Rifle Dynamics Factory Tour

Rifle Dynamics (RD) is one of the top tier custom AK builder in the USA. They are local to me and I was invited for a factory visit. Unlike the popular AR-15 platform with its lego like modular construction, building an AK properly requires a lot of skills and experience in metal working. The emphasis here is building it properly. Each step in the building processes and the careful selection of parts are essential in the safety and longevity of an AK build.

Jim Fuller is the founder and president of Rifle Dynamics. He has been working on Kalashnikov rifles for over 30 years.

A bunch of Krinkov receivers on Jim Fuller’s workbench waiting to be put together.

Jim is prepping the row of Krinkov receivers on his workbench.

It’s Hammer Time! Jim is actually marking a receiver for drilling.

The tool of the trade: Jim’s well used ball-pen hammer, surrounded by Krink barrels, front sights and rear trunnions for the triangle AK side-folder stock.

Next, the Krink receivers were carefully drilled on the shop drill press.

Finally, the AK components are pressed and riveted into those newly drilled Krink receivers.

Jim’s chair gun. It’s alway ready to go. Many of you have your truck guns, Jim has his workbench SBR chair gun.

Billy Cho, Rifle Dynamics’ production manager, is working on a custom PSL project for a customer.

A specialty gun modification offered by Rifle Dynamics is the Saiga-12 shotgun SBR conversion. Billy told me that there’s a lot of work in just shortening the gas system and that the whole job requires test firing over 100 rounds of shot-shells.

It’s called the CHO-GUN! plus the Rifle Dynamics Warrior Angel patch in camo.

Billy is welding up an AK triangle side folder stock for another custom build.

A close up of Billy’s welding mask.

From the welding station to the grinding wheel.

Back to the workbench for hand fitting it to the AK’s rear trunnion.

More grinding is needed. Custom modification on an AK is a lot of work.

Most of the RD production models are hand painted. A special moly coat is applied over the parkerized and blue metal finish.

A customer build near completion on one of Rifle Dynamics’s workbenchs. This AK features RD’s signature combination front sight/gas-block and the Venom Antidote muzzle brake.

At the range with the Rifle Dynamics crew. It was actually a working day for them. Rifle Dynamics range tests every AK that they build or do custom work on for functionality and accuracy.

Jim is test firing a full-auto demo gun that he just finished building. He was showing me how controllable the AK74 and its 5.45x39mm caliber combo is in full-auto.

Jim is happy with the firing test result of his new demo gun.