As the title states, I just picked up my new Arsenal today. Overall, I’m pretty pleased with my decision. The finish on this rifle is excellent. Haven’t taken it to the range yet but am looking forward to it in the next couple days. I’m planning on putting an Ironwood Designs walnut stock set on it here before too long. That is, unless somebody has a better idea/suggestion for me.
I do have a couple questions:
I know how to remove the upper handguard/gas tube from the rifle but how do I get the actual handguard out of it’s housing? I haven’t even really looked at the bottom one yet. If I were to take the rifle to a gunsmith I’m assuming they could remove the polymer set and put the new one on for me. Or would they just laugh?
What are your guys favorite bullet weights for range work or hunting? I’m gonna be doing more range work really than anything. I’m thinking the 7.62x39 is gonna be a little overkill for the critters on my property or a whitetail.
OK, well don’t get any brake cleaner on it. Come to think of it, probably just use tepid water until you know it won’t come off.
how do I get the actual handguard out of it’s housing?
Rotate it. See the flat parts on the gas tube? Think of that as head of a bolt and rotate the tube to the opposite and the plastic will slide off.
If I were to take the rifle to a gunsmith I’m assuming they could remove the polymer set and put the new one on for me. Or would they just laugh?
They’re happy to take your money for any reason, I’m sure.
What are your guys favorite bullet weights for range work or hunting? I’m gonna be doing more range work really than anything. I’m thinking the 7.62x39 is gonna be a little overkill for the critters on my property or a whitetail.
123, 124 type FMJs for the range, 158 gr soft points for deer.
Field strip the rifle. The gas piston and bolt carrier go through the gas tube, so they must be removed before you do anything else.
Pull up on the lever on the right hand side of the rear sight tower. You should be able to look down at the rear sight and see when the flat side of the pin comes around to allow you to then lift the gas tube off of the rifle.
If the gas tube release lever is stiff, take a look at the tool kit that you got with the rifle. There should be a slot cut in the body of the cover of the kit that corresponds to the lever. You can use the tool kit for leverage to work the release lever. If you don’t have a slot cut cleaning kit, no worries, just use something that won’t mare the finish of the rifle.
Pull slightly to the rear and up on the gas tube, it should come right off.
To remove the gas tube cover on an Arsenal M7…
You’ll need three things:
Adjustable crescent wrench.
Needle nose pliers
Rag or one of those rubber sheets you use to help open a jar.
Use the needle nose pliers to gently maneuver the flat spring at the rear of the gas tube off of the tube. That spring helps keep the tube from rattling, so don’t lose it.
Now, place the adjustable crescent wrench along the flats of the rear of the gas tube, where you just removed the flat spring. Using the rag or rubber sheet, grip the gas tube cover.
Holding both the gas tube cover in one hand, and the handle of the wrench in the other, move your hands in the opposite directions…I usually push down on the wrench and twist the gas tube cover. The gas tube cover will move around the tube 180*, allowing you to pull it off of the tube.
You’re the man Templar, thanks for the info. These AK’s are a totally different beast than the AR’s I’m used to. I feel like I’m in a completely different world just taking this thing apart and studying it’s mechanics. I’m amazed by how brilliantly simplistic this rifle is. It’s almost like a work of art. I wasn’t so sure when I first started talking to you about buying an AK a couple weeks ago, but now I’m certain you’ve converted me to the dark side.
So how about this bottom handguard? Any advice on getting it off? It doesn’t look as if it would rotate as the gas tube cover does and I don’t want to jack up my rifle trying to mess with stuff that I don’t know anything about.
There is a small lever at the front of the handguard that flips up, you then move the handguard retainer toward the muzzle, pull down on the handguard and move the retaining tab at the rear away from the receiver.
The small lever is inside the handguard but attached to the metal retainer that surrounds the barrel.
Only thing I should add to it is that you need to take the cleaning rod out before the lower handguard will come off.
Also, remember that you’ll probably need to do some light fitting to wood or polymer furniture when installing it on an AK, so don’t force that gas tube cover, you might need to take a file to where the front and rear of it engages into the gas tube. Same with the lower handguard.
Easy does it. Go slowly, remove just a little material, then try the fit. If you remove too much, you really can’t add it back on.
Thanks for all the info guys, with special thanks to Templar. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would never have bought an AK. Probably would have spent my money on something stupid, like my girlfriend.
I’ll get some pics up in the AK picture thread tomorrow sometime.
