Thinking about DRACOs and whether it even makes sense to consider a mini at all. The std DRACO is basically a military model in semi auto.
The mini barrel is so short along with the gas system that it requires a buffer to keep the piston from short stroking. Do folks consider this a complete non-starter? (I did read a review in which the pistol chewed up the buffer after just 300 rounds - still funcitoned but regular replacement is likely required.
I do like the SHORT system, but maybe this is not advisable.
If you can swap out the rear underfolder trunnion for a regular rear trunnion, I think that the side folder is more functional and looks better. Here’s my underfolder.
I still think there is a sweet spot that CAI should have gone to - like 9.5 or 10" to run with no buffer reliably for their mini/mid. I looked at the M92 but another pound+ does not interest me.
In theory one might be needed for a full auto, but not for a semiauto. I have literally never encountered a semiauto AK that needed a booster in order to run. The vast majority of AK’s are way over gassed. If your AK will run reliably without a booster, adding one only makes the over gassing worse.
I have an old Draco that had the under folder trunnion so I had it cut. Still, I sort of wish I had installed a fixed stock. They are some cool little blasters.
I’m in the process of gathering parts and tools to chop my SAR-1 to ~12.5” on a Form 1. Turns out, the combo gas block I picked up is adjustable, so that’ll help with the can. I’ll try to let y’all know what I think when it’s done.
I’ll be keeping the fixed wood stock, solely to make a certain lawyer jealous. Well, that, and because I sanded the shellack off by hand and stained it in a barracks room 18 years ago, and I can’t let that American craftsmanship go to waste.
Gotta ask, why would you chop down a banned SAR-1 rather than buy and convert a Draco to a fixed stock trunnion? Lots of Dracs out there and still being imported for friendly prices, unlike SAR 1s.
Because I don’t know how (I’m sure I can learn, but I didn’t realize that was an easy option), and I’ve already got a rarely shot rifle that I paid $300 for, back when that was a thing.
Really, I was considering buying new, but quickly tired of trying to learn what to look for in the current market, and tired even more quickly at looking into having a pro do it. So I decided to entertain myself with a goonsmiffiin’ project instead. Anything special about the SAR-1 that should concern me? I thought it was a pretty common run-of-the-mill gun. It’s not quite original, as I had it threaded already. Took the gunsmith two deployment cycles to get it done.
I’ll look into the fixed stock conversion and see if it’s viable for me to Khyber a newish gun; thanks.
I don’t think that the SAR-1 is banned. They just don’t import that particular variant anymore. For that reason, it’s value is above that of current imports. While you may have paid $300 for it, its current market value is what matters. Your logic is the opposite of a sunk cost fallacy, though I don’t know what that would be called. I definitely agree with SteyrAUG that buying a Draco and replacing the rear trunnion is the way to go, though finding a competent AKsmith to do the rivet work in a timely manner might be problematic.
The combo FSB I bought is designed specifically to make that conversion doable for knuckleheads like myself. We’ll see if it’s really that straightforward.
