Yeah you need that chrome lined barrel there.
I love Magpul, but even their plastic magazines are a beech to seat in an AK. Eastern bloc steel mags are the way to go.
In any event the AK is just a semi-auto “submachinegun on steroids.” (?Patrick Sweeney)
You really need that big 7.62 bullet punching through the jungle. The 5.45x39 and 5.56mm are too light. And a piston system is far better than DI in harsh environments, especially with soldiers that likely don’t care much for maintenance.