AK-74 feeding issues

[Symbolic]

I just search for "AK-74 feed" and got not pertinent results. Nothing, in fact, remotely related to AK-74s.

 

Anyways, I've had a WaffenWerks AK-74 from Classic Arms for about a year now and it came with 4x Tapco mags. I consistently had feeding reliability issues, which I attributed to the mags. But I recently spent $130 on Russian AK-74 mags and I'm still having feeding issues which leads me to the conclusion that it has been the rifle all along. Is anyone familiar enough with 74s to identify this problem? The only thing I can think of is the bullet guide, but I have no idea how to tell for sure. What do yall think?

[Murgatroy]

Feeding issues could mean a whole lot of things...

[Guest BCR#1]

"WaffenWerks" is the problem. You bought a lemon that should have been returned to Classic for a refund a year ago but it's too late now. Google the name and you'll find out all you need to know about that shade tree builder. It can be fixed if you're willing to spend the cash.

 

Bill

[felinesNfreedom]

"WaffenWerks" is the problem. You bought a lemon that should have been returned to Classic for a refund a year ago but it's too late now. Google the name and you'll find out all you need to know about that shade tree builder. It can be fixed if you're willing to spend the cash.

 

Bill

 

Yep, I have heard a lot of bad things about the waffenwerks builds. I think they have been purchased by someone else now.

[Symbolic]

What ways are there to fix it, Bill?

 

The rifle does not seem like a lemon to me. Sometimes I can shoot an entire mag without any issue. Then I reload it and shoot it again and experience some feeding problems.

[Trekbike]

I'll echo what Murgatroy was trying to say, please be more descriptive in what feeding problems you are experiencing.
That's kinda like saying my car won't start without giving any details.

[Hershmeister]

Most likely Mag is not seating properly. Some material would need to be removed from mag catch area if this is the case.


Please confirm if you are getting full lock up when the mag is inserted

[Symbolic]

Mag lock-up is good as far as I can tell because the top of the mag lips touch the bottom of the rails when inserted. Other than that I don't know what to look for. I'll see if I can snap some pics soon.

[Hershmeister]

What ammo are you using?

[Symbolic]

I am shooting 7N6

[Dolomite_supafly]

Does it have a bullet guide installed?

 

Can we get a picture of the malfunction?

[Symbolic]

Yes, it has a bullet guide installed. That's where I think the problem lies. I am working on borrowing a camera from someone for some quick pics.

[Symbolic]

 

 

[Symbolic]

If you need pics from a different angle or of something else in the rifle, let me know. Thanks for your help.

[Superman]

Can you get a pic of the malfunction

[Symbolic]

That is more difficult since I do not own a camera and my phone does not connect to the internet. I'll have to see if I can borrow someone's camera for the afternoon one day. Perhaps this weekend.

[Superman]

Well the bullet guide looks ok, looks exactly like my 74. Maybe you can explain where the rounds get caught up at.

[Superman]

Oh and if your phone takes decentvenough pics you can text the pic to your email

[Symbolic]

I might give that a shot. What I did today was ask if anybody wanted to shoot some guns this weekend and I'll see if I can use one of their phones to take a decent picture.

[Symbolic]

Alright. Finally got some pictures of the malfunction today. It snowed last weekend so the original people cancelled. These are not quality pics, but my phone takes even worse photos.

 

I think the problem with my rifle is getting worse. Today I had 5 feeding issues from the first mag. I think 3 or 4 issues with the second mag. And zero issues with the third mag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dolomite_supafly]

Yeah, there is a lot going on there. The magazines are not high enough judging from the top two pictures. Not ejecting could be a couple of things but I suspect it is related to your extractor because it looks like it isn't extracting either.

 

Where are you located?

 

Destructive Devices Inc just bought Waffen Werkz, you might try contacting them to see if they will warranty it.

[Symbolic]

Bummer. I was reading that to fix the magazine seating requires rivets to be removed and I don't have any tools, or the know-how, up here that can do that. (I'm currently stationed in North Dakota.) Thanks for the help so far! I'll try to contact Destructive Devices tomorrow.

[Hershmeister]

It looks like you have some cases which are not extracting at all, some which extracted but failed to eject, and some rounds which successfully did both but the follow up round did not feed properly. This could be a function of a delayed or poor ejection which interfered with the feed.

An AK is a simple tool. I would investigate the following - hopefully waffenworks will stand behind their product.

Ensure no cosmoline or binding in return spring

Replace extractor

Is the rifle gassed properly? Did the gas port get drilled correctly? Weak gas could be a cause of poor operation.

Are the rails set at the correct height? When you rack the bolt carrier is there any friction or binding?

[Symbolic]

There's definitely no cosmoline, or any grease, gunking it up. I disassembled the bolt tonight and the extractor was pretty strong. I'm not sure how to judge if the rifle is properly gassed, but it seems alright. But the last thing, the rail height, I have no idea if it's correct and I'm not too sure how to measure it. When I rack the bolt carrier though, there is no more resistance than on my 47. Just the carrier moving over the hammer is about the only resistance.

 

I bought this rifle from Classic Arms almost two years ago. I didn't get to shoot it until 6 months after I bought it. DDI, the company who bought WW, offers a 1-year warranty on their rifles. It's been over a year and I don't think they will consider this one of their rifles. I sent them an email tonight anyways and will call them tomorrow as well. Thanks for your help!

[Dolomite_supafly]

I read somewhere that DDI will warranty WW marked lowers. Just have no idea on the time frame. Worst they can say is no and you are no worse than you are now. But if they say yes you have a lot to gain.