Always keep the muzzle pointed down range...

[Agent-J]

My friend just got a new 1970 S/A AK-47 and we took it out to shoot for the first time yesterday. Loaded up some 30rd mags and went out to our big dirt pile.

First 2-3 shots went off without a hitch. Then the trigger started feeling funny and by the 6th shot, I thought I was getting hangfires. I pulled the trigger and nothing happened...

We were looking at it to see what was wrong (muzzle pointed down range) and next thing we know the pivot pin going through the trigger popped out down into the gun, some springs sound like they let go, and we got a very scary burst out of the gun. I'm not sure what happened, but it was a good 10 seconds after the pin and springs went crazy. We made it safe and put it away as it was obviously not safe to continue playing around with. It is currently at the gunsmiths to be fixed.

However, I did learn that the 4 rules of safety DO work when observed and that anything from 1970 that cost $250 is likely to be a piece of cheap crap.

 

[vzenmn]

Glad noone got hurt and you followed the rules.
Sounds like whoever assembled that AK screwed up bigtime. If it was an major company like Century Arms or any of the other ones you need to make them know about it and fix the gun on there time and money.

 

[WardenWolf]

Sounds to me like whoever put it together didn't install a shepherd's crook or a retaining plate to hold the pins in. Effectively the pins walked out, the disconnector and trigger came loose, and the hammer was allowed to free cycle.

 

[MGshaggy]

This gun was from 1970's folks; 38 years ago. I don't even think Century was in businesss back then, and there certainly wasn't any market for poorly cobbled together imported guns back then. There was no major import bans (other than on NFA weapons from the '68 GCA) so high quality Polytecs (milled and stamped) were coming in country with no problems whatsoever. There were also few, if any, US or improved parts for those guns being made either.

Just because it seems cheap in 2008 dollars, doesn't mean it was a cheap gun in 1970 dollars; the original owner probably paid about $100-200 in 1970's dollars and let it go for about what he had into it. It sounds like it needs some repair work and a little maintenance, but its probably a good quality AK. Who is the manufacturer/importer?

 

[WardenWolf]

I'd agree with MGshaggy. I think once it's fixed, you'll wind up with a perfectly reliable AK. I'm guessing it probably had the shepherd's crook at one point, but it either broke or was removed during maintenance, and never reinstalled.

 

[MisterPX]

Just because it's a 1970 kit doesn't mean century didn't cobble it together last tuesday. Hell, I can build a 67 kit next april. Check for the crook. Although, for $250, who built it?

 

[anymanusa]

sounds like the retaining pin worked out. That happened to mine the other day. No biggie, you just have to get a better one, or install it better. The plates won't back out like that, but I've never installed a plate.