[Kimber]

C...Strela, I just picked up the 103 from AK-USA, it's beautiful. Pictures and range report to follow, when I can sneak away.

I'm a semi-auto rifle newbie. Before I fire it, I wanted to make sure I could field strip it. After rummaging today, I found this site:

http://www.lifelibertyetc.com/RangeBag.aspx

Pure MS Media users (like me) will need to install the video "descrambler" (which looks legit). It's linked on the page. Once you do, and download the videos, you will have field stripping for a Garand, an AK, and a Glock (I haven't watched this one yet). Also, there are some really neat short "bump firing" snippets with a Garand and AK, and a quick, "how to." There is also a caveat that it is not accurate and could get you banned from a range. But boy, it would impress your neighbors!

So, for anyone new to AKs (or a Garand, which is on my wish list), I highly recommend this site. And for those of you with more information (and I am sure some you have comments) I would love them. I hope that next week, I can play with my new toy. I might save the bump fire for a remote spot of land in W. Va., however. I also bought a few 50 round magazines that I am also hoping to break in.

David

[north runner]

I thought bump firing required a defect in the trigger mechanism, but I've never tried it. I've read a bit on firing the mac 10/ 9mm that way. A garand on full auto seems a little scary to me :) Maybe you want to acquire a BAR instead.

[EdPPCLI]

Bump Firing...50rd mags???????? sounds kinda mall ninjalike. Kimber I thought you were a straight up serious kinda guy. :)

Seriously enjoy your new gun (I'm just a little bit jealous) and do whatever you have to become comfortable and proficient. The AK is an awesome weapon that like a Timex
will "keep on ticking". Fore serious use go with the tried and true steel 30rd mags and stick with the iron sights. Check into 20rd mags (Bulgarian Tanker? mags) for a better prone firing position. You should also check into night firing your weapon, see how that flash hider does as well as whether or not you need some sort of tritium inserts for your sights. As always I recommend a chest rig...take a look at this repro of the classic soviet style http://www.marstar.ca/web-gear.htm (check out WEB-101) to give you a taste of the benefits of this style of LBE.
I am interested in hearing your range reports for this rifle. A sized by side comparison with a surplus AK (like a ROMAK etc.) and your new toy would be great.
Best of luck
Ed

[Kimber]

Ed,

Thank you. And to be perfectly honest. If I do try the technique, it would be with the 10 round mag that came with it, and in a remote area in West Virginia. I agree with the 30-round mags. Just got through picking out a case. The 50-round mags are impractical, but I found a good deal and didn't know if the ban would end.

I am also seriously looking at those 75-round drum magazines as well. Heck, I just got through ordering a bunch of paraphenalia I didn't need, such as some 30-round magazines, a few manuals, and, a butt stock cleaning kit plug in (I sure hope Farticus doesn't read this thread).

David

[Potemkin]

Personally I like to aim the weapon but I appreciate the link.

That is probably the best free instruction on a detail strip of a Glock pistol.

However, he was a little cavalier taking off that slide cover plate. I always think I am going to get it in the eye with the extractor spring.

[Ought Six]

I really like my Chinese 75-round drum for the AK. It has a hinged back that makes it very easy to load, and a wind-up magazine spring tab that lets you store the drum fully loaded, but with no tension on the spring. This is the pefect mag for fun shooting.

The Romanian and Russian 75-round drums are mostly what is available now. They load like conventional mag, through the top, and the spring remains under tension when they are loaded. They are tougher than the Chinese drums and do not rattle as much, and thus are better for field use for militia types that are using a semiauto RPK clone with 75-round drums for their squad fire support weapon. To load these type of drums more easily, I recommend you get one of those mag loader adapters. You put the adapter on the mouth of the mag, and you can then fit SKS stripper clips into the adapter and zip ten rounds of ammo into it with one push. This greatly speeds up loading these drums.

[Kimber]

O6,

I saw those, but I'm a new battle rifle afficianado. The question that popped into my mind was: If I have get the speed loader, stripper clips, load the stripper clips, and then load the magazines, wouldn't it be simpler just to order another few 30-round magazines and load them while I'm posting?

I'm new to these things, so go easy on me. However, if you have to spend time loading stripper clips, why not buy the 30-round magazines and load them?

David

Edited to add: Unless you want to reload the drum on the range and then engage in more bumpfiring in case your first attempt didn't impress anyone. :D

[Ought Six]

K:

I do not like to leave mags loaded for extended periods of time. I am a big believer in preserving mag springs.

If I had some of the Romanian drums, I would want to keep them empty until needed. I like to have the ability to load them very quickly to deal with unforseen circumstances. That is the reason the mag adapter & stripper clips is a good idea.

As for my thirty-round mags, I keep eight loaded and sixteen unloaded, and rotate the mags (and ammo) I keep loaded every few months. The mag loader works just as well for the thirty-rounders as it does for the 75-round drums.

My SKS can be loaded one round at a time, but obviously for any serious shooting the strippers are highly desireable. I want to get tons of strippers while they are still around. Since I have thousands of rounds of 7.62x39mm ammo stored, and it is a bad idea to leave ammo in the cardboard boxes it comes in (cardboard is a moisture sponge that holds moisture where you least want it -- in contact with your ammo), I store as much of my AK/SKS ammo as I can in SKS strippers. It does not take up any more space, and the dessicant in the cans protects both strippers & ammo. And it is ready for instant quick loading in either weapon type.

The same goes with my Garand. *All* of my milsurp .30-06 ammo is stored in Garand en bloc clips. I wish I had gotten more when they were around a dime each, because they cost over a dollar each now.

SKS strippers or Garand en bloc clips that are stored in box tend corrode, so keeping them loaded in a sealed ammo can with dessicant preserves both ammo & clip, and insures that I will not be caught without strippers/en bloc clips. I think storing your ammo this way is the right way to go.

[Kimber]

O6, thank you.

What you said make a lot of sense. I may end up getting the clips and tool after all.

One other thought that came to mind, however, are the pre-sealed 700 or so tins that come with a can opener of sorts. I have one, and from what I've read so far, they should be fine as is. Have you thought of this option.

Rather than start stockpiling stripper clips, maybe buying several more sealed tins would work? Since this is a new toy, I'm pretty sure I'll use up my small boxed Wolf ammo quickly. Then, only keep the paper/cardboard boxes as range ammo.

Speaking of which, right now I have Wolf, mainly because of price, but I figure the Russian ammo company ought to know the AK pretty well. Is there other ammo you would suggest? I'm all ears.

David

[Ought Six]

K:

The sealed tins are great for your long-term storage survival ammo. They cost more, but are well worth it. However, it is not a substitute for ready-to-load ammo for your unloaded mags.

I like Wolf as well. I have some Yugo surplus boxer-primed stuff I would love to get more of. I only have about 1000 rounds of it, and it should be great for reloading. I would love to lay my hands on some more of that, as it is outstanding quality ammo. I wish I could find some pulled milsurp steel-core bullets, but no luck on that front yet. I will eventually get some 7.62x39mm dies and try reloading some Nosler 125 grain Ballistic Tip bullets. In spite of the fact that they are .003" undersize, they are supposed to work pretty well.

[north runner]

K:

The sealed tins are great for your long-term storage survival ammo. They cost more, but are well worth it. However, it is not a substitute for ready-to-load ammo for your unloaded mags.

I like Wolf as well. I have some Yugo surplus boxer-primed stuff I would love to get more of. I only have about 1000 rounds of it, and it should be great for reloading. I would love to lay my hands on some more of that, as it is outstanding quality ammo. I wish I could find some pulled milsurp steel-core bullets, but no luck on that front yet. I will eventually get some 7.62x39mm dies and try reloading some Nosler 125 grain Ballistic Tip bullets. In spite of the fact that they are .003" undersize, they are supposed to work pretty well.

If I had any AP www.ammunitionstore.com I'd reload it for the garand.

[Ought Six]

nr:"If I had any AP I'd reload it for the garand."I was talking about 123-grain .311 diameter steel-core bullets, which are unsuitable for the Garand. I already have quite a bit of .30-06 163 grain 'black tip' AP milsurp ammo. If I ever get a place with room to set up my reloading press, I will likely order from these guys:

-----

.308 dia. 163 gr. AP bullets:

http://iidbs.com/hitech

-----

.308 dia. 147 gr. AP bullets:

http://www.southernammo.com/componen.htm

-----

They both are selling their milsurp pulled AP bullets for around 10¢ each. AmmunitionStore.com does not currently list any .30-06 AP ammo or bullets on their site.

[north runner]

Well ought six those sites certainly have better prices for that useless ap stuff. Reloading is so much fun trying to figure out which are the right specifications. nato .308 .311 30.06 chinese russian - afaik I've never seen old pulled .311 ap anywhere. They must be about as rare as hen's teeth, although the old chink ammo used them, as I recall.

[Ought Six]

nr:

You are correct. The .311 123 grain steel-core bullets are ChiCom surplus.

Whether or not AP ammo is useless depends on your application. It is obviously not good for hunting and is a waste for plinking.


.311" dia. = 7.62x39mm; 7.62x54R; .303 British, 7.7x58mm Japanese, 7.62x25mm carbine/pistol

.308 dia. = 7.62x51mm NATO, .30-06, 7.5x55m Swiss, .30 carbine