I just picked one up in 7.62x39. It was a beast to get the dust cover back on after field stripping. I'm not sure about this one. This weapon is pretty much out of action in the absence of that receiver cover, and too much is riding on the tab that marries the rec. cover and gas tube together...
I would like to see them go after alcohol,cigarettes and cannabis with the same conviction that they have gone after guns. More persons die from causes related to any one of these three each year in Maryland than from firearms.