Whats wrong with my Mak?

[Meadhall]

I've read about the Makarovs for years, and finally got one last year for Christmas. I took it out that day and right off the bat had problems with one of the mags. It seemed to fit a bit loose, and was casuing failure to feeds. If you pushed up on the base of the mag the problem went away. No big deal, the Mak came with two magazines, so I switched to the other one and had no problems for around 250 rds. Then it started doing the same thing. I went to my local store and bought a new magazine, and it worked fine for a while. However I was shooting it the other day (about a box and a half's worth) and during the last magazine full it did the same thing, failure to feed. Now everything I've read said the Maks were drob dead reliable, and I'm on magazine #3, so did I just get a lemon or what. BTW the only ammo I've used is Silver Bear hollowpoints, as that is all my local store carries. Could the ammo be the problem?

 

[M2 Carbine]

The Silver Bear is known for giving feeding problems.
The Silver Bear has a large hollow point and the SB quality control is pretty poor. If you look at the hollow points you will find there's a good difference in the hollow point even in the same box.

The bullet nose is hanging on the bottom of the feed ramp, right?

Most Maks don't have any problem but once in a while one does.
The Russian Maks were bad for hollow points hanging. About 2 in 5 of the ones I've seen.

If you can, polish the feed ramp, especially the bottom.
Try different ammo if you can find some.

Silver Bear isn't bad ammo, I've fired cases of it but if anything is going to jam on the bottom of a particular Maks feed ramp, it will be Silver Bear.

 

[Meadhall]

M2 thanks, that is very helpful, and yes, it is hanging up right on the bottom of the feed ramp. I'll try to get a different kind of ammo for it. At this time Silver Bear is all my local store carries, so I'll have to hit a show.
Again thanks.

 

[M2 Carbine]

If you look at the bottom of the feed ramp you will see it makes a sharp edge where it's machined to match the magazine well.
The Bulgarian Maks usually have that sharp edge very slightly rounded and will usually feed the large hollow points, like Silver Bear.
But recently I had to grind the bottom of a Bulgarian Mak's feed ramp.

I hardly ever recommend anyone do this because I just don't know a person's skill level and power tools can sure make a mess in a hurry.

Anyhow the idea is to use a Dremel tool and grind a VERY VERY SMALL "ramp" at the bottom of the feed ramp so that the bottom edge of the hollow point doesn't hang just below the feed ramp.

Many times just an aggressive polish job will round that sharp edge enough so all hollow points will feed reliably. And this is the safest and best thing to do if it works.


Me and others have used this Dremel tool method with 100% success rate,
BUT like I said I CAN NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE DO THIS unless they understand exactly what they are doing.

 

[Meadhall]

I'll try switching the ammo first before I drag out the dremel. I've had mixed results with dremels in the past.

 

[Teakwood]

A feeding probhlem can be the result of the feed ramp. However, I recommend a POLISHING, not a grinding, of the ramp.

2 Parts. Can be done with dremel, or #400 emory cloth wrapped around a round object like a pencil or chainsaw file.

1) At the bottom of the ramp, "crack" the sharp edge by putting a slight bevel in it. This allows the round to slide onto the ramp more easily.

2) On the ramp itself, polish the rounded trough that the cartridge rides in. The surface is often rough and can impede proper feeding. A good polishing makes for smooth feeding.

Also, try using 95gr FMJ instead of some of th other rounds.

 

[P95Carry]

I think M2's suggestion is excellent - IF the user is suitable careful. Metal is easy to take off - but not too easy to put back on.!

I would describe this as adding a MINIMAL lead chamfer. The diagram shows very well what is required. Then polish to mirror finish.

Thus far (knock on wood) my Russian marked Mak has digested a LOT of Silver Bear but were I to have prob's then would almost certainly follow M2's method. WITH CARE!!!

 

[M2 Carbine]

Meadhall
I'll try switching the ammo first before I drag out the dremel. I've had mixed results with dremels in the past.
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The Dremel is a great tool but can get you in trouble pretty quick.

If another brand of HP still hangs up on the bottom of the feed ramp I'd put money on Teakwood's instructions curing the problem.