Tweeking an AK for performance?

[brian]

Originally Posted by senorlinc

ditch the buffer, it may soften felt recoil but takes up space that the bolt carrier should be travelling and slows it down. they can cause the weapon not to cycle properly

for accuracy, get better ammo and replace the muzzle brake with a muzzle nut.

have to agree with this.
if it was intended to have a buffer, there would be one in there.
i've heard of a story or two, were of adding a muzzle device, and that wrecked a rifle's zero.

[Asmodeus6]

Originally Posted by senorlinc

ditch the buffer, it may soften felt recoil but takes up space that the bolt carrier should be travelling and slows it down. they can cause the weapon not to cycle properly

That's happened not once in... oh a few thousand rounds.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Jackal

Would there be any benefit to lightening an AK bolt carrier? I'm thinking with less mass, the bolt wouldn't offset the next shot as much.

I strongly advise against this. The primary reason to have an AK is the reliability, and a lot of that comes from the massively heavy bolt yanking extracted rounds out and slamming new rounds in. Don't do anything to weaken that mojo.

As for recoil buffers, I've heard some people find that they have the same effect of weakening the power of the bolt movement, and, for example, making HPs not feed as well.

[Jackal]

Thanks for all the info, I'll see if I can address everything.

First off, thank you for correcting my word choice, I myself am a spelling/grammar Nazi, don't know how that one got by me.

I have heard buffers were no good. Looking at this slow-mo video, which I am sure most people have seen, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sNDTdKQNVU) you can see that sometimes the bolt carrier hits the rear trunnion and sometimes it does not. You can also see how much the gun jolts when the bolt carrier hits the trunnion. I can't be certain, but this seems to be a result of inconsistent powder charges. Someone on this board recently put up some data (forget who it was) and the variation in the amount of powder was substantial.

I have a non-authentic ak-74 type brake. It does mitigate rear travel of the gun, but it could be better. For 15 bucks it was a cheap experiment. I don't know how the J-tac would work for me because my saiga barrel extends 1 inch beyond the FSB. I have also already threaded this and would need a 1 inch deep threaded brake. I'll look into that.

It has a folding ACE stock and a Tapco G2. I didn't realize how awesome the G2 was until I fired someone else's run of the mill AK and there was no comparison.

So I guess I could improve by getting better sights, figuring out a new brake, and reloading my own ammo. The reloading I'm only half serious about as it would never pay for itself. Its just too bad most of the ammo available is produced with such inconsistency.

Its shooting 3 inch groups at the moment with Golden Tiger FMJ. I bet I could get better with some good ammo.


I'm just thinking out loud, for all realistic needs of this gun it will outperform most of my expectations. I will have to invest in some upgraded parts, however; i.e. sights and a brake.

Thanks for the info. And PS. Someone once told me that the holes on the AK gas piston tube were for hydrodynamic properties. I have one with holes, and one without. What is the purpose of these holes?

[Shawn.L]

Originally Posted by Asmodeus6

That's happened not once in... oh a few thousand rounds.

when I put the buff in my Yugo it would stovepipe on Wolf ammo quite regularly. I threw it out. But others rifles may differ, what didnt work on mine may work on yours. They are cheap, grab one and if it runs then it runs.

[PA Rifleman]

Originally Posted by Jackal

...And PS. Someone once told me that the holes on the AK gas piston tube were for hydrodynamic properties. I have one with holes, and one without. What is the purpose of these holes?

Exhaust. Without the holes, fumes & soot migrate back into the receiver through the piston tube, coating the top of bolt carrier with soot. Obviously AKs with the holes run a little cleaner than those without the holes. Some AKs have it, some don't.



Hydrodynamics wouldn't be much of a factor, did you notice the deep six-sided dimples in the gas tube? They keep the (severely) undersized piston centered and aligned with the cylinder when the bolt carrier's out of battery. There's so much clearance that water wouldn't be a factor there anyway.

1 - Gas Tube
2 - Guide ribs for gas piston
3 - Front joining collar
4 - Hand Guard
5 - Rear joining collar
6 - Lug

Variations:
Side holes:






Front holes in gas block:

[Shawn.L]

Originally Posted by Jackal

Its shooting 3 inch groups at the moment with Golden Tiger FMJ. I bet I could get better with some good ammo.

that sounds pretty darn good for an AK

I used to have a add-on rear peep for my Yugo, dont know where it went to, but I didnt like it.

[Jackal]

Thanks Rifleman, that was some detailed and good info.

Originally Posted by Shawn.L

that sounds pretty darn good for an AK

I used to have a add-on rear peep for my Yugo, dont know where it went to, but I didnt like it.

Yeah, I donno what to do. I figure stock is good enough because beyond 100 yards I can't see a target very well anyway. I've looked at mojo sites but I'm not a fan of that style.

Anyone ever try colored front sites (the actual piece you screw into the FSB)?

[Asmodeus6]

Originally Posted by Shawn.L

when I put the buff in my Yugo it would stovepipe on Wolf ammo quite regularly. I threw it out. But others rifles may differ, what didnt work on mine may work on yours. They are cheap, grab one and if it runs then it runs.

I bought an abundance of Wolf MC HP's. No issues. Nor the black box Wolf. Or the Barnaul stuff either.

Not saying it can't happen. But I typically buy what is currently at a decent price. Flipping between HP & FMJ to keep my inventory up on both. This means a wide variety ends up coming out the business end if you shoot as much as I do. No problems.

To Jackal, I painted my front post white. Helped me once it got dusk.

[scoutjoe]

Originally Posted by wjkuleck

The three major problems in AK accuracy, IMHO, in descending order of importance, are:

1. Ammo—nobody makes "Match"-quality ammo in 7.62x39mm

I have to throw my hat in the ring here on this one.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=117828025

Lapua ammo is "match" grade.....or the internet has lied to me in the past (possible). That being said it is difficult to find, at best.

So..I can't really afford to prove you wrong