tighten ak gas piston

[briansmithwins]

The AK manual I have says:



Full .pdf of the English translation of the Sov manual is here; http://www.box.net/shared/cu2djae1zb

For what it's worth, my Arsenal SLR107FR has a loose piston and has never had any problems. I personally think the condition of your crown and the quality of your ammo is going to have a little more effect on accuracy than the tightness or your gas piston. BSW

 

[expvideo]

The gas piston doesn't contact the barrel.

All the function of the gas piston is taken care of entirely inside the gas block. The gas tube is just there to guide the gas piston into the gas block.

If the gas piston is too stiff, and the gas block is off center, this can cause binding.

+1
And since the gas block is usually slightly off center due to the loose tolerances that are typical of AKs, this can very easily be an issue. Especially in a Romanian AK, which are notorious for canted gas blocks.

 

[elmerfudd]

It contacts both the gas block and the gas tube, which do contact the barrel. Having any slop in it means it can contact the gas block slightly differently with every shot and thus change the harmonics.

 

[expvideo]

It contacts both the gas block and the gas tube, which do contact the barrel. Having any slop in it means it can contact the gas block slightly differently with every shot and thus change the harmonics.

No. It would only contact the gas block upon returning to the forward position, in which case the bullet has long since left the barrel.

 

[Hoppy590]

clearances, not tolerances
Actually in the case of AKs it's both. But you're right. I meant clearances.

very true. clearances excuse loose tolerances

 

[Thin Black Line]

Some like them loose. Some like them tight. Some who like them loose are wound tight. Some who like them tight said it was ok to use them loose and don't want to beat a dead horse until their tight ones become loose.

 

[MAKster]

The piston and bolt carrier on my MAK-90 are tight with no wiggle at all.