[shattered00]

I went to the range today. I figured after the 12 page paper and a test over the neural system, I deserved it. 'Twas a sad day though. It started off great, notwithstanding the fact that my finger began hurting after about 10 rounds.

Let me recap the day. The first time I loaded 40 rounds into the mag, it worked great. It was easy to load each round which just required pushing straight down unlike my Glock. I was at the 50 yard range, and started firing. All my shots were grouped, except they were up and to the left of the bullseye. This is most likely due to the fact taht I have no clue how to adjust that little pin that sits in the front sight. Someone said that it controls the up and down placement of the bullet. Regardless, I was having a blast. Then I went to load the magazine again.

Here is where the problem began. I got about 5 rounds in there, and then the cartridges just started falling out. I started over, thinking I had done something wrong. This time the first cartridge just slipped out once I put it in - it didnt sit tightly against the lip or whatever it is called.

The next attempt resulted in 5 rounds being placed and the 6th round got stuck or something, to where the spring wouldn't pop back up to allow me to place the next cartridge in there. The only way I could get the spring to "come up" was to bang the bullet-entering end against the table. I am sure this isn't good for the magazine lips, but I couldn't get the spring to pop up otherwise.

I then tried to load my 5 round magazine. The same thing happened with the cartridges being in place, and then another bullet caused them to just fall out.

Also, when I finally got about 6 rounds in the 40 round mag, and tried to place it in the gun, a bullet would literally come out of the mag and just kinda sit inside the gun until I plucked it out or the magazine wouldn't go in the gun at all.

Once I got the magazine in, and then when I pulled the bolt back, it wouldn't move back at all. Zero inches.

Few people were at the range and most didn't know what to do. One guy suggested that I take the magazine apart and use some lubrication on the springs or something. I have no clue how to take the magazine apart. I found this little button on the bottom of them, so I guess that is a start.

I only fired 40 rounds

I don't think I am doing anything wrong, if only because the first time around went completely flawless.

I would think that since hte magazines have never been used and have sat around since 2001, maybe it was a lubrication problem. Why would it work the first time around with the 40 round magazine though? I never got the 5 round mag to work. :banghead:

It's over. Defeated yet again.

edit: the gun is a 2001 SAR-1 that was NIB btw.

[garrett1955]

ok to adjust the front sight pin you need to take the tool kit from the stock. take it apart, there will be a tool that will fit over the sight pin and go in the slot of the case that holds the tools. just thread it up and down.. to adjust left and right you need a hamer, lightly tap on the round thing... its about a 1/2 in medal thing that that little pin threads in, it goes left and right... tap it as needed. to take the mags apart, push in the tab on the bottom and slide out the base plate. watch out so the spring doesnt get yea. then clean the cosmoline out and lube...

[dfariswheel]

On the magazine.
To disassemble it, press the "button" on the center of the floorplate, and slide the plate off.

WARNING: The AK magazine springs are LONG and HEAVY. BE CAREFUL, the spring will try force it's way out with great force.

Gently allow the spring to escape until tension is off, then pull the assembly out.

On the AK, there is a bottom section and the follower at the top. Both are staked onto the spring. DO NOT remove them.

Check the magazine body for any signs of dents, "squashed" sides,or signs of a twisted or bent magazine body.

Any of this damage can cause the magazine follower to stick and cause your problems.

Clean the entire magazine assembly, springs and all.
Coat with a THIN, coat of a good lube. Use just enough to prevent rust, and to lubricate it.
DO NOT over lube.

Reassemble, and test the operation by using a long wood or plastic dowel or any handy, no-scratch item to insure the follower moves freely.

Test load and unload the magazine a few times by loading it, and then unloading it by using a plastic toothbrush handle to push the rounds out.

To adjust the front sight, you'll need a sight adjusting tool.

There are several available, from commercial units that adjust both windage and elevation, to small tools sometimes found in AK cleaning kits.

Here's some links on how to adjust sights, and some general AK disassembly info:

http://www.ak-47.net/

http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/whyromanian.htm

http://www.surplusrifle.com/downloads.asp

[Texfire]

Magazine is a good place to start. Is the magazine showing any external signs of damage? This is more than minor dings and scratches, more on the order of a bend of the magazine or sidewall. If so then you might be best served by purchasing another magazine, AK magazines are very inexpensive right now, so this won't be too bad.

Turn over the magazine. Find a ball point pen and press in the "button" with the pen, with the ball point retracted please.

While holding the "button" through the bottom plate of the magazine slide the plate towards the rear of the magazine until it is past the "button".

Continue sliding it off the bottom of the magazine. Before it is all the way off be ready to catch the spring that is going to come shooting out of the magazine when you remove it.

The spring has a gentle curve to it that matches the curve of the magazine. Please remember how it is oriented when removing it.

After you remove the spring, examine the interior of the magazine and exterior of the spring and magazine follower, the metal piece on the other end of the spring. They should be clean. If they are filled with a yellow-brownish substance that resembles a really bad case of earwax then it still has cosmoline from when it was arsenaled. That could be the cause of your sticky magazine. If it has cosmoline you will have to remove it. There are several ways to remove cosmoline, personally I use Kleen Bore's Gunk-out, a search for cosmoline will list several methods.

There seems to be two conflicting schools of thought on lubricating magazines. One says that a magazine should be dry, the other lightly lubricated. It is possible that storing ammunition long-term in a lubricated mag might cause misfires. I don't store ammunition in my rifle mags so this isn't of concern for me. I spray my magazines, after removing the cosmoline with CLP then wipe them down to remove most of it.

Reassembly of the magazine is reversed. Insert the spring, then while holding it inside the magazine body slide the bottom plate back onto the bottom of the magazine until the "button" clicks back in place in the bottom.

Now try running the magazine follower up and down in the magazine. If cleaning it and lubricating it hasn't solved your problem, the next step is getting a known functioning magazine and trying it in your gun. If that works then you will probably have to toss the magazine or replace the spring.

Hope that this helps you dignose your problem.

[shattered00]

Thanks so much for the replies. I now have the spring/follower out of the magazines. There appears to be some type of wet film on the follower(the sides which make contact with the inside of hte magazine). It doesn't look yellow-brownish though.

If there are dents in the magazine, would I be able to tell by looking at the outside of the magazine or do I have to use a flashlight to see the inside? The outside appears to be free of dents.

The lips look fine, but then again, I don't know how they should look. By lips, that means those two curved parts where the cartridge sits flush against right?

I have CLP. Will this substitute for pure lubrication or do I need to wipe all of the CLP off after use, and then use a thin layer of pure lubrication? If so, what lubrication should I buy?

Also, where should I buy this "dowel" thing; perhaps wal-mart of walgreens? Would plastic or wood be better?

I will not keep this magazine loaded when just sitting around the apartment btw.

Thanks again for the replies. I am such a noob.

[JA]

CLP is great for lubing every part of a firearm and it's magazines. Here is how to clean a AK rifle.

Go to Wal-mart and get from these depts.

Sporting goods dept.
A pump spray bottle of Break-Free CLP www.break-free.com/
A 30cal and a 20 gauge bore brushes

Automotive dept.
A can of brake parts cleaner
A set of brushes or brush with brass or steel brissles. like this
www.woodcarvingstore.com/RotaryToolAccessories/CleaningBrushes.asp

Housewares dept.
roll of paper towels

Drug dept.
A new tooth brush.

When you get home swap out your new tooth brush for your old one.Spray down all the parts of your rifle with CLP and let it sit for 15 minuites. Use your old tooth brush to scrub the inside of the receiver and parts. Use the brass/steel brush on the gas piston. It will take several applications of CLP and scrubbing to get heavy amounts of carbon off the gas piston. A wire wheel in a electric drill can be used to cut down on the amount of scrubbing needed. Use the 30cal brush on the bore and the 20 gauge brush on the gas tube/gas block. Once clean put 4 paper towels in the bottom of the bag you brought the stuff home from Wal-mart in. Hold the parts over the bag and use the brake parts cleaner to rinse everything off. Brake parts cleaner removes everything and leaves no residue. Spray a 4"x4" piece of rag and one patch with CLP. Rub the rag on every part inside and out to lube/protect it and run the patch through the bore. Put the rag and patch in a zip lock bag to use the next time you clean your rifle. Make sure to wipe the gas piston and the inside of the gas tube and gas block. The CLP will get into the pores of the metal and not let the carbon stick tight. So the next time you clean your rifle the brass/steel brissle brush will not be needed only the tooth brush. Take the bag with the paper towels which have absorbed all the brake parts cleaner and dirt outside or in the garage to let the bpc evaporate then throw it away.

Cleaning the magazines I would apply CLP then scrub the inside of the mag and parts with a toothbrush. Rinse all the parts off with brake parts cleaner then lube them with CLP.

[SpookyPistolero]

Very reliable 30 rnd mags are too plentiful and cheap for you not to run straight to those as a solution. Any local gun shop ought to carry them, and if not there are many venues online.

[chopinbloc]

the 40 round magazine that came with my sar 1 had a small burr on the inside of the magazine that caused the follower to hang up on the last round. i took a dremmel tool to it and ground the burr down, now the rifle works just fine. you should buy - in technical terms - a whole crapload of 30 round mags anyway. if you want to try to fix the magazine, that's cool, too but ak mags are cheap and plentiful so there's no excuse not to have lots and lots sitting around loaded up and ready to go.

[shattered00]

Alright, the magazine has been cleaned per recommendations from you guys.

I can get about 3-4 rounds in before the spring gets stuck.

When I use the dowel to push the follower down, it goes all the way to the bottom and then comes all the way to the top with no problems.

I think that the bullet tips are scraping up against the inside of the magazine, and then it gets stuck. If I take the magazine and sling it foward(holding on to if of course) the bullets come flying out and the spring pops back up.

How many posts do I need till I can display a picture(of the magazine)?

Edit: Also, I have a sheet of cloth and was wondering what dimensions I should cut it into when I run it through the bore? Thanks.

[JA]

Is the spring hooked under the retaining tab of the follower and sitting flat aganist the under side of the follower?

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/379/magspring9xw.jpg

If it is not then the spring could be allowing the follower to get cocked/twisted inside the magazine causing your feeding problems. The bottom of the spring should also be under the tabs of the spring guide and sitting flat on the spring guide.

[clange]

Is the spring hooked under the retaining tab of the follower and sitting flat aganist the under side of the follower?

I had that happen to a mag I bought. For some reason it wouldnt load to full capacity. I took it apart and noticed it wasnt in the tab.

The spring never hung up anywhere, but who knows, its definately worth checking.

[benEzra]

I'd pick up a 30-round milsurp magazine ($10 or so) and give it a try if the 40 doesn't work.

As far as bullet tips hitting the front of the mag--every few rounds, tap the back of the magazine on a piece of wood or something, to make all the rounds slide to the back. If it still hangs up, that's not the problem.

Sounds like something is definitely bent or loose inside the mag, though.

[shattered00]

Guys. I want to apologize in advance for what I am about to say. I thank each and every one of you for helping me with my problem. It turns out that the problem was with my imbecilic mind and not my magazine. Evidently of the 8 boxes(20 rds each) of Monarch that I bought, one of those boxes was not 7.62x39mm. It was 5.56...

I fail at the game of life. I don't think guns are for me if I can't recognize something so damn stupid. I am sorry for wasting all of your time.

After you are done ridiculing me, please tell me if it is likely that I damaged the magazine after trying to force the wrong caliber in there. I loaded it up with 40 and it seems fine, but now I am so paranoid that I don't even want to touch the gun anymore. I bet when I clean it next time, I will slant the rod and scratch the inside of the barrel causing huge accuracy decreases or something. It seems that I am too incompetent to do anything that requires cognitive levels beyond walking or adding 2+2.

I am sorry once again.

[SpookyPistolero]

PM sent, amigo.

[Texfire]

Well I'm glad that you couldn't chamber that 7.62x54R. That would have been exciting. :)

Tex

[JA]

Don't feel bad I did the same thing with my CUR-2 rifle one time. The bolt wouldn't close when I chambered a round. Ended up jacking the bolt 3 times and ejecting 3 rounds trying to get a round to chamber and the bolt close. After messing with it 15 minuets I figured out that I had loaded the 30rd mag from the ammo can with Wolf 223 ammo instead of the can sitting right next to it with the Wolf 5.45x39mm ammo.
I keep my ammo in 50cal GI ammo cans and dump the ammo in the can then throw away the boxes. I do this to keep the amount of trash I have to chase down,pick up,and carry away from the range to minimum.
Just like tornado's are attracted to trailer parks,wind is attracted by empty ammo boxes.

[clange]

please tell me if it is likely that I damaged the magazine after trying to force the wrong caliber in there. I loaded it up with 40 and it seems fine, but now I am so paranoid that I don't even want to touch the gun anymore. I bet when I clean it next time, I will slant the rod and scratch the inside of the barrel causing huge accuracy decreases or something. It seems that I am too incompetent to do anything that requires cognitive levels beyond walking or adding 2+2.

I am sorry once again.
You should be ok, I doubt it would hurt the mag.

And actually, as far as the bore/rod thing, just buy a .30 caliber bore snake or use a normal cleaning kit. I never use the rods for my AKs. I keep them because they're supposed to be there, but they really suck for normal cleaning.

[Commissar Gribb]

I fail at the game of life. I don't think guns are for me if I can't recognize something so damn stupid. I am sorry for wasting all of your time.

don't worry, man

I've done worse

erm

much worse.

:P

Nobody's perfect- what's important is that you practice proper safety and you have fun!

[benEzra]

Don't worry about it. Everyone makes mistakes, and nothing you did endangered you or anyone else.

And you are absolutely not going to ruin an AK mag simply by putting the wrong caliber in it. They are built like trucks.

[Dave Markowitz]

Don't worry about it. Consider it a lesson learned and move on.

Just wait until you get into muzzleloaders and forget to put the powder down before the ball. :banghead:

[dfaugh]

We've all done something along these lines, at one point or another...The key is to remember that you didn't damage the gun (and probably not the magazine)...AND no one was hurt...In fact, usually after one of these types of mistakes, we become much more aware of things, and become safer shooters, to boot...Consider it a lesson learned...

[Magnuumpwr]

Here is a web site to help you stop the trigger slap that you described. Hope this makes your next time at the range an enjoyable experience.:) http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/slapfix.htm

[shattered00]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement everyone. I ordered a Tapco G2 trigger group, since I don't have any tools to perform the surgery on the Century FCG. Hopefully I can put it in correctly haha.