How to clean AK rifle??

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black bear

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I got a Maadi ARM (Egyptian rifle AK 47 pattern with thumbhole stock) in 7, 62 by 39mm.
I noticed that the bolt doesn't lock in the open position, it stay there but if you jiggle it just a little it slam forward.

I like to clean the barrel and chamber, what is the procedure?

Thanks guys in advance for your answers.
Best regards
black bear
 
The AK bolt isnt made to stay open. I usually stand it up with the butt on the ground and maybe hold it open with my foot as I run patches down the bore. That or run the patch down and then open it with the other hand.
 
Ak's are very easy to clean, and I would counsel you to actually disassemble the rifle rather than just swabbing it.

First, do the requisite checking to make sure it's unloaded.

Press the button holding the dustcover until you remove the dustcover.

Remove the spring.

Pull the charging the handle back will take bolt and everything you need to clean with it.

This is really all you have to do to clean this brilliantly designed rifle, it's not hard and it's worth it to keep such a fine rifle clean.

Also, you can hold the bolt open - bring the charging handle all the way back, now pull the trigger and slowly let the bolt go forward - it should stop about halfway.

Thanks to my friend Matt for teaching me that little trick.
 
Grand Inquisitor,

Where was your friend when I bought my WASR 10 :banghead: ...I had to figure that little trick with keeping the bolt open on my own, and it works because the hammer gets "stuck" under the rear of the bolt carrier :cool: ...I use this at the range when I want to load single rounds, to help with cooling, for easier realoading like my M4gery(just rack the bolt to the rear and let her fly home chambering the first round), or when range officers yell "open your actions and step back from the line!". I like the funny looks I get from other AK guys that think mine is special becasue it has a bolt hold open :D ...
 
I used to own a MAK-90, which is another AK clone.

The best and easiest way to clean an AK is to pop off the top cover, using that little button on the back of the receiver.

Get a manual or see this link.

http://ak-47.us/BreakDown.php

Of course, for cleaning, you'll need to do only the first 11 steps.

I could break mine down in about 30 seconds, max.

hillbilly
 
My Saiga has a latch behind the magazine well, that, if I press it while the bolt is pulled all the way back and slowly ride it forward, it will stop about halfway.
 
Thanks guys, GREAT answers!! I did it just now. I cleaned the barrel and chamber and the bolt and carrier. Was a brezze to dissasemble the gun.

The only thing is that for me, the trick of pulling the bolt handle backward and pulling the trigger, don't work.
Maybe because it is a little diferent? the gun is a Egyptian Maddi ARM.

Thanks again
black bear
 
My recommendation is to just wipe down the parts and internals, not try to remove all carbon to make it surgically clean. I generally lightly put CLP or equivilent on a rag, wipe everything down with CLP'd rag. Wait a bit, wipe down everything with a dry rag.

The exception is the barrel. Run patches until you get all white patches. For most weapons, I generally push the rod in the direction that the bullet travels. Not as important for the AK platform generally.
 
My Romanian WASR-10 will occassionally appear to lock the bolt back. I think it is either the op-rod catching on the lip of the gas tube or the bolt/bolt carrier catching on the hammer. As mentioned, the AK doesn't have a bolt hold open device so when this happens, I know the slightest jiggle or pressure will release the bolt.

Heres a detailed guide to field stripping the AK complete with pictures: http://www.ak47.net/content/guides/assembly/akFieldStripping/index.html
 
Pulling the bolt back and holding trigger doesn't work on my Arsenal SLR-105R either.

To clean mine, I field strip and go from there. I can break my rifle down in less than 15 secs if I go quick.

such wonderful weapons although I'd like a bolt hold open device.
 
mop the barrel and bolt face. An AK should be thoroughly cleaned (with regular use) once a year probably.

I keep mine pristine to most standards though. I wipe down the gas tube, bolt carrier, piston after I fire it.
 
My favorite post from AK-47.net....

Thread title: "How often do you clean your AK".

Answer: I was at the range once, and it rained. Does that count?"

I clean mine every 100-500 rounds, whether it needs it or not. ;)
 
Whoops! Forgot to answer the question...

I clean my AK only when she tells me she needs it(What! Like your guns don't talk to you?) ;) . She asks for a little TLC only about once or twice every 2-3 months unless I shoot A LOT of lead....and I mean A LOOOOOOOT of lead :D .
I have never cleaned the actual gas port(the hole the hot gasses come through to push the piston, ever). I do lightly clean the gas tube(where the gas piston reciprocates) but I doubt it needs it. The only part of my AK I like to try to religously clean(whenever I do clean that is) is the barrel, bolt carrier, and the bolt itself(which has never been disassembled). All those pieces including the interior of the receiver, get cleaned like my AR , 'till I can see myself in'em :)...
 
I clean mine every time I shoot it... but I treat all my guns that way.

According to my manual... 'clean water can be used to flush any mineral salts or powder fouling from the action, but you should wipe it down with an oily rag afterwards.'

(I'm guessing this was the procedure to clean salt water residue from the rifle?)

I always pop off the dust cover and muzzle brake and clean from the rear with a flexible rod... if you have a muzzle device of any kind it can act as protective guide for the crown of the barrel.

The gas ports can be gotten after with a spray of solvent and a pipe cleaner or a bent needle.

It's a pretty simple rifle to clean.
 
According to my manual... 'clean water can be used to flush any mineral salts or powder fouling from the action, but you should wipe it down with an oily rag afterwards.'

(I'm guessing this was the procedure to clean salt water residue from the rifle?)
Click to expand...

No, corrosive ammo.
 
Clean the rifle extensively, no need to beat the crap out've the poor AK. Yes it can survive extensive abuse, but thats no excuse not to clean it just as religiously as any other rifle. Heres my proceedure.

Remove the dust cover, use a rag sprayed with brake cleaner to wipe the crap off

Remove the spring, spray said rag again and wrap it around the spring before dragging it through a few times.

Remove the bolt carrier, remove the bolt. Use a brush to knock some of the crap off the top off the gas piston. Use a ear swab to get the crap out've the nooks and crannies, remove the piston and set that aside. Wipe down the entire bolt carrier, especially the female receiver ends.(anyone got a better name?)

For the bolt, set it inside the rag, spray the crap out've it with brake cleaner and go to town. Scrub it everywhere, then wipe clean and add a drop of lube inside the bolt's firing pin channel.

For the gas tube use a boresnake, the 12guage one does it just fine. Gets it sparkling clean. Reassemble.


I dunno bout your barrel but mine has very deep grooves, so it gets extensive brushing and solvent swabs. Its tough to get totally clean patches after you've fired several hundred rounds in a day but keep on it. Give everything a good light film of lube, put it back togather and go to town.
 
For those of you that use cleaning rods, what kind of rod do you use? Do they make them in 7.62 caliber? And which end of the gun do you clean from? Thank you.
 
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