I.O. Issues

[Travis590A1]

Hey all My name is Travis and im new to the site....I hear good things about it so I thought id try it out....So I just recently purchased an I.O. C.A.S.A.R and had a chance to take it to the range on wed...I put over 100 rounds through it with only 1 malfunction.....The malfunction was odd...The gun cycled like normal and chambered the round but for whatever reason the firing pin didnt cock back...so when I went to pull the trigger nothing happened no click no nothing the trigger jus moved as if the gun was unloaded and not cocked...I was using steel cased ammo and a buddy said that was more than likely the problem...can anyone shed some light on the situation? Before anyone makes fun of the rifle for being cheap dont judge cuz its my first AK so I started small lol.

[NorCalK9.com]

TAKE IT BACK! Get your money back n buy a wasr.
Ak's shoot steel case ammo! So there aint a prob with the ammo its the rifle.
I have a friend that has sent his back twice and it still dont work rite.
Good luck

[nick]

Well, one thing I can tell you is that steel-cased ammo likely wasn't the problem. It's a standard AK fare. Now, I.O. Inc.' CASAR, on the other hand... The issue isn't with them being cheap, but with I.O. Inc. having managed to screw up an AK, a pretty impressive feat on its own.

The firing pin on an AK doesn't cock back. What it sounds like is the disconnector didn't cock back the hammer, and the hammer followed the carrier back. In which case you were lucky it didn't slamfire/go full auto. Take off the top cover and try racking the carrier quickly (and not always all the way to the rear trunnion), and see if the hammer fails to lock. If so, see why it doesn't lock, and fix it, or take it to a gunsmith. You really don't want a potential for full auto fire, with the moronic laws that we have.

[zfields]

Sorry to hear. When you pulled the trigger, did anything happen, or just slack? Did you try to refire the same round?

[Mamluke]

First, let me begin by welcoming you here on Calguns.net
You'll find good advise on pretty much anything that deals with guns here from great & knowledgeable folks! However, I also advise you to develop a thick crock skin, as some won't shy away from dragging your sorry a@#$ in the mud & make a cruel example of you.... ....JK

Now back to your rifle, I.O. in general, don't have a good reputation for building quality AKs....

... ...

[Travis590A1]

Ya I ejected the round and noticed black build up (most likely carbon) around the rim of the casing...I then put the same round back into the chamber and it fired as if there was no malfunction....its very annoying I heard I.O wasnt to great but then I also heard they fixed their "issues". Im not a big fan of wasrs and I wanted an Arsenal but my local gunshop said they are a ***** to get in cali, at least in the time frame I wanted.....and there was nothing on the trigger as far as it being cocked....i just pulled the trigger and it was nothing but slack as if the gun wasnt loaded or the gun wasnt cocked.

[CSACANNONEER]

Welcome to Calguns. The issue you have is not that your rifle was "cheap". The issue is that it was cheaply manufactured by drunken monkeys that don't know what they are doing. Your gun uses the same parts that many of us use to build high quality rifles. The difference is that we know what we are doing and IO doesn't. I suggest returning your defective rifle (yes, ever IO I've seen is defective) and buying a WASR or building your own from a Romy G kit and a flat.

[NorCalK9.com]

Welcome to Calguns. The issue you have is not that your rifle was "cheap". The issue is that it was cheaply manufactured by drunken monkeys that don't know what they are doing. Your gun uses the same parts that many of us use to build high quality rifles. The difference is that we know what we are doing and IO doesn't. I suggest returning your defective rifle (yes, ever IO I've seen is defective) and buying a WASR or building your own from a Romy G kit and a flat.

+1 on taking it back!
And
+1million on building your own!

[Mail Clerk]

Hey all My name is Travis and im new to the site....I hear good things about it so I thought id try it out....So I just recently purchased an I.O. C.A.S.A.R and had a chance to take it to the range on wed...I put over 100 rounds through it with only 1 malfunction.....The malfunction was odd...The gun cycled like normal and chambered the round but for whatever reason the firing pin didnt cock back...so when I went to pull the trigger nothing happened no click no nothing the trigger jus moved as if the gun was unloaded and not cocked...I was using steel cased ammo and a buddy said that was more than likely the problem...can anyone shed some light on the situation? Before anyone makes fun of the rifle for being cheap dont judge cuz its my first AK so I started small lol.

Travis590A1,

Before you do anything I'd give it another cleaning and try it again using a more quality brand of ammo. If you bought it from BIG 5 then go back there and try some Fiocchi ammo. It's good ammo and if it goes bank for you on that bullet/brand then assume it could be that cheap Russian ammo. One thing about Russian ammo...it's mad out of steel and at my range it's considered taboo. They will not allow you to shoot it due to fire season currently. Personally I never shoot Russian ammo anyway cuz it's mostly corrosive in nature and even an IO Casar rifle cost some bucks.

Regarding my IO Casar.... I just returned mine due to a defective barrel. It operated/functioned fine but the receiver plate was poorly fitted and required a rubber mallet to snap it in. Thebiggest issue on mine was at 50 yards it wouldn't hit the black!!!! After adjusting the front sight tothe right to it's maximum it still hit outside the black at 50 yards.

Like the others said I'd make a check list of things that would make your rifle a good one. Go by the numbers and really check out your rifle. nything odd that's beyond your control. If yours doesn't make the cut I'd return it to the store and discuss another replacement.

Mail Clerk

[Travis590A1]

Well according to I.O. it was the ammo...because it was steel cased russian surplus ammo they are assuming since all other rounds fired without issue that the 1 round that didnt fire or the round prior to that was just faulty, so they now have told me to go buy sum decent brass cased ammo (at least 100 rounds) and put it through the gun to see if it functions correctly and if not then they instructed me to send it back to correct the problem. I really went out on a limb with the purchase anyway I had heard bad things about i.o. but then I have met a couple people who say they are an upgraded wasr. By the way does anyone know where I can start looking for a cali legal Arsenal Arms?

[Travis590A1]

Travis590A1,

Before you do anything I'd give it another cleaning and try it again using a more quality brand of ammo. If you bought it from BIG 5 then go back there and try some Fiocchi ammo. It's good ammo and if it goes bank for you on that bullet/brand then assume it could be that cheap Russian ammo. One thing about Russian ammo...it's mad out of steel and at my range it's considered taboo. They will not allow you to shoot it due to fire season currently. Personally I never shoot Russian ammo anyway cuz it's mostly corrosive in nature and even an IO Casar rifle cost some bucks.

Regarding my IO Casar.... I just returned mine due to a defective barrel. It operated/functioned fine but the receiver plate was poorly fitted and required a rubber mallet to snap it in. Thebiggest issue on mine was at 50 yards it wouldn't hit the black!!!! After adjusting the front sight tothe right to it's maximum it still hit outside the black at 50 yards.

Like the others said I'd make a check list of things that would make your rifle a good one. Go by the numbers and really check out your rifle. nything odd that's beyond your control. If yours doesn't make the cut I'd return it to the store and discuss another replacement.

Mail Clerk

No I didnt buy it from big 5 lol I got it from B&J guns in oxnard...its funny because even as I bought it the guy looks at me and says "dont worry we do things differently than big 5" haha that shoulda been a red flag...Ya im having the same prob with my rifle as well...The reciever plate is very tight to put in place but when I work the action I notice the reciever cover slides back just ever so slightly I never noticed it until you just said somthing lol...as far as my sights and barrel go mine are a lil funky as well at about 50 yards aiming for center mass my shots we up and to the left...all 100 rounds made it on paper but most didnt hit where I wanted them to...Although im guessing a lot of that had to do with me. I havent fired a Semi auto rifle in like 6 years so after some more trigger time things should get better.

[NorCalK9.com]

Well according to I.O. it was the ammo...because it was steel cased russian surplus ammo they are assuming since all other rounds fired without issue that the 1 round that didnt fire or the round prior to that was just faulty, so they now have told me to go buy sum decent brass cased ammo (at least 100 rounds) and put it through the gun to see if it functions correctly and if not then they instructed me to send it back to correct the problem. I really went out on a limb with the purchase anyway I had heard bad things about i.o. but then I have met a couple people who say they are an upgraded wasr. By the way does anyone know where I can start looking for a cali legal Arsenal Arms?

An upgraded wasr??? Lmao I think you mean a total downgrade!
Now who the heck wants an ak that is finicky like some AR's?
Ive put well over 10,000 rounds thru my wasr and only had 1 issue with steel ammo and it was minor. If an AK wont eat what you feed it than its NOT an AK!!!
Im telling you send it back n get your money back and buy something else!

[chead]

Well according to I.O. it was the ammo...because it was steel cased russian surplus ammo?

bull****.

[IntoForever]

No I didnt buy it from big 5 lol I got it from B&J guns in oxnard...its funny because even as I bought it the guy looks at me and says "dont worry we do things differently than big 5" haha that shoulda been a red flag...Ya im having the same prob with my rifle as well...The reciever plate is very tight to put in place but when I work the action I notice the reciever cover slides back just ever so slightly I never noticed it until you just said somthing lol...as far as my sights and barrel go mine are a lil funky as well at about 50 yards aiming for center mass my shots we up and to the left...all 100 rounds made it on paper but most didnt hit where I wanted them to...Although im guessing a lot of that had to do with me. I havent fired a Semi auto rifle in like 6 years so after some more trigger time things should get better.

The ammo has nothing to do with it, I've never had a problem with steel case ammo, reloads or ammo as old as I am. Sounds like the charging handle is dragging across the cover which may prevent the hammer from reaching the sear resulting in it riding the bolt carrier forward. If you can, swap the dust cover and see if the problem persists. Another idea is to shave the area of the dust cover so the parts don't make contact. I personally won't advise firing it without the cover in place. Keep us posted.

[nick]

Well according to I.O. it was the ammo...because it was steel cased russian surplus ammo they are assuming since all other rounds fired without issue that the 1 round that didnt fire or the round prior to that was just faulty, so they now have told me to go buy sum decent brass cased ammo (at least 100 rounds) and put it through the gun to see if it functions correctly and if not then they instructed me to send it back to correct the problem. I really went out on a limb with the purchase anyway I had heard bad things about i.o. but then I have met a couple people who say they are an upgraded wasr. By the way does anyone know where I can start looking for a cali legal Arsenal Arms?

Well, that's just a BS excuse from I.O. Inc. AKs were DESIGNED for that kind of ammo! Do check if the hammer rides forward when it should've been locked back after the shot. If that's the case, send it back for repair/replacement, or better yet, return it and buy some other AK, or build one.

If it does, the LAST thing you want to do is fire it, since you just got yourself a potential full-auto gun. Somehow I doubt the moron at I.O. Inc. you talked to is going to pay your bail.

If you're looking for an Arsenal (basically, a converted Saiga, and generally a good rifle, although a bit overpriced for what it is), many stores stock them. Not sure about Ventura, but here in L.A. I believe, Ammo Bros had them the last time I was there. I think, I saw some at various Turner's locations, as well.

P.S.: Not sure what the "upgrades" on the CASAR are vs. a regular Romanian AKM. Is it the silly-looking stock?