arsenal saiga ak74 cracked bolt

[frisbee2421]

i am really disappointed with my arsenal saiga ak74. i took it out shooting the other day and the bolt carrier cracked. the crack is about 1/2 inch. i might have put 100 rounds through it that day. less than 500 rounds total since i have owned the rifle. i purchased the rifle about a year ago, brand new from aim surplus. besides that, the finish on the muzzle brake is less than durable.

i called arsenal inc and hope that they will replace the carrier. if not, do any of you know whether or not an east german ak74 bolt carrier would function properly on this rifle?

i have never seen anything like this with my other ak's. i do know that the piston was attached very tightly to the carrier. not so much on some of my other ak's. if any of you have a arsenal saiga 5.45x39, can you check your piston movement and advise me if it is tight or if there is some slight movement.

thanks, frisbee2421

 

[Wishoot]

Wow! I've never seen that before.

Hope Arsenal makes it right for you.

 

[JustinJ]

Sorry to hear about your cracked carrier. Does anybody know if the piston is one of the American parts they put o these for 922r complicance? Yours is really the first time i've ever heard of an arsenal defect but even the best made guns can't all be perfect. Their finishes do leave a bit to be desired as well.

I'm not sure about the German carrier but i would suspect it to work. KVar sells or used to sell russian carriers. Keep us posted on Arsenals customer service.

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

I'm pretty sure its Russian. Arsenal is a good company-they should take care of you.

 

[Chindo18Z]

Unfortunately, this is a rare but common point of failure with AKs.

In direct contravention of internet wisdom concerning AK durability...I've seen several battlefield weapons in other parts of the world that had the same issue.

Not often, but it does occasionally happen to the Kalashnikov.

Arsenal makes quality weapons and should make it right. Call them and send the photos via e-mail.

 

[Sam Cade]

Arsenal makes quality weapons

They didn't make this one, its Russian.

 

[frisbee2421]

arsenal sent me an email letting me know that they will likely be calling me tomorrow. while speaking with the receptionist, she let me know that a few days before my call, another ak74 owner had the same failure. i encourage all owners of this particular model to inspect their own rifles. i do this regularly with my own and is why i found the problem.

 

[frisbee2421]

the model is an SGL-31

 

[DougW]

Heck, it's an AK. Bailing wire, duct tape, even a stick welder will fix 'er right up!

 

[Chindo18Z]

Sam Cade: They didn't make this one, its Russian.

OK. Arsenal builds or imports quality weapons. The Russians normally manufacture quality weapons as well.

Everyone makes lemons sooner or later. Arsenal will probably stand by their product and make it right.

 

[JustinJ]

"In direct contravention of internet wisdom concerning AK durability...I've seen several battlefield weapons in other parts of the world that had the same issue."

It does however not appear like something that would impair function until it grew over time to the point of the piston breaking off.

 

[Chindo18Z]

Justin: It does however not appear like something that would impair function until it grew over time to the point of the piston breaking off.

Correct. Though I'd go ahead and get it replaced.

 

[JustinJ]

I totally agree Chindoz. I was just speaking in reference to the gun's reliability as a combat arm.

 

[ny32182]

I believe the carrier is Russian/untouched during the conversion. I suppose Arsenal will either have the part or not. If they replace it with an American carrier it isn't really quite the same thing.

 

[frisbee2421]

arsenal says send the bolt carrier back, that they will replace it. kind've hope they number it to match the rifle. but if not, so be it. good to know that they stand behind their products.

 

[frisbee2421]

arsenal came through. they provided me with a properly numbered replacement bolt carrier. kudos to arsenal.

 

[kilo729]

Glad to hear it!

We expect AARs, of course.

And pics, lots of pics.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I was at the LGS the other day and there was a Dan Wesson 1911 in for new sights and me and the smith found a crack about the same size in the carrier. It happens.

 

[briansmithwins]

Thin steel with some stress on it.

I had to replace a bolt carrier after I removed the CAI welded in gas piston. I drilled out the welds but unscrewing the original gas piston cracked the same area.

The new bolt carrier with the pin instead of weld functioned perfectly.

The Russians have done some changes to the AK manufacturing process with the later AK-100 series. The punch divots into the steel of the bolt carrier to hold the gas piston, and divots into the gas block to hold it to the barrel. It faster/cheaper than drilling holes and pinning. Whether it's as durable I'm not sure.

BSW

 

[mohunter55]

good to hear they replaced the bolt and renumbered it for you. Especially since you had it over the 1 year warranty. I just ordered an arsenal sgl31 from atlantic firearms. Can't wait for it to get here.

 

[WardenWolf]

Great to hear on Arsenal's customer service. A generic AK bolt carrier would have worked, though. An AK indexes off the bolt itself. Once the bolt rotates and locks up, the carrier is just along for the ride (which is why it doesn't matter if it sticks just shy of fully forward). In fact, there's a couple of companies that manufacture completely new bolt carriers.

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

If I'm right, the AK-10x series uses a differently sized bolt carrier. I could be wrong though...thought something about the bolt/bolt carrier was lighter on them.

 

[mortablunt]

^ I thought that the 100's were export-intended models of the 74 with maybe some slight modifications. The 101, 102, 103, and 104 are in calibers other than 7.62.