Having issues with my AK... need some help.

[Flogger23m]

Hello all. I am having some issues with my NDS-3/Romanian AK rifle in 7.62x39. I am both new to firearms and AKs, so if you know the solutions please explain in some detail.

1) Something odd is happening with my trigger than selector switch.

This is what my rifle looked like when I brought it home Tuesday:

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3798/myak.jpg

This is what it looks like now:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8811/akhires.jpg

Notice how in the second picture the trigger is pushed further back, and that the selector lever will not go all the way up to "S". Why is this happening? And how do I fix it? I have cycled the bolt a few times, took off the top cover and removed the recoil spring, charging handle assembly and bolt, and then put it back together and I still can't reset the trigger or selector.

2) I only have one magazine. My rifle is a double stack rifle, as is the magazine. But the magazine fits really tight. So tight that it has gotten stuck twice. When it was stuck, I had to use a hammer to help loosen the mags up. Sometimes it gets stuck and I can not press the mag release forward.

Here are pics of my mag and mag well:











Does anything look out of place? Do you think it is the rifle or the mag that is out of spec?


Thanks for your time.

 

[Shear_stress]

Pop open the top cover and make sure that both of the two spring legs are resting on top and not under the trigger. It's possible that one may have snuck under the trigger, forcing the trigger into a slightly rearward position. This would also block the safety lever in the manner you showed.

Edited to add: whoops, forgot to welcome you to THR!

 

[Flogger23m]

You mean this?



If so, as you can see, only the left side is on top and the right side is on the bottom.

 

[briansmithwins]

Hammer spring isn't installed correctly.

You might get some ideas from the manual:

http://www.box.net/shared/cu2djae1zb

BSW

 

[Shear_stress]

Grab a pair of needle nose pliers and make sure both legs are on top.

 

[Flogger23m]

Thanks for the quick replies. I will try and bring it back on top.

 

[Flogger23m]

I fixed the spring, and now the trigger and safety works. Now my only problem is that the hammer gets in the way when I am trying to put the bolt/charging handle back in... what do I have to do now?

 

[nalioth]

Now my only problem is that the hammer gets in the way when I am trying to put the bolt/charging handle back in... what do I have to do now?

Smart A** answer: make sure the hammer is cocked.

Informative answer: The hammer always 'gets in the way'. Just press down on the bolt carrier while moving it forward, and it'll drop right in place.

 

[Flogger23m]

Is it supposed to click and stay down, or do I have to press down on it with some kind of tool? Its impossible to keep holding it down while putting the thing back in. Before it use to slide right in...

Tell me if anything looks out of the ordinary:










Tell me what I have to do before I can properly reassemble all the parts.

 

[Shear_stress]

It looks like your bolt is in the right position for assembly. You need to press the bolt/carrier down at the beginning of its travel (at the rear of the receiver) in order for it to engage the rails. Also, make sure the safety lever is down in the "fire" position.

 

[Flogger23m]

Ok, I'll try hitting it with a hammer. Maybe that will give it the push it needs.

 

[Mooseman]

Once you've taken it apart and put it back together again a few times it will get easier. As long and your not using your hammer to do it you'll have a hard time breaking anything. Those are fun rifles. Good luck

And welcome to The High Road

 

[Flogger23m]

"It looks like your bolt is in the right position for assembly. You need to press the bolt/carrier down at the beginning of its travel (at the rear of the receiver) in order for it to engage the rails. Also, make sure the safety lever is down in the "fire" position."


Getting it engage the rails is easy, its just that the hammer (even though it is pressed down) still blocks the bolt. Before when I pressed the hammer down, it would slide right in with easy. Ever since I put the spring up the hammer does not stay 100% down.

 

[lvcat2004]

I don't know what you are doing wrong......

cock the hammer

when you slide the bolt/bolt carrier assembly, make sure that the bolt fase is flush with where the bolt handle starts.

The bolt rotates, but when you put the whole assembly in, you want the extractor part to be at 10 o'clock location, if you are looking at the bolt face from the front of the gun, then the bolt assembly should fit nicely into the rail, and then should be able to slide the whole assembly forward. Yes, the bolt will depress the hammer about 1/4 inch downward, but should slide smoothly.

You shouldn't need any tools such as hammer to do this. good luck, ask if it still doesn't work.

 

[-v-]

Just push down and slide forward on the bolt carrier. The hammer should be cocked back, but it will stick up just enough to keep the bolt from sliding right in nice-n-easy. You gotta press down and forward on the bolt to get it in place. Best one I've heard is the "bolt-slap" where you get the bolt in just about the right position and then slap it hard with the heel of your hand in an forward-down motion, causing the bolt to pop back in place with a very satisfying "clank!"

AK's are rough rifles for rough people, don't treat it like a princess !

 

[lvcat2004]

There is no need to slap it in if you do it right....it should be a very smooth, controlled process.

 

[dscottw88]

It'll catch just a little when the bolt slides back over the hammer just because the bolt presses the hammer down (similar to the way it resets the hammer when firing) when sliding forward or backwards over it.