Bulgarian AK BSR47 Receiver

Introducing the Bulgarian Red Star BSR47 Barreled Receiver

The video presents a Red Star Ordnance BSR47, described as a Bulgarian sporting rifle 47. It arrives as a complete barreled action: a 1 mm stamped AKM-pattern receiver with a 16.3-inch barrel and all internal components installed. The assembly is functional but ships without furniture or a magazine, so the buyer must add a buttstock, pistol grip, upper and lower handguards, and a magazine. An example rifle is shown with surplus wood furniture installed to illustrate what a finished build can look like. The hosts emphasize that this configuration is treated as a complete firearm and will transfer through an FFL, but it is intended as a ready-to-build base for customization rather than a fully finished rifle out of the box.

Why Choose a No-Furniture AKM Build

The discussion turns to why someone would buy a BSR47 without furniture instead of a fully finished rifle. Red Star Ordnance offers versions with red wood furniture and Magpul furniture, but buyers who already plan to install specific stocks, rails, or handguards may not want to pay for parts they will remove. Examples mentioned include Texas Weapon Systems rails and other aftermarket stocks and handguards. By starting with this bare configuration, the buyer avoids paying for unused accessories and can put that money toward preferred components. Pricing is described as roughly around an $800 MSRP, compared with more expensive fully furnished rifles, leaving additional budget for customization while still getting a complete, functional barreled action.

Muzzle, Gas System, and Front-End Details

The front end of the BSR47 is examined in detail. The barrel is fitted with a thread protector that is tack welded in place; underneath are 14x1 left-hand threads compatible with standard AK-47 style muzzle brakes and other muzzle devices. A detent and spring in the front sight block are present to retain a muzzle device once installed. The front sight block includes an adjustable front sight post, with windage adjusted on the barrel and elevation on the post. The rifle uses a 45-degree gas block, which differs from the 90-degree gas blocks often associated with Bulgarian rifles and instead resembles a more traditional pattern. Below the gas block is a nonfunctional bayonet lug that lacks the locking wings but serves as a cleaning rod retainer. The rifle does not ship with a cleaning rod, which is noted as mostly an aesthetic omission since many users rely on separate cleaning kits.

Receiver, Pattern Compatibility, and Controls

Moving rearward, the hosts describe the handguard retainers and receiver. The lower handguard retainer is adjustable via a small lever that allows it to slide along the barrel for handguard installation, while the upper handguard rotates into place between the retainers. The rear sight block is elevation adjustable and sits at the front of the trunnion area. The receiver is a 1 mm stamped AKM-pattern design, and viewers are advised to select AKM-pattern accessories to ensure proper fit, avoiding parts intended for other patterns such as certain Serbian rifles. The safety lever is a standard AK style without a bolt hold-open notch, and it is described as smooth in operation straight out of the box. A fixed stock tang is present at the rear for traditional fixed-stock installation. Overall fit and riveting on the receiver are noted as looking solid and straightforward, with no frills but functional construction.

Optics Mounting Options Without a Side Rail

The left side of the BSR47 receiver does not include a traditional AK side optics rail. The hosts explain that this is not a major limitation because many aftermarket solutions exist for mounting optics on AK-pattern rifles. Since buyers will already be selecting their own handguards and accessories, they can choose components that incorporate mounting surfaces. Options mentioned include railed gas tube covers or upper handguards, replacement gas tubes with integrated rails, and rear sight replacements that add a Picatinny rail section. Dust cover systems such as Texas Weapon Systems dog leg-style covers and extended rail systems like alpha rails are also referenced as ways to mount optics. The absence of a side rail is framed as consistent with the rifle’s role as a customizable base, encouraging users to select the specific optics mounting solution that best matches their intended setup.

Weight, Example Furniture, and Final Configuration

An example configuration is shown using an older surplus wood handguard set, buttstock, and pistol grip that were found in the warehouse and temporarily taped in place. This gives the rifle an intentionally worn, old-school appearance while the underlying firearm remains new. The hosts then weigh the bare BSR47 assembly without furniture. On the scale, it registers approximately 5.2 to 5.3 pounds. They note that this is relatively light for an AKM-pattern rifle and that the final weight will depend on the chosen furniture and accessories. Lightweight polymer stocks and handguards will add less mass, while extended full-length rails that run back toward the front sight post will add more. Because the overall length and height will change once a stock and pistol grip are installed, they focus on weight as the most meaningful measurement for this ready-to-build configuration.

Hardware Considerations for Stocks and Grips

The video closes with a practical reminder about hardware requirements when finishing the BSR47 build. The barreled receiver does not include the screws, nuts, or other small parts needed to attach furniture. When purchasing a pistol grip, the buyer must ensure it comes with a grip screw and the corresponding nut that fits into the receiver. If the grip does not include these, they must be sourced separately. The same applies to the buttstock, which requires appropriate stock screws that are not provided with the barreled action. Front handguards rely on the existing retainers, so no extra hardware is highlighted there, but users still need to confirm that their chosen handguards are compatible with AKM-pattern retainers. The hosts stress planning ahead so that all necessary mounting hardware is ordered along with the furniture, preventing delays in completing the rifle build.