It has been demonstrated that you can fashion an AK out of a typical gardening shovel. https://www.northeastshooters.com/xen/threads/diy-shovel-ak-...

There's always the classic shovel AK: https://www.northeastshooters.com/xen/threads/diy-shovel-ak-...

Sheet metal is actually harder to use than milled parts, it's just cheaper for mass production. The original AK was a milled receiver which they switched to stamped for subsequent iterations. Stamping metal with high accuracy is very hard and requires very special tooling.

Sorry, no. It is cheaper in every way possible. The lower receiver is literally metal box with holes in it. You can hammer it out by hand and cut to size with a dremel. The most challenging parts will be smaller pieces (hammer, bolt etc) and all the tubing for the gas trap system (that one will actually require some welding). That’s if you want to build it entirely from Home Depot materials and tools for some reason (in the US only receiver is legally a “weapon”).

> Stamping metal with high accuracy is very hard and requires very special tooling.

Only if you want to crank them out by the millions. As the "shovel AK" clearly demonstrates you can get it done more easily if you don't need to produce them at scale.

AK are harder to make at home because it's sheet metal. Requires welding and other harder work.

Vs buying an 80% blank, drilling a few holes, and then routing.

I see these 80% kits online that even includes the tooling you need to complete it. It’s so simple anyone could do it.

If compared to commercially available 80% lowers for ar, sure