I want to build, but I'm not sure where to start.

      You may be browsing around in the Parts Kits category here and start to feel a little intimidated at some of the offerings available. You know you want to build a kit, but you're not sure if it's even possible given your experience or tools. Fear not; there's lots of options for every skill level out there! Over the past 5 years, there has been an influx of late WW2 and Cold War parts kits coming on to the market. Everything from PPS-43 submachine guns to FAL's with an incredible amount of variety in between. For simplicity sake, we can narrow down the current market offerings into a few categories each with their own skill level.

The Big Four

      For the most part, military surplus parts kits can be lumped into four major categories. Of course there are outliers and some that don't fit anywhere, but it goes as follows : 

• Submachine guns
• Rifles (both milled and stamped)
• Light machine guns
• Heavy machine guns and Beyond

Stens, PPS-43's, and Skorpions - Oh My!

      The submachine gun category of parts kits is the usual entry way into building. The kits are usually affordably priced for run of the mill examples and make for nice historic carbines or pistols. Given that they are chambered in pistol cartridges, they are also cheap to feed meaning range days won't burn holes in your pockets. Many sub guns are "tube" style meaning that the receivers are pieces of tubing, either milled or rolled and welded, and the bolts are round. These types are easy to build and usually have the most off-the-shelf conversion parts available. Some great examples of tube style kits are the Suomi KP/31, Yugoslavian M56, and  British Sten. Now the torch for the cheapest sub gun kit has been passed to the PPS-43 and 43/52. These are stamped steel construction and also have lots of aftermarket conversion parts available. The PPSh-41 and Uzi are also stamped style sub guns. The next step up from tube and stamped style sub guns would be the vz. 61 Skorpion or PM-63; this style utilizes a milled receiver and is the misfit child of the sub gun category. 

      The complexity and tooling required with sub gun parts kit builds is low. Most can be completed using off-the-shelf conversion parts from reputable retailers, saving builders the need for a lathe and mill. As an added bonus, these companies are usually run by small teams of enthusiasts like myself that are more than happy to answer any question you might have about their products. However most, if not all, of these styles will need some welding done. There are many low cost MIG and stick welders on the market that would do just fine sticking Stens together. Aside from that, the rest of the tooling required could be equated to your typical shade tree mechanic's toolbox - screw drivers, a dremel, hammer, calipers, etc. 

On a scale of 1-5, the submachine gun category is 2 - perfect for someone looking to move up from AR's.

AK, FAL, and G3 - A step up

      Next up is the rifle category; this is a broad sweeping overlay that covers a lot of ground but has a few major designs available. Everyone is familiar with the AR-15; it is the modern American sporting rifle, found at every retailer you can imagine and constructed using an upper and lower receiver. With an hour of free time anyone can put an AR together with bare minimum tools and skill making them an obvious 1 on the scale. However, most people are in the rifle building community due to AK's. The days of build parties and $99 barreled Romanian kits may be over, but there are still tons of excellent AK kits on the market especially when it comes to highly sought after models and years. The most common variant of the AK uses a stamped sheet metal receiver with trunnions riveted in at both ends to attach the barrel and stock. On top of this, the barrels of typical AK's are press fit into the trunnion and then pinned into place. Another rifle kit on the market right now is the venerable G3. This design uses a barrel press fit and pinned into the trunnion similar to an AK, but it also utilizes a die stamped receiver with several weldments. There are also a whole host of kits on the market that utilize a milled receiver such as the M76, FAL, and early model AK's. Some of these will use a press fit barrel and some of them will use threaded in barrels - each has their own unique tools required.

      When building rifle kits, the tooling required becomes a little bit more advanced and specialized. Conversion and build parts are still readily available off-the-shelf at this stage. AK's require certain riveting tools, G3's require bending jigs or straightening mandrels, and milled receiver builds can require specialized action wrenches. These tools can usually be found for relatively cheap from auctions or divorce sales. Most kits in this category will also require the use of a hydraulic press at some point or another. There are many inexpensive manual presses available ranging from 1 all the way up to 40 tons. Depending on which route you want to go with rifle kits, there may be some welding required or some specialized jigs used for alignment of parts. A great example of this is timing rods used for FAL builds or welding jigs for G3's. This is also the point in building that headspace gauges are a requirement - sets can be found for almost every caliber you can think of.

      On a scale of 1-5, the rifle category is 3 - intermediate level of complexity with a need for specialized tooling.

The MG42 and it's Cousins

      The light machine gun category is where the water starts to get deeper. There are many different variations in this category and all of them will require advanced shop tooling to an extent. This is also the part of your building journey where you'll notice that companies don't make very many off the shelf parts for building and converting. There are many ZB and derivative models kits on the market right now, however barrels for certain models are hard to find. PK and PKMs pop up from time to time; newly made receivers can be found as well. The most common example out of this category is the MG42 and it's various copies including the M53 and MG42/59. There is a wide variety of designs in the LMG category with the major ones being stamped with riveted trunnions or entirely milled receivers. 

      LMG's can be complex designs that require a lot of tuning and R&D to run reliably as closed bolt semi autos. At the same time, there is also a distinct lack of conversion parts and new made receivers for most of them save for a few very popular models. Due to this lack of receivers, almost all of these builds will need to be rewelded from the torch cut receiver scraps. There are some shops out there that specialize in rewelds and their shop labor fees as well as lead times vary greatly. It is also at this stage where access to machine tools becomes more of a requirement than a suggestion, but there are still ways around it. 

On a scale of 1-5, the LMG category is 4 - advanced with a need for good welding skills and machine tooling.

From Breda to DShK and Beyond

      The heavy machine gun and beyond category is where this guide ends, at the equivalent of treading water in the middle of the ocean in terms of involvement.  Most of the kits in this category have either no commercially available parts or the parts are made in very small quantity to order. The M2 Browning is a great example of one of the few kits with conversion and build support through various companies. However, when it comes to kits like the Breda M37, DShK, and Hotchkiss be prepared to see the whole process through solo. There will be a need for welding, fabricating new parts from raw stock, tuning, conversion R&D, and possibly even chambering new barrels. The buy-in at this level is also much higher with some kits going for $5000+. This stage is reserved for people who like a challenge and aren't intimidated by "two steps forward, one step back" pitfalls in the building, converting, and tuning process.

      Tooling at this level will include, but not be limited to, basic machine tooling such as a lathe and mill, drill press, welder, chamber reamers, riveting jigs, hydraulic shop press, and an extensive array of cutting consumables along with an advanced hand tool selection. Serious consideration to shop space should also be taken; most HMG kits are big enough to require tripods and transit cases and are on the order of 3-4' long. 

On a scale of 1-5, the HMG and Beyond category is 5 - expert advanced with a prerequisite in prior build knowledge.

Conclusion

     Parts kit building can seem intimidating at first, but with practice it becomes a fun challenge. There is nothing more satisfying than taking your own build to the range and getting those first shots on target. Of course there will be some hiccups and roadblocks along the way, but it is par the course for making your own legal semi auto from a parts kit. Hopefully this guide has helped you make an informed decision as to where to jump in to the fun world of Parts Kit Building. And if you have any questions about our inventory, do not hesitate to send an email or call - the building community is all about helping other builders!