Test fire almost turned into slamfire!! See post #7

[Robidouxs]

I finally have some time to go to the range so it is now time to test fire the past two ak's that I have built. Both passed headspacing fine and did no close on a no-go gauge.

When test firing is there anything special I should do to mitigate my chances of injuring myself if the rifle goes kaboom? The Dr. on Calguns indicated that I should hold the rifle away from myself...

[pepsi2451]

The Dr. on Calguns indicated that I should hold the rifle away from myself...

Thats what I did, I even turned my head other way. Everything should be fine though.

[nicoroshi]

I used to worry about builds I have done, and even took them into the woods with a rifle rest, and a string tied to the trigger. Hid behind a large tree, and pulled the string.
Never had one 'kaboom' doing it that way, and after I got a no-go gauge I gave up on doing things that way.
(For a laugh here's the set up of the way I used to test fire)


If the build is built sturdy, and head space is correct I just go, and fire them.
I do however only load one round for first fire. Then 3 rounds, and finally (when it's clear that cycle, and FCG are functioning fine) 10 rounds.

[buuddha]

I used to worry about builds I have done, and even took them into the woods with a rifle rest, and a string tied to the trigger. Hid behind a large tree, and pulled the string.
Never had one 'kaboom' doing it that way, and after I got a no-go gauge I gave up on doing things that way.
(For a laugh here's the set up of the way I used to test fire)


If the build is built sturdy, and head space is correct I just go, and fire them.
I do however only load one round for first fire. Then 3 rounds, and finally (when it's clear that cycle, and FCG are functioning fine) 10 rounds.

The key to this setup's success is the finely placed rock. Note the attention to detail...

[NeoWeird]

Just shoot it sideways the way gangsters do - that way, if there is a kaboom, it blows out the ejection port harmlessly into the ground instead of the face of other passengers in the car. It's called range courtesy and everyone should practice it.

[Q]

Test fired mine from the hip. First couple rounds are scary.

[Robidouxs]

Haha. Test firing went okay. The rangemaster was not happy with me test firing by holding the gun away from myself. No kabooms. First AK went without any problems. The second one...had issues.

I almost had a slamfire AK. I noticed this after inserting starting the first 10 round magazine (this was after initial test firing was done). Bang...Bang..Misfire..Misfire..Misfire..Misfire. I took these four misfired rounds and examined then, they looked just fine. I proceeded to insert these rounds into an SKS to verify that the primers were bad (no indeed were on the primers) and they fired off fine. I then took the bot out and noticed that my firing pin was frozen in place. It was partially protruding into the bolt, but not enough to consistently hit the primer. I took apart the bolt and fixed the firing pin issue. I am test firing the problem rifle again to verify that all problems are taken care of.

[nicoroshi]

Hmmm.
Firing pin should be free floating, and will put an indent on primers when just chambered, and cycled out.
Did you take that bolt apart while building, and clean the cosmo out of it before test firing?
Did you shake the bolt to ensure the firing pin was free floating before installing it into the carrier?
What was holding the firing pin from free floating?

[Robidouxs]

Did you take that bolt apart while building, and clean the cosmo out of it before test firing?
Yes, weeks ago.

Did you shake the bolt to ensure the firing pin was free floating before installing it into the carrier?
Yes, weeks ago.

What was holding the firing pin from free floating?
When I took it apart there was something that was near where the crosspin and firing pin contact. It definitely was not cosmoline. It seemed like it was fiberlike.

[ElectronWrangler]

Possibly a piece of rag, paper towel, or qtip from cleaning the bolt?

[Robidouxs]

Possibly a piece of rag, paper towel, or qtip from cleaning the bolt?

I really think that is what it was.

[TURBOELKY]

Man oh man. The advice I want to give you, can only be given by Dr. Elky. I'll leave it at that....

[cannon]

Just shoot it sideways the way gangsters do - that way, if there is a kaboom, it blows out the ejection port harmlessly into the ground instead of the face of other passengers in the car. It's called range courtesy and everyone should practice it.

LMAO

[Ryan in SD]

I always hold the gun forward for the first round, then switch it to rock and roll!!! hah, just kiddin

[Shady]

Just shoot it sideways the way gangsters do - that way, if there is a kaboom, it blows out the ejection port harmlessly into the ground instead of the face of other passengers in the car. It's called range courtesy and everyone should practice it.