problems with ak 47

**sprint51** · July 1st, 2013, 09:29 AM

Was hoping to get some advice from you AK guys.I just purchased a new Century Arms centurian 39 and had some issues with it.It will not chamber the first round from a magazine when pulling back the charging handle and realeasing it.The round strips from the mag and loads half way into the chamber and the bolt locks up about one inch from it's fully closed position.It will feed if i keep my hand on the charging handle and forcefully ride it forward.Never had to do any thing other than pull back and release the charging handle on any other semi auto i've owned.Is this normal for an AK? Also the rifle with have the same failure when fired from a bench but functions fine when firing offhand.Thanks in advance for any advice.

**USMC3531** · July 1st, 2013, 12:33 PM

How many rounds have been fired through it? When shooting from the bench are you putting pressure on the mag? Two things come to mind 1. tight headspace (usualy firing 100 rounds will break it in) 2. improperly fitting mag, either it could be the mag or if the mag is being forced to where it doesnt belong.

**sprint51** · July 1st, 2013, 12:44 PM

only have 60 rounds thru it.I was using the Tapco mags that were shipped with the rifle.Don't believe i was putting any pressure on the mags when shooting off the bench.

**Svickstc** · July 1st, 2013, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by sprint51

only have 60 rounds thru it.I was using the Tapco mags that were shipped with the rifle.Don't believe i was putting any pressure on the mags when shooting off the bench.

id try different mags numero uno...and throw that junk away...sounds like tight head space as mentioned...check with a no go gauge...

**sprint51** · July 1st, 2013, 12:56 PM

will do,thanks!

**bogey1** · July 1st, 2013, 01:04 PM

I thought this thread was a joke. Trouble with ak? Impossible. ak's never have trouble, until i saw "century arms"

From what I've read over the years about century arms, i'll never own another one. I had a cetme from century.
Biggest hunk of crap i ever owned. Wouldn't run no matter what you did. Sold it at a profit

**Solaran_X** · July 3rd, 2013, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Svickstc

id try different mags numero uno...and throw that junk away...sounds like tight head space as mentioned...check with a no go gauge...

I have twelve Tapco polymer mags for my SA 85M from the early 90s. Never had a feeding issue with them. Of course, they're also a lot newer and I've heard Tapco got their ducks in a row with the newer mags.

Only issue I had with them was that one was a touch too thick in the back to snap in easily. I sat around one day just inserting and removing it while watching TV, now it snaps in just as easily as the rest.

But...I will be ditching the Tapcos soon since MagPul announced AK PMAGs.