Jonathan Wienke wrote:
At 10:37 PM 12/22/97 -0600, Igor Chudov @ home wrote:
You can't lock and load an AK. I remember that very well even though it has been a while. The bolt just would not go far enough back to pick up the cartridge. The bolt carrier's charging handle would only go as far as to allow for the weapon inspection.
I own a Norinco MAK-90 (a semi-auto only AK variant) and it is designed so that a round cannot be chambered with the safety on. If the weapon is not cocked, the hammer hits the top of the sear (which is locked by the safety) and prevents the bolt from traveling more than 1 inch to the rear. If the weapon is cocked, the charging handle on the side of the bolt hits the front of the safety lever, which stops the rearward travel of the bolt at about 2.5 inches, which is not sufficient to chamber a round. The magazine can be inserted or removed regardless of the position of the safety or the bolt.
All AKs are like that. And I maintain that it is the right design, from the safety standpoint. - Igor.