Tuesday, Nov 5, 2002

I've been thinking of my next project and decided on a Galil from a kit.  I ordered a receiver from FAC today.  Once again the wait begins.

Monday, Nov 11, 2002

Went and did it today.  Ordered a parts kit from Sarco and a new barrel and sling from Northridge International.  Sarco says 2-3 weeks for delivery and I saved enough over the FAC kit to get a new barrel.  Talked to Dave and he said the kits are complete to include the bipod and carry handle.  He did say the barrels are well used.  I expect Northridge International to be a little quicker.  Guess I'll start looking into the trigger parts and pistol grip replacement.

Sunday, Nov 17, 2002

Checked my account tonight and saw a charge from SARCO.  Guess my kit will be on it's way soon.  I intend to do a good inventory when it arrives.

Monday, Nov 18, 2002

Got an e-mail from FAC in answer to my inquiry about the shipping status of the receiver.  It's on the road.  So it should be here soon.

Tuesday, Nov 19, 2002

Receiver came in today.  I had to have it shipped to an FFL.  Used Infinityarms near where I live good prices on transfers.   Went over and picked it up on the way home from work.  It's a Hesse Hagel.  Still it looks pretty good.  Just got to wait on the parts kit.

Thursday, Nov 21, 2002

Well, got the parts out and cleaned.  Took some photos to post here.  Also picked up a sand blasting cabinet to assist with this project.

The package from Sarco

The Hesse Receiver.

Well it looks like I'm missing the trigger guard.  The FAC add says the trigger guard is included.  Contacted Harland over at the The FAL Files Forums and was told to call the warehouse.  We'll see how that works out.

The parts.  Looks like it's missing the trigger guard.  I'll have to call Sarco in

the next day or so.

Anyone know what these are for? 

They came in the kit and I can't see what they're for.

Ok, found out what these are, thanks Cherenkov.  The small one is the knob for the cocking handle and the long tube is for the upper tube on the folding stock.  Extras added by Sarco to make up for the lack of a trigger guard?

Well this is what it will look like when it's done, I hope.

Sunday, Nov 24, 2002

Had some time today and worked on the bore again.  I think it'll come around.  I also took some time to blast the top cover, bipod and front sight.  I also stripped the front hand guard.  It was covered in something, so I used the stripping method that I used on my CMP M1 GARAND, oven cleaner as described at Fulton Armory.  Well, I got ambitious and refinished the forearm. I also blasted some more parts.  Guess the day to fit the barrel is getting closer.

Tuesday, Nov 26, 2002

Called FAC today about the missing trigger guard.  They said they were shorted the trigger guard but would mail one to me.  The Hesse curse strikes again.

I decided to remove the latch from the stock.  I wanted to separate the two so that I could park the latch and paint the stock tubes.

The assembly was held together by a large roll pin.  I was able to use a regular punch to start it out but needed a longer punch to finish the job.  I was able to use a drill reversed so that the bit was up to finish pushing it out.  The fit of the stock tubes to the latch was very tight.  I finally wound up using a large screw driver and hammer to drive the latch off.

Next, I took the latch and blasted it and it looks pretty good.  I also did the stock.  The tubes and butt plate are aluminum with the top tube covered by a plastic tube.  The black plastic tube was too tight to remove so I sand blasted everything.  Surprisingly it all looks good.  I'll post pictures over the holiday.

Thursday, Nov 28, 2002

Decided to get my nerve up and try to install the barrel on the receiver.  Well, it almost went TDC.  I'll use a trick I saw on the FAL board and relieve the barrel shoulder and test fit till I get there.

I've also been sandblasting like crazy and have got all the parts done that will need refinishing.

Friday, Nov 29,2002

Finished sandblasting the parts today.  Finally put a light in the sandblasting cabinet, made a big difference.  Also painted the stock black and baked the paint in front of the heater.

Here's a view down the bore, really can't see much.

Oh yeah, still waiting on the barrel and sling from Northridge International.  Guess I'll have to give them a call.

Saturday, 30 Nov, 2002

Got the kit barrel on today.  I had to build a tool to remove some of the shoulder on the barrel.  Basically it's a board with a hole and two files.  Just stick the barrel, chamber end, into the hole and turn the barrel against the files to remove some material.  Check as you go so as not to remove too much material.  I got this idea from The FAL Files Forums when I was build my FAL.

I passed on making a receiver wrench and used my big vise, and big wrench and a cheater bar.  Padded the vise and snugged the jaws closed on the receiver.  Don't tighten it too much or you can deform the receiver.

Tuesday, 3 Dec, 2002

Crap!  My car broke down today and I had to leave it at a truck stop.  To top it off we are have some sever weather, rain sleet and snow with freezing temp.  I'll have to go out tomorrow and retrieve it.

Wednesday, 4 Dec, 2002

The AR15.Com web site now has a Galil Forum on the AK boards, cool!  I was chatting with Charles of  RED STAR ARMS about some trigger parts and he has some replacements.  I also noticed the AK retainer plate.  You'll need something to hold the trigger and hammer pins in and he said the second generation plate should work with a Galil.  Going to order these the first of next month.

Also called Northridge International about the barrel and sling, they said the parts were packed and would ship in the next few days.

Sunday, 8 Dec,2002

Ok here are the photos of my home made shoulder relief tool.

My blast cabinet, always need some new tools.    Got it from the local Harbor Freight store.  Got to watch the shipping from these guys, but the store prices are pretty good.  I had to install a light, used one of those outdoor sockets.

My big vise.

My number one helper is a little ticked off.  It was meal time and dinner was a little late.

Tuesday, 10 Dec, 2002

Ok, got the itch and ordered the trigger group from RED STAR ARMS.

Wednesday, 11 Dec, 2002

Got an email from RED STAR ARMS, the trigger group will be delayed a couple of days.  Nice way to do business keeping customers updated on orders.

Wendnesday, 18 Dec,2002

Happy day today not only did I finish my Christmas shopping, the RED STAR ARMS trigger and Northridge International barrel showed up on my doorstep today.

Northridge International barrel doesn't have any flats on the shoulders.  Markings at the muzzle indicate a 1:12 twist and I think chrome bore or at least a chrome chamber.

RED STAR ARMS trigger has a single arm.

RED STAR ARMS retainer plate and sling from Northridge International.

Tuesday, Dec 24, 2002

Ok, got off my butt today and installed the RED STAR ARMS trigger and retainer plate.  Talk about sweet this is one of the BEST triggers I've tried on an AK type rifle.

You'll have to modify the safety to get it past the sear and into the receiver.  The instructions show what needs to be done. I had to remove some metal (red in the diagram) from the safety bar to get enough clearance to fit.

To use the RED STAR ARMS retainer plate some modification to the left side thumb safety are needed.  This is a really neat idea and makes assembly allot easier.

Also got an e-mail back from Mike at THE FIRING LINE about installing a barrel on the Hesse receiver $150.00 plus shipping to barrel and headspace your rifle. 

Wednesday, Dec 25, 2002

Wow the Post Office delivered a package to my house today.  Merry Christmas to me!  The Preban Norinco AK47 5.56 Magazine  I won on ebay is here.  Paid a whopping 16.99 for it total.

Thursday, Dec 26, 2002

Received an e-mail from Jim at PCS, Inc.  He says he can do the barrel and gas block.  He can also do the Parkerizing.

Sunday, Dec 29, 2002

Ok, it was warm enough to go out in the garage and do some work.  I was hoping that the Norinco AK47 5.56 Magazine would work or could be modified to work for this project.  Guess what?  It looks like it will with a little file work!

I had to do a little adjustment to the magazine lug.  The magazine was a bit too long and the lug was too deep.  The magazine wouldn't seat all the way so I remove some metal from the top of the lug both vertical and horizontal surfaces (red arrows).  I went slow and checked often and got a nice tight lock up.  Tested it by hand cycling some GI blanks I had laying around and they fed and ejected.  It's also a lot tighter fit that the magazine that came with the kit.  Don't know if the Hesse Receivers is out of spec in the magazine well opening but there is a bit of rattle with the kit magazine.   Over all a very good day today.  

Monday, Dec 30, 2002

Oh, just thought to mention this, the finish on the magazine release is flaking off.  Looks like I might blast the receiver and have it parkerized too.

Thursday, Jan 02, 2003

Got another part ordered today, sort of anyway.  Went to Kurt's Kustom Firearms and logged on to the forum. to see if Kurt could tap one of his KKF Fake Flash Suppressor (FFS) for the Galil barrel.  Good news he can and just needs to order the tap.

Thursday, Jan 02, 2003

Called ACE today and ordered a pistol grip.  It should be in in about a week or so.

Friday,  Jan 10, 2003

The Ace pistol grip came in yesterday, very nice.

Going to take the kit down to Jim at PCS, Inc today.  Just don't have the tools to install the new barrel onto the receiver.

Saturday, 17 May 2003

Finished!

Talk about sweet, Jim barreled and refinished it and it looks dang good.

Took it straight out to Red Castle Gun Club for a test fire. Fired 60 rounds of win Q3131A. I had one failure to extract within the first 20 rds. Think I need to do a better job cleaning the chamber next time. Fired the remaining rounds with out a problem, slow fire and rapid fire. Also fire rounds from three different magazines, 50rd (kit), 35rd (ebay) and a 20rd Norico (ebay).

I'll post some pictures when my camera shows up.

Friday, 23 May 2003

OK.  Here are the pictures of the finished rifle.

Got some input?  Want to help?  Well, here ya go.

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