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AK head spacing

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JKale2923:
Years ago I acquired an AK and shot it a few times and at that time I thought it was important to have plenty of spare parts. I purchased some extra pieces including a bolt that I know was from a different country than my AK. Shortly after that I was in the forum and someone was talking about the dangers have head spacing and that bolts were not interchangeable especially if they come from different countries of origin. I put my pieces away and kind of lost interest in AKs and shooting for a while but I recently went shooting and starting thinking about what I read years ago. I see where you can order head space gauges and have seen videos on how to use them, but what if you do find a problem? Is say the Polish bolt you are trying to put in your Chinese rifle just a throw away or is there something you can do to fix a head space issue? 

LESchwartz:
Some thoughts:

First off, get CIP spec headspace gauges and not the SAMMI spec ones.  There are a bunch of very minor differences, but the bottom line is that SAMMI spec ones are less forgiving.

Next, you would check the space with the replacement bolt using the "go" and "field" gauges.  (If you have to make an adjustment, you would use the "go" and "nogo" gauges.)

If you have to adjust the headspace, you remove the barrel pin, move the barrel in or out, then re-drill the trunnion and install a larger sized pin.  (The size of the new pin is determined by how far you moved the barrel.)  If your looking to just "hot swap" the bolts, then YMMV and you may or may not be able to forego drilling.

And finally, Chinese versus European bolts may of may not work.  It's always best to get a bolt from the same country of origin as your rifle.

Larry

JKale2923:
Good info! In other words if the bolt you are keeping as a "spare" has bad head space, look for another spare or find another rifle. It sounds like head space adjustments are a major project

Hodgie:

--- Quote from: JKale2923 on November 30, 2023, 10:15:04 PM ---Good info! In other words if the bolt you are keeping as a "spare" has bad head space, look for another spare or find another rifle. It sounds like head space adjustments are a major project

--- End quote ---

Yes it’s not like an AR where you can have a back up bolt and carrier and 95% + of the time it’s going to drop in and you are ready to rock and roll. You adjust headspace for the new euro bolt and your factory bolt is now out of headspace with the AK.

I love AK’s but you have to live the plug and play modularity of the AR platform.

LESchwartz:
I think the first 30 seconds of this video says it all:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrTk0zRUdpY&t=157s . . .

 :) :shock: :) :shock: :) :shock: :)

Larry

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