions let me know. I'm happy to help when I can.

[otis]

thanks for the answers, guys. i'm pretty wary of buying it, but depending on how bad the receiver is, i might still consider it...

still, i think i'd prefer a fixed stock...

[hwi]

Does it come with an original Hungarian barrel or a U.S. one?
How much exactly is he selling it to you for?
I ask because you can get a new AMD65 with an FEG receiver and original barrel for about $450. So you should factor in the cost of a new receiver and moving the parts into that receiver and decide if it is worth it.