Newbie Question about a Mak

[piercedjp]

I just recieved my Bulgarian Mak today and love it. One problem though, I took it out to the range, and it wont feed right. I have read about this problem on the boards before, and everyone seemed to agree that polishing the ramp helps. But I dont think thats the problem with mine. If I only load 5 bullets it feeds ok, but if I put any more than that in it wont feed corectly. Does anyone know what the problem might be? It does it with both my magazines, so I dont think the spring is bad. Could it just be the ammo? Would polishing it down help this? Thanks in advance.

[spin180]

What kind of problem is it exactly, are the rounds nosediving or just hanging up?

Polishing probably can't hurt. If possible, you ought to try a few other magazines to rule out the problem being magazine related.

Since it will feed five rounds properly, but not any more there is a good possiblity it is a magazine/spring problem. However, since it happens with both mags. it may just be a feed ramp issue.

And it may be the ammunition. Try some other brand, if you can. Hollow points do tend to have issues in Maks'.

Try to give it a light polish anyway and switch up the ammo before going after new magazines/springs.

[M2 Carbine]

What ammo are you using?

A big hollow point like Cor Bon or Hornady may hit just below the feed ramp and jam.

If you look at the bottom of the feed ramp where it ends and drops straight down there should be just the slightest rounded edge to keep the bullet nose from jamming.

When the Russian Maks first started coming in I had to put a little bevel on about 1 in 4.

This is one of the early Russian Maks showing where I beveled it.
Makes it feed 100%.
I found later that half this much bevel was plenty.

BUT you SHOULD NOT have to do this to most Maks and I've never had to do it to a Bulgarian Mak.
The Bulgarian ramp is already slightly rounded at the bottom.

Try polishing the ramp and especially the bottom of the ramp.

http://img44.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/Mak_feed.jpg

[piercedjp]

I am using JSC Barnaul hollowpoints as my ammo. I think the problem is the bullets are nosediving. A couple of times, if i pressed up on the clip the slide would close and chamber a round, so I assume they aren't coming up enough. Any ideas on how to fix this? Again, it sounds different than the previous posts about the feed ramp, but then again, I am fairly new at this, so I may be wrong. Thanks for all of your input.

[spin180]

Well, if the rounds are nosediving even a little, the fact that they are hollowpoints only cause to make the problem worse. The flat profile of the hollow point is the perfect means to cause the round to hang on the ramp.

I would most definately polish the ramp, not excessively, and then try it out to see what happens. If it still jams, try a differnt brand of ammunition. Some hollowpoints feed better than others. If those fixes don't work, then look into getting new springs or magazines.

[M2 Carbine]

Is your Mak or magazines new?
They just may need some shooting.
I have several brand new Maks that were sold as used.

I've got dozens of Mak magazines and never had a problem with the spring or feeding (because of the magazine) and some are really old and beat up.

Get some round nose ammo and give it a good break in.
OR just keep loading 5 rounds until you get it broke in.

Another thing, with the pressure of a full magazine pressing up on the bottom of the slide, the slide may not be coming back far enough to allow normal functioning.
You have lubricated the gun haven't you?

AIM has Silver Bear FMJ cheap.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/A9x18RU__Silver_Bear_9x18_FMJ.html

Bottom line, put a little polish job on the feed ramp.
Load as many rounds as the magazine will feed and run a couple hundred rounds through the gun and see if it doesn't work out.