carrier back travel

Put a buffer in it. It won't allow the carrier to travel back as far and will cure your problem.

What kind of receiver??

The end slots are cut too far forward, or the rear block was installed too far to the rear (this is far less likely, but can happen).

This is common problem on home-bent receivers, and the only time I recommend using a buffer (the gun's already broken, a buffer isn't gonna break it any further).

nalioth said:

The end slots are cut too far forward, or the rear block was installed too far to the rear (this is far less likely, but can happen).

This is common problem on home-bent receivers, and the only time I recommend using a buffer (the gun's already broken, a buffer isn't gonna break it any further).

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Is this common with the Tapco receivers? I have 5 receivers and have bent 2. One has the problem with poping out of the top rails and the other doesn't.
Dumb question- What do you mean by "The gun's already broken" Did I do something wrong during reassembly?

welldog said:

Is this common with the Tapco receivers? I have 5 receivers and have bent 2. One has the problem with poping out of the top rails and the other doesn't.
Dumb question- What do you mean by "The gun's already broken" Did I do something wrong during reassembly?

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If your carrier is trying to pop out during normal usage, yes, it's out of spec and (IMHO) broken.

Tapco doesn't make receivers, so yes, one of the two things I mentioned in my earlier post happened to the receiver when it was bent and built.


As far as buffers go, you can do a search here or on any large firearms forum and find out how they break stuff . . .

So can someone tell me if there is a better flat to make a receiver from? I have obviously missed the operation of the weapon and assumed that the Tapco flats were made correctly. I am still relatively new to building Aks and learning as I go. I used a home made jig for bending one flat and used an AK builder jig for bending the other flat. They both appear to be bent to the specs I have seen on the forum. The holes on the receiver lined up with the opposite side. Tapco flats do have some of the holes that are not correctly located, but were the same holes on both flats.
Thanks for the help.

welldog said:

So can someone tell me if there is a better flat to make a receiver from?

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AK Builder flats.
They also have buffers.
I just wish they had m-70 flats!!

welldog said:

I am still relatively new to building Aks and learning as I go. I used a home made jig for bending one flat and used an AK builder jig for bending the other flat.
Thanks for the help.

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Please pay no attention to nalioth. We get more "ban this guy" messages from him than the other 15,000 members combined.

What you have is common. Perhaps a better fix would be to install a new spring but the buffer will work.

Does your cover fit tightly? If so the rear tang is in the right place.

Winn- The cover is on pretty tight. Appears that the rear tang is in the right place.
I didn't realize that the springs could wear that much. I will try buffers on both and see what the results are.

Since the top cover is on tight (iow it doesn't pop off when you're shooting the gun) then the short answer is the buffer. I've been successful with both a buffer and a new recoil spring. Another thought is that you may have a hammer hump that is also contributing to the issue, but you should be OK with the buffer.

Your problem isn't that uncommon with home builds... no matter what receiver flat you start with. Personally I hand-fit the carrier into the receiver and stop when I can kind of wiggle it down into position just so I can avoid the issue.

I just cut an angle onto the carrier and the top rails so it can't catch any more, the spring guide holds the carrier low enough that it can't get high enough to get over the "ramps" I cut in.

ETA: huh my 1000th post...

welldog said:

Winn- The cover is on pretty tight. Appears that the rear tang is in the right place.
I didn't realize that the springs could wear that much. I will try buffers on both and see what the results are.

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I don't know what year your kit was made, but it's possible that you may have a 40 or 50 year old return spring. If a carrier is hitting the rear tang or hanging up on the hammer, spring replacement is the first quick fix -- and usually the only one needed.

Winn R said:

I don't know what year your kit was made, but it's possible that you may have a 40 or 50 year old return spring. If a carrier is hitting the rear tang or hanging up on the hammer, spring replacement is the first quick fix -- and usually the only one needed.

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I am not sure when the gun was made either. Have not been able to translate the Egyptian to a date. It is a kit that came from Apex with a Romanian barrel. Anyone have any ideas as to dates on these kits?

Hey well, maybe try your spring assembly from your unfired 1986 romy g kit you got that might help you compare between a new spring and your egyptian spring assyembly.

Check to see that the rivets that hold the rear trunnion are not stretching and allowing the trunnion to move to the rear. A stronger recoil spring can help. I've heard some of the rivets are a little soft, but don't have first-hand experience with this. I did see a good video on this on YouTube. It shows the rivets stretching and the heads deforming away from the receiver. Stronger spring and buffer should help.

old guard dog said:

I've heard some of the rivets are a little soft, but don't have first-hand experience with this. I did see a good video on this on YouTube. It shows the rivets stretching and the heads deforming away from the receiver. Stronger spring and buffer should help.

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Link to video please?

That is ridiculous, unless it's a video of a crappy home-made AK with substandard rivets.

For pete's sake, they've got 50 year old AKs being used in combat daily that don't have "stretched rivets" . . .

old guard dog said:

Stronger spring and buffer should help.

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A new spring, certainly.

Buffers cause more trouble than they fix.

nalioth said:

Link to video please?

That is ridiculous, unless it's a video of a crappy home-made AK with substandard rivets.

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It's probably a video of a certain manufacturer's rifle that was built with a US made barrel with the gas port drilled oversize. Some of those ARE pounding the rivets out.