I think I'm just about done with this one, save the addition of some grip tape around the pistol grip area and finally installing the right color gas tube handguard. I haven't installed the matching handguard yet because the edge of the pin on the old retainer cap is completely obliterated...I can't see where the cap ends and the pin begins. I may just have to find a separate gas tube that has the cap already removed and just start from scratch.
The Lucky Shot paratrooper style stock is decent enough for the $146 I paid, but it won't win any awards. There are several rough spots where more sanding was needed, and the butt stock pad was poorly installed (screw holes aren't centered and the edge of the pad doesn't align properly with the wood stock's edge). But, oh well.
The Gould Engineering extended magazine release works alright, but you have to ensure you pull STRAIGHT back...any deviation to the left or right and the lever binds up. This is not the fault of the product really. The only way to make this not happen is to create each magazine release specific for each individual rifle's specs. And that's not feasible. So, I just deal with it. When it works, it really works! Those empty mags just pop right out without me having to touch them!
The rifle already had the drop-free bolt modification, so I decided to try the 20 round mags. I had to sand down the outer edges of these magazines a touch, but they all work fine now. I actually love this rifle more than my PSA AK-47 GF3. Considering acquiring another non-commercial Norinco spiker in the near future.
(https://i.ibb.co/jvMLF4SK/20250219-141622.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PZh58Cdp)
(https://i.ibb.co/Z6b6FyyT/20250219-141638.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fYTYymm0)
Nice, that stock style is actually a thumb hole sporter, the commercial version had a Paratrooper length action in it with no bayo. With the recoil pad, you can try bending which ever screw is not aligned a bit. It'll clock the pad as you screw it in, won't need much. Match your HG to the stock color as best you can. Bayo's upside down I think. PAX
(https://i.ibb.co/Kspx8M4/001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Kspx8M4)