Does your WASR-10 (or other AK) bolt lock back?

[Strakele]

Just wondering if anyone else has this issue or if I just have a special rifle.

On my WASR-10, if the bolt is pulled back slowly enough, it will catch on the top of the hammer/trigger assembly near the back of it's travel and stay open until a bit of force is applied to push it back past this point and the spring will snap it forward.

I know that it's not made to do this, but I actually find it very useful. Instead of shoving a shell or piece of plastic in the bolt during a cease-fire, I can simply pull the bolt back till it catches. I wouldn't trust it as a safety or anything like that with a loaded magazine as bumps will jar it enough to slam back into battery, but it is a nice 'feature.' It's also kind of 'cool' to pull it back, insert a fresh magazine, and give the bolt handle a good tap to send it forward chambering the first round. Kind of like the 'HK slap.'

Anyone else's rifle do this? WASR-10 or other manufacturer?



Rifle is completely unmodified internally.

 

[sharkhunter2018]

Every WASR-10 I have handled does it. Mine and all of my friends rifles do it, as well as a buddies Yugo.

I've also heard that it is supposed to not do that with some use. Well, I'm 5K rounds into mine (I'm also not the original owner) and it still does.

And yes, I do find it useful, especially if I'm at range where you have to lock the bolt back when the range is cold.

 

[nalioth]

This is the number one reported "issue" with new AKs (and new AK owners).

The new fire control group needs to be broken in (please don't polish it - just shoot it more and it'll be fine).

The reason it "hangs up" is because you are babying it. If you operate the weapon as it was designed to be operated, you wouldn't see this "hang up".

And yes, I do find it useful, especially if I'm at range where you have to lock the bolt back when the range is cold.

. . and how many bowels do you plan on evacuating when one day, your AK decides it's "broken in" enough and the bolt slams forward while you're all down range?

 

[Ian]

Specifically, it's pressure from the hammer pushing on the bottom of the bolt carrier that holds it open. The bolt carrier pushes the hammer lower than the point where the trigger hooks will hold it, so the force of the hammer spring is all transmitted to the bolt carrier. I wouldn't call it a feature or a problem...it doesn't hurt anything, but it's not reliable enough to count on as a holdopen, since a bump will usually allow the bolt to drop forward.

 

[Strakele]

OK I was just wondering if it happened to anybody else. I know why it happens and I'm not in any hurry to make it stop. Like I said, I rather like it. And like I said, I don't trust it as a safety or anything, but at certain times it's useful.

 

[sharkhunter2018]

. . and how many bowels do you plan on evacuating when one day, your AK decides it's "broken in" enough and the bolt slams forward while you're all down range?

...and what makes you think I would leave the bolt held open with a loaded mag locked in?

The reason it "hangs up" is because you are babying it. If you operate the weapon as it was designed to be operated, you wouldn't see this "hang up".

What exactly is babying?

 

[Ian]

Even if there's no mag in, it would be a bit nerve-wracking to be downrange and hear a bolt slam home on the line.

And babying it is running the bolt gently forward with your hand instead of pulling it all the way back and letting go. Doing it slowly can allow it to hold open, which should never happen when you yank it back and release.

 

[sharkhunter2018]

And babying it is running the bolt gently forward with your hand

Well, then my AKs are not babied.

 

[MT GUNNY]

Ive thought about Cutting a notch in the saftey Lever to hold the bolt back!

 

[armoredman]

There is a modified safety available to use as a bolt hold open, saw it on this forum somewhere very recently...

 

[chris in va]

My Saiga with G2 trigger group does this to a point. I find it useful as it allows me to 'decock' the gun in a way. Bring it to the point of resistance, pull the trigger, ride the bolt down.

 

[jpwilly]

Glad somebody asked. I've always wondered why they did this.

 

[Mr. Bojangles]

My wasr-10 will, if I let the slide forward slowly, stop about 2 inches before it should. It is dislodged with a gentle tap but it is not held back far enough that it will chamber a round from a fresh magazine. It sounds like yours is being held up much further back.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

My WASR-10 locks back, just like the OP's. I think it's a useful feature for keeping the action open and visually cleared but yes, the bolt will close with a good bump to the rifle.

 

[benEzra]

My SAR-1 would when new. It has now smoothed up a bit more.

I made a chamber flag for mine for range use, out of a dowel.

 

[45B@cav]

Every AK I have did it for a few thousand rounds. They have since stopped.

 

[sarduy]

Does your WASR-10 (or other AK) bolt lock back?

yes, here's a video on how to do it.

video