[spook22]

I just purchased an Interarms AK 47 in 7.62x39 brand new which I have put over 100 rounds through and am getting a few jams randomly. When it does the bolt jams open on top of a round that is partially stripped from the mag. I am using the Tapco mag that came with the gun and Golden Tiger FMJ ammo. I have cleaned the gun and oiled it many times to remedy the problem without success. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

[Tommygunn]

First suggestion: buy a metal real AK magazine, Romanian or where ever. See if that cures the problem.

[briansmithwins]

I'd probably take it back and try another.

Part of of what you're paying for with a new gun is the warranty. Use it.

BSW

[The Sarge]

TAPCO mags are well known for this. Get a regular AK mag and go to town.

[spook22]

I'd probably take it back and try another.

Part of of what you're paying for with a new gun is the warranty. Use it.

BSW
I already did send it back to the manufacturer they said they found nothing wrong with it. They said it was my ammunition even though I have never heard anything bad about Golden Tiger and I also tried some Federal (which did jam less often).

[TYFOOON]

Throw away the plastic mag and get a Romy, Russian, Chinese, Bulgarian, Polish etc authentic AK mag and you should be fine.

[rcmodel]

A different real OEM mag is always the first thing to try with any semi-auto feed problem.
Try a real AK-47 magazine.

If that don't work, your mag catch or receiver is out of spec.

Any AK should work just fine with any 7.62x39 Russian ammo, if the magazine isn't trashed, or molded plastic.

rc

[M1key]

Interarms makes good AKs. Golden Tiger is good ammo. Tapco makes cheap plastic mags. You can figure it out from here...

Get some good steel AK mags.

M

[wally]

I am using the Tapco mag that came with the gun

That is your problem. Its called a bolt over base failure -- the bolt is catching the extraction groove instead of the cartridge base because the mag is too slow getting the next round up into position.

My Tapco mag did this too, although while trying it in different AKs before planning to junk it, after three or four loads it started to work and has been fine since, but doubt I'll be buying any more.

You can still get the Com block steel mags for about $10, I suggest you do.

[spook22]

Thanks for all the help guys! I did order some of the European surplus from aimsurplus.com. Do you guys have any experience with these?

[WardenWolf]

Your problem is the Golden Tiger ammo. It's known to be underloaded, and is failing to cycle the gun properly. It may be that when your gun is properly broken in, it will cycle this ammo, but I'm not at all surprised you're having issues with it. Try Wolf.

I also hate to tell you this, but I've done the math, and corrosive surplus is not financially worth it because of the AK's gas system. The cheap commercial ammo like Tula / Tulammo (which comes in surplus-style spam cans) is only around 3 cents more per shot than corrosive surplus. You lose this cost benefit in cleaning supplies because, when shooting corrosive, you have to thoroughly clean the gas system every single time. The gas system gets filthy and it requires a ton of cleaning.

Tapco magazines are generally pretty good. I've got one on my Golani rifle and it's got an excellent build quality. That shouldn't be your problem.

[InkEd]

I don't have problems with Tapco mags. However, I do see some people with issues.

[Al Thompson]

Magazines. :) Good folks to order from, $12.50 (get the metal magazines) about 3/4 down the page.


http://classicfirearms.com/accessories.htm

[spook22]

Sorry guys I meant I purchased European surplus mags from aim surplus.com. Do you guys know anything about these?

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Not from aim, specifically, but i have several different makes of surplus metal mags and have had exactly ZERO problems with them. I also think this is most likely a magazine problem.

You should clean and oil them prior to using..... Take them apart, scrub with rags, oil, reassemble. Go to the range....

[M1key]

Never heard of Golden Tiger being underpowered. Tula (Wolf) maybe. Guys on arf.com claim so...in their ARs.

Folks on this (older) thread generally preferred it to any Wolf:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=355373





M

[d2wing]

Nam vet here. Check the feed ramp. Saigas commonly need a kit from Dinzag Arms to feed properly with AK mags. Slowly push the bolt forward and watch to see if the bullet
enters the chamber or hits the bottom of the barrel. Or if the round is picked up by the bolt in the first place.

[hank327]

I purchased European surplus mags from aim surplus.com. Do you guys know anything about these?

Those AIM surplus mags are actually Chinese AK mags that have made a detour through the Balkans in order to be importable into the US. They are actual real deal ChiCom milsurplus and work great. I've got some and I'm very happy with how they perform. I think they are the best AK mag value going right now.

Infinitely better than the Tapco you've been using. Back when I was in Army Basic Training in the late 70's, I encountered that same base over bolt malfunction with my M16A1. Back then I was not aware it was because of the old worn Vietnam era retread mags I'd been issued. That colored my opinion of the M16 for many years.

[wally]

Your problem is the Golden Tiger ammo. It's known to be underloaded, and is failing to cycle the gun properly.

Dis-agree completely. There is no difference worth arguing about among Wolf, Tula, Golden Tiger, Brown Bear, etc. Some lots are a bit more accurate than others, but overall you can not count on one brand being "better" that the others, buy what is "on sale" IMHO when it comes to Russian ammo.


IF you are using soft point or HP ammo some guns might have issues here, but none of my AKs are concerned in the least which ammo or bullet shape is used, as long as the primer goes off the next one goes in after it.

You will get the occasional dud with cheap ammo, but the stuff now is better that what I was shooting for ~$80/1000 circa 2005, although at that price a few duds was pretty easy to ignore.

[1stmarine]

A 100 rounds is not a break in yet. Give it time or load some dummies/empties and give it some manual break in. Don't need to go to the Gym that day!
When I have issues like this before I go crazy and replace mags or anything just slightly touch the feed ram with a stone and polish it. All you are doing is accelerating the wear in that area that always helps. I had issues with cases stuck with just tiny edge like a hair that could not even be measured.
After that never saw a jam again even with hollow points.
you need to slowly do some forensics in the type of jam but I am assuming your mag is ok that sometimes also need a bit of break in.

If in doubt talk to a gunsmith. It should be very simple. your system might be suffering from being too new.

[Davek1977]

Tapcos don't work well in My AK either, but have had no issues when using any of the various surplus steel mags. I do not think it has anything to do with the golden tiger ammo. AS far as surplus ammo "not being worth it"....thats simply an opinion, nothing more. Cleaning after corrosive ammo is simple, especially in a rifle like the AK. SOME of us prefer it (Yugo surplus) because it performs better for us, making it entirely "worth it" to shoot it often. Soap and water are all that's addiotnally necessary to clean an AK-47 when using corrosive ammo, so I'm not sure what "expense" you are talking about in regards to cleaning costs, nor do i think it is the least bit difficult to clean an AK after shooting corrosive ammo. AS for the Golani tapco mag working for you flawlessly...i don't doubt it. However, I, along with many other people here and elsewhere, HAVE had issues with their AK mags. Just becasue a mag made by the same company works in your rifle doesn't prove anything about their AK mags in any way. The issues mentioned here are commonplace with Tapco AK mags, as evidenced by the multiple people reporting such issues. We aren't making them up. They happen, and not all that infrequently

[DeepSouth]

Your mags aren't made by commies so the commy rifle is rejecting them. Buy commy mags and she'll run nonstop.

[spook22]

Thanks a lot guys, I should have posted my problem on here before sending the rifle in. The Tapco mag has been getting progressively better ( as others have mentioned on here) but I was planing on getting some of those surplus european mags anyway. Also is it normal to have to have some brass on the edge of the feed ramp from the bullet?

[brnmuenchow]

I don't like the TAPCO Mag's. Go with the metal mag's as previously suggested. I alway's get jam's with the plastic mag's.

[wally]

Also is it normal to have to have some brass on the edge of the feed ramp from the bullet?

Yes. Its not really a feed ramp, on a pre-ban AK its just a nub that uses the cartridge shoulder to lever the bullet up in line with the chamber. The US makers have turned it into a feed ramp, and having the bullet run across it probably doesn't help accuracy, such as it is in an AK.

The Saiga mags have the nub built into the mags, which is why you need the bullet guide when you convert one.

[1stmarine]

"Also is it normal to have to have some brass on the edge of the feed ramp from the bullet?"

Absolutely yes. the feed ramps are all over the place that is why I make my own or work on the factory ones sometimes as needed. It is a very easy fix just watch out do not go crazy with the stone. Then polish everything including the entry to the chamber. No stone there so be careful with the dremel.

You know when you go to a water park with the kids and how nicely one slides into those ramps. The same goal here.

"Think like a bullet".

[The-Reaver]

I have to agree with everyone here.
It's your mags bro. Pick up a nice East German ribbed mag and you'll be set for life.

[Brockak47]

I use a 20 round tapco and a 30 round metal mag, the tapco one did this a few times when i bought it new, it fixed itself though, I just loaded up 20 rounds in it and let it set in there for a week to loosen everything up.

[spook22]

I received the European surplus Mags from Aim surplus today. I noticed there is quite a bit of mag wobble with these that I did not have with the Tapco mag. Is there anyway to fix that?

[-v-]

Some side to side mag wobble is normal, it usually does not hinder function.

[1stmarine]

No need to fix anything. Loose fit that is the AK and sometimes the way to make things work better even in extremely dirty environments. Ak's use dust and sand for lubrication. (do not try it though, I Am speaking figuratively)
I still thing you also need to give some time to break in the other virgin mags you got and check out the bullet guide as I told you.

[RatDrall]

You don't need metal magazines. US Palm makes fantastic polymer US made magazines that work 100%.

[Andrew Wyatt]

Justin should be here shortly to tell you how to clear AK jams.

[Sky]

Thanks for all the help guys! I did order some of the European surplus from aimsurplus.com. Do you guys have any experience with these?

It is weird how some AK mags will fit in some AKs and will not fit in others due to the mag catch being larger or smaller on the mag.

Was at the FFL a couple of weeks ago and we were matching mags to AKs.

I have AK mags from AIMsurplus and Centerfire systems; been a while back but I did get two mags a that would not fit in my AK...I just traded them to my FFL straight across for two that did fit. I could have used a grinder on the mags but the swap was more attractive.

Mag wobble ( side to side) is pretty normal on an AK .

[nathan]

I had the chance to see Interarms AKs back in March . THey are based here in Houston. The place they rent is very discreet and you dont even know its a firearms factory. Anyway the owner was nice to show me their showroom. They have AKs and ARs. The folding stock Polish AKs they have were nice and tight .

I bought the Yugo surplus ammo from Centerfiresystems a year ago. They are corrosive but milspec quality. Its hot loaded compared to Wolf and the ammo mentioned here. I think Aims has those Yugo surplus for a good price. Just wash down with hot soapy solution and followed with regular cleaning.