TGI AMD-65 Range failure report.

[jakk280rem]

There has been some buzz here in rifle country over the past few weeks about the TGI built FEG AMD-65's and I thought I would post up my experience with my newly aquired rifle.

The rifle appears to be well made. There was already some finish wear on the corners out of the box. But there were no sharp bits or loose rivets. The receiver is marked sa2000m and made in Hungary. It has a chrome bore and chamber.

Everything appeared to be good to go so I took it and a few boxes of Wolf 124gr HP's to the range for a simple function test and familiarization. I started by using the plastic 20rd magazine that came with the gun. After the second shot, the trigger failed to reset. I thought that perhaps it just needed some breaking in, so I eased the trigger forward and fired again. Same deal, failure to reset. This continued for the entire mag with the trigger reseting as normal after the first and seventeenth shots were fired. I pulled the dust cover off and started poking around a bit and noticed that the the two ends of the hammer spring that draped over and rest upon the trigger had worked their way off of the trigger bar and toward the center. This of course doesn't provide enough spring pressure to overcome the disconnector tension. I tried to move the spring tails out to the side where the rest on the trigger but could find no way of making them stay there. They always worked their way off the trigger and toward the center. Every round fed and fired reliably as long as i manually push the trigger back forward. After 70 rounds I got frustrated and gave up. Out of those 70 rounds fired the trigger reset normally 4 times.

And lastly, sometime from the first shot till the time I got it home the weld holding the muzzle brake on broke. My muzzle brake is now loose and wobbly. There is no evidence of contact between exiting bullets and the brake.

All in all I like the rifle. It is light weight, compact, and balances nicely. The brake really works too. Recoil is mitigated down to below 357 mag carbine levels. I am disappointed in the shoddy weld job and the trigger needs sorted out. But I think I'm gonna really like this thing once it is.

I just don't know if I should send it back to TGI or try to have it repaired locally.

 

[Hizzie]

Trigger issue sounds like the shepards hook fell off and trigger pins started to walk. As for the broken weld on the muzzle brake that leaves you short. Short on barrel inches and short on SBR paperwork. Call TGI and have it sent back for repairs or have it fixed locally but get it done. If you send it back to TGI pretty good chance you will get a different rifle back. It took 3 tries before I got a good one.

 

[InkEd]

I have heard of the weld issue once before from my LGS, where they have sold alot of them over the years. They offered to have the gunsmith weld it back for the guy or give him a new one. He went with the new one and that was the end of it to my knowledge.

The trigger reset issue is a new one to me. I would send it back for service. TGI by all accounts I've heard stand behind their products pretty well.

Based on my experience from playing with them at my LGS and the two owned by a couple of my buddies, I would still recommend them over a CAI build to anyone looking for a budget AK.

 

[briansmithwins]

Can you get a picture of the spring/trigger area? And of the axis pin retainers?

Might not require a trip back if it's something simple.

BSW

 

[SN13]

There has been some buzz here in rifle country over the past few weeks about the TGI built FEG AMD-65's and I thought I would post up my experience with my newly aquired rifle.

The rifle appears to be well made. There was already some finish wear on the corners out of the box. But there were no sharp bits or loose rivets. The receiver is marked sa2000m and made in Hungary. It has a chrome bore and chamber.

Everything appeared to be good to go so I took it and a few boxes of Wolf 124gr HP's to the range for a simple function test and familiarization. I started by using the plastic 20rd magazine that came with the gun. After the second shot, the trigger failed to reset. I thought that perhaps it just needed some breaking in, so I eased the trigger forward and fired again. Same deal, failure to reset. This continued for the entire mag with the trigger reseting as normal after the first and seventeenth shots were fired. I pulled the dust cover off and started poking around a bit and noticed that the the two ends of the hammer spring that draped over and rest upon the trigger had worked their way off of the trigger bar and toward the center. This of course doesn't provide enough spring pressure to overcome the disconnector tension. I tried to move the spring tails out to the side where the rest on the trigger but could find no way of making them stay there. They always worked their way off the trigger and toward the center. Every round fed and fired reliably as long as i manually push the trigger back forward. After 70 rounds I got frustrated and gave up. Out of those 70 rounds fired the trigger reset normally 4 times.

And lastly, sometime from the first shot till the time I got it home the weld holding the muzzle brake on broke. My muzzle brake is now loose and wobbly. There is no evidence of contact between exiting bullets and the brake.

All in all I like the rifle. It is light weight, compact, and balances nicely. The brake really works too. Recoil is mitigated down to below 357 mag carbine levels. I am disappointed in the shoddy weld job and the trigger needs sorted out. But I think I'm gonna really like this thing once it is.

I just don't know if I should send it back to TGI or try to have it repaired locally.

OK Jak. Let me see if I can help.

On more dedicated AK forums (Saiga-12.com, etc) we've seen these sa2000m rifles before. They look nice but have gotten a bad rep overall compared to other AK brands. Seems they are re-branded the "FEG AMD-65" now.

Next, the trigger issue. On some mainsprings (The hammer spring) the legs aren't properly bent. You can correct the legs walking off the trigger by removing the spring and bending those hooked-leg ends a little bit upward to prevent it from sliding off. OR just buy an aftermarket spring from Carolina-Shooter's supply. They sell reduced power springs that really lighten the trigger pull.

IT doesn't surprise me that the muzzle brake fell off. If I knew they'd return it promptly, i'd send it off to get the brake put back on. Or just leave it off.

 

[Hizzie]

OK Jak. Let me see if I can help.

On more dedicated AK forums (Saiga-12.com, etc) we've seen these sa2000m rifles before. They look nice but have gotten a bad rep overall compared to other AK brands. Seems they are re-branded the "FEG AMD-65" now.

Next, the trigger issue. On some mainsprings (The hammer spring) the legs aren't properly bent. You can correct the legs walking off the trigger by removing the spring and bending those hooked-leg ends a little bit upward to prevent it from sliding off. OR just buy an aftermarket spring from Carolina-Shooter's supply. They sell reduced power springs that really lighten the trigger pull.

IT doesn't surprise me that the muzzle brake fell off. If I knew they'd return it promptly, i'd send it off to get the brake put back on. Or just leave it off.

Un-Registered SBR.

 

[RAINS]

Umm yeah technically he could go to federal prison right now for that non-welded mussle break. As suddenly you have a NFA regulated short barrel rifle. GET IT FIXED ASAP! Field strip it and take out the bolt/carrier until you do. Send it back or have a local smith weld it up. Don't dork around with this as you have talked about it on the net. Just get it fixed quick.
As far as the trigger group coming apart inside the receiver. Get a new spring and wile you are at it put in one of these. It replaces that stupid wire pin retainer. http://www.blackjackbuffers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=238

 

[SN13]

Un-Registered SBR only if the Brake made the barrel 16"+.

As I don't own one, and the Bud's Sale Ad states:

Legal length barrel (16 1/4") with permanently attached 2" AMD type flash-hider.

I can only assume you mean that the actual barrel length without the Flash Hider is less than 16".

If this is the case, then you need to re-solder, or re-attach it somehow ASAP.

 

[jakk280rem]

Yeah, no pics of the trigger group is available. My rifle is at home and I'm not. Won't be for a couple weeks. If the trigger is an easy fix, I'll most likely have the brake repaired locally. If it looks like the trigger is faulty I'll just send the whole thing back.

Luckily the brake hasn't come off completely. The weld bead is still adhered to the barrel preventing it from coming off. It's loose but still attached.

 

[wally]

Field strip it and take out the bolt/carrier until you do

Waste of time if you believe the Feds are out to get you, its the serial numbered receiver that is the "gun" not the parts inside.

My AMD 65 would most definitley be an SBR if the muzzle attachment weren't there. I think this would get you a quick pre-paid return label from TGI to fix it with a phone call.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

On more dedicated AK forums (Saiga-12.com, etc) we've seen these sa2000m rifles before. They look nice but have gotten a bad rep overall compared to other AK brands.

So you act like you're an expert on the gun to slam it and then:

[I can only assume you mean that the actual barrel length without the Flash Hider is less than 16".

clearly indicate that you don't have experience with the firearm. AMD-65s have 12.5" barrel with a 2" extension and the 2" brake permanently affixed to bring it over 16".

To the OP. Send it back to TGI pronto and I'm sure they'll sort you out right. As others have mentioned the broken weld does make it an unregistered SBR and must be fixed as soon as possible. I hope it works out well for you when you get it back from TGI!