AK Sponsor
Posted: 9/18/2007 8:21:47 PM EDT
| How many rounds have any of you put through your ak before having to replace something, barrel ect. Just trying to get a comparison to other guns here since I do not own an ak. |
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US personnel have reported seeing AK's in Afghanistan and especially in Africa that have been shot so many times that the rifling is nearly worn smooth in the bore. Obviously, these guns have seen no maintenance or parts replacement. About the only time I've ever heard of an AK needing parts replaced is either in poorly built semi-auto guns, or in cases where someone has damaged a part trying to "improve" something. Whatever you may think of the AK's accuracy, handling ergonomics, or appearance, one thing is for sure: Kalashnikov designed possibly the most durable auto rifle ever made. |
I seem to recall that the only time I ever saw someone break an AK they had to torch the barrel to red hot and hit it with a hammer to fold it. Throw them in the mud, salt water, sand, pick them up shake them out and start firing. One of my friends who was in Viet Nam picked up an AK after a firefight and stashed it back at base. The bolt ended up rusting shut when they remembered where they left it a year or more before. One of the guys in his squad kicked the bolt open and they went out and fired it (though my friend wasn't the one to take the first shot  ).
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| I have personally replaced a broken Extrator spring and Extractor. From different guns. One was a Chicom and the other a Bulgarian. Both in 7.62x39. They are built tough as a brick. But all things will and can fail. The Chicom had a good many rounds through it. The Bulgarian was fairly new. About 500 or so by (poor memory) . Seen a Romie with reat trunnion rivets sheared. I personally also had the Cross support pin have its rivet shear on a SAR 2 . . Low round count. Now Im not saying the romies are the cat's meow .But they are AK's. But all in all they are built like a brick. WarDawg |
I am no expert with the AK in any sense, but I wouldnt be afraid to replace the extractor assembly (spring, extractor, pins, etc) every 100k rounds or so  , or at least have extra parts handy.I've had more than one soldier and armorer tell me that no matter what gun is the topic of discussion, the smallest and most fragile piece that gets the most abuse will be the first to go: in most cases that part(s) is the extractor assembly. AK, AR, HK, FN, etc. Keep the exta parts handy. They are small enough to fit in the buttstock or in your field cleaning kit. YMMV |
AK Sponsor