cases getting stuck > AK Discussions

Posted: 10/19/2006 5:27:54 AM EDT

I made a mistake and got some surplus ammo with aluminum cases, OR THEY MAY JUST BE REALLY THIN STEEL, I can't even get through an entire mag before the casings begin getting stuck in the chamber. My thoughts are that the chamber is getting so hot that they are "melting" or "welding" themselves in. Sometimes I can get them out by cycling the action but most of the time I have to use a rod to push the spent shell out from the barrel end. My question is, has anyone else had this misfortune?

My Ak has ate everything else I have ever put through it until this junk.

Posted: 10/19/2006 6:05:20 AM EDT

[#1]

Never heard of alum in a rifle case. Are you sure it's alum? Could you post a pic with headstamp? If it is alum, gun would have to be more than glowing to melt it seems to me. Not sure what the melting point is in alum, but I would think it higher than a gun could get it.

Lets see that pic....

Posted: 10/19/2006 6:12:24 AM EDT

[#2]

Melting points snip-it from the interweb:

Elements /Melting Point Fahrenheit

Aluminum /1218
Brass (85 Cu 15 Zn) /1652-1724
Cast Iron C+Si+Mn+Fe /2300
Carbon /6512
Copper /1981
Gold Au 1946
Iron /2786
Lead /621
Silver /1762
Stainless Steel /2550
Steel-High Carbon /2500
Medium Carbon /2600
Low Carbon /2700
Tin /450
Titanium /3263
Tungsten /5432
Zinc /786

Posted: 10/19/2006 6:29:43 AM EDT

[#3]

I'd like to see the aluminum case as well. You're not confusing zinc plated silver bear with aluminum are you?

Posted: 10/19/2006 6:51:16 AM EDT

[#4]

I think you might be talking about stickybolt syndrome.

Now, I've never heard of it with an AK, only mostly Mosin-Nagants, but I guess it's possible. Usually, with other guns it's from a buildup of cosmoline in a chamber that hasn't been cleaned very well, coupled with any sort of steel case ammo + heat from firing. Steel, being harder than brass, when fired has a tendancy to remain expanded at the opening, and get stuck in the chamber, when even a tiny amount of cosmo that's been heated up from firing is in there. It becomes like an annoying glue that you have to fight against, and the steel won't budge like brass will, because it's harder.

I bet you haven't noticed the problem with brass casings, right? I would get a long drill bit that can hold a patch, or a small piece of brillo, and clean the crap out of the chamber. Either that or use a lot of elbow grease. Is this a kit-build? Is there any reason cosmo would be in the chamber? This is the only thing I can think of. It's happened with almost all my mosins. Just my 2cents.

Posted: 10/19/2006 10:11:02 AM EDT

[#5]

Thanks Boss Hogg, it wasn't a kit and it never happens with brass casings. They may be steel, is't foreign surpluss fmj and only happens with prolonged rapid fire. I will try cleaning the throat with a little elbow grease and see if that helps.

Posted: 10/19/2006 10:22:23 AM EDT

[#6]

I would follow the above posters advice.

Any way you could post pics of the ammo. I certainly don't think aluminum cased 7.62x39 exists, but stranger things have happened.

Posted: 10/19/2006 10:52:06 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
I would follow the above posters advice.

Any way you could post pics of the ammo. I certainly don't think aluminum cased 7.62x39 exists, but stranger things have happened.

ditto

Posted: 10/19/2006 2:31:59 PM EDT

[#8]

Better get a "Broken Shell Extractor" if you are going to use Ammo with Steel Casing.

CenterfireSystems has them for $9.97/ea, and if you are lucky, they might be running

a Special Sale on their Mag Combination Sets for 49.99(you will get 4 mags, extractor, Sling, Pouch, Cleaning Kit/pill, well used Bayonet, compensator, Dragunov Style Stock....)

Posted: 10/19/2006 4:46:52 PM EDT

[#9]

Start by cleaning the chamber real well...then clean the chamber. After that try cleaning the chamber.

In most cases it is the chamber being dirty with baked on crud.

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