Egyptian Hakim 7.92x57mm needs headspacing

[Col. Plink]

Hey y'all,

Bought a Hakim from a guy in Cen Tex (that had got it from a guy here at THR interestingly enough); bought it without a range test. Have since had problems with what I thought was a gas system issue, turns out it's a headspacing issue (for which Hakims are rather infamous).

My question is what's it gonna take to fix this bad boy? I have had a conversation with the expert gunsmiths in town and am confident in their abilities. I just don't know what to expect it to cost if I want to make it a reliable weapon or be content to keep it as a semi-historical range toy. Thanks!

 

[Jeremy2171]

Has it been checked with a FIELD gage??? If not then we don't know if it's a HS issue or not.

HS can be adjusted in the Hakim by changing the bolt or the locking shoulders...rather easy to do...

 

[Col. Plink]

A little information goes a long way. What are you talking about?

 

[R.W.Dale]

A little information goes a long way. What are you talking about?

His post tells you everything you need to know about how to diagnose and fix a Hakim with headspace problems. Honestly if you don't understand his post then a Hakim or Ljungman is NOT a rifle you should be owning and that you will likely get robbed by any gunsmith who attempts to "fix" your problems by other means.

In short an headspace problem on on of these rifles can only be rectified with some VERY hard to find and $$$$ parts. Now what makes you believe you have a headspace issue in the first place?

was it this rifle by chance
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=441127&highlight=hakim

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=441120&highlight=hakim

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=414967&highlight=hakim

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=405152&highlight=hakim

These guns don't pop up often, and I remember this one

 

[Col. Plink]

With all due respect, I'm not seeing "everything you need to know about how to diagnose and fix a Hakim with headspace problems" anywhere on this thread as of yet.

I am, however, in the practice of answering directed questions. What am I missing here?

Please don't lecture me about a rifle I already own unless you're willing to be specific about your attempt at help.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH: I have a Hakimm that exhibits wildly unpredictable ejection characteristics regardless of gas system settings (using 150-gr Romanian milsurp) with 'gas frosting' all around the casings recovered. Is this enough to convince you I have a right to own one? For goodness' sake...

 

[Col. Plink]

taking forever to load those threads...

mine has no mounts or drill-n-tap scars; same color wood though...

 

[Jeremy2171]

Let me try this again......

Hey y'all,

Hello..

Bought a Hakim from a guy in Cen Tex (that had got it from a guy here at THR interestingly enough); bought it without a range test. Have since had problems with what I thought was a gas system issue, turns out it's a headspacing issue (for which Hakims are rather infamous).

How do you know it's a HS issue? I've never heard the Hakims are infamous for having HS issues...what is your source for this info?

My question is what's it gonna take to fix this bad boy? I have had a conversation with the expert gunsmiths in town and am confident in their abilities. I just don't know what to expect it to cost if I want to make it a reliable weapon or be content to keep it as a semi-historical range toy. Thanks!

If you talked to the local smiths what did they tell you it would cost? If they didn't check it with HS gages or mention the use of locking shoulders then I would be wary...

Now my 1st reply to you was full of information.....I'm sorry you didn't see it that way.

NOW:

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH: I have a Hakimm that exhibits wildly unpredictable ejection characteristics regardless of gas system settings (using 150-gr Romanian milsurp) with 'gas frosting' all around the casings recovered.

These are not signs of headspace issues but possibly gas issues and/or poor milsurp ammo.

Need more info on this comment of yours......

 

[R.W.Dale]

Read this thread
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthr...ivity-or-how-to-blow-up-a-nice-rifle&p=282631

now have you tried another kind of ammunition? Preferably a quality commercial loading or a handload? Basing your assumption that the pickiest rifle in the world has a headspace
issue on the fact it doesn't like 40 year old ammo loaded by a 3rd world soviet satellite doesn't sound particularly prudent.

Gas leakback is an ammuniton problem caused by insufficent pressure to seal the case to the chamber. Who told you this is a headspace problem.

 

[NCsmitty]

I would look into other ammo, as it could be the problem. Romanian surplus is often all over the spectrum for fit and performance.
Surplus Rifle site had issues with Romanian surplus when they tested a Hakim. I would also suspect a possible problem with the gas valve spring and ball assy. The spring is subjected to very hot gas and could lose it's tension over time.
I would question that it's due to a headspace problem. You didn't mention anything about case separations, which could happen with excess headspace.

www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/hakimstory/index.asp



NCsmitty

 

[TehK1w1]

Hakims are notorious for quite a few things, but I'm not aware of headspacing issues being one of them.

 

[Col. Plink]

It's true that there were not some of the characteristics on the brass I was told to look for (bulging shoulders and/or primers, split necks), but generous frosting. Also such wild variance in the gas system performance with Romanian ammo...

What I'd like to do to help narrow things down is to find some 8mm ammo that has hard primers but not too hot. Any suggestions? Don't know what milsup 8mm's are considered the best, but that would be a great help towards cost considerations of course. thanks!

 

[Jeremy2171]

Bulging shoulders and split neck are not indications of headspace issues either. When you say "frosting" what exactly do you mean? Do you mean lots of powder soot on the outside of the casing or does the brass has lots of shiny looking freckles...or????

Please give us a report of exactly whats going on with the rifle from the moment you pull the trigger...jamming, not extracting, not feeding etc.....

 

[NCsmitty]

If you had read the article, you would see that the Yugoslavian 196-grain surplus load gave a 1" group at 50yds. It's pretty good stuff.
Here's a link to some.

www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/index.php?manufacturers_id=12&sort=2a&filter_id=134



NCsmitty