alex e 5 Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 (edited) Conversion of my gun went smoothly this winter, and I actually sold it without firing it to a buddy. Today he goes to the range, and gun won't fire at all. He has decided there is an issue with the firing pin. "Interesting one", I say to myself. Never heard of an AK not firing, or Saiga supplying a faulty bolt/firing pin. I converted the gun and never disassembled the bolt, it is as it arrived from the factory. This friend is extremely impatient. He will take the whole gun apart in a fit and lose a small part, most assuredly. He knows zero about AKs. Can someone help me out here (not with the don't sell guns to friends part, as he and I constantly trade)? Edited April 16, 2011 by alex e Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alex e 5 Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 UPDATE: "AK specialist" he spoke with says the Saigas need ammo with a "more exposed primer"......and that he should switch ammo. O......K? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chevyman097 2,579 Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 If he has tampered with the gun there is no way to tell what is wrong from the little information. You looking it over would be the best way to find out. Or take some pictures of the inside and post em up to make sure everything is assembled correctly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alex e 5 Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 If he has tampered with the gun there is no way to tell what is wrong from the little information. You looking it over would be the best way to find out. Or take some pictures of the inside and post em up to make sure everything is assembled correctly. Will do that. Just insanely curious how a Saiga does not go bang right off the bat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mullet Man 2,114 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 UPDATE: "AK specialist" he spoke with says the Saigas need ammo with a "more exposed primer"......and that he should switch ammo. O......K? Tell your buddy, to tell his "specialist", that hes fucking stupid. Dont try to explain anything, just let him know. I agree, too little info. Take a look at the rifle yourself and see whats going on with it. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Battosaii 99 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 an AK is simple just look at it and you will figure it out. either the hammer is not striking the firing pin, the firing pin is damaged, the ammo is not being seated properly on the bolt or your friend has really bad luck and got a bad ammo batch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob-cubed 74 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hammer in the wrong way? It sounds stupid but it's definitely been done before. Could be ammo related, but doubtful. Likely firing pin related if it's not something in the FCG. Did you test-fire this before conversion, and rule out any factory defects? It's really unusual to have a part that far out of spec, but it could happen. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bean.223 365 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hammer in the wrong way? It sounds stupid but it's definitely been done before. Could be ammo related, but doubtful. Likely firing pin related if it's not something in the FCG. Did you test-fire this before conversion, and rule out any factory defects? It's really unusual to have a part that far out of spec, but it could happen. what he said!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GregM1 241 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hammer in the wrong way? It sounds stupid but it's definitely been done before. if the hammer is in backwards, it usually wont catch on the disconnector when the ammo is loaded by the carrier movement. you can tell by simply removing the dust cover and watching what happens. also check to see if a firing pin is even in the bolt. would be odd if the factory worker had forgotten to install it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chevyman097 2,579 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hammer in the wrong way? It sounds stupid but it's definitely been done before. also check to see if a firing pin is even in the bolt. would be odd if the factory worker had forgotten to install it. Im not sure that would even be possible, unless every person on duty that day was sleeping on the job. They test fire every weapon. If it malfunctioned it would have been sent back. Im thinking joe schmoe friend know it all had fubared it . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GregM1 241 Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Hammer in the wrong way? It sounds stupid but it's definitely been done before. also check to see if a firing pin is even in the bolt. would be odd if the factory worker had forgotten to install it. Im not sure that would even be possible, unless every person on duty that day was sleeping on the job. They test fire every weapon. If it malfunctioned it would have been sent back. Im thinking joe schmoe friend know it all had fubared it . yeah, i think it is something in the FCG also. Just so few parts, there arent many options. also, i agree that the "specialist" is very wrong. saigas eat all 7.62 ammo without trouble. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deadeye 325 Posted April 17, 2011 Report Share Posted April 17, 2011 are ther any light marks or dents in primers fireng pin may be to short Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rx slim 6 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 We need an update! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alex e 5 Posted April 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Nothing from buyer yet... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modrisco 16 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Conversion of my gun went smoothly this winter, and I actually sold it without firing it to a buddy. You did the conversion/restoration yourself? Then sold it without performing a basic functional firing test... is that correct? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chevyman097 2,579 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) Conversion of my gun went smoothly this winter, and I actually sold it without firing it to a buddy. You did the conversion/restoration yourself? Then sold it without performing a basic functional firing test... is that correct? I believe the OP stated they never fired it. But firing and a function test is very different. A function test wouldnt really resolve much in a fail to fire as long as the hammer was dropping and resetting upon charging the handle. But I see where you are going. Edited April 18, 2011 by Chevyman097 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob-cubed 74 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 are ther any light marks or dents in primers fireng pin may be to short Great suggestion to check for. A friend had this happen before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alex e 5 Posted April 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 are ther any light marks or dents in primers fireng pin may be to short Great suggestion to check for. A friend had this happen before. A large amount of money appeared before my eyes without me ever firing the gun......... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
coolin 0 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 did you function test the gun at all? i had a problem with my trigger group, but it was an easy fix. when you or your friend pull the trigger does the hammer release? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulry 50 Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 The AK expert is NOT! It's the hammer (easy to get wrong) or the hammer spring or the pin retainer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
t3mac21 1 Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 If you converted it.....how is that "right off the bat"?? I'm sure it would have fired in it's stock form but you didn't bother to function check it after converting it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alex e 5 Posted April 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 (edited) It function checked just as in the CSS videos I watched when converting it. My Saiga was identical in appearance and function as in the instructions and CSS demo gun.I pulled the trigger after cocking it and it dry fired just as it should have. I never got it to the range because my friend begged me and paid me to sell him the gun there and then. I did not say no. Edited April 19, 2011 by alex e Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alex e 5 Posted April 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 (edited) What about cosmoline built up in the bolt? I've heard of needing to clear it all out with mineral spirits or carb cleaner spray. I will have pictures shortly, but light primer strike seems to be the issue. The pin is hitting the ammo (Federal ammo btw) but nothing occurs? I don't have the gun to try it with other ammo yet. Edited April 19, 2011 by alex e Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GregM1 241 Posted April 19, 2011 Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 shake the bolt, you will know if it has a clog. it is a free-floating firing pin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alex e 5 Posted April 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2011 Just saw really good video on how to disassemble and reassemble it: I now see what I must look for as Greg says above. My gut tells me "somebody" fubar'd the bolt....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modrisco 16 Posted April 28, 2011 Report Share Posted April 28, 2011 Curious if there was a definitive answer to what the problem was here other than the "gut"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
t3mac21 1 Posted April 30, 2011 Report Share Posted April 30, 2011 Who could have "fubar'd" the bolt? How does that happen, there's literally nothing to the bolt. If you shake it, and it rattles, it's fine. It's pretty hard to fuck it up even if you take it apart and put it back together 1000 times. My gut tells me you have no idea what you're doing/talking about 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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