Life of an AK

50 Cent · 03-04-2006, 17:08

Ok - so I have my New WASR 10. How long do these things last before major maintenance is required. What round count should I keep my eye on? 10000 rounds?

DaleGribble · 03-04-2006, 18:49

What do you mean by major maintenance? Do you mean like a rebarreling or something?

You're WASR was inexpensive and is not a collectors item, so shoot it until it melts, which will take a lot more the 10K rounds! ;f

CGuns · 03-04-2006, 19:10

Take care of your guns.
Clean before and after shooting.
If you take care of them, they will take care of you.
I cannot stand people who do not care for their firearms.

JSinAlaska · 03-04-2006, 19:47

Take care of your guns.
Clean before and after shooting.
If you take care of them, they will take care of you.
I cannot stand people who do not care for their firearms.

+1;f

expeditionx · 03-04-2006, 22:04

Someone at Ak-47.net once posted about his conversation with a Izhmash representative from Russia. Their 7.62x39 AKs are rated for a service life based on he barrel life. A barrel life of 80,000 rounds. They may service anything besides the barrel up through the end of acceptable barrel life. Minor things like a trigger component breaking will be fixed. A poster on Saiga12 forums "Shiek", once said that he has seen Saiga trigger parts malfunction around the 40,000 round level. A bolt or bolt carrier breaking is probably unlikely unless the factory has a manufacturing issue at some point.
Global trades representative Jimmy once posted at AK-47.net that one of his SSR-85C AKs built on a 1.6 mm stamped receiver has endured over 100,000 rounds for a customer that shoots alot. It will hold a 6 inch group at 100 yards with russian commercial ammo even after 100,000 rounds. Schuetzenman Forum Administrator at AK-47.net used
to make rifle barrels for a living. He once posted that China rated their chrome lined bore AK's for 50K rounds before replacement.
Russian hammer forged barrels are better rated. Vepr and Saiga russian barrels should last up to 80,000 rounds.

Romanian barrels should last at least as along as Chinese AK barrels.
So, figure your WASR barrel to last 50,000 plus rounds. The receiver might last several times the barrel life, but rebarreling through a gun smith might cost more that just buying another WASR.
Before you even reach 50,000 rounds on your WASR, if your trigger components break that is a simple fix ( $40 Tapco G2 trigger set ).
A bolt or bolt carrier runs a bit more.

johnydoe · 11-30-2008, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by expeditionx

Someone at Ak-47.net once posted about his conversation with a Izhmash representative from Russia. Their 7.62x39 AKs are rated for a service life based on he barrel life. A barrel life of 80,000 rounds. They may service anything besides the barrel up through the end of acceptable barrel life. Minor things like a trigger component breaking will be fixed. A poster on Saiga12 forums "Shiek", once said that he has seen Saiga trigger parts malfunction around the 40,000 round level. A bolt or bolt carrier breaking is probably unlikely unless the factory has a manufacturing issue at some point.
Global trades representative Jimmy once posted at AK-47.net that one of his SSR-85C AKs built on a 1.6 mm stamped receiver has endured over 100,000 rounds for a customer that shoots alot. It will hold a 6 inch group at 100 yards with russian commercial ammo even after 100,000 rounds. Schuetzenman Forum Administrator at AK-47.net used
to make rifle barrels for a living. He once posted that China rated their chrome lined bore AK's for 50K rounds before replacement.
Russian hammer forged barrels are better rated. Vepr and Saiga russian barrels should last up to 80,000 rounds.

Romanian barrels should last at least as along as Chinese AK barrels.
So, figure your WASR barrel to last 50,000 plus rounds. The receiver might last several times the barrel life, but rebarreling through a gun smith might cost more that just buying another WASR.
Before you even reach 50,000 rounds on your WASR, if your trigger components break that is a simple fix ( $40 Tapco G2 trigger set ).
A bolt or bolt carrier runs a bit more.

That's good info! OT, do you know how long rimfire pistol barrels last? I have a Browning Buckmark .22LR pistol that I shot about 40,000 rounds and it still seems to shoot well.

Cochise · 03-08-2006, 21:23

[QUOTE]Originally posted by G21PortlandOre
[B]Take care of your guns.
Clean before and after shooting.
If you take care of them, they will take care of you.
I cannot stand people who do not care for their firearms.

While I agree with taking care of our guns..some of us get curious as to how long some of them will function under extreme conditions..
i have a egyptian maadi akm bought in late 1999 that has shot exactly 27060 rounds of pre poly wolf without any type of cleaning..how long will she go?? i have no idea..but as soon as the 7.62X39 is flowing again im gonna shoot her till she comes to a grinding halt..
(This particular maddi is in no way any sort of primary or secondary protection for myself or my family)...
to put it mildly i'm impressed!!..
have fun with your AK!!
Cochise

Polo · 03-13-2006, 10:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Cochise
[QUOTE
i have a egyptian maadi akm bought in late 1999 that has shot exactly 27060 rounds of pre poly wolf without any type of cleaning..how long will she go?? i have no idea...
Cochise

27,060 rounds w/o a clean??!! How bout just a minor lube?
That is damned good. Keep us informed on how she does as you put more rounds in her...guys are very interested to know.

There are people going bananas over a certain FAL going 12,000rds. w/o cleaning. I think on AK47.net...

The-Fly · 03-13-2006, 13:23

I have a Global Trades / Armory SSR-85c. Its got about 2-3k rounds through it, never a problem of course. Even though you can let an AK get super filthy and probably not have problems, i clean my AK the way i clean my AR: With loving detail and attention. Take care of a gun and it will take care of you when you need it most.

Cochise · 03-13-2006, 21:28

Polo..
Thanks for the interest.. no lube of any kind.. not to hijack 50 cents thread..
I do think we are all questioning the same thing..how durable is the ak..
My only regret is that im afraid when the wolf 7.62x39 is available again ,it wont be the old laquer style, but the new poly..thus giving me a apples to oranges test... be that as it may im still gonna shoot it till it just wont shoot anymore....
also..
I guess I need to say..this is a TEST!! by all means CLEAN YOUR GUNS!! any moron who would shoot over 27THOUSAND rounds without cleaning the gun and then THINK its gonna work when the chips are down and his life is on the line..is better off dead anyways..

;P
i will keep ya posted...
Cochise

Polo · 03-13-2006, 22:54

Right on , Cochise...

expeditionx · 03-13-2006, 23:29

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Cochise

Quote:

[i]

i have a egyptian maadi akm bought in late 1999 that has shot exactly 27060 rounds of pre poly wolf without any type of cleaning

How is the accuracy after 27,000 rounds with no bore cleaning?
Group sizes?

Is the gas tube area slightly rusted anywhere? I have shot just Wolf in certain sks rifles, a saiga, and a vepr and found slight rusting in the gas tube the following day if it wasnt cleaned and preserved after a range session.

Does the bore look like its copper plated from all the copper fouling?

Cochise · 02-13-2007, 13:22

Talk about a thread from the dead..
we are up to 33 thou now and still kickin..
seem's like when it carbons up bad the cake will vibrate off and fall into the mag well and out the bottom..
never tested for accuracy but so far it seems to be holding on target as it always did..
Cochise

Army of Juan · 02-17-2007, 17:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Cochise
Talk about a thread from the dead..
we are up to 33 thou now and still kickin..
seem's like when it carbons up bad the cake will vibrate off and fall into the mag well and out the bottom..
never tested for accuracy but so far it seems to be holding on target as it always did..
Cochise

Cochise, that is awesome! Please keep us informed as the round count increases!

CGuns · 11-10-2008, 21:28

Update?

kf4zra · 11-10-2008, 21:54

i know when we worked for a manufacturer we built one on a hesse receiver. the receiver lasted around 30k rds before it was torn apart. hesse never had a reputation as a good receiver maker. it was replaced with a ohio rapid fire version and went a good 20k more before the owner gave up the license and the receiver was chopped.

there wasnt a whole lot of rifling left as most shooting was full auto. i personally shot it till the handguards caught fire. it finally broke a firing pin around 45k mi. only found out when we cleaned it. it still worked with a broken firing pin!

i think you will wear the barrel out before a receiver. it took us 50k rds before it was getting worn.

most people will never shoot one that much. that is more than half a pallet of ammo.

Line Rider · 11-15-2008, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by 50 Cent

Ok - so I have my New WASR 10. How long do these things last before major maintenance is required. What round count should I keep my eye on? 10000 rounds?

Maintenance and an AK???

Some where out in the middle of Squatemala there's a goat herder with a third grade education who has an AK-47 built in 1954 over he shoulder. This AK has had a bazillion rounds fired throught it. It's seen more wars than a CBS film crew. It's been in heat, cold, snow, rain and mud that a mule could get bogged down in, but it still works. And you ask "How many times has it been cleaned?" Maybe six or seven. It's owner will usually use a bootlace tied in knots and some kerosene drained from a lamp. After than it is lubicated with motor oil from an old wreck truck. The herdsman smokes another cigarette. "Americans made the best cigarettes, but the Russians make the best damn rifles", he thinks to himself.

Restless28 · 11-15-2008, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Line Rider

Maintenance and an AK???

Some where out in the middle of Squatemala there's a goat herder with a third grade education who has an AK-47 built in 1954 over he shoulder. This AK has had a bazillion rounds fired throught it. It's seen more wars than a CBS film crew. It's been in heat, cold, snow, rain and mud that a mule could get bogged down in, but it still works. And you ask "How many times has it been cleaned?" Maybe six or seven. It's owner will usually use a bootlace tied in knots and some kerosene drained from a lamp. After than it is lubicated with motor oil from an old wreck truck. The herdsman smokes another cigarette. "Americans made the best cigarettes, but the Russians make the best damn rifles", he thinks to himself.

Good one.

fla2760 · 11-15-2008, 18:59

The AK is "Glock reliable" and can do as well in the torture tests. Not maintenance dependent.

Cochise · 11-30-2008, 17:25

WoW!!
the thread from the REALLY dead returns!
took her out today when i saw it.
the count as of today is 41 thousand 3 hundred..
this is slow fire...fast fire and bump fire..
i have 20 or so 30 rd mags.. i mix them up and even use pre-loaded
ones i have sitting around on occasion.
still ticking!
i dont take it apart..or look at anything ..i just shoot it and put it away.

someday it will just stop...
Cochise

my762buzz · 11-30-2008, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

WoW!!
the thread from the REALLY dead returns!
took her out today when i saw it.
the count as of today is 41 thousand 3 hundred..
this is slow fire...fast fire and bump fire..
i have 20 or so 30 rd mags.. i mix them up and even use pre-loaded
ones i have sitting around on occasion.
still ticking!
i dont take it apart..or look at anything ..i just shoot it and put it away.

someday it will just stop...
Cochise

41,000 without a cleaning or lube and still going strong?
That is insane, but its great to know.

JoshuaC · 11-30-2008, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

WoW!!
the thread from the REALLY dead returns!
took her out today when i saw it.
the count as of today is 41 thousand 3 hundred..
this is slow fire...fast fire and bump fire..
i have 20 or so 30 rd mags.. i mix them up and even use pre-loaded
ones i have sitting around on occasion.
still ticking!
i dont take it apart..or look at anything ..i just shoot it and put it away.

someday it will just stop...
Cochise

Damn! There is no doubt of what rifle of mine I'd take to a war. AK all the way!

my762buzz · 08-24-2009, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

WoW!!
the thread from the REALLY dead returns!
took her out today when i saw it.
the count as of today is 41 thousand 3 hundred..
this is slow fire...fast fire and bump fire..
i have 20 or so 30 rd mags.. i mix them up and even use pre-loaded
ones i have sitting around on occasion.
still ticking!
i dont take it apart..or look at anything ..i just shoot it and put it away.

someday it will just stop...
Cochise

Over 40,000 rounds with no cleaning or parts breakage.
That is sick. What kind of Maddi is it ?
Any updates?

***Glockdude1*** · 08-24-2009, 12:32

40,000 rd's?

Just begining to break it in........

Cochise · 08-24-2009, 21:20

Wow !
saw this thread pop up..(again)
44000 so far.. I slowed down due to
lack of laquer type wolf ammo..
i have around 5 cases now ready for a big push this fall..
after i run that and if its still working we may have to go to poly ammo
and just go for a final total..
as a side note..in all my scrounging i was able to buy 3 cases of norinco steel core ammo.
from a somewhat ""unique"" person.. strange stuff is out there so ask around!
the akm is a century sa bought from j&g..ugly as sin..but she's still workin!
thanks for the interest!
Cochise