Here's the accomopanying write-up:

My first AK was a WASR-10 before I sold it when I needed the money for profit. It ran just fine, but I was not comfortable with the ergonomics, being a smaller shooter. Felt like one of those Pinoy extras cosplaying as Vietcong during the cold war action movie years (I watch those films and realize my favorite action stars from yesteryear are gunning down folk that look like my relatives... who do I cheer for). Money was tighter then, so I was not going to afford all the cool aftermarket needed to give it capabilities like ARs.

But, life moves on, finances got better. Since then, I've come to love bullpup platforms. RFB runs rock solid, while I had to adapt to the KSG's quirks (ex: soft-racking will not cycle a round from a magazine tube and onto the feeder). I can carry the weight, and these things are heavy, but its where the weight rests, and how much they leverage on me. With collapsible stocks come shorter Length of Pull, but in the end I still prefer the minimal OAL compared to barrel length that I get with bullpups.

Enter S&T Inc, as I google away at finding American-market bullpup kits. 3D printed nylon, they advertise it as range-toy grade, not combat grade, that's fine for my purposes (boy was I wrong). Even had a adorable Groza-style handle that came with the kit. Initially released for the Yugo shorties. Yes, the manufacturer states, as far as they know/are concerned, the kits do not add anything to the system that would constitute a rear surface area for shouldering, as in a stock. However, those kits were designed with the intention of boosters being used in order to clear the front of the handguard of their kit. Cool; I expressed interest and corresponded, and sure enough, they had plans to expand platforms for that kit. Eventually, one was made, BPK-762 for compatibility with Cugir Draco.

Having nothing but positive experiences with my WASR-10, as in Cugir, I committed to this. Ordered the Draco right after I ordered the kit. Kept reading the material and realized that even the Draco kit would have its barrel terminate within the handguard, but was not certain of the exact fitment, so opted from a Sharps Bros Badlands Comp threaded in 5/8-24 and an adapter for the Draco's M14x1 LH threads. Very snug fit.

It is as barebones as it needs to be in order to run. The components coming off the Draco are going to be the wooden furniture; as in handguard, dust tube cover, and the pistol grip. Replacing it will be a handguard/extended shroud that seats into the receiver and handguard retainer, a new dust tube cover (which provides a matching picatinny rail to the handguard for sights). You'll also have a housing that threads onto the original pistol grip's nut. Then there's the linkage parts; two shoes, a rod, and a cover for the rod that will bridge the handguard and the rear trigger housing. The other metal bits needed, as in their trigger system, is already preinstalled into their handguard.

An advantage of the material besides weightsaving and in-line contours as I see it is that it is easier to manipulate for fitment into a Cugir. The linkage mechanism itself consist of a thin metal rod bent at 90 degree angles several times in order to run along and around the left side receiver (because it wouldn't work on the right with the safety in the way). Linking it to the fore-trigger and the original trigger are two sets of right angle U-shaped shoes, with the trigger for the original trigger having a necessary set screw in order to adjust spacing and tension.

Major issues with this trigger design; the furniture at the front of their handguard is based on AR... but not made out of aluminum. I get it, its cheap b/c of off-the-shelf market components already, but its just a nightmare to work with. The new trigger action is essentially a rear axis pull, single dimension, with the linkage rod having a lot of flex as it transmits that load to the face of the original trigger. Optimal would have been rear-moving trigger system such as from a 1911. Instead, we have an AR trigger, that is TRYING to pivot up as you apply the trigger squeeze, which looks to be arrested by a single pin and plate, diverting that motion to the linkage rod. It is already working against itself. 80% of the resistance of the system is this trigger arrangement. The other 20% is from the rod; its flex and friction with material.

Likewise, because its 3D-printed, they have to use a brass tap in order to replicate the AR pistol grip's bolt mount. This is fine on milled aluminum, but its going to be a crucial point of failure on nylon because now you are boring out even more material. Mine cracked on the first shot at the range. I stubbornly kept going, even as the pistol grip was no longer serviceable and had to be removed. Mechanically the host platform, the Cugir Draco, ran exactly as intended, because with exception to the trigger interface now installed onto it, its practically unaltered in terms of moving parts.

I had a feeling if anything was going to fail, it was going to be the pistol grip. Its nice, chonky... but that's the problem, its going to get in the way of the loading/unloading of magazines, ESPECIALLY unloading.

This is fine. Really. I expected a lot of growing pains with this system, and I finally had finances and time necessary to indulge a project with such weird specific set of criteria. Rather than get mad, I got determined.

Immediate trip to Ace Hardware, grabbed that JB Weld with steel particles in it. That's right, I JB-Welded the pistol grip and its bolt still installed into its brass tap right back to their handguard. Masking tape everywhere. I reckon that JB Weld is probably stronger than the rest of their system combined just by chemical composition. I also sawed that grip down to where I still had engagement with most of my small-sized hands, but 30rd magazines can rock out while 20rd magazines will simply pop out without ever riding up against the grip.

The longer wait was for the AKG parts to come in from Primary Arms, whom coincidentally I got the nice 7.62x39mm 3X BDC optic from earlier. Went and installed the AKT-EL trigger because the AKT-UL wasn't cheaply available at the time, and I really needed a trigger with positive reset in order to fight the resistance of the frigging linkage rod jamming up against the fore-trigger that doesn't like moving only straight forward and back.

At this state, the system is mechanically sound, as proofed on a return visit to the range. Now comes the time I guess for unecessary luxuries, but more of a refinement of the sytem.

That replacement for the gas tube cover I would not rate as being able to hold a zero; not for primary sights at least. For the ZPAP M85/M92 kits, I guess those guys have to use it, but since mine is the Draco kit, I can instead install a rail that replaces the rear sights. Yes, I am at eye relief on the pictured setup; with full view through the tube.

I didn't have to fuck with the internals with the exception of that trigger swap, but why the hell not; this is my hobby, this is how I grow. Went and installed a reduced power recoil spring from KNS. Also got their adjustable gas piston; this was the one thing I needed to visit a gunsmith for in order to drill the original out and pin/rivet on the replacement.