new ammo problem

[Matt]

Today my Norinco .223 doubled twice, after the first shot which resulted in a malfunction, jam. That was five out of the hundred russian rounds I brought out and the only shots from that rifle today. At the range I saw holes all the way through the primers of two fired rounds, niether ejected. Upon getting it home I saw small pieces of brass wedged on top of the firing pin, making it stick. Why would the rifle punch all the way through a primer like that? I have noticed that happen before today, but no sticking firing pin and no doubles.

[This message has been edited by Matt (edited 08-20-2000).]

[backblast]

Hi Matt. If you are using a brass cased cartridge in your MAK, the rifle is doing what it should do. Meaning, the AK series rifles are designed to shoot the steel cased commie ammo. Russian .223 is a laquered steel case. There should not be any brass present. The primers are twice as thick as the brass stuff and the extraction groove is thicker and stronger also to handle the extremely violent action of the AK's.

Your double taps are probably coming from the soft primers being hit buy the inertia of the forward movement of the bolt and thus the firing pin coming into battery.

Get some of the steel cased 223 and see what happens. I have heard and seen enough problems with brass cased ammo in AK's. Try to stay away from it if possible.

[Matt]

Yes, today I used steel cased ammo and had this malfunction. I have had the firing pin spring replaced months ago and have had no other doubles except these, which think resulted from a stuck firing pin which resulted from havng small chunks of primer wedged next to it. How does a rifle do that to a primer?

[backblast]

Hmmm, interesting. I don;t think it's the ammo. Tho could be, Do you have any of a different lot?

Have you tried it without the firing pin spring?

It could also be a headspace problem. How many rounds have you fired thru this rifle?

This is the first I have heard of this.

If all else fails, contact Informer at preban_ak@hotmail.com cya