ak-47 charging handle gas piston loose

[snewbie]

I field stripped my wasr and noticed that the gas piston wiggles a little bit inside the charging handle. There is a little hole in the chrging handle where the gas piston goes in which allows me to see that the gas piston is threaded in there. It wont come out or unscrew. Should I be worried that it wiggles?

 

[garrett1955]

Wiggle is good, it's when it's tight you have to worry. Mine has many rounds through it, not a problem what so ever.

 

[DnPRK]

It is supposed to be a little loose. Don't worry, its pinned in place.

 

[snewbie]

What happens when it is tight?

 

[DnPRK]

It binds in the gas tube and receiver. Binding can cause failure to feed.

 

[snewbie]

Cool. Thank you so much. You saved me a few extra grey hairs.

 

[pmbiker]

Wobbly or not, it will not cause failures or binding. Both of my new Saigas gas pistons are tight and my Bulgarian and Chinese have the wobble, no troubles with any of them. As long as it's pinned in place and not unscrewing you have no worries.