FTE / Hard extraction with AKM

[SevenSixTwo]

I'm getting hard extractions with Russian Milsurp (7.62x39) after 10 rounds or so. Having to whack the charging handle to get it to remove the case from the chamber.

Are brass cases (PPU etc) likely to aleviate the symptoms or should I just hold out for semi-auto repeal?.... :roll:

[ovenpaa]

Is the chamber starting to soot up or are you using neck sized only or old brass?

[SevenSixTwo]

It's new Russian surplus, steel lacquered. Chamber is clean as a whistle.

[Fedaykin]

How new is the AKM?

If it is new out of the box then I wouldn't be that surprised, it takes a few hundred rounds or so through it before things will free up. Hard extractions are part of life with military straight pulls, after that well I have found that after a run of steel case through my straight pull extractions can get hard as it soots up a bit. That is usually 100+ rounds down not ten.

First time I took my Vz.58 out there was much muttering under my breath as I had to whack the charging handle to extract rounds. Once I had it home, cleaned, oiled (but not smothered), worked the action and springs the next shoot was far better.

If the rifle is new I wouldn't start worrying yet, give it some use and things will clear up.

[SevenSixTwo]

I have about 100 rounds through it so it is fairly new. It might not be hard extraction though, thinking about it.

On previous outings, I've managed to get the charging handle back about half an inch to an inch then it just locks up completely - so the cases have, previously come free of the chamber. I've finely sanded the bolt carrier and things seemed to run smoother... until today.

In dry testing, I'd noticed there was a slight 'catch' on racking the action when the rifle was vertical but when canted right it was very noticably more free running. The sanding appeared to have worked but clearly not so. The problem definitely happens when the chamber/action warms up. Hmm....

[Fedaykin]

Yeah, I wouldn't call that a hard extraction if it is coming back an inch or so.

Sorry don't know.

[Sim G]

Try it without the magazine inserted.

[SevenSixTwo]

Immediate action is to remove the magazine but that has no effect. I thought AKs were supposed to be reliable! Give me an AR-15 or L85 any day.

[Sim G]

Try different ammo. Instead of PPU, which I've always found hot in whatever caliber, there was some brass cased Wolf ammo knocking around. I know because a bloke in our club was running some through a CZ bolt gun. The Wolf ammo has a fairly good rep and its brass is boxer primed. I always fancied a 7.62x39 bolt gun.

Personally, I think AKs are junk. The three I've had experience with, two military select fire and one Yugo civvy, were not that good at all...

[snayperskaya]

Immediate action is to remove the magazine but that has no effect. I thought AKs were supposed to be reliable! Give me an AR-15 or L85 any day.

Blasphemy Comrade!

The cause of the problem can be the laquer off the cases gumming up, I have had it a few times with my AKM and it only takes a bit the make extraction harder though I have found extraction with straight pulls chambered in x39 or 54r is nowhere near as bad as 7.62x51/.308 .Also I think you get more blow-by of gases with steel cases as they don't expand in the same way as bass.The problem wouldn't be noticed with a semi or full auto AK as the pressure of the gas system cycling the bolt carrier overcomes it.
One other thing to check is that all the Cosmoline is out of the chamber, when I bought my AKM it was plastered in the stuff.
As for the "catch" when racking the action.....have a look on the portion of the bolt carrier where it passes through the rear sight block, its not uncommon for them to foul slightly (will be apparent with a wear mark on the black Finish) and sometimes the Romanians have been known to fit the rear sight block slightly canted, same with the gas block which in turn throws the gad tube out slightly and can cause the carrier to hang up.