Exploding ammo in Hakim?

[coosbaycreep]

I was shooting my hakim earlier, when I pulled the trigger and felt something burn my arm. I looked down, and my gun was smoking and the bottom was blown out of my mag. I opened the dust cover, and there was an empty cartridge with a big cut in the bottom of it. The other 4 or 5 remaining rounds in the mag were all burnt looking too. Any ideas on what caused this?

The ammo I was shooting was yugo surplus, which is supposedly some of the best 8mm surplus. I've had other problems with this ammo though (blown out primer and stuck cases).

The gun itself looks just fine, and I'm glad that all it messed up was the magazine, instead of blowing shrapnel back at my face or something, but this is the last straw for the hakim. As much as I want to love this gun, it keeps giving me a reason to hate it, and I'm tired of screwing with it again.

I found the mag base plate about 15 feet away from where I was shooting, but the spring is long gone. I didn't shoot anymore after this happened, and probably won't shoot it again either.

So could this be the gun's fault, or this another ammo problem?

Either way, it's time for this one to find a new home, as I'm sick of dealing with it again.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The Hakim is very susceptible to out of battery firing if the gas port isn't properly adjusted to suit the load being used.

These are NOT rifles for the person who doesn't want to get into the working principals involved. All in all not a cram in bullets and shoot kind of gun.

 

[TehK1w1]

Yikes, that's not good. What age was the yugo ammo, and what gas setting were you on?

 

[lencac]

Years ago I had a Hakim. I shot nothing but handloaded ammo through it without a problem. I sold it to a friend who put Turkish surplus ammo into it. Very first shot the gun exploded just like yours. YOUR GUN IS NO LONGER SAFE TO SHOOT. And further more if you were to do some research you would fine it may have been suspect from the start. The headspace on these were suspect from manufacture due to the type of action that is used not being able to stay in spec. The Swedes manufactured the rifle origianlly. It was called a Lungman (not correct spelling) and it was designed to shoot the far less powerful 6.5x55 Swede round. And the Swedes were meticulous about the manufacture. The design was sold to the Egyptians who made very questionable versions of it. That rifle is now nothing more than a wall hanger.

 

[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

I sold it to a friend who put Turkish surplus ammo into it. Very first shot the gun exploded just like yours.

It is well known that Turk ammo is too hot for the Hakim. The Yugo stuff is supposed to be OK--I would look into what Krochus said and not write the gun off yet. Do some poking around on Surplusrifle.com if you have not already.

 

[NCsmitty]

It looks to me like a case failure with gas cutting through the rim. I see no bulge or peel back that would be prevalent if the rifle fired very far out of battery. More of a headspace problem possibly. Regardless, I would not use that ammo in that gun again. Buy a box of commercial stuff and use that after you get a new mag. Inspect the rifle for any damage from this episode.

NCsmitty

 

[coosbaycreep]

I've got the gas adjuster screw turned just a little ways clockwise of the normal position. Last time I took everything apart and cleaned the gas thingie, it functioned better in this position than in the normal position, and I followed the manual for adjusting it, so I don't think the gas system is to blame unless I've got more crud build up or something.

I actually went ahead and shot it again earlier anyway. I had to use it as a single shot because the other mags don't work right, but it shot just fine. I put about 10-15 rounds through it maybe.

I've got a question about firing out of battery though, as I don't really know what that means. Does that mean that the gun can fire when the bolt isn't closed all the way or something? Because I noticed a few times yesterday, that the dust cover had a little gap between where it should have been, so I just pushed further till it was closed properly. I didn't notice if it was like that when I had the case rupture though.

How do you check headspace?

There's not any visible damage anywhere to the gun that I can notice.

thanks

 

[TEDDY]

bad ammo

that is bad ammo,I had carcano do that.when the ammo was made it got a weak spot. best bet pull bullets weigh powder and write it down,use good brass and reload.I have 1000 7.7 jap to do and 1000 8mm lebel.not to mention 1000 223 range pick ups.

 

[Slamfire]

The case failed in the unsupported part of the case. Right through the extractor groove.

Cases provide a gas seal. If a case is breeched in an unsupported area, gas is vented all over the place. You are lucky the rifle was not damaged further. Such brass flaws can shatter a single heat treat 03.

Assuming your case does not show corrosion on the inside, the most likely cause is a brass flaw.

You did nothing wrong, your rifle is not at fault. Brass flaws happen. A friend of mine was shooting LC 308 in his rifle. It was machine gun ammo, he had removed the GI bullets and put 168 SMK in the cases.

One of his new, unfired LC cases failed in the extractor groove. Venting high pressure gas split his stock and blew out his magazine.

Always wear shooting glasses.

 

[lencac]

BE WARNED .......... HAKIMS ARE UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED !!!!!!!!! I'd rather take my chances with a low # 03

 

[larry starling]

My shooting partner blew one up. He talks about it all the time. Maybe he will chime in and tell his story. Luckily other than suffering some brain damage he was unhurt!

 

[paintballdude902]

pm me if you are looking to sell it after this

 

[TehK1w1]

Wow, lots of Hakim hate here.

Because I noticed a few times yesterday, that the dust cover had a little gap between where it should have been, so I just pushed further till it was closed properly. I didn't notice if it was like that when I had the case rupture though.

I don't know if that just the bolt cover not closing completely, or if the bolt is actually left unlocked. If the bolt is left unlocked and if it can be fired in that position, that could result in that kind of blowout. FWIW, my Hakim's dust cover did that sometimes, and a new set of recoil springs fixed it, as well as reducing felt recoil.

 

[lipadj46]

How do you check headspace?

Get a field gauge from Numrich, if it is 7.62 Nato make sure you get the Nato gauge and not the .308 gauge. You will need to remove the guts from your bolt so that the bolt face touches the gauge. Then put the gauge in like a round and if the bolt closes you have excessive head space.

Note Numrich spells guage as "gage" on their site so if you search use their spelling or they will not come up.