Century Polish Tantal First Function Range Tests (feedback desired)

[gfanikf]

Keep in mind I shot at 5 and 10 yards to most do some basic sight testing and to make sure the gun functioned (my range is indoor and this was meant to be a quick test). This gun had gone back to Century (I have the Gunsmith report) for work on an improved safety (I can take pictures when I get home). I ran about 4 mags (one Polish steel, three Polish Polymer) of about 100-110 surplus rounds in a pretty shoot time span. Now in terms of recoil I have abortively no complaints. It felt like I was shooting my old Ruger Mini-14.

What did crop up is the gun heats up very fast to the point where it's very hard to keep shooting as it hurt my hands. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remedy or at least cope with it? On the bright side no ejected shell casing issues like I've had with 22lr.

I really need to work on how I hold the gun or use the front sight. For some reason I am shooting very high and to the right (even 5 and 10 yards). Now I haven't used the rear sights and was only trying to use the front site (which I suspect may be the issue). The only problem is the "manual" for the tantal speaks nothing about how to use the sights. Does anyone have any tips?

The gun itself break's down very easily. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was (besides the handguard screw not working well with the screwdriver I had). I only did a windex dump on the barrel and a few other parts to neutralize the corrosive salts. Of course as you can tell from another thread I somehow had the firing pin fall out and only noticed it when getting up off the floor.

Does anyone have any tips on the sight issues and on the hot handguards? With those two issues fixed, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy this gun for a very long time.

 

[Rob G]

Does anyone have any tips on the sight issues and on the hot handguards?

Unless those are wood handguards I'd get new ones. The plastic CAI handguards I've seen were all really cheap and not likely to protect your hand from the heat of the barrel. I have factory Arsenal handguards on my SGL and I usually have to dump a couple mags in quick succession to heat them up enough that I feel like putting it down for a couple minutes. If they are wood, then I'm not sure what to tell you. Maybe get some gloves?

For some reason I am shooting very high and to the right (even 5 and 10 yards). Now I haven't used the rear sights and was only trying to use the front site (which I suspect may be the issue). The only problem is the "manual" for the tantal speaks nothing about how to use the sights. Does anyone have any tips?

If you're looking over the rear sight and just using the front that would tend to make you shoot high. Use both sights. Just center the front sight post horizontally in the gap in the rear sight. Then make sure the top of the front sight post is even with the top of the rear sight. You should now be hitting whatever is being covered by the tip of the front sight. If you're not hitting that then the sights may be off and you'll need to adjust them.

 

[gfanikf]

Unless those are wood handguards I'd get new ones. The plastic CAI handguards I've seen were all really cheap and not likely to protect your hand from the heat of the barrel. I have factory Arsenal handguards on my SGL and I usually have to dump a couple mags in quick succession to heat them up enough that I feel like putting it down for a couple minutes. If they are wood, then I'm not sure what to tell you. Maybe get some gloves?

The handguards are plastic or whatever are the default for the Tantal. I know the Tantal's top part isn't interchangeable (without some sanding) with other AK's, but the bottom should be, unless I get one of those custom IronWood(?) sets.

I'm going to get some gloves for the moment,

If you're looking over the rear sight and just using the front that would tend to make you shoot high. Use both sights. Just center the front sight post horizontally in the gap in the rear sight. Then make sure the top of the front sight post is even with the top of the rear sight. You should now be hitting whatever is being covered by the tip of the front sight. If you're not hitting that then the sights may be off and you'll need to adjust them.

I think I was only using the front site, but not the rear sight. I'll try setting it up along the means you suggest.

 

[TurtlePhish]

The handguards are plastic or whatever are the default for the Tantal. I know the Tantal's top part isn't interchangeable (without some sanding) with other AK's, but the bottom should be, unless I get one of those custom IronWood(?) sets.

It's Bakelite, I think. K-Var handguards have stainless heat shields.