I've already gotten quotes from a couple gunsmiths in NoVA but it's literally too expensive. Nobody in my local area wants to touch this stuff because nobody has the expertise.

There's gotta be someone who can help me out. What I got:

M77 parts kit to be put together on milled receiver.

I have a barrel with the journals pre-cut. I'm now realizing that this is not necessarily the best way to do things but I'm hoping to make it work.

I do not have a press and I do not have the ability to rivet anything with the tools I have.

If anyone in Virginia is willing to assist (it doesn't have to necessarily be a gunsmith, just someone whose built an AK) I will be happy to make plans with you and drive out and we can do this. I will of course compensate you but I cannot afford to pay $1000 just to put the thing together. I'm not made of that kind of money