ak-47

[charles]

what is the better gun as far as make and model. I would like to buy one before they out law them all together. charles

[Smilin_Bob]

what is the better gun as far as make and model. I would like to buy one before they out law them all together. * *charles

Well there are plenty of Romanian AK's out there. And they are fairly cheap. But if you have the money I would look at Bulgarian or anyother AK with a milled receiver. I would stay away from Yugo's as they do not have a chrome lined barrel. Its getting more difficult to find quality AK's, if you are not fixed on a pistol grip the Chinese Norinco MAK-90 is and excellent firearm. I hope this helps.

Smilin Bob ;D

[RangerRick]

http://i18.tinypic.com/2q16n0l.png

This is the Israeli Galil in .223/5.56. *I've got mine on order and should be delivered within another week I hope, from Century Arms & Centerfire. *I've fired the Century unit and at $800 it is a bargain. *There is also an adapter made for it that allows it to use AR15/M16 mags. *After the 6 day war Israel designed this off of the AK47 but improved it considerably with a milled receiver, rotating bolt, chromed barrel and longer sight picture as they were less than impressed with the performance of the FAL in sandy environments that they used at the time so you may want to take this into serious consideration as an alternative. *Oh yea, it comes standard issue with folding stock, bayonet lug, 1 mag, and Tritium Sights fore and aft.

Rick

[Bad_Omen]

Yep, I'd agree with RR there, I have very fond memories of my R5, which is the South African ParaBat version of the Galil.

I never once had any problems with her and we went all over the bush together and got into a fair few scrapes. She never once let me down. ;D

If you're after an 'AK type' you'll be hard pushed to find better.

[Pitdog]

Arsenal AK's are pretty much the best on the market out there right now. Norincos are nice and reliable too, however they are pricey since the Chinese imports were banned altogther several years ago. I got a couple of them and they both run with no problems. Romanian AK's work, but are rough, if you have the skilled hands and a little know-how in homegunsmithing, you can improve them drastically. I reccomend replacing single hook tirggers with double hook triggers, and keeping a good supply of spare springs. Extractors and firing pins are a good emergency repair part to have as well.

[Badger]

+1 Arsenal Inc. I'm saving for one in 7.62 X 39

[karlsgunbunker]

You can spend the extra dollars on a milled receiver AK if you have it or buy a stampeed receiver AK and a case of ammo.

The AK-47 was originally designed to have a "Stamped" receiver. the milled russian rifles were produced as a stop gap due to production problems with the stamped models.
The milled AK's are very expensive to produce due to the machining required.

I have 4 stamped receiver AK's they all go bang every time and are as accurate as the design and my eyes allow.

[Badger]

I have 3 AK style rifles:

The first is a MAK-90 with a milled receiver. At the time I bought it no one wanted a MAK because of the thumb hole stock. The "M'' in MAK is for modified ie thumbhole stock, and sold with a 5 round magazine. MAKs came in either milled of stamped receiver. Either in very good. The last price I saw on a blonde MAK 90, stamped receiver was $550. I've heard of them as high as $650.

I recently got bitten by the Evil AK bug and have bought two more AKs.

I purchased a WASR 10/63 for $400 out the door. I checked it against all the others on the rack. The gas tube and sights were straight on it. It had some magazine wiggle, but not as much as some of the others. The finish was a rough, thin powder coat. And the wood was unfinished. It came with 2 magazines, cleaning kit, web gear and a bayonet.

It shot much better than it looked. I sanded the stock and put 5 coats of polycoat on it. It does look bad. I think I'm going to refinish the metal with Brownell's Armor Hide. *The cost on the WASRs has gone up. I saw one yesterday for $420.00 and tax :o

On a WASR just make sure it takes Warsaw Pac magazine not the single stacks. Also, you want one with a TAPCO trigger group.


The last AK I bought was a Lancaster standard with Russian Red furniture. The finshed is great and its built right. I haven't had time to shoot it due to work, but asap I've going to. Lancaster and Vector make two of the better AK without the Arsenal price.

[Blackhawk]

Hello gentlemen. My first postings here so I thought I'd get my feet wet with this topic.

I was in the same boat and for the money I chose the Saiga 7.62x39. The Saiga Sporter can be converted to AK style very easily. There is a video on www.youtube.com that goes thru step by step. I paid $309 for mine, out the door. Put another $100 in it and have a Russian AK with quality that fits more between a Yugo and Arsenal. www.tapco.com has all the parts needed to stay US compiant.

Something I forgot to add was that the Saiga can be converted to take standard AK mags as well.

All parts and converting the rifle are cheap and easy.

John

[jim]

The East Germans made milled AK receivers that were smooth as butter. Very nice weapons.
jim

[karlsgunbunker]

My Wholesale price for a WASR is $329 w/o bayo and #349 w/bayo.
The polish tantal with folding stock is $449

I have 2 wasr's and they shoot fine. they are not the prettiest AK's but they function well.

All 4 of my Personal AK's are Romanian but I have a lot of others pass through my shop.

IMHO it's more important that a rifle function, it doesn't have to be pretty.
If looks mattered I wouldn't own an Enfield. LOL

[Shortstack]

Due to regulations from the BATFE all imported AKs now comming into the country have the barrels demilled (Cut). It use to be that the receiver was demilled and barrel left intact. Not so any more...
The days of the cheap AK's are pretty much over, the cost of building receivers and rebarreling ensures that cost of an AK is only going to go up.
I like the Yugo AK's, not pretty but functional... ;D
Shortstack

[CountryGuy]

I know this is an older thread but I have the same original question. In light of all the changes the last few years what AK's are available that are decent quality? I don't want an Arsenal as I think they are way to pricy and this rifle was never intended to be a "tack" driver.

What are some good options for a decent standard AK that still has somewhat easy to find spare parts, surplus mags, and ammo. I'm lost when I start seeing all these WASR, Saigia, norinco, romanian, yugo etc...

I saw someone mention the Galil from Century but I've heard bad things on these clones, any feedback. Also are these only available in 5.56? I'd prefer a rifle in a east block caliber, most likely 7.62x39 though I've also heard the AK-74 in 5.45x39 are to be pretty good as well. I read an article a year or so ago that raved about the VZ-58 which is to be in 7.62x39 but the few I've seen have been 800 or more plus I believe they take their own mags. Anyone know for sure or have any experience with any of these?

I've already got and AR in 5.56 so I'm looking for another quality battle rifle to have in the safe but one in east bloc caliber.

Thanks.

[Jezcruzen]

I recently watched a video of the Polish Tantal AK74 being produced by Century. It seems that Century has been using American-made barrels bored for 5.56 NATO rather than the smaller dia. 5.45 Russian. This causes the bullet to tumble in flight, making the rifle woefully inaccurate. The rifles themselves look great. But this is yet another screw-up by Century, it seems.

[farmerj]

I know where you can get ahold of a Magnum Research Galil in either .223 or .308. Take your pick.

[oldvet53]

AK's are not as accurate as a SKS that shoots the same round. the SKS was designed from a scaled down anti-tank rifle, the receiver is machined from a 8lb. block of steel and has tighter tolerances. it can be fitted with a multitude of stocks and a adapted AK mag. I have owned both and the SKS's were better shooting carbines, of course that was in the late '80's-mid '90's when a Russian SKS packed in cosmoline and looked as they had been new and arsenal stored for between $75.00-$90.00. I now own a Bushmaster M-4, either the 7.62x39mm or 5.56x45mm rounds will be readily available as will 9mm as all are used my Army's around the world and could be acquired readily in a SHTF scenario.

[gunsmoke]

IMHO one of the best bargind in the AK world today is the MAK90 Milled Receiver.

If the thumbhole bothers you, it can be replaced with a conventional Stock and PG IF you comply with the requirements of 18 USC 922r which will require you to replace a number of parts with US sourced parts.

http://gunwiki.net/Gunwiki/BuildAkVerifyCompliance

Tjis website discusses 922r compliance and provides a handy checklist that will help you. You should also search this site for AK 47 for earlier discussions on this subject.

The milled receiver AKs have significant accuraccy potential as does the selection of ammunition (hint the cheap Russian ammo is NOT the acurate stuff!)

Good luck!

[Poonie]

I recently bought a WASR10. Yes its not the prettiest gun out there, and yes you have to watch for the canted sights and gas blocks but even then as long as the gun functions, so what. These guns were not made to win a beauty contest. They were made to be reliable and function when other guns will not.

In my case I did not want a pretty wall hanger, nor could I afford one, so I went with a WASR. I paid I think $460.00 out the door, maybe slightly more. I too wanted an AK variant before they become outlawed. My gun after more thoroughly inspecting it at home, has a slightly canted gas block but the gun has not malfunctioned yet so as long as it does its job I could care less if the gas block is canted.

I think for what you will pay for higher end AK's you would be better served buying an AR15, as you will then be in their territory price wise anyway. If I was gonna drop close to $1k for a rifle I'd go with an AR variant in that case. However if a knock around beater that will still come up shooting, and for around $500.oo is what you want you can't beat a WASR10.

[qwerty]

I would not own a WASR if you gave one to me. They are cheap imitations of the AK-47.

As far as being able to buy a REAL Russian made AK, they don't exist. What these gunsites do is take a few parts of a Russian AK and then reassemble them in the USA. The only place you can find an Authentic AK is gunbroker or if you are lucky to stumble onto one a a gun show or gun store but you are going to pay big $$$ for those.

[gunsmoke]

THE WASERS are ae hit or miss as a 1950s Japanese made tin toy. They are NOT reliable at all. If you want the botttom line reliability of the AK buy where our own defense intelligence and security agencies buy the ones they use and issue to allies CHINA.

Unfortunately you cannot buy a NEW one from China because of a Presidential Fiat issued by Clinton the mighty you'll have to settle for one imported before his one-man executive order prohibited their import.

The Chinese have ALWAYS built a better AK and the real war fighters know this to be true first hand.

Their milled AKs are the best and their stamped AKs have always used a significantly heavier guage of sheet metal.

The rattle and shake built into the AK from its design stage up is what gives it its legendary rliability. As time has gone on the stamped AKs especially poor examples like the WAER for example have taken it to the extreme as a cost saving measure.

Any milled AK with a careful substituion of less than $50 in parts can be brought to the equal of a G! G# or M14 in battle dress as long as you choose the better brass cased western made ammunition.

If all you want is something to go bang when you pull the trigger never mind where the round is going try a WASER and a couple of cases of cheap Russian made Ammo, if you're serious and need a serious piece for defense try something better.

[Poonie]

THE WASERS are ae hit or miss as a 1950s Japanese made tin toy. They are NOT reliable at all. If you want the botttom line reliability of the AK buy where our own defense intelligence and security agencies buy the ones they use and issue to allies CHINA.

Unfortunately you cannot buy a NEW one from China because of a Presidential Fiat issued by Clinton the mighty you'll have to settle for one imported before his one-man executive order prohibited their import.

The Chinese have ALWAYS built a better AK and the real war fighters know this to be true first hand.

Their milled AKs are the best and their stamped AKs have always used a significantly heavier guage of sheet metal.

The rattle and shake built into the AK from its design stage up is what gives it its legendary rliability. As time has gone on the stamped AKs especially poor examples like the WAER for example have taken it to the extreme as a cost saving measure.

Any milled AK with a careful substituion of less than $50 in parts can be brought to the equal of a G! G# or M14 in battle dress as long as you choose the better brass cased western made ammunition.

If all you want is something to go bang when you pull the trigger never mind where the round is going try a WASER and a couple of cases of cheap Russian made Ammo, if you're serious and need a serious piece for defense try something better.

Sir, you obviously have either never handled a WASR or never fired one to make these statements! And if you've done your history homework, milled AK's were only produced because of the shortcomings of the Russian arms industry at the time. That situation was sorted out and most will tell you there isn't enough of a difference between a milled or stamped receiver to make any difference. And besides how many millions of stamped receivered AKs are out there fighting wars all over the globe right now? I doubt their owners are going to toss them in favor of holding out for a milled AK. They'll be bleached bones bby the side of the road before they get one.

You seem as if a WASR is so innaccurate that you cannot hit the broadside of a barn with one. Sure, maybe you won't get the MOA accuracy of a top dollar AK, but if you can't hit a human sized sillhouette at 100 yards with a WASR then its you not the gun. Every one I fired could easily keep all shots in the kill zone of a standard silhouette target at 100 yards, and this was offhand. I don't know how much more accuracy you need but from a defense standpoint that's good enough. You want to drive tacks pick up a varmint gun. You want to get the job done pick up an AK, and yes a WASR is an AK. It may not be THE AK, but its still an AK(or AKM I should say).

[Poonie]

I would not own a WASR if you gave one to me. They are cheap imitations of the AK-47.

As far as being able to buy a REAL Russian made AK, they don't exist. What these gunsites do is take a few parts of a Russian AK and then reassemble them in the USA. The only place you can find an Authentic AK is gunbroker or if you are lucky to stumble onto one a a gun show or gun store but you are going to pay big $$$ for those.

Good, tell you what Sparky, when somebody gives you a WASR, let me know, I'll pay the shipping to have you mail it to me. I'll gladly take that cheap imitation off your hands.

[Michael32170]

THE WASERS are ae hit or miss as a 1950s Japanese made tin toy. They are NOT reliable at all. If you want the botttom line reliability of the AK buy where our own defense intelligence and security agencies buy the ones they use and issue to allies CHINA.

Unfortunately you cannot buy a NEW one from China because of a Presidential Fiat issued by Clinton the mighty you'll have to settle for one imported before his one-man executive order prohibited their import.

The Chinese have ALWAYS built a better AK and the real war fighters know this to be true first hand.

Their milled AKs are the best and their stamped AKs have always used a significantly heavier guage of sheet metal.

The rattle and shake built into the AK from its design stage up is what gives it its legendary rliability. As time has gone on the stamped AKs especially poor examples like the WAER for example have taken it to the extreme as a cost saving measure.

Any milled AK with a careful substituion of less than $50 in parts can be brought to the equal of a G! G# or M14 in battle dress as long as you choose the better brass cased western made ammunition.

If all you want is something to go bang when you pull the trigger never mind where the round is going try a WASER and a couple of cases of cheap Russian made Ammo, if you're serious and need a serious piece for defense try something better.

R. Lee Emory was shooting one in auto on slow motion video. That thing flexed and twisted so bad, that I bet he had a 20 ft spread at 100 yards.

[gunsmoke]

R. Lee Emory was shooting one in auto on slow motion video. That thing flexed and twisted so bad, that I bet he had a 20 ft spread at 100 yards.

I missed R Lee but I know the WASRs that I have seeen abd miked actually had 0.85mm guage metal, the original Russian AAKM spec called for 1.4mm guage metal, almost everyone else building AKMs for the military and 90% of the Commercial market AKMs are 1.6mm thick metal.

Poonies wikd accusation about the miled receiver AK being an improvisation while technically true is grossly misleading. There was a desire in the USSR to copy the MP44 which used a stamped receiver. And it is true that from the beginning there was a development program to produce the AKM. However it is true that the milled AK was in production and issue EXCLUSIVELY for FIFTEEN YEARS before the design specifications were approved for the AKM another year of prototyping and developing, another year to produce the production tooling and the first were not issued until 17 full years after the AK.

The only Chinese production that I have ever heard of that used less than 1.6mm guage was the Commercial import development by a company called CLAYCO.

The US spec callls for 1.6mm. Almost all Eastern European have always used the Chinese spec of 1.6mm.

The Egyptian Maadi is the only mil spec that I know of that uses 1.00mm guage.

It is possible that WASRs impress some armchair wannabe billy bada**es and gutter dwelling metheads. WASRS can be made to work reasonably, for a while but it takes a competant armorer and about an additional $300. But the same people are impressed with twisted front sites because they get the gun for $5.00 cheaper.

The first imutable law of the universe is you get what you pay for, the only exceptions are found after you stumble into the wabbit hole.............:D

.....and get really really small......

[Poonie]

I missed R Lee but I know the WASRs that I have seeen abd miked actually had 0.85mm guage metal, the original Russian AAKM spec called for 1.4mm guage metal, almost everyone else building AKMs for the military and 90% of the Commercial market AKMs are 1.6mm thick metal.

Poonies wikd accusation about the miled receiver AK being an improvisation while technically true is grossly misleading. There was a desire in the USSR to copy the MP44 which used a stamped receiver. And it is true that from the beginning there was a development program to produce the AKM. However it is true that the milled AK was in production and issue EXCLUSIVELY for FIFTEEN YEARS before the design specifications were approved for the AKM another year of prototyping and developing, another year to produce the production tooling and the first were not issued until 17 full years after the AK.

The only Chinese production that I have ever heard of that used less than 1.6mm guage was the Commercial import development by a company called CLAYCO.

The US spec callls for 1.6mm. Almost all Eastern European have always used the Chinese spec of 1.6mm.

The Egyptian Maadi is the only mil spec that I know of that uses 1.00mm guage.

It is possible that WASRs impress some armchair wannabe billy bada**es and gutter dwelling metheads. WASRS can be made to work reasonably, for a while but it takes a competant armorer and about an additional $300. But the same people are impressed with twisted front sites because they get the gun for $5.00 cheaper.

The first imutable law of the universe is you get what you pay for, the only exceptions are found after you stumble into the wabbit hole.............:D

.....and get really really small......

Come now, Billy bada$$, and gutter dwelling methheads? That's a little harsh don't you think?
I think really you need to check your elitist attitude at the door. Not everyone has their drawers lined with $100 bills, and not everyone wants to spend big bucks on an AK. For even the best AK's can't hold a candle to an AR15 in an accuracy test. Maybe in reliability they excell, but not in the accuracy department for sure.

Hey if you want to drop a G on a gun that's gonna get you 5MOA at 100 yards and no better that's your biz. If I was gonna do that I'd definitely go for a black rifle.

What about the honest Joe who just can't afford to spend alot of money, but whom maybe wants more than grand daddy's old 30-30 as a defense arm? So this guy is also a billy bada$$ or methhead just because he buys a WASR? Your statements are really oozing grey poupon there Thurston. Better install a strobe on that cloud sniffing beak of yours before it gets sucked into a jet engine.

[Teg]

You can find good milled receiver Polish AK's for reasonable (below AR) prices, you just have to do some shopping around.

[CountryGuy]

Wow didn't know I was tossing a grenade in the room... Thanks for everyone's comments.

Oldvet, Thanks for your thoughts. I've thought about adding an SK also. I've spoken with several people before that have told me about the mag well adapter for AK mags but all I've heard is that they can be very finicky to feed and can be mag sensitive. Have you had any experience with this? Most SKS I've seen with pretty beat up stocks and actions, some with others with out the bayonet spike have been around 400-480.

...it can be fitted with a multitude of stocks and a adapted AK mag. I have owned both and the SKS's were better shooting carbines, of course that was in the late '80's-mid '90's when a Russian SKS packed in cosmoline and looked as they had been new and arsenal stored for between $75.00-$90.00.

I ran into a shop a while back that has some Bulgarian AK's and I think he said he had some Polish ones for around 550. The polish might have been 50 or 75 more. I haven't saw anyone mention Polish AK's, any reason? I talked to the in-house gunsmith and he was telling me he pulls them apart and goes over everything, does a trigger job to take out the drit and replaces some other parts for performance and reliability (still keeps everything legal). Some he puts Tapco stocks and such on and he said he could outfit one how I'd like. I'm thinking this is gonna be my best bet. I think he said for around 200 more he would clean up the metal and duracoat it. not sure about that, though it does seem like a good price.

[CountryGuy]

Farmarj - sent u a PM on the Galil

[oldvet53]

Wow didn't know I was tossing a grenade in the room... Thanks for everyone's comments.

Oldvet, Thanks for your thoughts. I've thought about adding an SK also. I've spoken with several people before that have told me about the mag well adapter for AK mags but all I've heard is that they can be very finicky to feed and can be mag sensitive. Have you had any experience with this? Most SKS I've seen with pretty beat up stocks and actions, some with others with out the bayonet spike have been around 400-480.



I ran into a shop a while back that has some Bulgarian AK's and I think he said he had some Polish ones for around 550. The polish might have been 50 or 75 more. I haven't saw anyone mention Polish AK's, any reason? I talked to the in-house gunsmith and he was telling me he pulls them apart and goes over everything, does a trigger job to take out the drit and replaces some other parts for performance and reliability (still keeps everything legal). Some he puts Tapco stocks and such on and he said he could outfit one how I'd like. I'm thinking this is gonna be my best bet. I think he said for around 200 more he would clean up the metal and duracoat it. not sure about that, though it does seem like a good price. I put mine in I think it was a Tapco folding stock and had the 10,20 and a modded 30 AK mag that worked fine. they can be converted to a unmodified Ak mag but then you can't go back, also someone was selling a firing pin spring which is worth the money as the stock SKS never came with one and if you are useing cruddy communist bulk ammo and don't clean after each use and let it sit overnight the corrosive primers that the communist used could grow enough green corrosion that if the firing pin was in the forward fire position could make it cook off in full auto when cambering a round. so use a quality ammo like wolf with non corrosive primers. the AK mags i used had the adapter made on the mag so it was no mod to the magwell.

[jim]

So what would it cost to modify an SKS to use standard AK mags. A good job, not a cheapie.
jim

[NowKnowYe]

Check out the SA VZ 58 rifle from Czechpoint.
I love mine and recommend it highly.

[ArmySGT.]

Just to keep the "Legend" that is the AK-47 in perspective.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j218/ArmySGT_photos/Makes%20me%20laugh/Pro%20Gun/AKfail.gif

[Teg]

Just to keep the "Legend" that is the AK-47 in perspective.


Easy to use though. ;)

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhqC16Wittvf7gMfBR

[farmerj]

That's an ammo issue not a gun issue.

You can see the weird muzzle flash just prior to it coming apart.

[Teg]

That's an ammo issue not a gun issue.

You can see the weird muzzle flash just prior to it coming apart.

Could have been the ammo or possibly something the village idiot firing the weapon had done to modify the weapon, in the end no weapon is indestructible. :)

[macgeoghagen]

There are a few organizations which modify 7.62x39 cartridges so that they explode rather than send a bullet down the barrel. That guy is lucky to be alive. Most of the time the modified cartridge kills the shooter. I have been warned not to pick up or use any ak47 or ammo that I might find on the battlefield.

[Teg]

There are a few organizations which modify 7.62x39 cartridges so that they explode rather than send a bullet down the barrel. That guy is lucky to be alive. Most of the time the modified cartridge kills the shooter. I have been warned not to pick up or use any ak47 or ammo that I might find on the battlefield.

I don't think that was a sabotaged round can't be for sure I guess unless someone knows the source of the video, but he has more of a lets play dress-up and shoot guns look about him.

[Wyobuckaroo]

From what little experience I have with AKs, I'm going to guess that blow up was a combination of several things.

If it was a model with a floating firing pin, I don't remember which models do or don't have spring loaded pins. I'm can't help but think it was an "out of battery" discharge. I'm thinking this because the forward trunnion (barrel mount) came off the receiver frame.

Ammo with soft (commercial/reloading/hunting) primers would contribute to this kind of issue. Or a primer not set below the level of the case head (high primer)...........

Yes the shooter is very lucky not to be hurt.

Pitdog, or Armysgt, who have been to school may have more info.

Good luck
Wyo

[cornhusker]

I've recently been bitten by the AK bug..well, I've wanted one for a long time but never could figure out what I wanted.
I have a Saiga in .223 that has been a good rifle for the last 3 years, and I may get one in 7.62x39.
A few weeks ago I picked up a WASR 10\63 underfolder, and while it's not a pretty rifle, I like the way it looks and shoots.
I can hit a coffee can at 100 yards, and I have yet to experience any type of failure.
The thing is straight, tight and smooth. I have heard the WASRs are using mil spec parts now, not the rejects like they used to, and mine has the triangle and arrow that apparently proves this to be true.
It came with 3 mags. 2 have a little wobble, and one doesn't wobble at all.
That all being said, I purchased a Century GP1975 about a week ago, and it's a bit of a mess.
I mean it's straight, the sights and other parts are not canted, and while the furniture is plastic, it's fitted well and solid.
However, it's not as smooth in the action as my WASR or Saiga, and I've had to pull the firing pin 3 times to clean a bit of metal out of the channel.
Come to find out, I had some pierced primers and the metal was a bit of primer blown back into the bolt.
Not sure if it's the ammo or the firing pin causing the problem, and I've never had that problem with the WASR using the same ammo, but maybe I had a bad box.
The firing pin on the GP75 is deformed a bit and is really roughing up the primers, even the ones that didn't get pierced, so I'll be ordering a new firing pin I guess.
I guess the point I'm making is that the new WASRs aren't the same gun that gave them a bad rep, but I'd still be leery of stuff coming from Century, especially if you don't know how old it is.

[grumble]

"Come to find out, I had some pierced primers and the metal was a bit of primer blown back into the bolt.
Not sure if it's the ammo or the firing pin causing the problem..."

Had that happen to me with a Ruger Mini-14 that I'd put about 100,000 rounds through. After a lot of head scratching and trying different things, I finally figured out it was the hole in the bolt where the firing pin sticks through. It had enlarged over time until it was big enough to allow the pressure of the round being fired to blow out a tiny disk back inside the bolt.

I don't know how things are these days, but back then Ruger wouldn't sell just the bolt, and the whole rifle would have to be shipped back to the factory. It would have cost more than the gun was worth, so I just replaced the rifle.

Dunno if your problem is the same, that is, the firing pin hole being oversized, but it's worth looking at.

[cornhusker]

"Come to find out, I had some pierced primers and the metal was a bit of primer blown back into the bolt.
Not sure if it's the ammo or the firing pin causing the problem..."

Had that happen to me with a Ruger Mini-14 that I'd put about 100,000 rounds through. After a lot of head scratching and trying different things, I finally figured out it was the hole in the bolt where the firing pin sticks through. It had enlarged over time until it was big enough to allow the pressure of the round being fired to blow out a tiny disk back inside the bolt.

I don't know how things are these days, but back then Ruger wouldn't sell just the bolt, and the whole rifle would have to be shipped back to the factory. It would have cost more than the gun was worth, so I just replaced the rifle.

Dunno if your problem is the same, that is, the firing pin hole being oversized, but it's worth looking at.
Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look at it :)
Nice thing about AKs, parts are plentiful and they are easy to work on.

[Teg]

I have a Century C93 (HK 93 Clone) that I like a lot, I will say that with most Century products I'd recommend a thorough breakdown and cleaning before heading to the range, their assembly folks don't seem to wipe all of the cosmoline off the parts kits, so things can be a touch "gummy" and it gives ya a chance to check for wear. That being said the C93 has been perfect, just wish the 30 rd mags weren't so blasted expensive.