[Greg Bell]

Guys,

I have a beautiful FEG receivered SA-85M that keeps jamming. It happens probably once every 75-100 rounds. It does it with my Romanian 30 rounders, Hungarian 20 rounders and Bulgarian 30 rounders.

I have had the problem with WOLF ammo (the only stuff I have fed through it.). The Wolf I have been shooting is 122gr HP steel case.

Any ideas? I have a WASR-10 that feeds the stuff fine (and it looks like a piece of crap next to my SA-85M.

Help?

Note, the round seems to get caught between the mag and the chamber (without firing obviously). The last time I pulled the mag and the bullet actually returned to its position in the magazine.

[beerslurpy]

Could be poorly put together magwell. If the mag isnt being held in the right position, the bolt might sometimes just barely miss if it returns too quickly. Just a guess.

Another possibility- do you have some sort of recoil buffer that might be causing it to short-stroke?

I am using buffertech buffers in my AKs/Saigas without problems, but some people have had short-stroking problems with other buffers and other AKs.

[Greg Bell]

No buffer. How would I determine if the mag well is off? It looks nicer than my WASR.

[clange]

I'd try some FMJ if possible. Some AKs actually have issues with HP.

Is the round just not making it out of the magazine? Does it look like it hung up on anything? Does it do it when you manually cycle rounds through it?

You could also try the recoil assembly from the WASR. It could be the spring is weak.

[Don't Tread On Me]

AK jamming! Help!


No. That cannot be possible simply because it's an AK! :what: :p


Heh, on a serious note, are you leaning the magazine against the bench or anything while shooting? In AK's with mag-well slop..this might play a part. Check the hollowpoint thing, while I've never seen it in practice, I've read that particular types of AK's have issues with feeding HP's. This is probably the issue you have. It's got to be rare. Also check the spring tension on the AK mags. If they feel soft to you compared to someone else's mags, you never know. I doubt it, but check anyway. Note when the jam occurs...is it early during a full mag, or towards the end when it is almost empty?

I doubt your AK is short stroking, the AK was designed to OVER stroke to ensure reliable feeding. There's a lot of mass in that carrier and a lot of momentum to strip that round and drive it home.


Next time it jams, remove the jammed round, and inspect the HP, if it is damaged, you know it's hanging on something. Better yet, if you can, put the gun on safe, take off the cover..and try to inspect where the bullet nose is as best as you can while being safe. Then check and see if there is some ridge or edge that it's catching on after you remove it. Like I said, some people have reported that some types of AK's are not HP friendly.


Good luck.

[Thin Black Line]

Gas tube with too many vent holes or gas piston too loose in the tap?

[Silent-Snail]

I had a similar problem that cropped up when cycling manualy. The cause was dirt in the magazine was slowing the feeding for lack of a better phrase.
never had a problen when firing.

Anyway my point is try cleaning the inside of your mags. A thin cloth on a cleaning rod should do.

[1911user]

I'd try some FMJ if possible. Some AKs actually have issues with HP.

yep, BTDT with an NHM-91 that was very iffy feeding russian HP ammo. It was fine with FMJ and SP, but the sharp open ring at the tip of the HP would catch while feeding and stop the bolt movement (while jamming the bullet deeper into the case, setting you up for a high pressure round, trash those to be safe).

I was able to (very carefully and slowly) modify the feed ramp enough to make it reliable. I had another AK that fed everything and I copied the feedramp shape from it. It didn't take much metal removal and smoothing to make it reliable with HP, but if you get too aggressive then it's time for new parts and AK barrels are royal pain to remove and replace.

Take the cover and recoil spring off then SLOWLY work the bolt (with a loaded mag) and see the path that the tip of a round from each side follows. To be safe, do NOT push the round all the way into the chamber, stop halfway in and remove it by hand. Watch the feed on both sides several times, the paths are different and you'll see why FMJ is probably the best choice for reliable feeding.