FTE / Hard extraction with AKM

[Sim G]

The only AKs we have used and liked weren't real AKs at all. One was a Czech rifle that superficially resembled an AK but was silenced and machined from forgings (awesome dogbuster in Iraq) and the other was Finnish, a Valmet version. Both were accurate, reliable and very well made.

You've mentioned two rifles there that certainly aren't AK's!! Which is no doubt the reason they were "accurate, reliable and very well made"....

[SevenSixTwo]

If you can pm me some pics of the bolt carrier and the action and i'll see if it looks ok.

I don't mind doing it here - maybe it'll help others.

These just taken as I'm drying her out after a thorough soaking today.

1/2

[SevenSixTwo]

2/2

One thing that really annoys me with this rifle is that you can't remove the bolt. There's a little nipple in there (second pic down in the last post) which prevents removal...

:roll:

[Swifty Boy]

I ground that bit off with a dremel so I can take the bolt out for a good cleaning. Not sure why they did that, maybe they thought you'd lose the bolt.... I had some hard extractions as you describe with my AKMS too using steel cased ammo. I now shoot reloads using Lapua cases with no problems at all. I am yet to try the surplus stuff again but will do at some point.

[channel12]

In the past I have had hard extraction problems using steel cased Wolf and Barnaul 5.56 in my AR15. The FTE usually occurred if I fired a fast string of about 20 rounds, shooting more leisurely didn't seem cause as much as a problem. No problems with brass cases.

ETA I had a Chinese AKM and the bolt was removable. No FTE problems with it but there again it was a semi-auto.

[snayperskaya]

As Swifty has said just Dremel the pin so you can remove the bolt.The carrier etc all look ok so I would say it is fouling due to laquered cases/blow-by.Try it again and if you get the same problem give the chamber a good brush and try it again straight after and see if it does it again.How are you cleaning and how soon after shooting?, as Russian milsurp uses corrosive Berdan primers and if the corrosive salts aren't removed thoroughly it will cause corrosion that can cause the cases to stick.If you are still having problems I'd give Oleg a call.

With regards to the comments about AKs' being crap the Russian military have been using them for decades in one form or another and millions of soldiers/terrorists/freedom fighters etc etc have been using them to devastating effect in every corner of the world for many years.As Ronseal would say "it does what it says on the tin", NASA even said if they sent an astronaut to another planet and didn't know what to expect they'd send him with an AK!!!.It wasn't intended as a weapon for precise aimed shots like an AR/M16 it was designed to hit centre mass out to around 300m max.When the Soviet military realised that the infantry had lost longer range accuracy the Dragunov was born.

[SevenSixTwo]

The carrier etc all look ok so I would say it is fouling due to laquered cases/blow-by.

Today's jams were after only 15 rounds on a clean chamber.

Any mileage in trying brass?

Try it again and if you get the same problem give the chamber a good brush and try it again straight after and see if it does it again.

I'll give it a damn good rodgering before the next outing; see it it loosens things up a bit. It still doesn't explain the jam when the case is half-way out though...

How are you cleaning and how soon after shooting?

Within hours but same day at the very latest and I'm OCD about such things.

I think I'll have my brass hammer to hand for future outings with this.

[Alpha1]

I would try re loading for it in Brass cases. I am willing to donate 10 new unfired Lapau cases and 10 123grain jacketed bullets if you want to give it a go.
Ill full length resize the cases and trim them to length so all you have to do is prime them fill them with powder and seat the bullet. Job done.

[SevenSixTwo]

I truly appreciate the offer but I'm near to a house move and all my kit is boxed up so it's going to be a good while before I'm set up again. Also, I'm keen to eliminate 'mechanical issue' before returning to the stuck case theory and remedies.

Is there a way this 'blow-by' thing could be setting the bolt back in the carrier and somehow jamming it?

[Alpha1]

Ok no problem.