WASR 10/63 Examination

[DaBull]

Going to be looking at a WASR 10/63 soon. What should I look for? Based on my research, here is what I know about:

Front Sight Block Cant
Gas Tube Cant
Magazine wobble (especially side to side)
Tapco T2 Trigger (for no trigger slap)
Triangle with Arrow Factory Mark

What am I missing?

Also, I don't fully understand these things:

I thought these were rebuilt in the US with new American-made chrome-lined barrels, but I am told this one has a chrome-lined original barrel. Does this sound correct? My concern it is not chrome-lined and possibly shot out from years in the Romanian military.

I need help figuring out the compliance parts bit...How many US parts does it need to have to be legal? I was told it has these US parts: trigger group (3 parts?), gas piston, muzzle brake, and bolt carrier...so 6 total.

What replaces the "dimples" in the WASR mag well? Something welded into place? Anything I should check for here? How much side-to-side mag wobble is acceptable?

What is bolt "hang-up" or "catching" on the sear, and how bad can it be?

Again, what else should I look for?

Got some pics from the seller...I'll post in a minute...feel free to comment on what you see.

Thanks!

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK1.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK2.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK3.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK4.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK5.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK6.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK7.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK8.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK9.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK11.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AK12.jpg
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm259/watola93/AKside1.jpg

 

[nalioth]

Magazine wobble (especially side to side)

The phrase "mag wobble" has turned into a meaningless meme.

All Kalashnikovs have mag wobble - it's inherent in the design.

Triangle with Arrow Factory Mark

This is an aesthetic feature - not functional one.

I thought these were rebuilt in the US with new American-made chrome-lined barrels, but I am told this one has a chrome-lined original barrel. Does this sound correct? My concern it is not chrome-lined and possibly shot out from years in the Romanian military.

No, WASRs have always been built at the Cugir Arms Factory in Romania. They've always had Romanian barrels.

Lots of confusion has stemmed from Century producing "Romanian AKs" built from cut up parts kits with US barrels and other US parts.

 

[Tommygunn]

Looks like a nice gun.
I can't really comment on a lot of your questions, but I will say (having a WASR 10 myself) that the BCG on these guns, when retracted for chambering a round, will ride back the hammer and this can be felt. Manually cycling the action will reveal that the bolt will on going forward ride the hammer a bit. If I gently let the actuator rest at this point, the bolt will often actually remain retracted. These things don't matter if when you go to the range and fire it, you allow the BCG to snap forward to pick up a round by itself; ie, don't "ride the bolt" home. When firing the BCG cycles very quickly and you will never notice it "riding" any hammer or whatever.
Early WASRs had canted tubes and such, and if you buy an older one this is something to look out for, but the recent batches are generally considered better.

 

[nalioth]

that the BCG on these guns, when retracted for chambering a round, will ride back the hammer and this can be felt. Manually cycling the action will reveal that the bolt will on going forward ride the hammer a bit. If I gently let the actuator rest at this point, the bolt will often actually remain retracted.

This is a symptom of any new fire control group in any AK (Saiga conversion, whatever)

Firing the gun will make this non-issue go away. . .

 

[15guns]

Google Da Lench Mob Song "Freedom got an ak"

 

[Effigy]

Just a note, the triangle with arrow marking can mean either Romania or Russia. See the images here: http://www.ak-47.us/AK47_Markings.php

 

[15guns]

I owned a new Norinco mak-90 in 7.62x39mm before. Easiest semi auto rifle to feild strip I ever owned and it very jammed.

 

[DaBull]

Thanks for the inputs so far guys...

Any builders or people who know building want to tackle this:

I need help figuring out the compliance parts bit...How many US parts does it need to have to be legal? I was told it has these US parts: trigger group (3 parts?), gas piston, muzzle brake, and bolt carrier...so 6 total.

 

[nalioth]

I need help figuring out the compliance parts bit...How many US parts does it need to have to be legal? I was told it has these US parts: trigger group (3 parts?), gas piston, muzzle brake, and bolt carrier...so 6 total.

It is legal.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Yup, if its here, and being sold commercially, you can bet its legal. It was either already here, or it has enough recycled parts.

 

[Tommygunn]

that the BCG on these guns, when retracted for chambering a round, will ride back the hammer and this can be felt. Manually cycling the action will reveal that the bolt will on going forward ride the hammer a bit. If I gently let the actuator rest at this point, the bolt will often actually remain retracted.

This is a symptom of any new fire control group in any AK (Saiga conversion, whatever)

Firing the gun will make this non-issue go away. . .

Yes you're right -- in fact, I have a Sig 556 and a 556R and they are both "based on" the AK designed, and they ALSO have the same "symptom."
I was not trying to imply that this "symptom" implied there was anything wrong with the design or the particular gun.

 

[burley]

You can see the Tapco trigger in pic 8. The bolt carrier rides the hammer that is cocked as the bolt carrier cycles. The "no slap" feature of the Tapco trigger holds the trigger back when firing and it's a non-issue as long as you sling shot the first round home correctly. I say go for it if the price is right, it's a nice lookin' rifle.

 

[WardenWolf]

Looks nice. Go for it. Even if it doesn't have a Tapco FCG, you can buy one and fit it yourself in just a few minutes.

 

[W.E.G.]

What could go wrong?

 

[Semyon Vasilii]

LOL w.e.g. thanks for the laughs

the rifle will be compliant with those american parts. though i personally have avoided Romanian surplus ANYTHING simply because it is the lowest quality of the eastern bloc arms producing countries. (wow botched the wording on that. ive had one beer too many tonight i guess). in my opinion, and this is just my opinion, it is well worth the extra cash for a rifle from a different country. i personally have a soft spot for polish AKs. so much that i still got one despite living in california and having to deal with a bullet button, small mags, and no flash hider

 

[W.E.G.]

Me and a coupla my kin had an AK-47 shootin' contest.
Rapid-fire, off the shoulder.

That's my target over there on the left.

I got the mostest hits.

Barrel is a little worn.

 

[Clockwerk]

To fix the "mag wobble" i JB welded small pieces of metal into the mag well's sides and that got rid of the side wobbling a bit. Took some trial and error before I welded of course and make sure they fit with ALL your mags before you do it and not just one.

 

[nalioth]

though i personally have avoided Romanian surplus ANYTHING simply because it is the lowest quality of the eastern bloc arms producing countries. (wow botched the wording on that. ive had one beer too many tonight i guess). in my opinion, and this is just my opinion, it is well worth the extra cash for a rifle from a different country. i personally have a soft spot for polish AKs.

Nice opinion, but the "Polish" you like so much is actually a US-built rifle.

There are only 4 actual foreign-made AKs for sale today:

the WASR
the SSR-85c
the Zastava PAP
the Saiga

Anything else is a US assembled gun made from a cutup parts kit.

 

[bortle]

I believe the AMD65 is made in Hungary.http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=141609&stc=1&d=1304475544

 

[nalioth]

I believe the AMD65 is made in Hungary

Not the ones you buy here in the USA, I'm afraid.

 

[bortle]

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct446.aspx Made USA legal in the states. With trigger group and mag.

 

[nalioth]

<LINK REMOVED>Made USA legal in the states. With trigger group and mag.

Afraid not, friend.

Those are built right here in the USA from parts kits on FEG receivers that were imported years ago.

Not built in Hungary.

 

[bortle]

Atlantic's wording seems to say it's Hungarian factory built. Or does it say Hungarian rifle built in a factory on a FEG receiver. It never actually say's they were built in Hungary. You may be right. Either way it's a blast to shoot. Really loud though.

 

[BushyGuy]

your wasr looks normal for a wasr, i have one and love it , hey its not a COLT!

 

[Phaethon]

though i personally have avoided Romanian surplus ANYTHING simply because it is the lowest quality of the eastern bloc arms producing countries.

I was under the impression that canted sights and other such issues with the WASR's had to do with Century's handling of them.

I don't have a lot of experience with Romania; my Mauser was contracted for them but not built by them, but the Romanian 8mm surplus I bought is some of the nicest and cleanest looking ammo I've ever seen and hasn't given me any problems.