Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I like light machineguns, so I figured I'd build one. There are many out there, but I've narrowed it down to two choices. One is the RPK, which is a fairly simple, robust gun that can be put together relatively easily and cheaply. Heck, I even have a preban Romanian RPK barrel already. And I just like AKs.

The other option is the much cooler but much more expensive and difficult Bren. I'd have to go with .303 since 7.62 barrels and breechblocks are very hard to find. At least the .303 mags are dirt cheap. This would be a bear of a project but, having shot a C&R Inglis gun, I know it would be worth it - the Bren is the best mag fed LMG period.

So, I figured I'd fish for opinions. And there's even a poll! Have at.

If I were going to build a mag fed LMG it would have to be a BAR and if it were a belt fed, an FN MAG 58 (in US Army use, the M240 family). The good thing about the PK family is they were designed to be built in little more than a common machine shop. As a matter of fact I have always wondered what would happen if you gave the plans for an AK to a NASCAR chassis shop and saw what they could do with one.

I don't have any idea what a Bren or an RPK are - but it sounds like you already have RPK parts, and it sounds like an easier build. Just go with that one for now, and try the other one later

Rpk is a variant of the ak general. Dont go cheap if you are going to build one... All the equiptment to build one will cost around 2k. I would have a hard time justifying building a rpk just becasue a decent romanian parts kit can run upwards of 1k and you still have to make it 922r compliant. Not to mention the reciver has to be stregthened unlike a regular ak build. Just my 2 cents. I'd buy one if you dont have all the jigs, presses, tack welder bending dies ect...

grumpyMSG wrote:If I were going to build a mag fed LMG it would have to be a BAR and if it were a belt fed, an FN MAG 58 (in US Army use, the M240 family).

I have a BAR already, and 240 parts kits are out of this world if you can even find them. And they're not even LMGs! (An automatic rifle and a GPMG/MMG.)

The good thing about the PK family is they were designed to be built in little more than a common machine shop.

As much as I would love a PKM, for the cost of one of the semis I could have a Bren, a RPK, another RPD, and a pile of ammo. And barrels are like hen's teeth with the barrel ban.

allingeneral wrote:I don't have any idea what a Bren or an RPK are - but it sounds like you already have RPK parts, and it sounds like an easier build. Just go with that one for now, and try the other one later

Terrible! Let me help, here is a Bren:



And here is a RPK:

joeshmo wrote:I would have a hard time justifying building a rpk just becasue a decent romanian parts kit can run upwards of 1k and you still have to make it 922r compliant.

Kits sans barrels are about $250 now, it doesn't need to look pretty, and one of the nice things about machineguns is that 922(r) does not apply to them.

Not to mention the reciver has to be stregthened unlike a regular ak build. Just my 2 cents. I'd buy one if you dont have all the jigs, presses, tack welder bending dies ect...

Nodak Spud makes Romanian RPK receivers, I'd farm out the build and just do the conversion on a drill press (already have the template! )

Bren - I like the sights, the carry handle and the mag position... looks more practical than the RPK.