What parts have you guys ever broke or seen broken on an AK?

I have never seen a broken part that I did not break myself doing something with a hammer.



I have broken one handguard retainer latch, it was STIFF. And I broke one gas tube latch, to tight. Both cases I was trying to force it open (gun was to tight). So if your gun already works, no prolem.


ETA, these things are built like a hammer and anvil. But if I had a chinese gun, I might want some extra springs (recoil and hammer and hook) and an extra fire control group. just in case.

the only times i have ever "broken parts" and "AK" in the same sentence had more to do with the AK breaking someone elses parts.

Quoted: What parts have you guys ever broke or seen broken on an AK?

What are these breakable parts of what you speak?

Actually, I have seen a SKS with a broken hammer spring. It didn't effect operation in the slightest.

General spare parts I like to have handy are: complete bolt (or firing pin and extractor), recoil spring, FCG parts. BSW

I've SEEN, in use, AKs with broken or missing stocks, pistol grips and upper hanguards.  I've also seen a lot of broken under-folders.  I've yet to have anything break on my own AKs though.

like this?

Quoted: like this? i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/Protojoe52/akpistol008.jpg i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/Protojoe52/akpistol006.jpg

What blew up?

BSW

I'm not sure.  It just started to go bad ( not cycling) and then I looked at it and went

whoo shit!  This just happened earlier this week.  There are less then 100 round

through it.

Where are you at in Or? I'm in Medford  ( kinda)

Joe

Wow and Ouch!

Is it a homebuilt rifle?

Looks like metal fatigue in the front trunnion from lock-up pressure.

I broke my selector switch in two by trying to bend it away from the receiver so that it would have less friction.

Quoted: I'm not sure.  It just started to go bad ( not cycling) and then I looked at it and went whoo shit!  This just happened earlier this week.  There are less then 100 round through it. Where are you at in Or? I'm in Medford  ( kinda) Joe

Damn!

I would get back with the person who sold you that rifle and get it replaced or your money back. If 100 rounds did that then the steel is softer than butter. If it was sold to you in that condition I would be truly pissed, as the seller had no regard for your safety.

BTW, I'm in Portland. You do know about the OR hometown forum right? BSW

Quoted: like this? i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/Protojoe52/akpistol008.jpg i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/Protojoe52/akpistol006.jpg

looks like the reciever was widened out with a dremel tool to accept high cap mags.
from the pics...that puppy has way more than 100 rnds thru it..look at all the build up on the inside.
Definately need more pics and who made that rifle?

thinking about it....I bet that the previous owner had a KABOOM....half ass fixed it and sold it....

Quoted: Quoted: like this? i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/Protojoe52/akpistol008.jpg i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb30/Protojoe52/akpistol006.jpg looks like the reciever was widened out with a dremel tool to accept high cap mags. from the pics...that puppy has way more than 100 rnds thru it..look at all the build up on the inside. Definately need more pics and who made that rifle? thinking about it....I bet that the previous owner had a KABOOM....half ass fixed it and sold it....

It's new.  ( armory usa) It wasn't cut out with a dremmel.  (I'm a moldmaker

and  I have lots of experience with different level of workmanship )(even the guys

working for me who are moldmakers and tool and die makers are scratching their

heads)

Yes it's pretty dirty, I should have cleaned it better before firing it.  But have shot

no more than four 30 rd mag through it.  One thing we all commented on it that the

bolt is really soft.  (and now toast) We're thinking bad head clearance? Bolt not

locking up fully.

What do you think?

And you got it from Armory USA new?!?

WTF?! My first guess would have been that the rifle had been burned in a fire, annealing the steel.

Send you pictures to Armory USA. Get e new rifle. They should (had better) pay for everything to make it right.

Hopefully you bought this with a credit card so you can get them involved if need be.

Report back on what happens. BSW

Did you buy directly from Armory?  I ask, because i knew a guy who bought "totalled goods", and resold them.  Stuff that had been in warehouse fires, floods, truck wrecks, etc., where individual items might be fine, but the pallet/load was totalled out by insurance.  Never heard of that with firearms, but an unscrupulous dealer...

Quoted: Did someone else just build that on an Armory USA receiver or is it actually an Armory USA / Global Trades build?  Big difference.

I'm thinking that ( a receiver build) is the case.  I'll probably get to bottom of it by the

end of today.  But the weapon looks well put together.  If you held it you'd probably

agree.  My pics don't do it justice.  On the other hand the bolt locks are somewhat

poor quality a poor casted look.  Not the quality of my other  AK.  Somethings fishy.  

jb

My guess would be: improperly de-milled rifle. I would put my dollar on the assumption that the person, who removed the receiver stub, did it the wrong way causing a crack in the trunion. The common method of removing a stub would be to grind-off the rivet heads, pilot drill them and knock them out. While it is OK to rest the trunion on the flat surface and beat the shit out of two front rivets, you must support the trunion from the inside in order to knock the third (near the mag well) rivet. If you will just hammer it out without support, there is a great chance that you will bend the trunion (due to the great resistance of the swell-neck rivet) and since it is heat-treated, cause a stress crack in it (especially if you will try to "bend it back" after the initiall damage was done). Since the OP did not mentioned any fired cases being bulged, etc., I would say that the head space was not the issue, soft bolt also should not cause the catastrophic failure without the "warning signs", so looks like the trunion gave-up due to the "monkey smith" inflicted crack.

I've seen a bolt lug sheer on a mak90.  I would have a properly head spaced complete bolt, & complete spring kit for the rifle.  Test fire the new bolt for reliability.  A complete
fire control parts set would be nice too.