THE COLLIDING OF WORLDS
It is easy to forget, but the AK is a Soviet design, and it was held behind the Iron Curtain for many decades. The RAK308-C is unique because it is built off a parts kit from a rifle design that brought together concepts from the Warsaw Pact and from NATO.
The Riley Defense RAK-308C is a Zastava M77B parts kit assembled in the United States on a new receiver and barrel.
Related: Best AK-47 Rifles & Pistols Available
THE YUGOSLAVIAN M77B
The M77B was an AK design from the former nation of Yugoslavia, which was neutral at the time of the Cold War. While the nation continued to maintain neutrality, the Communist government tended to align more with Soviet Bloc ideals.
The Yugoslavian military was outfitted with Yugo-manufactured AK variants built by Zastava Arms. Similar in pattern and function to the Soviet-manufactured AKM, the Yugo M70 features a thicker trunnion, a rifle grenade apparatus, and a different style of handguard. The original Yugo rifle did use the same 7.62x39mm caliber as the Soviets.
THE RIFLE DESIGN
In the mid-1970s, the Yugoslavians began developing an enlarged battle rifle based on the AK platform that would use the 7.62 NATO cartridge. In 1977, Zastava released the M77B, a .308 Win-chambered AK that was the first of its kind.
The M77B was a large AK that featured an RPK trunnion and barrel that exceeded 19 inches. This design vastly increased the range of the AK platform, also making it easier to achieve accurate shots. From the stock to the gas tube, the M77B looks like a traditional Yugo AK.
It features a side-mounted optics rail, a standard AK safety, a standard AK magazine release, and the traditional Yugo wood furniture with three cooling slots. The rifle feeds from 20-round M77B magazines that have a similar rock-and-lock design to that of the M14.
The gas tube is where it starts to differ, as it features a three-point adjustment system. This modification allows the user to better tune the gas system to accommodate different ammunition specs. The rifle also features a 1:14 LH thread in the barrel, giving the user options for muzzle devices, including suppressors.
FROM EUROPE TO NORTH CAROLINA
This AK design was imported to the United States but has become increasingly rare. Riley Defense is an outstanding American AK company that produces quality AK builds for the domestic market. The North Carolina-based company has done a great job of building out some Zastava M77B kits into the RAK308-C.
These rifles are technically both new and used. The furniture and surplus parts will show dings and scratches, signs of character and use. Riley Defense then takes these parts kits and builds them on their newly manufactured receivers and barrels, meaning you are getting a brand-new life to go with all the surplus parts.
SUMMARY
Overall, the AK is an excellent operating platform. The robust reliability is now meshed with a full rifle caliber, making this a great rifle for hunting or longer distance shooting. The character in the wood furniture tells a story about the interesting history of each individual build. There are not many of these rifles, so don’t miss your chance to add one to your AK collection.
