AK-47 as "straight pull bolt action?"

[David Sinko]

Soon it will be time to teach the kids how to shoot the AK-47. I think I read that the AK can be converted to "straight pull bolt action" simply by removing the piston and reassembling without it. Is that true? Is this bad for the gun in any way? It seems a safer alternative than starting out on semiauto.

Dave Sinko

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Try this instead:
Load only two rounds in the magazine. Then operate in semi-auto mode.
IMHO this will teach them what they need to know plus get them use to dealing with a self-laoding type of weapon without a spray-and-pray scenario.

 

[Jungleboy]

I would tend to think that using it in the fasion you describe, would eventualy take its Toll on the Weapon. My reason for saying this is that the Piston itself balances every thing else in a manner as to allow the Weapon to function in its intended roll. The Piston, being attached to the Bolt Carrier.

This can however be safely done on an SKS, By removing the Piston, as it is Free Floating, and not directly attached to the Bolt Carrier.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Soon it will be time to teach the kids how to shoot the AK-47. I think I read that the AK can be converted to "straight pull bolt action" simply by removing the piston and reassembling without it. Is that true? Is this bad for the gun in any way? It seems a safer alternative than starting out on semiauto.

Dave Sinko

Put a mag in the firearm, show them how to lower the safety, place a round in the tube, then return the safety on. Muzzle control being taught consistently, remove the magazine each time. You have a one banger and they learn how to control the weapon better than most will. Good luck whatever way you go. Before you know it, they will be wanting to return to safe mode every shot and let the barrel rest, keeping the heat down on the forearm.

 

[pberry]

Ruger made some mini-14's with out the gas port. They were straight pull bolts. I don't recall why they did that, but I saw some for sale. I load light loads for my mini 14. 1100fps to shoot small game with. Not enough gas to operate the piston so its a bolt with that load. Hodgdon has the loading data for light 223 rounds using titegroup. It probably would be best to plug the gas port, but that may be difficult to do. I would guess it won't harm the gun.
Phil

 

[GatorFarmer]

A great many people, most of them with no firearms experience, are successfully and safely trained on self loading firearms by the Army and Marines. Just start off loading one round at a time in the magazines. That also teaches reloading. Then move up to a couple of rounds.

Make sure to load the single shots via a magazine, not directly into the chamber. Some AKs have been known to slam fire when loaded directly into the chamber.

 

[NKJ nut]

Soon it will be time to teach the kids how to shoot the AK-47. I think I read that the AK can be converted to "straight pull bolt action" simply by removing the piston and reassembling without it. Is that true? Is this bad for the gun in any way? It seems a safer alternative than starting out on semiauto.

Dave Sinko

I believe I have seen your posts in the reloading section. If so you can convert the AK-47 or any other semi-auto to straight pull bolt action with reduced loads using such fine powders as SR4759 ( not to be confused with SR4756) These reduced loads are just the ticket for getting a kid started shooting. Even more potent calibers like .30-06 can be loaded down to .30-30 levels or lower to help the young people get started.

And there is no modification to the gun required.

 

[LVSteve]

Get a FAL or FN-49 and set the gas plug to off.