Krebs Custom AK-108 Rifle, 7.62mm NATO

Krebs Custom AK-108 Rifle Type:  Gas Operated Self Loading Rifle Chambering:  7.62mm NATO Capacity:  5, 10, 20, 30 and 35 round detachable box magazines (M14 type standard, Galil type available on special order) Sights, front:  Post, adjustable for elevation and windage Sights, rear:  Tangent type U-notch adjustable for windage Length: 36.55" Barrel length:  16.3" (plus 2.5" brake) Weight (unloaded):  7.5 lbs Suggested Retail Price:  $1,150

MARC WHO?
Wauconda, Illinois based Krebs Custom Gunsmithing is owned and operated by Marc Krebs.  Marc began working as a general gunsmith in 1985.  After nine years as a journeyman gunsmith, he began to specialize in building custom pistols for IPSC and other competitive shooting sports.  Marc acquired an enviable reputation for precise and innovative pistol work, and continues to offer custom parts for M1911 style pistols.  Despite this success, Marc had, and continues to have, a fascination for the designs of Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov.  Without a doubt, Kalashnikov's rifle and support weapon mechanisms were the preeminent designs of their type through the twentieth century, and stand in a good position to strongly influence those of the twenty-first.  Kalashnikov's arms are mechanically simple, robust, utterly reliable and capable of surprising performance.  Moreover, the basic system is eminently adaptable, as its use in a number of submachine guns, carbines, rifles, light machine guns and general purpose machine guns.  None of this was lost on Marc when he decided to shift the focus of his efforts from custom pistols to custom self loading rifles.

After a period of intense study, during which he fabricated many "one of a kind" AK project rifles, Marc entered into a teaming agreement with Kalashnikov USA to produce a 922r compliant clone of the 7.62x39mm "century series" AK rifles.  Dubbed the AK-103, the rifle was essentially a very skillfully remanufactured Saiga 7.62 sporting rifle.  The Saiga is manufactured by the same facility, the Izhevsk Machine Factory (IZHMASH) as military AK's.   Since the Saiga is essentially a fourth generation AK74 modified into a "sporter" configuration, it was a straightforward, if demanding and labor intensive task to reconfigure the rifle into a military configuration.  The result was one of the smoothest, most accurate, reliable and most aesthetically pleasing AK style rifles available on the American firearms market.  Eventually Marc's association with Kalashnikov USA was to fall by the wayside, but the paradigm established with the Saiga conversion was firmly established.
 
 

Consequently, when Marc decided to offer a 7.62mm NATO AK type rifle, it was again to the Saiga design that he turned.  Since the 7.62mm NATO develops significantly greater pressures and recoil impulses than the 7.62x39mm, Marc opted to use the heavier Saiga 308 instead of the Saiga 762 as the basis for the new gun.  The Saiga 308 receiver has been reinforced relative to the Saiga 7.62 in the same ways that the RPK (Ruchnoi Pulyemet Kalashnikova - Kalashnikov Light Machine Gun) receiver has been reinforced relative to the AK rifle receiver.  That is to say, the Saiga 308 uses heavier gauge sheet steel for the receiver walls, and a reinforced barrel mounting trunion, indicated by the pronounced bulge at the forward right side of the receiver.  The Saiga 308 was intended to be a reliable and versatile hunting rifle.  Consequently, it should digest both commercial .308 Winchester and military surplus 7.62mm NATO with equal facility and safety. For all the Saiga 308's good points, it remains a commercial rifle, and in order to create the AK-108, Marc was faced with the challenge of remanufacturing Saigas into a military style configuration that would be as authentic as possible while not sacrificing any of the Saiga's more desirable qualities.  Attaining this goal requires a substantial effort.  First the gun is detail stripped, yielding a collection of parts and a barreled action.  The

AK-108 receiver, right side.   Note the pronounced bulge for the reinforced trunion.  The Saiga receiver differs from that of the RPK in that the Saiga receiver and trunion are reinforced on the right side only, whereas the RPK is reinforced on both sides.  The additional reinforcement was not deemed necessary on the Saiga as it would not be subjected to the rigors of sustained automatic fire.  The result is that the Saiga receiver is significantly lighter than an RPK receiver and also significantly more durable than a standard AK rifle receiver.

AK-108 Muzzle Brake

The foresight provides a mounting point for the Krebs Custom muzzle brake mounting bushing, which is press-fit into place.  Once the bushing is mounted, the brake can be screwed in place.  Due to murky legal requirements defining and prohibiting "threaded muzzles," the brake must be permanently attached.  Among the methods currently approved for making such a permanent attachment are welding, brazing with high temperature silver solder or pinning via a blind pin.  Applying a great deal of heat to any part of a gun is generally not advisable, and applying a great deal of heat to a tempered pressure vessel such as a rifle barrel is a bad idea.  This is not to say that damage will occur, merely that the likelihood of damage is significantly increased.  (Note:  The fact that damage is not guaranteed is evidenced by the large number of post ban rifles with silver soldered muzzle attachments.)  Instead of welding or soldering then, Marc's brakes are affixed with a blind pin.  A channel is drilled through the

While the barrel is getting its makeover, the action is being attended to.  The burrs, rough edges and geometric inconsistencies that result in a standard AK's action feeling like "one is ripping the top off of a beer can" are eliminated.  The result is very smooth, with a clean precise feel.  Not only does Marc's work make the action feel better, but by ensuring that propellant energy is not dissipated needlessly in overcoming unnecessary friction, a significant enhancement to function and reliability.  The Saiga positions the trigger to the rear so as to be comfortably reached from the sporter style stock,  and connects it to the lockwork by means of a linkage.  Marc eliminates the linkage and repositions the trigger and guard to their proper (military) location.  No additional receiver milling is necessary for this. The lockwork is also subject to attention.  A complete trigger job is standard for all AK108's, providing a light, crisp pull with two perceived stages.  While the AK lockwork is mechanically single stage, by honing the hammer and disconnector engagement surfaces such that the hammer contacts the disconnector just prior to release, a perceptible "bump" immediately prior to let-off is felt in the trigger finger.  This "bump" is analogous to the second stage on a two stage trigger system such as that found on a military Mauser.

Finally, the receiver is modified so that it will accept M14 (or, on special request, Galil) magazines.  This entails modifying the magazine well geometry slightly, and fitting a modified magazine catch.  As the M14 and Galil use magazines that, like the AK, and the Saiga for that matter, "roll to the rear" to lock in place, and have feed lips that extend only half the length of the magazine, they are logical choices for this conversion.  Similar magazines, like those for the FAL or L1A1 are unsuited as their feed lips run the entire length of the magazine.

Once all the gunsmithing and machining is complete, the AK-108's metal parts are treated to a baked on military style, industrial grade matte black lacquer finish.  This finish was chosen not only because it is similar to that used on Russian military AK rifles, but because it is extremely durable and provides excellent weatherproofing.  After the finish has cured, the rifle is assembled with new original military furniture, and the requisite number of domestically manufactured parts for 922r compliance.  AK purists will note that the handguard and gas tube appear different from that of the standard AK rifle.  They would be correct; the AK-108's gas tube and handguard are that of an RPK.  While requiring a special forend flange (manufactured and fitted by Krebs Custom) to fit the Saiga receiver, the RPK handguard is wider, longer, and provides superior durability, grasping qualities, and heat dissipation over the rifle handguard.  The final work prior to test fire and shipment is laser boresighting.  The AK-108's sights are set to a mechanical zero that should, ammunition permitting, allow for "out of the box" accuracy.

Disassembly and reassembly are pure AK.  Push the tab at the upper rear of the receiver forward until it clears the dust cover.  The dust cover can now be pulled up and off to the rear.  The recoil spring assembly can then be pushed forward until it clears its mounting dovetail at the upper rear of the receiver, and then pulled out of the bolt carrier to the rear.  The bolt and carrier assembly are then pulled to the dismounting point at the rear of the receiver and removed by pulling up and out.  The bolt can then be twisted and pulled forward out of the carrier.  The latch on the rear sight block is then rotated clockwise, freeing the gas tube/upper handguard, which is pulled up and out.  Reassembly is the reverse.

Having been favorably impressed with Marc's earlier work on the AK-103 (see CRUFFLER.COM Firearm Review, December 2000), we were only too curious about a 7.62mm NATO AK rifle.  We were especially interested in seeing how the rifle felt - after all, a sixteen inch barreled 7.62mm NATO rifle has the potential to turn one's shoulder into something resembling hamburger.    Needless to say, we ordered an AK-108.  Since we had access to a 7.62mm NATO Galil with which to compare the AK-108, we special ordered a model that would accept Galil magazines (this model is a special order that requires a bit more lead time and an extra $100.00 in price).  About a week later, the BBT arrived bearing the tell tale long, thin box. . . .

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PRODUCT REVIEW
 

Shooting the AK-108
We have to admit to a bit of trepidation when it came to shooting the AK-108.  At 7.5 pounds, the potential for a comparatively harsh recoil was significant, and we try in general to avoid things that make us go "ow!"  Nevertheless, we steeled our resolve, packed our range bags with ammunition, Ben-Gay and Extra Strength Tylenol, and drove off  to the NRA range in Fairfax, Virginia.

Ammunition
We brought along several types of 7.62mm NATO ammunition with which to test the AK-108.  The selection included:

British Military Radway Green 147 grain FMJ
West German Military DAG 147 grain mild steel core FMJ
US Military (Lake City) 147 grain M80 Ball
Portuguese FNM Military 147 grain FMJ
Argentine Military 147 grain FMJ

Accuracy

AK108 receiver showing permanently attached scope mounting rail

We cheated on the accuracy test.  The weakest point of any AK based design are the iron sights.  They are difficult to adjust for windage, and the trunion mounting point makes for a much shorter sight radius.  Since the AK-108 sports the same permanently attached mounting rail on the left side of the receiver as the AK-74, we fitted a Russian fixed four power commercial scope with a "T" reticule to the rifle using a TMK-75 mount.  The TMK-75 is the Russian universal mount for the AK rifles.  The targets were both 3" black centers and 1" orange dots set at the range's maximum of 50 yards.  Using a scope eliminates some of the shooter error involved with using iron sights, and provides a better idea of the gun's mechanical

The accuracy results were quite impressive, and put paid to the notion that the AK action is inherently less accurate than other types of self loading systems.  The consensus of the test team is that with carefully tuned handloads, the rifle should be able to turn in even more impressive groups.  Each member of the test team also tried several offhand snap shots, with surprising success; more than three quarters of these shots impacted in the 3" black centers.

Recoil and Ergonomics
One of our testers is, to put it mildly, a bit sensitive to recoil.  Consequently, he was somewhat less than enthusiastic about shooting a seven and a half pound 7.62mm NATO rifle with a sixteen inch barrel.  After our first string of sight in shots, another member of the test team motioned to our recoil shy shooter, and handed him the AK-108.  After several minutes and a number of unprintable epithets later he finally agreed to shoot the rifle.  He laid it on the rest, snugged it in tight to his shoulder, took careful aim, gritted his teeth and fired.  And then, he turned around, looked at the rest of the test team, and grinned!

"There's like, no kick at all!"

And it was true.  Compared to other military style 7.62mm NATO self loaders, the AK-108's perceived recoil was significantly lacking, almost reminiscent of a lightweight AR-15.  The key word in that sentence is "perceived," and if you're a lightly built person you may experience more recoil when firing an AK-108, but we're confident that it will be nowhere near what you've experienced with an M14, G3, Galil, or FAL type self loader.  The kudos for this rather pleasant shooting experience goes entirely to the Krebs Custom muzzle brake.  This is a two chambered affair, which as was mentioned above is patterned directly on that of the AK-74, which is widely agreed to be one of the best, if not the best at taming muzzle rise and recoil.  As the bullet passes the first chamber, the high pressure propellant gases expand and a portion of these gasses vent out the ports in the top and side of the brake, acting as jets to counteract both muzzle rise and rotational torque (although the torque issue is less apparent on semiautomatic firearms).  As the bullet continues on its flight, it passes the second chamber, which is a large open baffle.  A large proportion of the gases are now redirected ninety degrees to the side, counteracting a large percentage of recoil energies.  The price to be paid for this effective muzzle brake is a rather intense muzzle blast, which for the shooter is of no large consequence.  However, if you're next to the AK-108 when it fires, hold on to your fillings!

The AK-108 is also one of the best balanced self loading rifles we've fired, coming naturally to the shoulder and balancing very nicely, both with and without a scope attached, between the pistol grip and the handguard.  Additionally, the rifle is a natural pointer, coming rapidly to bear on target without swinging through the target.  We attribute this to the rifle's balance point being along the midpoint of its length.  It shares this trait with the Galil ARM, and stands in marked contrast to the A2 variant of the AR-15, which is muzzle heavy and wants to swing through the target.

Fire control surfaces were, as with all AK's, positive and easy to manipulate.  However, it is also an AK trait that they require the firing hand to be removed from the pistol grip to engage or disengage the safety.  Krebs Custom does offer a replacement selector lever that enables manipulation without removing the firing hand from the pistol grip.  Trigger pull was absolutely exquisite, with a short initial take up followed by a "bump."  At the point of the bump, small bit of extra pressure was required to fire the gun.  The best comparison we can think of is a match conditioned M1 or M14 style rifle.

Reliability
We fired approximately 500 rounds through the AK-108, and used both twelve and twenty-five round Galil  different magazines.  This, the gun fed, fired, extracted and ejected every round we put through it.  It never failed to lock back on the last round, and never failed to readily lock or release each magazine used.  This despite our best efforts to hold the rifle in unconventional ways so as to engender failures.  Reliability was 100%.

Conclusion

Prior to the introduction of the AK-108, there were precisely two choices for a shooter wanting to marry the reliability of the AK action to the increased power, range and versatility of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge.  These were a pre-ban Galil or the Vepr rifle offered by Robinson Armament.  The Galil, while an excellent rifle, is significantly heavier than the AK-108, has a markedly inferior trigger pull, and costs more than twice as much (averaging $2,400.00 to $2,700.00).  The Vepr, also an excellent rifle, is more reasonable priced at around $550.00 - $600.00, but is much longer, heavier, lacks that military "look," and does not accept readily available high capacity magazines.  (Note:  Krebs Custom is offering a conversion service for Vepr rifles, which brings them to a similar configuration as the AK-108.  This service brings the cost of the Vepr to within $100.00 - $150.00 of that of the AK-108, and produces a very nice rifle, but one that is still a bit heavier than the AK-108.)

AK108 receiver showing Izhmash factory and proof markings

If you're looking for a bargain military style self loader that will merely spray surplus ammunition as fast as you can pull the trigger, then the AK-108 is not for you.  If you're looking for a lightweight, accurate, versatile utterly reliable rifle for real world applications, or if you demand custom features and performance from all of your firearms, then the AK-108 is just the ticket.
 
 

And now, our Buy-O-Meter rating for the Krebs Custom AK-108:
 
 

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