Our Wieger reproduction project wouldn't have possible without the help from:
Zack Shaeffer of Chefur Custom
We highly recommend Rob Stott's "The AK47 Catalog" books which provides high resolution images of just about every Kalashnikov ever created. Our Wieger reproduction project wouldn't exist without his books. Volume 2 documents the STG-950 series and Volume 5 documents the STG-940 series.
Von der Kalaschnikow zur Wieger
An excellent book which accompanies an exhibition at the Weapons Museum in Suhl, Germany. The book is in German but features photos and information that isn't posted anywhere online. The Google translate app is your friend if you don't speak German.
Basic Parts List:
Magazines: Wieger 5.56 steel magazines
Can be found on Gunbroker (usually overpriced), AK Files, and occasionally other sites. Often incorrectly called "Weiger", search for Wieger and Weiger.
Comparisons to the Romanian SAR-3 copies
Gas Block Front Sight Combo: JMAC GBC-13 w/o detent hole
An excellent copy of the EG MPi-AKS-74NK gas block which the Wieger is based off of.
Handguard retainer requires filing off the small knub on top of the piston chamber (check our build guide).
Gas Tube: Saiga or VEPR smooth gas tube
Requires removing the small "wings" off of the back.
An add-on option with our Wieger parts kits.
Front Sight Drum: East German from K-VAR
Front Sight Post: East German from K-VAR
Muzzle Device: 1/2x28, 14x1mm A2 Flash Hider or your chosen muzzle device
Make sure the muzzle device is bored large enough for your caliber!
Original Wiegers had 3 different muzzle devices, an A2 shaped 2 port comp, a smaller diameter 2 port comp for use with an AK bayonet and the STG-943 is also been seen with the AKS-74NK comp.
Muzzle Device Jam Nut: 1/2x28 or 14x1mm Jam Nut
Side Scope Rail: RMP8 from AK Collector's Source
Trigger Guard: WBP from AOA
Clone correct dimpled mag catch. Pivot pin isn't correct, if it bothers you swap it out for an East German from K-VAR.
Selector Stop: WBP from AOA
Safety Selector Lever: WBP from AOA
Top Cover: East German AK-74 ribbed top cover
Can be found on Gunbroker and AK Files, K-VAR used to sell NOS EG AK-74 top covers.
New Bulgarian top covers can be purchased from K-VAR which have the same stamping profile as EG.
Recoil Spring Assembly: WBP from AOA
Pistol Grip Nut: WBP from AOA or pretty much anything else
Trigger Group: Your choice
Rear Sight Leaf: East German AK-74 from K-VAR
Rear Sight Elevation Assembly: Take from WBP sight leaf
Rear Sight Leaf Spring: WBP from AOA, East German from K-VAR, PSA
Rear Trunnion: AK-74 forked fixed rear trunnion
Surplus Bulgarian trunnions can be found on Gunbroker, AK Files and other sites for $25-$50.
US made copies can be purchased from Centerfire Systems and CSS.
AK-74 Cleaning Kit: Classic Firearms, AK Options
Fits in pistol grip
East German Oil Bottle: K-VAR
Fits in pistol grip
East German AK-74 Sling: Desert Fox Sales
Buttstock:
Fixed Polymer Stock
We're working on repros! In the meantime, IO stocks are a crappy option.
East German Wire Folding Stock w/ Large Sling Loop (Clone correct)
Large 1.25" sling swivel. Correct for EG MPi-AKS-74N and Wieger.
Often with a painted finish.
Can be found on Gunbroker and AK Files occasionally.
East German Wire Folding Stock w/ Small Sling Loop
Small 1" sling swivel. Correct for EG MPi-KMS-72.
Often with a parkerized or blued finish.
Can be found on Gunbroker and AK Files occasionally.
Polish Tantal Wire Folding Stock
Similar looking strut profile and lever folding mechanism.
1/2" shorter than East German.
Only works with AKM/Tantal rear trunnion
Romanian Wire Folding Stock
Lever folding and push button mechanisms.
Buttplate area is more rounded.
Polish Pioneer Arms Commercial Stock
Commercial, all cast construction strut.
Similar looking strut profile and lever folding mechanism.
Cheapest option but we have no experience with them.
Comparisons of different wire folding stocks
Receivers:
5.56x45 (940 Series) & 5.45x39 (950 Series)
Recreator East German AK-74 Receiver
Recreator East German AK-74 80% Blank
Clone correct markings, embossings and spot welds. Their photos are of an old version, markings and embossings have since been improved to look closer to original EG receivers.
If you don't care about clone correct markings, Childers, WBP and AK-Builder are good options.
For use with 5.56 Wieger magazines, the front of the magazine well (and trunnion) will need to be opened up to 22mm. This does not prevent the use of AK-74 spec 5.56 magazines. Before doing any modifications we recommend test fitting parts, double checking dimensions and uniformity with Forbus AKM receiver drawings (minus mag well specs).
A perfect copy of EG center support rivets
7.62x39 (970 Series)
It's unknown what type of receiver markings the 970 series used. They most likely would have been the same as the rest of the Wieger series (∞/1), however directly carrying over the EG AKM receivers (D/E) is another possibility.
Recreator East German AK-74 Receiver
Recreator East German AK-74 80% Blank
Recreator East German AKM Receiver
Using AK-74 receivers would require trimming the ejector, machining the mag well, mag stabilizers and dimples to AKM spec.
If you don't care about clone correct markings, Childers, WBP and AK-Builder are good options.
5.56x45 Core Parts:
Option 1: Surplus Parts
AK74 Front Trunnion: Surplus AK-74 (22mm) trunnion & bullet guide
Bulgarian trunnions can be found on Gunbroker and AK Files for ~$250
Requires machining to fit Wieger magazines (check our build guide)
Not recommended for use with a Tantal/Beryl carrier as the impact surfaces are different.
KR-103 Front Trunnion RIP ?
Requires AK-74 bullet guide
Requires machining to fit Wieger and AK74 spec magazines (check our build guide)
Bullet Guide: Chefur Custom AK-74 Bullet Guide or Surplus
Stay away from PSA and CSS/Riley Defense bullet guides
Thin stem AK-74 spec with the exception of a deeper bolt face. This will require trimming either the bolt or barrel face, we recommend the bolt face.
Virgin bolts which require fitting to the bullet guide ramp
Bolt Carrier: Surplus Bulgarian or East German AK-74 thin stem bolt carrier
Can be found on K-VAR, Gunbroker and AK Files. New old stock East German carriers available here.
Rear Sight Block: AK-74 rear sight block
Bulgarian sight blocks can be found on K-VAR, Gunbroker and AK Files. PSA makes a US copy, however we have no experience using them.
East German AK-74/Wieger style gas tube levers are unfortunately unobtanium. Repros are on our list to make!
Barrel: AK-Builder AK-74 5.56 22mm barrel
Chrome lined, non-chrome lined or nitride
Option 2: WBP 5.56 Parts
5.56 Front Trunnion: Polish WBP 5.56 trunnion, their 5.45 trunnion is identical if out of stock
Proprietary spec, only compatible with WBP 5.56 bolt and carrier
23mm barrel journal
Requires machining to fit Wieger magazines (check our build guide)
7.62 AKM Front Trunnion: WBP AKM trunnion
Requires WBP 5.56 bullet guide
Requires machining to fit Wieger and AK74 spec magazines (check our build guide)
Bolt: Polish WBP 5.56 Bolt
Proprietary spec, only compatible with WBP 5.56 trunnion and carrier
Virgin bolts which may require fitting to the bullet guide ramp
Proprietary firing pins with reports of breakages (ourselves included), buy extras if you go this route.
Bolt Carrier: Polish WBP 5.56 bolt carrier, their 5.45 carriers are identical if out of stock or priced differently
Rear Sight Block: AK-74 rear sight block
Bulgarian sight blocks can be found on K-VAR, Gunbroker and AK Files. PSA makes a US copy, however we have no experience using them.
East German AK-74/Wieger style gas tube levers are unfortunately unobtanium. Repros are on our list to make!
23mm barrel journal, AK74 profile
Requires muzzle threaded
23mm barrel journal, AKM profile
Requires gas block journal to be extended and muzzle threaded
23mm barrel journal, AKM profile
Requires gas block journal to be extended and muzzle threaded (AOA provides these services)
AOA has sold out of these barrels without a gas port drilled. The current gas ports are drilled 90 degrees in the 45 degree location which may not line up with the JMAC gas block.
AOA has informed us that they will be receiving 5.56 barrels from a new supplier (likely WBP) without gas ports soon, we recommend waiting for these.
23mm barrel journal, 14x1mm LH threads
Rear sight block journal is 18.5mm (milled AK-47 spec) and must be turned down to 17.5mm for AK-74 and WBP rear sight blocks
5.45x39 Core Parts:
Option 1: Surplus Parts
Front Trunnion: Surplus Bulgarian AK-74 (22mm) trunnion & bullet guide
Bulgarian trunnions can be found on Gunbroker and AK Files for ~$250
Not recommended for use with a Tantal/Beryl carrier as the impact surfaces are different.
Bolt: Surplus AK-74 5.45 Bolt (Bulgarian, Russian, East German or Polish Tantal)
Bulgarian trunnions can be found on Gunbroker and AK Files for ~$250
Bolt Carrier: Surplus Bulgarian or East German AK-74 thin stem bolt carrier
Can be found on K-VAR, Gunbroker and AK Files. New old stock East German carriers available here.
Rear Sight Block: AK-74 rear sight block
Bulgarian sight blocks can be found on K-VAR, Gunbroker and AK Files. PSA makes a US copy, however we have no experience using them.
East German AK-74/Wieger style gas tube levers are unfortunately unobtanium. Repros are on our list to make!
Barrel: AK-Builder AK-74 5.56 22mm Barrel
Various options available
Option 2: WBP 5.45 Parts
Front Trunnion: Polish WBP 5.45 trunnion
Proprietary spec only compatible with WBP 5.45 bolt and carrier
23mm barrel journal
Bolt: Polish WBP 5.45 Bolt
Proprietary spec, only compatible with WBP 5.56 trunnion and carrier
Virgin bolts which may require fitting to the bullet guide ramp
Proprietary firing pins with reports of breakages (ourselves included), buy extras if you go this route.
Rear Sight Block: AK-74 rear sight block
Bulgarian sight blocks can be found on K-VAR, Gunbroker and AK Files. PSA makes a US copy, however we have no experience using them.
East German AK-74/Wieger style gas tube levers are unfortunately unobtanium. Repros are on our list to make!
23mm barrel journal, AKM profile
Requires gas block journal to be extended and muzzle threaded
23mm barrel journal, AKM profile
Requires gas block journal to be extended and muzzle threaded (AOA provides these services)
Recommended without gas port
7.62x39 Core Parts:
Front Trunnion: Surplus AKM or WBP trunnion
Bolt: Surplus AKM or WBP Bolt
Bolt Carrier: Surplus AKM or WBP Carrier
Rear Sight Block: Saiga 7.62 RSB (correct profile) or Surplus AKM
AK-Builder AK-104 Nitride Barrel
Made to accept JMAC GBC-13 gas block
14x1mm muzzle threads
Updated - 9/16/24