Beginner AK function question

[Will3212]

I'm fairly new to AKs and had a question about the safety and function of AKs.
So I was cleaning my WASR10 AK, had the dust cover off, bolt, recoil spring out. The hammer was back (cocked), I lifted the safety lever up to put the safery on and the hammer released(slammed forward).
Is this normal?, where putting the safety on decocks the hammer?

[Calzonewdippingsauce]

This is normal when you have the dust cover off if you push the safety up past where it would normally go with the dust cover on, you'll notice the safety trips the hammer catch. Its also important to note that if you rotate the safety all the way up to 90 degrees you can remove it.

[Will3212]

This is normal when you have the dust cover off if you push the safety up past where it would normally go with the dust cover on, you'll notice the safety trips the hammer catch. Its also important to note that if you rotate the safety all the way up to 90 degrees you can remove it.

Thanks for the reply, so if the dust cover was on and fully assembled, the safety can not trip the hammer catch to decock the gun right, its only when the dust cover is off.

[raxar]

No, this isn't normal, it happens when they use full auto safety levers with semi auto trigger groups. Depending on the dust cover you definitely can push the safety past it and have an accidental discharge, had it happen to me in a 3 gun match with an npap.

[bugout]

...had it happen to me in a 3 gun match with an npap.

3 gun... ak was your long gun... respect

[Calzonewdippingsauce]

No, this isn't normal, it happens when they use full auto safety levers with semi auto trigger groups. Depending on the dust cover you definitely can push the safety past it and have an accidental discharge, had it happen to me in a 3 gun match with an npap.

My NPAP has a stamped steel cover so I guess it*s possible to bend it past where it would normally go but damn you must have really been mashing up on it. To the OP, if your really that worried about it I suppose you could switch out the safety lever. I have had a few AKs in my life and it*s never been an issue.

[Handyandy]

This was a known issue on some arsenal rifles. Even with the dust cover on, there was not enough metal to stop the safety from rotating upwards and could be forced by an aggressive pull of the bolt carrier handle. I've seen videos of it resulting in ND/AD. Swap a semi safety in.

[Emptymag]

I could swear that a (no longer active) forum member had a WASR that fired when the safety was flipped on.
He bought it new at Dunhams (that tells you how long ago it was) and they accepted it as a return after he argued with them a little.

[Will3212]

Sounds like i need to be extra careful when flipping safety on in my WASR, especially if theres a round chambered. Example, 20 in the mag, shoot 5, then decide to flip safety on.

[Emptymag]

I don't believe it's a widespread/common problem, but may warrant some more research.
I had a old WASR too and never had an issue like that.