I posted about this issue a while ago and since i couldnt fix the problem myself i ended up sending the rifle back to the manufacturer.
I just recently received the rifle back and after 100 rounds down the pipe the issue resurfaced. I havent got a freaking clue as to what i need to do in order to fix this and i do not want to deal with the manufacturer again.
Here are some pictures showing the malfunctions that i am experiencing. Note, the rifle was not in any unorthodox positions and all shots were fired standing at a steady pace, no mag dumps etc. I am experiencing normal ejection and flight path of the shells however, every now and then you can watch a shell dribble out of the receiver. When im particularly unlucky, i will experience the malfunction type shown below or the gun will stovepipe. The pictured malfunction required the removal of the dustcover as the shells were so wedged into the receiver that i was unable to move the bolt forward or rearward.
Also, please note that i DO have a lightening bolt but the rifle was tested with the standard AK74 Bulgarian bolt carrier to rule out the possibility of aftermarket parts causing issues.
The rifle is configured with an ultimak and no other aftermarket parts or doodads.
I am running surplus bakelite magazines and the problems occurred with ten different magazines.
I am running the 53 grain corrossive garbage ammo.
The rifle is a surplus bulgarian kit built on a nodak spud receive with the original bulgy chrome lined barrel.
Let me know if need to provide anymore info.
Shot at 2010-10-10
I am by far not an AK expert. It looks as if the extractor is holding onto the round. Have you looked at the ejector to see if rounds are hitting it? Does the rear of the casing appear to be hitting the ejector?
The ejector is definitely doing its job…most of the time.
There is a very normal ejection pattern until the rifle malfunctions.
I know…that sounds painfully stupid. I essentially just said everything is fine until its not.
Any clue where i can source AK parts? There are a bunch of websites out there, namely k-var that has a smattering of parts but the majority are out of stock or ridiculously priced.
K-Var had 74 extractors(the bolt extractor springs are standard between the 74 and AKM) and springs and extractor axis pins in stock a month ago because I got one of each.
That is where I would go first.
If you can’t get it straightened-out that way, I would call the Caracal USA guy. He is Troy Sellars of InRange and an AK fixer extraordinare.
I would check the extractor spring as everyone said. Also, I would really look at the ejector and if the receiver is really straight or properly heat treated.
Is there a lot of wear, or a chunk missing from the face of the extractor? As others have stated, I would get a new extractor and extractor spring as my first step. You should be able to fire the thing from any angle without issue.
The ejector can and sometimes will look fine with no wear and it is totally possible to have ejection issues regardless. A way to check for this is to pull the bolt back in line with the forward face of the ejector. (positioned in the slot of the bolt). Now be sure you have enough ejector material inside the bolt face… You check this by looking down from the top of the gun and pulling the bolt back and over to the right side of the receiver as far as you can. Sometimes you will see an ejector that barely makes it far enough into the bolt face to eject the round. You will find, if this is the case, that the receiver is to wide at the top of the slide rail. You will also find indicative wear on each f.t.e. round casing as well. If you can, show us a few pictures of the rounds side by side with the ejector marks facing upward.
I just completed a home build that exhibited these exact symptoms. Unfortunately, the fix is something that I’m not thrilled about, but it appears to have been effective.
Basically, the ejector is not reaching in far enough into the slot in the bolt. In other words, you need a longer ejector. There are a few ways of fixing this. You can weld up your ejector, or you can try to bend the receiver inwards slightly. I chose the latter, because I can’t weld. The issue is now fixed, but the receiver visibly bows slightly inward. My guess is that it’s a stacking of tolerances. Ejector slightly too short on the receiver, and the receiver rails and perhaps more being slightly off. My receiver is a Nodak premium 74 version. I’ve never encountered this problem before this build (having done 6 or so).
The ejector needs to be bent upwards just a tad. The pressure of a full mag is pushing the bolt carrier up and the ejector is riding lower in the slot.
The remedy;
with the top cover, action spring and bolt carrier removed turn the rifle mag well up. From the mag well place a punch on the ejector and hit it with a hammer. You want it to bend SLIGHTLY up, You won’t bend it up enough to see the difference so you’ll want to re-assemble and physically look at the position the ejector is riding in the groove of the bolt.
Hate to be “that guy”, I was cruising through and since you posted a picture of it.
How do you like that EMA Tactical Magazine Release?
Wish I could help you with the malfunction, but tension could seem to be the issue like others have said.
Think about it, if the extractor wasn’t gripping the round as securely as it should, the bolt would cycle back, the ejector would push against it, sometimes resulting in an ejection, and sometimes if the round isn’t held securely by the extractor it might just recycle resulting in the jam/loose round up in the dust cover and the loaded round in the Bolt.
Would seem logical to me.
ETA: Then again, I might be completely wrong, JOHNO (honestly, I’m still shopping for AK’s I should’ve left it at the question about the Magazine Release, but attempted to be helpful), has experience on the matter. I’d say it’d be logical to be isolated to the extractor/ejector.
Either it’s not getting pushed out well enough (Ejector improperly aligned), or it’s not being held in place securely enough for the ejector to properly do it’s job (Which would point to the extractor).
My solution worked for this, but I would probably try Johno’s first. My rifle was doing the EXACT thing as the OP’s, with empty shells getting smashed into the left side of the dust cover that they became wedged half-way out. The fix I did is more of a “drive a truck over it and see if it works then” approach. This time it was successful, but ymmv.
Sorry for not providing pictures, i kind of shelved the rifle for the time being as i havent had enough free time to put into fixing this thing.
I posted about this issue on ARFCOM about a year ago and i was told very much the same, that i should beat on the ejector with a huge hammer.
Unfortunately, i beat on the ejector quite a bit with a brass punch and it didnt help. How much should i be beating on this thing? I guess i should provide before and after pictures for you guys.
I actually really doubt it’s the extractor. That’s what I thought too. I changed the extractor, as well as the extractor spring. No good. Same symptoms. I’d bet you $5 it’s the ejector not impacting enough of the empty casing. With mine, there was enough wiggle room for the bolt to sometimes engage, and sometimes not, enough ejector to actually knock the casing out of the grip of the extractor. Are you seeing unejected rounds with the carrier fully to the rear and a casing still gripped by the extractor when you hand cycle a magazine? (take out the firing pin first!)
