Archived Posts » 59,859,448
AK Will Not Hand Eject Unfired Cartridge
1/8/2011 9:51:41 PM
Here is the story. Have an Interarms IAC 47 from Atlantic. The gun is new, has had less than 50 rounds through it. Everything seems to be functioning correctly, hand cycles empty no problem, no binding, no hangups. Gun will chamber a round normally, fires normally, cycles every time, and is quite accurate. Here is the problem - if you want to eject and unfired round the bolt will not go back. It moves easily for 1/8-1/4" but refuses to go any further. The first time it happened I fired the round into the backstop and took the gun inside and field stripped it. Nothing looked like it was rubbing more than you would normally expect. Put the gun back together, function tested it and everything worked like it should. Back out to shoot and same thing, would not eject an unfired round. This time I really put some muscle into it and it ejected finally, but then it wouldn't cycle when EMPTY. Back inside, field stripped again, still nothing jumping out as a problem. Put it back together and everything works again. Any ideas what the problem could be??? This gun does have a TAPCO FCG, the majority of the parts are from a Maadi parts kit.
Thanks,
Anthony
Thanks,
Anthony
1/9/2011 7:37:56 AM
It sounds like the action is binding when the bolt tries to turn and unlock.
If all the cartridges which you were shooting were from the same lot it's POSSIBLE that the cartridges are out of spec and are just slightly too long. Do you have different cartridges? Will those chamber and extract?
It's POSSIBLE that the headspace is tight. Are there any marks on the unfired cartridge you got out that indicate that the case was rubbing on the chamber (on the shoulder) or bolt (on the base of the case)? Can you retrieve the fired cases and examine them for signs of excessive pressure?
If there's no sign of rubbing or excessive pressure it's probably not a headspace problem, but the only way to be certain is to have it checked.
It's POSSIBLE that the bolt cam in the carrier and/or the cam lug on the bolt are rough. Can you post a pictures of those?
It's POSSIBLE that the mating surfaces on the trunnion and bolt are rough. Can you post pictures?
It's POSSIBLE that the rifle simply needs to be broken in. Was it built from an all matching numbers (or at least the trunnion, bolt and carrier) kit?
If all the cartridges which you were shooting were from the same lot it's POSSIBLE that the cartridges are out of spec and are just slightly too long. Do you have different cartridges? Will those chamber and extract?
It's POSSIBLE that the headspace is tight. Are there any marks on the unfired cartridge you got out that indicate that the case was rubbing on the chamber (on the shoulder) or bolt (on the base of the case)? Can you retrieve the fired cases and examine them for signs of excessive pressure?
If there's no sign of rubbing or excessive pressure it's probably not a headspace problem, but the only way to be certain is to have it checked.
It's POSSIBLE that the bolt cam in the carrier and/or the cam lug on the bolt are rough. Can you post a pictures of those?
It's POSSIBLE that the mating surfaces on the trunnion and bolt are rough. Can you post pictures?
It's POSSIBLE that the rifle simply needs to be broken in. Was it built from an all matching numbers (or at least the trunnion, bolt and carrier) kit?
1/9/2011 11:18:52 AM
I'll collect all the ejected cases I can and look them over. There is currently a bunch of snow on the ground so it is hard to find them. I expect the snow to be gone in the next couple of days. The round I did finally get to eject went flying and bounced off a tree limb into about a foot of snow, hope to recover it when I go back for the cases. I do not believe the numbers match on the gun, but everything has Egyptian markings so I honestly have no clue. The ammo was from two different lots so I doubt it is a problem with the ammo. Is there a way I can check the headspace myself?
1/9/2011 5:37:53 PM
Originally Posted By AnthonyT:
Is there a way I can check the headspace myself?
Is there a way I can check the headspace myself?
In your case, you need a GO gauge. IIRC, that will set you back about $30.
I'd eliminate all other possibilities before I spent money on a gauge.
1/15/2011 8:05:46 PM
Looked the gun over again very carefully and could find no signs of anything being rough, rubbing, or otherwise out of the ordinary. Cleaned it up well and lubed it. I then hand cycled it a bunch (unloaded). Took it out to the range and ran about 100 rounds through it. It functions flawlessly now. Guess it just needed a little breaking in. Also, I was able to find the numbers on the front trunnion and the trunnion, bolt and carrier do in fact match.
Thanks again for the trouble shooting advice.
Thanks again for the trouble shooting advice.
1/15/2011 8:07:49 PM
Looked the gun over again very carefully and could find no signs of anything being rough, rubbing, or otherwise out of the ordinary. Cleaned it up well and lubed it. I then hand cycled it a bunch (unloaded). Took it out to the range and ran about 100 rounds through it. It functions flawlessly now. Guess it just needed a little breaking in. Also, I was able to find the numbers on the front trunnion and the trunnion, bolt and carrier do in fact match.
Thanks again for the trouble shooting advice.
Thanks again for the trouble shooting advice.
2/12/2011 4:58:58 PM
Polytherm covered most of the unlocking issues, but drop a round in the barrel by hand.
I've run into some US barrels that have tight chambers in front of the headspacing datum line so they will still gauge as "correct" headspace.
I've run into some US barrels that have tight chambers in front of the headspacing datum line so they will still gauge as "correct" headspace.
