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AK bolt problem
fivefivesix
Member Posts: 342 ✭✭✭
Sitting here with my friend and his new Romanian WASR and he is explaining his problem to me. After cycling the action to load a new round, the bolt / bolt carrier sticks in place with about 1/2" of space where the bullet is in the barrel. You can cycle the action again and the rifle will eject the round, and I am not sure of the rifle's ability to fire because neither one of us want to fire the rifle in this condition. He installed a new handguard and pistol grip, but has replaced the old equipment but with no solution. I hope my explanation makes enough sense so that someone might be able to help us, since we are stuck as to what the solution might be. Thanks for any help.
Comments
It sounds like you are saying that the round does not feed completely into the chamber. Is this what you are describing?
Does the bolt cycle fine on its own (without ammo)? If it does, I'm wondering if there is an obstruction in the chamber? I don't know what your experience level is with firearms or how familiar you are with the AK, but are you certain you have the proper ammunition? (There are two main rounds the AK is chambered for, one is 7.62 x 39, the other is 5.45 x 39.)
What sort of magazine are you feeding rounds from? Is it one of the recent manufactured ones made in the U.S. or imported military surplus?
It is probably going to be best to bring the firearm to someone who can look at it in person, trying to diagnose a chambering problem without physical inspection of the firearm is pretty difficult.
There is no shame in being new to the AK. Everyone was at one time or another, if your experience is limited, find someone that has 'AK experience'. A gunsmith may cost a few bucks, but it is worth an eye, fingers, your life. It is a good aquaintance too.
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FIRST, IT WOULD A VERY WISE THING TO GET SOME SNAP-CAPS IN YOUR CALIBER(s)....NO MORE FITTING WITH LIVE AMMO.
Everyone would agree that you have chambering problems .
But do you have chamber problems....that is
---- is your chamber buggered up somehow ? Strip the rifle down so you can slip a snap cap into the chamber by hand. It should go in smoothly, if not you have the wrong ammo, or there is an obstruction in the chamber. (Having SNAP CAPS in the other common AK calbers would be a wise investment here too. They are always useful.)
The chamber or bore may have a piece of something in it. It would not take much stuck to the side of the chamber to prohibit correct chambering.
Be very careful, get some on the spot help locally, enjoy finding and fixing the problem.
Reply to your own post here when you get if figured out and fixed up.
Sharing your experinces helps us all.
Make sure you pull the charging handle all the way to the rear and let it slingshot forward when chambering the 1st round. If you don't do this it will hangup.
Give it a little tap with your hand to make sure it's fully closed.
get a hammer and beat on the back of bolt and bolt handle, once it is all the way forward, beat back again and repeat the process several times, eventually everything will get bent into place, start with a normal drywall hammer, if this doesnt work you can up it to a 3 lb sledge or 10 lb if needed, ak can take the punishment
Don't ever take advice from this guy.
You should never have to "force" any action on any firearm.
maybe a little minimal force, but nothing that would require a hammer.
Ben