AK not ejecting spent casings.

[cmace22]

This is my 4th build and I ran in to some issues today. Ill list the symptoms and as much info as I can.

Ammo: Wolf

Magazines function fine in other rifles

Barrel is a US made one from AK-Builder

Rounds will not eject consistently. Some do and some dont. Ejection is erratic. Some at 1-2 oclock and others will dribble out of the rifle. Most dont eject at all.

I fired without the dust cover off with the same result.

When hand cycling very slowly (at the range) When the round reaches the ejector it rotates up twords the ejection port as it should.

When hand cycled fast 9/10 times I get a failure to eject.

The ejector is the correct length. Just enough material was removed to allow the bolt to pass without influence (right or left) from the ejector.

At least on 1 occasion I witnessed a short stroke. This could have been operator induced but Ill explain more later.

More than normal (for an AK) drag between the bolt carrier and hammer.

I did notice that the extractor feels slightly less stiff than my other rifles. I also noticed that the angle at which the casing slips out of the bolt is shallower than my other rifles.

There are a few causes that Id like to run by you guys and see what you think.

1. Its an extractor/extractor spring issue not having a firm enough grip on the casing under recoil to hold it in place while it hits the ejector. The fix would be to replace the spring and possibly the extractor.

2. Drag from the bolt carrier and hammer interaction is slowing the momentum down enough to cause the erratic ejection. I could change my FCG to see if that fixed the problem.

3. Barrels gas port is undersized effectively under gassing the rifle causing inadequate momentum to eject the rounds.

#2 and 3 are unlikely because when hand cycling slowly, the rounds did as they should, rotaing up and out towards the ejection port.

Any help would be appreciated.

Chad

[Carsgunsandchics]

First thing I always check is for carrier bind. Pull the hammer along with the bolt and run the carrier checking for drag/bind. Most of the time it'll drag near the rear of travel. If the carrier runs fine and smooth put in the bolt and check it the same way and for clearance around the rails and mags without the hammer you can feel where the drag hits it and make adjustments. If you add one part back into the equation at a time it'll keep you from pulling your hair out. As for the extractor disassemble the bolt to check to see if it's loaded with cosmoline. Most likely it is and is causing the extractor to stick or not have full movement.

[kcstott]

Lube the gun. It was designed to run with grease. Lube it

[tujungatoes]

It's your 4th build so you damn sure ought to know proper ejector length so check that one off.

Start by stripping the bolt, cleaning everything and looking for some crap mucking it all up. Then re-assemble and test. If it still seems weak try swapping the extractor/spring from one of your other rifles. While you're at it, compare the un-compressed spring length and extractors. Look for worn or rounded parts that might let the case slip.

Regarding the possible short stroking...Is the bolt carrier traveling back far enough to cock the hammer and pick up the next round? If it gets that far then It's not the cause of your FTE's.

[cmace22]

It's your 4th build so you damn sure ought to know proper ejector length so check that one off.

Start by stripping the bolt, cleaning everything and looking for some crap mucking it all up. Then re-assemble and test. If it still seems weak try swapping the extractor/spring from one of your other rifles. While you're at it, compare the un-compressed spring length and extractors. Look for worn or rounded parts that might let the case slip.

Regarding the possible short stroking...Is the bolt carrier traveling back far enough to cock the hammer and pick up the next round? If it gets that far then It's not the cause of your FTE's.

Thanks for the help guys. The hammer road home with the BCG at least once. But I was holding it funky while shooting with the dust cover off so it may have been something I did..... I ordered a new extractor and spring so Ill swap them out and see if thats the issue. To be honest the ejector is about 1/16" shorter than my other builds so if the extractor and spring dont fix it ill weld it up and re trim it. If those dont work Im lost for ideas other than its binding up somewhere. With the hammer out of it, it cycles smooth as butta. With it in it acts like a bolt catch and takes quite a bit of force to get it past the hammer. I already have a new FCG coming. Im going to change one at a time to try and isolate the problem.

[ott1]

I think it's the ejector is too short. I just test fire a new build that the casings were flying 20+ ft away at 3 o'clock position.

[kcstott]

If the bolt is hanging up I'd check the ejector height laterally to see if the bolt is binding there. Also rail guides on the carrier. I had to open mine up a bit on the carrier.
My AK is a Romy G kit that felt rough as a cobb when I first built it at final assembly. Little bit of grease on the rails and bolt carrier and all is good. Although mine will act as a bolt hold open if you cycle the action slow. I've not had a single fail to feed or eject. That why I said lube it. But it also looks like you ejector is short.

Think of it this way. Because the ejector is short it is. It is not hitting the case with the correct amount of force. The extractor being week will just compound the issue. If lets go of the case to soon, same thing, poor ejection.

[cmace22]

I went ahead and replaced the extractor and spring with new units. I also welded and reshaped the ejector just to be on the safe side. Im assuming I have to re heat treat correct.

Thanks for the help.

[tujungatoes]

The filler metal as welded should be plenty hard. I've done a few this way and not had problems.

[RobGR]

If you have a recoil buffer in there, which you didn't list, ditch it.

[mr.]

how is #3 unlikely when cycling by hand? id clearance the hammer a little being careful not to grind the part that hits the firing pin, id make it buttery smooth with a little grease or anti seize.

[bohoki]

i'm betting the ejector is not up high enough it may need to be bent up a tad

[Ryan in SD]

Did you weld the rails too far back?

[straykiller]

you could have a worn gas block that is causing your gun to short stroke, this is a problem i have with my rpk build. that reminds me i need to fix that.