OK, this was a Kurt's Kustom (KKF) AR-upper custom built. Used a 5.45x39 AK 74 barrel, gas tube in the mid-length position. Using a Young's NM chrome bolt carrier and an Alexander Arms .221 Genghis (the original 5.45x39 AR Upper design) bolt. Also using C-products mags. Used standard Russian 5.45x39 FMJ ammo.
This was my first outing with the rifle. I used 5 different mags (both the old and new versions produced).
I also lubed up the bolt and carrier group a number of times.
The Good:
1 - Every time I pulled the trigger, it went BANG!
2 - Every time it went BANG, it ejected the spent case.
3 - Quite accurate - honestly I was very surprised - I was getting, with a cheap red dot, under 1" groups at 25 yards and then later about 1.5" at 50 yards - big dot (5-6 MOA, I think) so some of that may have been me or just not having a good rest - I honestly think with some better technique I could have been doing 2" at 50 yards.
The Bad:
1 - Numerous times when putting in the magazine and releasing the bolt, it would strip the round and push it into the chamber ALMOST all the way, but there was still about 1/4" -1/2" of the bolt not retracting into the carrier, and therefore not pushing the round all the way in and going into battery.
2 - Numerous times (about once every 3 or so rounds) after firing, it would eject the spent case but do #1 (above) - not go into battery.
I'd drop the mag, pull the charging handle back, and then when I let go it would go into battery just fine.
I pulled the bolt carrier group out and pulled and pushed on the bolt back and forth - it seemed tight, and it binded up as I was pulling it out all the way or pushing it back. It seemed like it was right where the gas ring was that it was binding. So I took the bolt out and it looks like the gas ring (a one-piece one) was . . . larger in diameter . . . than it should be - it wasn't flush with the groove where it rests.
Is it possible that this is what is causing the battery problems? When the bolt is in full extension and is slamming back into battery, it strips the next round but just when some resistance is met as the round is going into the bore the gas ring (being a little too big and binding) gets caught and slows down the momentum of the BCG enough to cause it to just stop?
I suppose one way to test this is to simply replace the gas ring.
Any other ideas or thoughts as to what may be causing this?
Overall, still fun and I had a few 5-8 round strings where everything worked just fine.
This was my first outing with the rifle. I used 5 different mags (both the old and new versions produced).
I also lubed up the bolt and carrier group a number of times.
The Good:
1 - Every time I pulled the trigger, it went BANG!
2 - Every time it went BANG, it ejected the spent case.
3 - Quite accurate - honestly I was very surprised - I was getting, with a cheap red dot, under 1" groups at 25 yards and then later about 1.5" at 50 yards - big dot (5-6 MOA, I think) so some of that may have been me or just not having a good rest - I honestly think with some better technique I could have been doing 2" at 50 yards.
The Bad:
1 - Numerous times when putting in the magazine and releasing the bolt, it would strip the round and push it into the chamber ALMOST all the way, but there was still about 1/4" -1/2" of the bolt not retracting into the carrier, and therefore not pushing the round all the way in and going into battery.
2 - Numerous times (about once every 3 or so rounds) after firing, it would eject the spent case but do #1 (above) - not go into battery.
I'd drop the mag, pull the charging handle back, and then when I let go it would go into battery just fine.
I pulled the bolt carrier group out and pulled and pushed on the bolt back and forth - it seemed tight, and it binded up as I was pulling it out all the way or pushing it back. It seemed like it was right where the gas ring was that it was binding. So I took the bolt out and it looks like the gas ring (a one-piece one) was . . . larger in diameter . . . than it should be - it wasn't flush with the groove where it rests.
Is it possible that this is what is causing the battery problems? When the bolt is in full extension and is slamming back into battery, it strips the next round but just when some resistance is met as the round is going into the bore the gas ring (being a little too big and binding) gets caught and slows down the momentum of the BCG enough to cause it to just stop?
I suppose one way to test this is to simply replace the gas ring.
Any other ideas or thoughts as to what may be causing this?
Overall, still fun and I had a few 5-8 round strings where everything worked just fine.
