Popular AK Model Compatibility Checklist
Before purchasing replacement stocks, handguards, or scope mounts, find your rifle model below to ensure correct mechanical clearance:
- Romanian WASR-10 / Century VSKA / PSA GF3-GF5: Fits standard AKM stamped receiver stocks and standard handguards.
- Zastava Arms ZPAP M70 / O-PAP / N-PAP: Demands proprietary Yugoslavian (Yugo) pattern stocks and longer Yugo-specific handguards. Standard AKM parts will not fit.
- Arsenal SAM7 / Bulgarian Milled: Requires stocks explicitly built for milled receivers featuring lower mounting tangs.
- Draco Pistols: Compatible with standard AKM handguards but requires a specialized adapter or drilling/tapping for rear stock installations.
- Chinese Norinco MAK-90 (Stamped & Milled): Requires custom inspection. Due to import variations, you must verify your rear receiver layout before selecting an aftermarket stock assembly (see the critical MAK-90 verification rules below).
Critical MAK-90 Stock Installation Rules:
- Verify the Single Top Tang: Remove your factory thumbhole stock and ensure your receiver has exactly one metal mounting tab extending out of the top rear. If it features two tabs (one top and one bottom), it is a traditional Type 3 milled layout, not a standard imported MAK-90 pattern.
- Confirm Straight vs. Slant Cut: Look directly at the bare rear wall of your receiver. If it drops straight down vertically at a perfect 90-degree angle, you can use a standard square-back stock with minor hand-filing. If it angles forward dramatically toward the pistol grip, you must purchase a slant-cut specific stock or use a slant-to-AR adapter to prevent an unaligned gap.
Receiver Patterns: Stamped vs. Milled vs. Yugo Layouts
Selecting furniture requires identifying the rifle's specific receiver pattern. Stamped steel receivers utilize a specific metal sheet layout, while milled receivers are machined from a single block and require different mounting specifications. Yugoslavian and Serbian patterns often utilize proprietary trunnion architecture that is not interchangeable with standard stamped parts.
Optics Mounting Systems & Side Rails
Reliable mounting often involves side-rail adapters that clamp onto the receiver plate. This method provides a stable platform for various optics, isolating the hardware from the movement of the dust cover. Other options include replacement gas tubes or reinforced dust covers with integrated rails.
Furniture and Handguards
Adapters are available to convert standard attachment points to accept M4-style buffer tubes. Modern handguard replacements frequently feature M-LOK or Picatinny attachment points for mounting accessories such as lights or foregrips. Muzzle devices like brakes and flash hiders are typically threaded to match specific barrel patterns.
AK Dimensional Variations & Custom Hand-Fitting
There are numerous dimensional differences between all the AK-47, AK-74, and AKM makes and models on the market, both old and new. Due to the massive number of structural variations among different global manufacturers, nobody can guarantee a universal drop-in fit. Certain aftermarket upgrades—including specialized AK rail covers—are intentionally manufactured slightly oversized so they can be carefully filed down and custom-fit directly to your specific AKM rifle frame. Please note that custom hand-fitting is performed at your own risk. To guarantee a perfect installation, you may need to utilize the services of a qualified gunsmith who is fully familiar with the nuances of various AK weapon platforms.
Safety & Compatibility Notice: Modifications to firearms should be handled with extreme care. Always check with your specific firearm manufacturer before purchasing or installing any aftermarket components to ensure total safety, accurate mechanical clearance, and part compatibility.
