Make My Maddi Pretty

[superdoc]

Bought a MISR pistol grip postban hi-cap-accepting Maddi a few months ago and LOVE it. There were 2 in the store, but the other one's barrel was canted probably 10 degrees to the left. What crap. So mine has fired its first 175 rounds with no jams or misfires at all. But now I want it to be pretty. so..

1) What can I do about the flaking sprayed on "finish"- Does anyone refinish these guns?

2) The wood, it it worth refinishing or just get a new stock set? Anybody have good results refinishing theirs? What did you use?

3) Anyone notice the price has dropped recently to 300$ or so. I'd buy a dozen if I could.

4) Where have you seen the cheapest 30 round chinese/german mag?

5) I seem to get 4-6 inch 5 shot groups, but found that I need to dump the first handloaded round into the backstop and then several shots will be 2-3" in the group. (at 100 yds, iron sights)

I appreciate all your help, thanks. BT

[Ronin148]

Hey Superdoc,
Try Gene W's post in For Sale section. He has an assortment of very used Russians (12.00) and 90% EGs ad Chinese (10.00). Although the mags are used and may even be actual Iraqi bringbacks, I don't mind so much if the mags are battle-proven (even if we kicked their a*s). Gene is a good guy to deal with, very fast with the replies. Classicarms.org also sells them for 14.95 each.
I stripped and finished my Maadi without removing any of its furniture, since I was actually damaging the laminated wood by trying to remove it. I stained the lower handguard and buttstock with three coats of cherry Minwax, one coat only on the upper handguard since it has darker color wood to begin with. I then sealed them with three coats of semi-gloss polyurethane. Now all the wood parts are color matched, and much more appealing. Entire process was time-consuming, but well worth the effort. Good luck on your project, and have fun.

[Tanstaafl]

superdoc

They clean up fairly well. Stripping the rifle by removing the buttstock and grips may ease cleanup. I used a mild automotive finish restorer to remove the lacquer overspray on the metal. Once you get past that you’ll find a smooth gloss black epoxy finish. As for the wood – some rubbing with 4-0 steel wool cuts the uneven lacquer (this is where it may be best to separate the wood from the metal.)

My two Misr S/As had canted front sight bases. This was easily corrected by carefully moving the sight base back to vertical. To do this I held the barrel in vise blocks, and used a large Crescent wrench from below, flats padded to protect the finish and snugged against the sight base. Though the sight base is press-fit and pinned there was enough “slack” to allow alignment. I was able to zero both with the front sight windage drum nearly centered in the sight base.

Best of luck on your project

[colonel kalashnikov]

First of all, I am an amateur (to say the most) when it comes to improving guns of any nature, as i am in the middle of my first ever project in such an endeavor.

I am in the middle of refinishing the wood furniture on my USA/MAADI hi cap.....I say it is worth it if your Maddi's wood isn't too beat up. So far, I have stripped, sanded, and hand rubbed two coats of linseed oil cut with turpentine. The pieces look superb (compared to their prior sloppy look). I am gonna apply three more coats with straight linseed oil, as 5 total coats had been recommended by other members of this forum.....If you do decide to refinish, sand the heck out of the wood with 220 grit, and then finish with 400 or 600 grit, or higher if you wanna.....main thing is to get through all of the flaws. Mine had many flaws (mainly over abuse of the cheap lacquer sprayer at the factory), and took much sanding. BUT, I think it is all worth it. Do the work yourself....dont go out an spend too much on an aftermarket stock kit......you will appreciate your rifle more if you do the work yourself. Sorry...I reckon I get sentimental bought my AKs.

Safe Shooting...and Gotta love the cheap MAADIs!!!! They make teriffic shooters.

[BIG D]

Hey Superdoc,

Yeah, I'ved noticed the price drop. Bought mine about a month ago from SOG. Paid $300. Got a flyer from Federal Arms the other day. They are selling the MADDI's for $285, the SR1's for $309 and the SR2's with a 10 round mag and 2 hi caps for $319.

Bought a new E.German 30 rounder at a gun show in Orlando last month for $14.00. I bought 4 30 rounders from Inter Ordance for $11.95 each. 3 looked brand new and the other was slightly used.

Stan