rentz wrote:I keep seeing parts kits with and without barrels, not sure I'd be able to actually piece one together since I don't have the tools
Surprisingly, you can do it with pretty basic tools. On mine, I used just about every method available. The front trunnion rivets were heated red hot, then pressed in. The rear rivets and trigger guard rivets were not so simply pressed in. I used cap screws on the front trunnion just fore of the trigger guard. In hindsight, it would have been a lot easier,and cleaner, to use screws on the trigger guard as well. We mocked up a jig for the trigger guard rivets, and it was still a pain.
My red star retainer piece came in today, so it is 100% complete now. Tried a few different types of magazines and it feeds like an AK should. Night and day better than the Century assembled WASR-10 I used to own.