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Posted: 12/10/2008 1:59:34 PM EDT
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I'm very new to the AK and not sure if this is actually a problem or not. I've read several posts around here about how AK bolts do not lock open and I've started to wonder why mine does.
If I manually pull the charging handle back all the way and then gently ride it forward it will stop at about 2/3rds open. There is no manually operated bolt catch on my AK. It just sort of stops there on it's own and I assumed there was some kind of internal catch. It is very easy to send the bolt forward either by giving the charging handle a quick pull to the rear and releasing, or even just giving the side of the receiver a good slap. It's not a super secure lock open, but it does hold well enough to do a visual inspection of the chamber at least. Up until very recently I had assumed this was a designed feature of the rifle but now I'm starting to wonder if I've got a burr on the inside of my receiver that needs some file work, or some other more serious problem. This happens with or without a magazine inserted and the bolt stops far enough back that it will pick up and chanber a round from the top of a magazine when I send it forward. I've tended not to use the "feature" with a mag inserted however because it is so easy to send the bolt forward unintentionally. This is a fairly new (bought it 1.5 months ago) GP WASR 10/63. I haven't noticed any other mechanical problems with the rifle. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. |
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Update:
I've done a little bit of checking and it looks like the bottom of the bolt carrier is catching (just barely) on the face of the hammer. Since both of these parts have rounded edges they just slide past each-other under the force recoil sending the bolt back or the recoil spring sending it forward, under normal circumstances. The only time it catches is if I manually ride the bolt forward. If there is a problem here it looks like maybe the hook on the trigger isn't holding the hammer down far enough. This is the Tapco G2 trigger group that was installed in the rifle by Century. Now, the important questions: 1) Is this really a problem? 2) Can I fix this by simply polishing the hammer face or bottom of the bolt carrier a bit? 3) Would it be best to have a new trigger group installed? |
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I wouldn't sweat it, many rifles I've had and had issued to me will stop if you ride the bolt forward. As long as it slams home with a light tap, I'd say you're good to go.
When you load a magazine, always let the bolt hammer home from a full rearward position to keep from jamming up. |
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The tapco trigger groups leave the hammer pretty high when cocked. Remember under normal firing the disconnecter
has a hold of the hammer while the bolt closes (your trigger finger can't let go that fast) so it is lower under semi auto feeding. You can remove some off the face of the hammer (make sure you don't take so much off the disconnecter won't grab anymore) and polish it , or live with it. Some people actually like it, I don't. |
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I had a rifle just like it but wasn't a problem at all and it didn't interfered
with the operation or reliability of the weapon...yet there was something pressuring the BC and it wasn't normal, so I fixed it, cost me nothing and I DID NOT dremel, grind or fuck with the internals at all. 
Spellchecked. |
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Quoted:
I'm very new to the AK and not sure if this is actually a problem or not. I've read several posts around here about how AK bolts do not lock open and I've started to wonder why mine does. If I manually pull the charging handle back all the way and then gently ride it forward it will stop at about 2/3rds open. Stop riding the bolt forward. It is meant to slam forward. The hammer can be polished or ground to stop it from hanging on the bolt but if you operate the rifle correctly there will not be a problem. |
| I am new to AK's as well as being new to this forum. I just took my WASR apart. Mine will do the same thing if i allow the bolt to go slowly forward, I can get the bolt to stop due to friction over the top of the hammer. I don't think it will do this while firing since the bolt return should have enough velocity to go past this sticky spot. I assume it will polish with wear. Mine looks to only have been fired a few times. |
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I'd suspect something besides the trigger unit.
HOWEVER, the Tapco G2 trigger has been recalled due to a defective disconnecter. They failed to drill the spring hole in the disconnecter deep enough and the disconnecter may fail to hold the hammer back. This could cause the hammer to catch the bolt. The suspect parts were made late last year. Here's a link to the recall info and how to determine if you have a defective unit: http://www.tapco.com/news.aspx One word of advice: If this isn't the problem, DO NOT start grinding on the face of the hammer to "smooth it up". If you grind the hammer you can disable the slam-fire safety feature. The face of the hammer is designed to contact the projection on the rear of the bolt carrier and prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin until the bolt is locked. Grind the hammer and this fails to work and the rifle can fire before the bolt is locked. Look for other problems like failures to feed. |
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Quoted:
I'd suspect something besides the trigger unit. HOWEVER, the Tapco G2 trigger has been recalled due to a defective disconnecter. They failed to drill the spring hole in the disconnecter deep enough and the disconnecter may fail to hold the hammer back. This could cause the hammer to catch the bolt. The suspect parts were made late last year. Here's a link to the recall info and how to determine if you have a defective unit: http://www.tapco.com/news.aspx One word of advice: If this isn't the problem, DO NOT start grinding on the face of the hammer to "smooth it up". If you grind the hammer you can disable the slam-fire safety feature. The face of the hammer is designed to contact the projection on the rear of the bolt carrier and prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin until the bolt is locked. Grind the hammer and this fails to work and the rifle can fire before the bolt is locked. Look for other problems like failures to feed. Thanks for the info, I have two rifles with recent G2 triggers. |
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Second Rule of Gunsmithing:
"KNOW what the actual problem is before you "fix" something". Just randomly replacing parts or grinding on things blind hoping to hit on the problem is how guns get ruined. Before damaging something, I'd see a gunsmith or someone local who really knows the AK. |
| Ok FYI for everyone. I found out my problem the rails on the receiver were catching the bolt carrier. To fix this I contacted the manufacture of the receiver not the builder. The manufacture stated to take a rubber mallet or a dead blow hammer and strike the bolt carrier in the place that its hangs up (On the side with the reciever cover off). This sounds rough but it actually worked. Thanks for all the responses and I hope this might help someone else out. |
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