My first rifle!!!

[Evil Monkey]

Fellow THR members, today I bought an AK!

More specifically a Century Arms WASR-10 double stack from Dunham's sports for only $300! The display model had a bad mag well that we (me and the clerk) had a hard time putting mags into. When we pulled the charging handle back, and let it go forward softly, the bolt carrier would stay open because the bottom base of the piston would get stuck as they went forward. You have to let it go forward by itself. I didn't like the mag well issue so I asked for another one in the back.

The guy brings back a second AK and this one does the same thing by getting locked up but to a lesser degree. The mag well was MUCH better........maybe too much. The mag well on the second AK had some side-to-side play but decided it's better than not being able to put in a magazine at all. It also had a canted front site post. But I hear it's easy to fix so I ended up getting the second AK.

Let me tell you about the paper work. It took a while! You got the 4473, then you got the NICS call. The NICS call scared the crap out of me. I mean I don't have a record or anything but it's just bothersome that some stranger decides if you can exercise your rights or not.............then I heard the guy say "so it's a proceed? Thank You."

Then I had to read about that child safety lock paper and put my initials on it. Oh about that lock, damn near worthless. I know a kid might not be able to open it but a thief can with his fingers.

I didn't get to shoot it today but I took it home and took it apart to learn about it. It was covered with this really annoying stuff called.....COSMOLINE! This stuff sucks. It's everywhere, even on the outside of the rifle.


OK enough babbling, I need to ask some serious questions.

First, is it normal for these AK's to have the carrier stay open if you ease it forward? It seems like the piston is not inline with the rear of the gas tube.

Second, is the side to side wobble of the mags OK as long as there is no up and down play?

And third, how in the world do you lift the gas tube lever upward!?!?!? It's impossible. I almost ripped the flesh from my index finger trying to get it open so I just left it alone.

 

[carnaby]

Congrats on the new rifle! I can't help you with any of your questions, but it sounds like you're going to have fun tinkering with your new toy.

 

[Logan5]

And third, how in the world do you lift the gas tube lever upward!?!?!? It's impossible. I almost ripped the flesh from my index finger trying to get it open so I just left it alone.

That's your only question where I have direct experience that might be helpful. I'd reccommend using a rubber kitchen gripper or some other form of padding in combination with pliers... carefully. They're pretty stiff on pretty much any new rifle you encounter them on from PSL to WASR.

Second, is the side to side wobble of the mags OK as long as there is no up and down play?

This may be a result of CAI milling a low cap WASR reciever (single stack mag) to create a normal WASR. It's annoying, but if it feeds reliably, it's just an inconvenience, according to internet wisdom.

First, is it normal for these AK's to have the carrier stay open if you ease it forward? It seems like the piston is not inline with the rear of the gas tube.

Now this sounds like a pretty unhappy circumstance. It's definitely not normal, but with any luck it's something that's easy to fix.

 

[Sunray]

"...even on the outside of the rifle..." It's thick petroleum jelly. It comes off easily if you drop the whole thing into a vat of mineral spirits and leave it there for 24 hours. Then brush it off with a plastic brush.
Then check the headspace before you shoot it. Century has no idea what QC means.

 

[RecoilRob]

The bolt staying open when you ease it forward is because it contacts the hammer....and is normal for the machine. Don't worry about it.

The front sight post being crooked IS something I'd worry about and ask for another rifle rather than trying to fix it yourself.

The mag well can always have metal removed but it is darn difficult to put it back...so a tight one is much better than a loose one.

My WASR had a problem with a couple of mags not fitting and it turned out to be the mags, not the rifle. There is a lot of tolerance built into the AK platform and some amount of slop is to be expected.

 

[only1asterisk]

Congratulations on your purchase. If you want to be able to find magazines and parts for it please take a look at the new proposed federal assault weapons ban and contact you representatives.

David

 

[ConfuseUs]

On my WASR-10 the gas tube retaining lever was also a major pain to open. What I do is take a plastic handled screwdriver (the type with the mooshy ergonomic handle works well) and use it to tap (bash?) the lever into the open position. The way I do this is hold the screwdriver in my fist, and smack the handle butt into the gas tube lever using an oblique motion, sort of like pounding on a table. If you strip your rifle a lot this lever will loosen up some. This should only take one or two taps and then you can freely rotate it. The lever clicks right into a detent in the front trunnion and it really doesn't want to come out.

 

[aaronrkelly]

WASRs may have some heavy oil on them but none I have encounter had honest-to-god cosmoline on them. The WASRs are new production rifles, they havent been stored for 50 odd years like most cosmoline soaked rifles are.

First question....

If you 'ease' the bolt forward on an AK patter rifle it is 100% normal for it to 'hang' in place, all my rifles do this. These guns (and most all guns) are not meant to be charged with a light hand. Pull the handle back and let it fly forward, its required for the proper function of the rifle (and most all guns). Your not going to hurt it.....and your insuring proper lock-up of the bolt.

Second question....

The wobble is caused by the monkeys at Century 'hogging' the magazine well out to much with their Super Dremel 2000. The wobble varies from rifle to rifle and from magazine to magazine. I have owned a few WASRs and they exhibit this, in fact my Norinco MAK-90 (also an AK47 pattern rifle) also exhibits this and its considered a fairly decent AK buy most (a few notches better than the WASRs). None of my rifles are affected function wise by this wobble. I have tested it fairly extensively, no issues. I suppose its possible if the wobble is to severe it could cause issues, I just havent see one that far out of spec.

Third question....

I stick a 7.62 shell in the little indention and just force it up, works like a charm.

 

[Glockfan.45]

The wobble is caused by the monkeys at Century 'hogging' the magazine well out to much with their Super Dremel 2000. The wobble varies from rifle to rifle and from magazine to magazine. I have owned a few WASRs and they exhibit this, in fact my Norinco MAK-90 (also an AK47 pattern rifle) also exhibits this and its considered a fairly decent AK buy most (a few notches better than the WASRs). None of my rifles are affected function wise by this wobble. I have tested it fairly extensively, no issues. I suppose its possible if the wobble is to severe it could cause issues, I just havent see one that far out of spec.

The wobble on WASRs aside from Century being well Century when it comes to machine work is also due to the lack of dimples on the reciever. Instead they weld little plates inside that dont do the trick. If you look at a WASR next to any other AK you will see what I mean. Poly mags dont wobble in mine (just stay away from US made mags) but the steel ones do. It has never been a issue as far as reliabilty goes. The charging handle hang up is normal. Dont ride the handle forward, let it fly as another poster said. You can use the tip of a bullet as a pin in the little hole on the lever to lift it. Thats what the Russians do .

 

[trueblue1776]

CAI is proof of redneck ingenuity, as much crap as we all talk about the the sell the hell out of those guns. Those guys could build anything with their dremels, as long as it only had to work half the time. I like my fingers far too much to own a CAI.

 

[spyderdude]

Congratulations on the WASR10. Mine has been flawless since the day I bought it. Like yours, mine is also from Century, and some people say their rifles are crap, but mine fortunately is one of the good ones, and I certainly hope yours is too. They certainly won't win any firearm beauty contests, or target shooting matches, but they work as intended by Mr. Kalashnikov. When I first got my WASR10, I was told I would definitely need more mags, and LOTS of ammo. They couldn't be more right, it will feed hollow points and FMJs without a hiccup.



I guess Romanian WASR10s from Century are like the Hi-Points of the AK47 clones, some people have good things to say about em, others hate em with the upmost intensity.

 

[MachIVshooter]

First, is it normal for these AK's to have the carrier stay open if you ease it forward? It seems like the piston is not inline with the rear of the gas tube.

The carrier will hang on the hammer if eased forward. Do not try to use this as a hold open and stick your finger in there. trust me, it's very similar to "Garand thumb".

Second, is the side to side wobble of the mags OK as long as there is no up and down play?

Pretty Normal for a WASR. The guns work, but fit & finish is never very good. I have botha WASR and a PSL. I like them and they shoot great, but they're rough.

And third, how in the world do you lift the gas tube lever upward!?!?!? It's impossible. I almost ripped the flesh from my index finger trying to get it open so I just left it alone.

Again, the fit & finish issue. You might have to carefully work it up with a tool the first few times until it loosens up.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

My First rifle was a .22.

Nice rifle though. Makes me envious

What makes a WASR 10 different from a normal AK-47?

 

[Kaylee]

I'll give this to Mr. Kalashnikov.. that his gun can be cobbled together that crudely and still work is a miracle of ingenuity.

My AK is an original Romanian military AK rebuilt with a Nodak receiver (and appropriate US bits, of course). The gas block is canted, the machining looks indifferent in places, and it's still persnickety about whether a mag will wobble or protest going into place...

.. and yet the darn things run.

Gotta say this for the Commies. They can make a gun to be put together by monkeys and carried by huns .... and still work.

-K

 

[ohioarmedneutrality]

"And third, how in the world do you lift the gas tube lever upward!?!?!? It's impossible. I almost ripped the flesh from my index finger trying to get it open so I just left it alone."

To lift the gas tube upward, you need to use the cleaning kit tube (if it didn't come in the box, look in the butt of the stock, should be in there.) The tube has a groove cut in it that is used for lifting and re-placing the gas tube lever.

Go to http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/toolkit.htm and take the link to the second page for an illustration.

Oh, also, congrats on your new acquisition! I bought mine about 3 mos. ago and have yet to have one single problem. Definitely a no-regret-whatsoever purchase.