AK Going Full Auto--Help!

[Dave72]

My folding stock, Norinco, .223 caliber rifle periodically spits out 3-5 round bursts, then jams. Any thoughts?

I thought I'd identified and remedied the problem previously. I noticed the pin holding the folding stock assembly in place had backed out, and was blocking the full rearward movement of the bolt/carrier assembly. Not much, maybe just about an 1/8". I reinserted the pin and haven't had a problem with it since. However, the rifle is still going full auto.

Any assistance is appreciated...happy new year to all!

 

[jem375]

gunsmith

 

[rock jock]

Full-auto is fun!

 

[Kaylee]

yeah, but jail time aint.

I reckon it's possible the carrier isn't pushing the hammer back far enough for the disconnector hook to catch it. I'd take it to a smith asap!

 

[MechAg94]

Was this on a bench? I have doubled with my Vepr K, but it was on a bench and I was milking the trigger. Not really full auto.

But yeah, jail time ain't fun.

 

[MDG1976]

Take it downtown and sell it for $2000 cash. Just kidding. I'd take that thing to a qualified gunsmith ASAP.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i could probally figure it out if it was in front of me, but with nothing i'd start by replacing the fcg....

 

[Stickjockey]

First off, I am not a gunsmith, nor do I know a lot about the inner workings of an AK-style rifle. I can , however, identify one seven times out of ten.

That being said, does the AK have a free-floating firing pin a'la the SKS? If so, then you might try giving the bolt a good scrubbing, inside and out.

Again, I'm not an expert; just a guess.

 

[Mumbles_45]

does the AK have a free-floating firing pin a'la the SKS?

Yes. Could be there is so much crud built up around the firing pin that it gets stuck forward.

 

[KaceCoyote]

It sounds like a bad gas port to me.

The piston fails to receive a full charge, and cycles back only enough to cycle the action but NOT enough to hook the trigger back up. It slams back, the hammer unlocked and it fires..it repeats this process.

 

[Seven High]

Try replacing the firing pin return spring. It is possibly weak and allows slam firing.

 

[Dionysusigma]

AKs don't have firing pin return springs...

Exactly what sort of jam does it do when it stops? Fail to Eject, Fail to Feed, Fail to Fire, or... what?

As far as FA is concerned, a good, and I mean GOOD, cleaning of the gun might be in order. Piston, gas tube, barrel, fire control group, and the entire bolt disassembled; cleaned with Hoppe's (or similar), boiling water, and/or Simple Green; de-greased with brake cleaner; re-oiled with Mobil 1 or CLP; and reassembled. Failing that, I dunno.

 

[dzimmerm]

Firing pin sticking

I own a Yugo SKS and I had mine double when I oiled the firing pin. The wolf 7.62x39 ammo I was using had red shellac sealing the bullet to the case and that substance gets sticky when exposed to heat and gun oil.

I ended up cleaning the firing pin block out with brake cleaner. You want it so dry that you can hear the firing pin clinking when you shake the block. There should be absolutely no oil in the firing pin channel or on the firing pin.

I have never had a problem since doing that.

There were modifications to the firing pin and block that used a spring to help ensure the firing pin is drawn back towards the rear of the block. I am not sure if these were good things or not. On the one hand the spring would provide a definate force to pull the firing pin back. On the other hand the more stuff you put inside that little channel the more likely it will catch stuff and stick.

Good luck!
dzimmerm

 

[Steelcore]

Might be the ammo.American ammo has softer primers than surplus ammo.Remington ammo is especially noted for slam firing in various miltary rifles.

 

[Buzztail]

It sounds like a bad gas port to me.

The piston fails to receive a full charge, and cycles back only enough to cycle the action but NOT enough to hook the trigger back up. It slams back, the hammer unlocked and it fires..it repeats this process.

I'll second the dirty gas port. Or it could be that your feeding that thing minor caliber ammo

 

[GarrettJ]

Yes. Could be there is so much crud built up around the firing pin that it gets stuck forward.

I think we have a winner. My Norinco .223 would do the same thing. Shavings from the primer were getting stuck in the firing pin hole in the breachface and the pin would get stuck protruding out of the bolt. The gun basically started slamfiring.

Take the bolt apart and remove the firing pin and clean out the firing pin channel. You may want to get in the habit of cleaning this out whenever you clean the gun.

I find that Wolf ammo seems to have harder primers that do not do this. That's about all I shoot out of my .223 AK any more, and the problem has not reoccured.