Hakim 8mm: Need informed advice on gas system

[Col. Plink]

Howdy,
I need someone that knows to tell me if Hakim 8mm gas systems can be closed past the 6 o'clock position to come close to or fully cutting off the gas pressure into the system.

I've been told they can be closed off to just allowing the spent cases to flop out. But a thorough schematic I've seen seems to show they have a ratcheting control that doesn't allow closing-off past the 6 o'clock position.

Does anyone know the answer to this one? Seems it would be the remedy for all the Hakim's finicky issues with high-pressure ammo, but I've never been able to get sure advice on the issue.

Thanks in advance to anyone who could help!

 

[Col. Plink]

Dangerously close to first question unanswered on THR!

I've never posted a question here before that could not be answered.

I know this one is obscure, hence the lack of response I hope, but it's important to me so I'll try again.

Any help?

Thanks!

 

[MCgunner]

I have a Hakim, but I've never tried that. I don't have the tool for the gas port valve, so have to use pliers on it. I don't jack with it. This will bump the thread, sorry I can't help. Perhaps someone can.

 

[Col. Plink]

I think you may be on to something:

What position is your gas system indicator on? (ie, six o'clock, etc.)
How doe the rifle behave on ejection, etc.? (mild, moderate, violent, terribly violent?)

Any real info is helpful. Thanks!

 

[MCgunner]

Mine's wide open and chunks milsurp 8mm a country mile. But, I handload the caliber a lot lighter.

I don't shoot it much. I've read to cut the gas valve back with middle eastern milsurp (where much of it comes now days) as it's loaded hot. I THINK what milsurp I have left, some of it's maypop now, old, was from Israel, but not sure. I know the gun is from Israeli arsenals, captured in the 67 war, dropped once in the sand, never fired.

 

[Col. Plink]

What position is your gas tube valve at? (ie, six o'clock, three o'clock, etc)

 

[MCgunner]

It's pointing straight back toward the breech at 6 o'clock.

 

[Col. Plink]

OK, so that's basically 'wide open' you say, mine is there too and behaves similarly.

Have you ever moved it and observed reaction?

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, you cut it back (don't remember which direction or both), the ejection will be noticeably lighter. I never tried to cut it completely off, though. Mine's wide open because my handloads are light.

 

[chestnut ridge]

Try this

If you insert a fired case into the chamber and let the bolt forward: then
take an air hose and a blow nozzle and blow from muzzle end. You can turn the gas valve and determine which direction reduces or eliminates the air
flow.

 

[MCgunner]

Or, you could pull the bolt off, blow through the gas hole at the action into the barrel and do the same thing, eh?

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Can't help you on the Hakim issue but just wanted to say stay away from any 1950s-production Yugo surplus 8mm.

 

[strange246]

Sorry I dont know the answer, but I bet someone here does: http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?87-Middle-Eastern-Firearms-And-Militaria

 

[dark.zero.x]

Whats wrong with the Yugo 8mm? I know its no good for the hakim (due to the action) but the stuff works wonderfully in all my other 8mm guns.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

@ dark.zero.x:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=458010

 

[bobinoregon]

If your gas port is working just adjust it a little and see what happens, Mine is stuck at about 6 o:clock position and its pretty violent, throws cases a long was or tears rims. You should be able to adjust it to the point of barely ejecting when your valve works. I'll look to see if i can find some info I used to have on living with Hakim.

 

[cpileri]

Here's the instructions I use:
The “Normal” setting for this valve is when the tip of the piece of pie is facing directly back at the rifle’s receiver and will generally allow the Hakim to function with about any 8mm round. To decrease the amount of gas used in the system, turn the valve clockwise with the rifle’s muzzle pointed downrange, to increase it, turn it counter-clockwise. A note should be added here to not adjust the valve counter-clockwise past the “normal” setting, as the valve will fly apart and is a bit of a challenge to get back together.

What I did was adjust the valve to completely closed, so it wouldnt cycle at all, then adjusted it open incrementally until the brass ejects just a couple feet away. Seems to get reliable function while not beating up the action too much that way.

Do that for each load, as the setting may be different depending on how hot the load is.

C-

 

[Col. Plink]

Cpileri, just what I needed; thanks to you and everyone else with germane instructions.

On the diversionary topic, what's wrong with Yugo surplus 8mm? I have a bunch...

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Col. plink, check out the link in my previous post in this thread.

 

[Col. Plink]

Hey 'Duck, glad your OK!

Thanks for the heads-up, will surely be checking headstamps this evening.

Do you know if VZ-24's are built to vent excess gas similarly?

 

[Buck Kramer]

Your google foo is weak! Here ya go http://www.john-oliver.net/shooting/hakim/5.html

Start at 9oclock (shut off) then turn one notch towards 6

Fire one round from magazine and make sure the bolt locks backward then spent case should eject go 6-8' if it does more than that you are over gassing it.

Repeat process turning one more notch toward 6oclock if the spent case goes less than 6' most will run reliably with 1-3 notches from 9oclock toward 6oclock.

...and to think I don't even have one of these

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Col. Plink,

If the Vz-24 is a copy of the Mauser 98 then it should have incorporated all the safety features of the German design. Just look for the hollow bolt with vent holes facing down into the magazine well when in battery, and a flange at the rear of the bolt.

EDIT: I didn't mean to hijack your thread, but I just feel it is my duty to inform other of these bad lots of 50s Yugo 8mm surplus every time somebody has a thread going about 8mm rifles, moreso when they are semi-autos. I just want everyone to be safe when shooting.