DLT 1,646 Posted December 18, 2017 Report Share Posted December 18, 2017 Got it for $500 at the pawn shop. Will post pics later today. Everything looks good and the bolt is showing almost no wear. Also, the chevron brake was missing but I had spare tapco ak74 type that screwed on and looks really nice. I've been reading horror stories over at some of the other AK sites about headspacing issues and what some believe is soft metal problems. I cant help but think they may be looking at it all wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted December 19, 2017 Report Share Posted December 19, 2017 All of them I've looked at were good. I am sure some bad ones were out there, but I'm inclined to believe they are generally pretty nice quality guns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted December 20, 2017 Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 I saw one that had the tail of the carrier mushroomed to the point that the bolt would not rotate and unlock freely. Keep an eye out for metal displacement in that area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerry52 893 Posted December 20, 2017 Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 Just shoot it, it will be fine. Fair price also. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sjgusmc21 850 Posted December 20, 2017 Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 Pics? I am sooooo itching for a new boom stick..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 You can get new WASR's for $530 these days. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sim_Player 1,939 Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 (edited) Unlined steel barrel? I guess you could keep it wet in oil. I have one steel barrel that loves rust. Automotive abrasives are your friend. Most guns in WW2 were bare steel. Shoot the crap out of it and let us know! The price sounds good! Keep it oiled. Edited December 21, 2017 by Sim_Player Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 Unlined? Maybe? Its a nitided 4150 steel barrel. I guess thats the same as unlined. I would have preferred chrome lined to be honest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Heartbreaker 1,085 Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 If the bore is nitrided that's really good. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 I have a very cheap barrel that is nitrided. It doesn't mind a fair degree of neglect. I like that. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 Yes. The bore is nitrided. Its really a very nice rifle, but heavy. Hope to finally shoot it tomorrow since I'm getting out of work early. But then again, I have worked late all this week, so maybe I won't. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 That means you likely have one from the later production runs, IIRC. Or at least not the first two or 3. So you probably don't have the rear sight leaf which is prone to fall apart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 You are very well off with the milled version. Its the stamped RAS and some runs of the milled that had the issues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 Finally shot it. Very soft recoil. I'd dare say softer than my saiga 5.45. I think it's the weight. Took pics of the bolt and carrier while cleaning it a while ago. For being a pawn shop find, I'd say this rifle is in excellent shape. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VR762Shooter 838 Posted December 24, 2017 Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 Finish wear is one thing but if it starts to peen or chip then the metallurgy is off. Just keep an eye on her and if it starts looking like things are running soft, check HS. For $500 these days its worth a few thousand rounds if you can make it that far. As has been stated the RAS is the one that's been really prone to grenading so you may have just caught a really good deal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sim_Player 1,939 Posted December 24, 2017 Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 (edited) I looked at the early ones but, the barrels put me off. I'm pretty sure the early barrels were untreated. It sounds like a nice find! Edited December 24, 2017 by Sim_Player Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 The more I look at this rifle, the better I feel over this purchase. I'm sorry I didnt include pics of the reciever, but really it's in like new condition. The locking areas practically look virgin. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 I looked at the early ones but, the barrels put me off. I'm pretty sure the early barrels were untreated. It sounds like a nice find! I'm a bit behind on them, but I had researched them when they were new to market. The first gen ones came with a couple different types of untreated american barrels with cut rifling IIRC. Then they had a chrome lined US barrel briefly. Then they switched to nitrided button rifled barrels, which I think they stuck with. Those latter seem to be pretty good barrels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
U.S. Pratorean 1,234 Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 Might want to watch this..... https://www.full30.com/video/689fc569542ab8ef0707955a0af9b9b2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 Seen it. That's why I was concerned and posted pics of the bolt. Seems these rifles are either good or bad. There are vids of some passing 5000 rounds with no visible wear. Others crap out early. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 All that means is there's no mileage under it. Unless you bought it new, you don't know if it had 5rds put through it showing no wear or 5000rds put through it showing no wear. Pawn shop find and the average Fudd gun owner more than likely never shot it. Someones wife probably made them get rid of it. Not sure i'd have taken a chance on it, knowing the track records of the model, not to mention the track records of anything CAI builds. WASR's can be had for about $530 these days. Just saying. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330317 Some serious garbage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Already knew about the ras. But the C39v2 is a different rifle. I'm not going to worry about it. I've got reference pics to look at to eval wear. If it starts going south, I'll either repair or sell as scrap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerry52 893 Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Just shoot it and have fun. If it breaks,well time to go gun shopping again. Sounds like a win win to me. Hit the range and have fun and give us a report. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Already knew about the ras. But the C39v2 is a different rifle. I'm not going to worry about it. I've got reference pics to look at to eval wear. If it starts going south, I'll either repair or sell as scrap. You did watch the video with the C39V2A failing right? It's built by the same garbage company, in the same garbage manner, with the same garbage parts. But hey, keep an eye on it. It might not self destruct. You got a "good deal". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Dude, this is my 16th AK, but the only milled one I was willing to pay for. If the bolt craps out, I'll replace it. If the rifle craps out, I'll sell it. I've got plenty to shoot. Nothing wrong with having a cheap AK to wear out and replace as opposed to my Russian ones that I currently cannot. But thanks for your concern. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Good pictures ... I would be greatly concerned with that locking lug bolt gouge with the rest of the gun seemingly in such good condition. Can you establish exact head space before blasting away? Also, if you can and want to, how about a Rockwell hardness test will all of the vital parts? Or; if your round count is low you probably will be OK? Also be careful with filing down that lug gouge. If a file smooths it down you may have a very soft bolt? Dunno. If you can't use a file, (too hard) then remember the heat treat may be very thin indeed. Just more fun. Respectfully ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DLT 1,646 Posted December 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 HB, which gouge? Are you talking about the second pic? I had also noticed that bit of a "step" so I compared the bolt to my other AKM's and noticed the same step in those bolts (yugo, chinese, bulgarian). Don't currently have headspace guages, but looking to get some. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Thank you. I see a definite gouge in the right beginning locking lug. Can you check the trunnion where the gouge would gouge? Would it be possible to easily check the Rockwell hardness? If you feel inclined to file out that bolt locking lug gouge AND if it can be done with basic hobby type files then that MAY indicate soft steel? Dunno. Anyhow just have fun and blast away. Be safe. No dog. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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