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[DREADNOUGHT78]

xxx

[CSACANNONEER]

Get a big hammer and "adjust" the curves in the receiver. Or, maybe trimming the top rails a little more might work? You could always "adjust" your gas piston a bit.

[nick]

Make sure the tube is properly installed. Also, try a different tube. I had this very issue with my first AK-47, and the issue was with the tube. I replaced the tube, and everything worked perfectly.

[DREADNOUGHT78]

I did the usual inspection on the gas tube to see if I could identify the point where it was binding and saw very light wear on the bottom of the tube near where the piston goes into it. I will look at it again tomorrow and check it out and see if I can see whether or not it is crooked.

[E-120]

Sometimes you need to take the gas tube spring retainer off to get it to fit correctly. It will give just a little to much pressure and make the back of the tube run high resulting in a pinched gas piston.

[SJgunguy24]

Take a black magic marker and coat your piston and carrier (everything forward of the rear sight block when in battery.) Cycle the action a bunch of times and look to see where the rub is. Then adjust accordingly.
Look at the gas block and gas tube fit up, sometimes it can be sloppy and cause the piston to catch. Also make sure the piston moves some, it should not be tight in the carrier.

[Shady]

rails not set correctly???

[DREADNOUGHT78]

Take a black magic marker and coat your piston and carrier (everything forward of the rear sight block when in battery.) Cycle the action a bunch of times and look to see where the rub is. Then adjust accordingly.
Look at the gas block and gas tube fit up, sometimes it can be sloppy and cause the piston to catch. Also make sure the piston moves some, it should not be tight in the carrier.

So your saying the piston should wiggle in the carrier? My piston is rock solid it the carrier.

[DREADNOUGHT78]

rails not set correctly???

Rails should be set properly as the carrier only binds when the gas tube is installed.

[MrNiceGuy]

Some are rock solid and work fine.
Some need to wiggle to work fine.
3 of my AKs have the wiggle, others don't
Sounds like your's need a little wiggle to work right.

[HotRails]

At what point of the cycle do you begin to encounter resistance? Early, when the BC is almost completely open, middle, or late when the BC is almost closed?

Remember that the AK gas tube is not a true gas tube but more of a guide for the gas piston, so if the rails are not aligned correctly it may cause friction.

[Shady]

pics?

[DREADNOUGHT78]

At what point of the cycle do you begin to encounter resistance? Early, when the BC is almost completely open, middle, or late when the BC is almost closed?

Remember that the AK gas tube is not a true gas tube but more of a guide for the gas piston, so if the rails are not aligned correctly it may cause friction.

It only binds at about 1/2 an inch from the front trunnion.

[thedrickel]

This is without the bolt at all times? Normally if it's binding that far back, the bolt is rubbing the trunnion on the right side.

[SJgunguy24]

So your saying the piston should wiggle in the carrier? My piston is rock solid it the carrier.

I'll bet that is your problem right there. The piston needs to have some play to allow for any slop in the action.

I'm willing to bet the piston is hitting the gas block on the lip that the tube fits onto.
Did you headspace the build? That could be a problem if the bolt won't lock into battery.
My money is on the piston's lack of wiggle and catching the block.