Press-on of AK-47 barrels to receiver techiques, other parts?

[His lordship.]

For years I have been hearing about these AK-47 kits, you get what is left of receiver cut items, then build your own.  The receiver obviously needs some large tools to bend them right, but I figured when I shoot out the barrel on my Yugo AK I could just press in another one.

Went on You Tube to see demonstrations of all this being done, most videos show barrels being pressed out and then in with huge hydraulic presses that would require lots of room and money.  Found one fellow who used a hammer and a punch to knock out the barrel pin, and then the barrel from the receiver.  Is there a way to properly press (hammer?) the barrel back into the receiver trunnion on one of those?  Or would I need special tools?

I am an ex-mechanic and lathe machinist, so there is the passion for such stuff in me.

My current barrel is fine, but the "itch" to learn more about building and repairing these rifles is on my curiosity list with possible future hobby aspects to do "my own AK kit".

Thanks.

[Keith L]

They were designed to be "blacksmith" made in third world countries, so there must be a low tech way.

[gunnut69]

A steel barrel vise type clamp with tightly fitted bushings and a cast lead slide hammer?? I've NOT done this but would guess it would work OK. Driving it in would work OK if one used and wood faced steel post inside the action to hold the force of the hammer..and insert the post in the hardy hole in the local anvil.  A jig and hydrolic jack would be best but is more complicated..  although a 30 ton press could do the job the barrel wrench would still be needed to grasp the tube.. 

[JonD.]

I've not tried it, but I read where guys use grade eight all-thread to "pull" a barrel into a trunion. I've also read about, and you might search for "poor man's bending jig". Its a receiver bend jig that uses only bolts to pull it into the bend jig thus a press is not required.(can't remember where to find it, but I did see one for sale on gunbroker)  Go here for Info and links to just about anything you want know about building an AK including receiver templates and bend jig prints building plans etc. etc. :  http://blog.legionarms.com/   

You can still get all matching kits with the original barrels intact as well as bolt and bolt carrier and trunnions along with all the original trigger parts, but they are getting scarce and the price is going up more all the time. They are around $350 now, used to could get a whole truck load for a $100 bill each. These are military surplus in which a lot of them never were issued. They can no longer be imported with the barrel so most kits now are barrel and receiver- less and non matching. You can get new US made barrels and even some military chrome lined barrels if you look. I will also add no FFL is required to buy, they can be shipped straight to your door.