I hadn't shot my Yugo AK in a long time but, with the Biden admin cracking down on Russian ammo, I decided to handload and cast for the 7.62x39 - with hugely disappointing results:
15 yard target - more like a shotgun, yikes:
https://i.imgur.com/st98wWM.png
So, after slugging the bore it turned out that my barrel was severely worn and I decided to rebarrel it with a new US-made barrel from Apex:
https://i.imgur.com/e2b4cbo.jpg
Press old barrel out:
https://i.imgur.com/YCNvIoC.jpg
De-populate old barrel, install new barrel and re-populate it with everything that attaches to it. This process took hours to complete:
https://i.imgur.com/FcY5akM.jpg
Of note is the Sabrewerks KOP (Kalashnikov Optics Platform) - a replacement of the rear-sight block with a dovetailed system that accepts various slide-on pieces to hold iron sights, red-dots and even magnified optics. Each of those has their own built-in rear iron-sight leaf:
https://i.imgur.com/qRPrIIv.jpg
Off to the range:
1a. Getting the irons set; first at 25 yards to get on paper using Monarch 123gr FMJ ammo:
https://i.imgur.com/ICjn9r5.jpg
1b. First 2-shot group at 50 yards with irons:
https://i.imgur.com/BM7nwp8.jpg
2a. Mount Vortex red-dot and sight-in:
https://i.imgur.com/dDsRa4D.jpg
2b. 50 yard 3-shot group, about a half-inch:
https://i.imgur.com/6a45qE9.jpg
3. 1-6x LPVO which will be mounted once the KOP long rail gets here today:
https://i.imgur.com/gXJ3QzQ.jpg
Getting this done was a heck more work and anxiety than I expected - but the results are hugely gratifying and I look forward to seeing what this rifle does at 100, 200 and 300 yards.