AK bolt question

[Gtimothy]

So I'm at the range yesterday and the guy next to me has an AK variant that he just bought and didn't know anything about rolleyes. We started talking about it and I offered to help where I could. I have shot an AK-47 before (a full auto brought back from one of the "stan" countries) that belonged to a friend of mine so I know its basic operation. What had me confused was the bolt would not lock back on an empty magazine. I looked up into the action but couldn't see anything that would function as a bolt catch. My question is whether or not an AKs bolt is supposed to lock back on an empty magazine or not? Just curious....

 

[mshootnit]

no bolt catch or last shot hold open. Saiga sporters have a poor bolt hold open mechanism.

 

[Gtimothy]

no bolt catch or last shot hold open. Saiga sporters have a poor bolt hold open mechanism.

Thanks for the quick reply and clarification!

 

[briansmithwins]

Yep, BHO is not standard on AKs.

BSW

 

[jonnyc]

Yugo AK mags have BHO device, but it releases when you drop the mag. Not really needed on them.

 

[animator]

The yugoslavian M64 originally came with a BHO device that functioned as a true bolt-hold-open feature, and is the only AK variant I know of with this. It required a proprietary magazine that had a small window notch cut out that allowed the follower to trip a lever that would hold the bolt open on the last round, as well as if the magazine was removed. Those mags are very hard to find, and most M64 parts kits either did not include the BHO lever, or it was destroyed during the demil process. Very few "kit-built" M64 variants include this feature.


The yugo mags with BHO followers function similarly, but the bolt will slam shut once the magazine is removed from the rifle.

 

[Gtimothy]

I have no idea what he had, I really don't care for AKs but this guy didn't know anything about the gun! I had to show him how the safety worked, and how to load and insert/release the magazine. Like I said, I've shot them before but don't own one. The funny thing is he loaded 6 or 7 rounds into it, cranked them off then was done. Then he broke out a Taurus Judge and shot that...another gun he didn't know anything about. When I told him he was 3" of rifling away from an NFA weapon, he looked at me like I was speaking swahili!

 

[TurtlePhish]

Geesh, who is this guy? Surprised he brought the right ammo...

 

[Gtimothy]

I know, right! He had "ONE" 20 rd box of milsurp ammo for the AK and a 50 rd box of 45 Long Colt and some .410 shells for the Judge.

I'm just suprised that he didn't ask questions about the operation of the AK from the person he bought it from! I'm guessing the Judge was bought because it was "Big and Nasty" looking ! Thats another gun I have no interest in!

 

[mortablunt]

It's not supposed to lock back when it's finished. Mine never did. They are not designed like that. One question: how did you get a bringback gun from one of the "stan" countries if bringbacks were banned by Bush 1?

 

[TurtlePhish]

Well, I guess there's always the guy who buys it to look at it...

 

[Sam1911]

Answered.