AK choke

[markthenewf]

I took my yugo underfolder out for a range trip this weekend. Normally this is uneventful but the thing started to malfunction. Specifically, I'd fire a couple of rounds, and then it'd not complete the cycle. It would eject the empty case, but it wouldn't strip the next round into the chamber. I could give it a smack and it'd go back into battery and be able to shoot again. Very odd. Did this several times using different mags that worked before.

The only thing I can think of that was possibly different was the ammo. This particular day, I shot Wolf military classic HP (in the camo style packaging). Not sure if I shot that stuff before, but I'd assumed I did. Normally I just grab whatever is sitting around (monarch, Tula, whatever!) and it goes bang.

Kinda peculiar. I haven't cleaned it yet, but I think I will sometime this week and see if something looks odd. Perhaps I'll pull out the entire trigger group and see if there's something down in there causing a snag of some sort. The only other thing I can think of is that perhaps the piston isn't sealing correctly. Could it be something dragging on the frame or top cover? I dunno. Like I said, it's peculiar since it's not done this before. I've even done full mag dumps time and time again with no issue, including that silly 70+ round drum mag. Everything is smoking, but it still fed and shot.

The only thing that is different with this AK and a standard one is that it came with the Tapco G2 trigger installed. Other than that, the guts appear to be typical AK.

[The Annoyed Man]

Plainly, either you are lying, or this is not an AK! This never happened. AKs are 100% all the time every time reliable and never malfunction.

Just kidding of course. I've yet to see the perfect gun that never ever malfunctions, but AKs do come by their reputation honestly, so..... Obviously you've got some sorting out to do. Have you changed solvent/lubricant brands since your last range outing?

[markthenewf]

Plainly, either you are lying, or this is not an AK! This never happened. AKs are 100% all the time every time reliable and never malfunction.

That's ok. I've been known to tell a fib now and again, particularly when drinking.

Have you changed solvent/lubricant brands since your last range outing?

Nope. Everything was the same. Been using 'Gunzilla' for years on all my firearms and it works like a charm. Like I said, it may just be an ammo thing. It's had perhaps 600 rounds through it, so any 'rough' surfaces should be smoothed out good enough by now, right? (ex: receiver-bolt carrier rails, hammer face, etc.)

I'm going out to the workshop and give it a good scrubbing and see if it happens again on the next trip. I'll double check the gas port and things like that which may cause poor cycling. The only part I can think of replacing is that main recoil spring. Perhaps I should just order an extra-strong one from Wolf Springs (~$15 or so) and see if that helps any. I'm open to other suggestions.

[markthenewf]

Well, cleaned/inspected....nuthin'. The only thing that looked suspicious is that there was some 'marking' on the safety bar just behind the hammer and stuff. I wonder if the carrier was catching it a smidge? My Google-Fu doesn't indicate anything like that. Either way, it's another excuse to take it out to the range again.

[AFAmmo]

Mark-

I agree with you that: suspect #1 would be the ammo. Wolf should work fine in a Kalashnikov, but nobody I know has ever accused it of being high quality ammo.

Suspect #2 would be the gas system operating the piston. It sounds like your rifle has enough gas to eject the spent brass (or steel in your case), but doesn't have the energy left to bring the new round into battery. I have seen this done with under-powered loads.

Just my $0.02
Best of luck.

[dcphoto]

I'm no AK expert, but the first thing I would rule out is bad ammo. Shoot something else and see if the rifle functions properly. If it does, you have your answer.

[AdioSS]

...It would eject the empty case, but it wouldn't strip the next round into the chamber. I could give it a smack and it'd go back into battery and be able to shoot again.

...

The only thing I can think of that was possibly different was the ammo. This particular day, I shot Wolf military classic HP (in the camo style packaging). Not sure if I shot that stuff before, but I'd assumed I did.

...

I haven't cleaned it yet, but I think I will sometime this week and see if something looks odd...

I had this problem with my MAK90 when I first tried hollow point ammo. That stuff has a slightly shorter overall length & a flat face that can catch on the way into the chamber.

Check this area where I'm pointing the bullet on your gun.

You'll likely see where the copper jacket has been rubbing as the rounds get stripped out of the mag. In my picture you can see where I put a slight chamfer there. After I did that I have had no issues with hollow points, soft points, or of course full metal jackets.

You're welcome

[Weg]

I'm sure you have already checked this, but I had a similar problem with an SKS, it ended up being a partially restricted gas port, one spin of a reamer and it was back in business.

[markthenewf]

Took it down, scrubbed it good (including the gas system), put it back and shot about 300 rounds of different ammo (including the ones that made it choke) and not a hitch. Awesome. So I'm not entirely sure if it was ammo, gas feed, or whatever.

That done, I think I may just chamfer that sharp edge as indicated. Looks like a good idea and I don't see how it could hurt.

Thanks for the input, gang.