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How to Change an AK-47 Trigger

Because the AK-47 is an imported weapon, certain laws regulate whether you can modify your weapon; you must replace a foreign part with a part from the same nation, or, if you install American-made parts, you cannot have any more than 10 imported parts on your rifle. These are guidelines set by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF), so be aware of the origin of the part you install on your firearm.

Things You'll Need

New trigger assembly
Needle-nose pliers
Phillips-head screwdriver
Flathead screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the Sheppard hook that holds the trigger and hammer pin, using a pair of needle-nose pliers; push it toward the barrel.
- 2
  Remove the hammer pivot pin by pushing in from the right side of the rifle with needle-nose pliers. Once the hammer pivot pin is out of the rifle, it will be held off-center by the tension of the hammer; with one hand applying pressure with the pliers, use your other to manipulate the hammer side to side until the hammer pin pushes out of the receiver.
- 3
  Twist the hammer at a right angle, with a bit of pressure, until it comes out of the receiver. You may need to apply a fair amount of pressure.
- 4
  Remove the trigger pivot pin and pull the trigger group out. There's a small disconnecter spring; be careful and grasp it with a finger while you pull out the group, or it may go flying across the room.
- 5
  Replace the old trigger group with your new one; compare the two groups' dimensions. Assuming you've purchased the appropriate group for your AK variant, they should match. There may be small variations, however, that cause problems in operation; modify it yourself or take it to a gunsmith to be fitted in this case.
- 6
  Replace the hammer, the hammer pin and the Sheppard hook. Use a flathead screwdriver to push the hammer pin back so that you can get the hook back around the pin. Put the trigger pin back in, between the Sheppard hook and the hammer spring leg.
- 7
  Put the disconnecter, spring, and trigger back together and line them up before replacing them in the receiver. Keep your finger on the disconnecter and push it down into the trigger well. Replace the pivot pin and line up the trigger, disconnecter and pivot pin hole on the other side.
- 8
  Put the two legs of the hammer spring on top of the left and right hand sides of the trigger, with the left legs going to the left of the trigger, and the right leg going directly into the right side of the trigger. Use needle-nose pliers for this.
- 9
  Slide the Sheppard pin to the left side of the receiver and then down with a flathead screwdriver, so that the hook is in the retaining ring on the underside of the pivot pin; this prevents the trigger pin from walking out of the receiver while firing.
- 10
  Check the weapon's function; pull the trigger, and the hammer should release.

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