An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

This works on 7.62x39 AK's, I haven't tested it on others. Engage the safety, pull the bolt back as far as you can and visually inspect the ejection port. The extractor will keep hold of the round which won't fall out and since there is no automatic bolt hold open feature there's nothing to interfere with rechambering that round. Don't forget to swipe the safety off before taking a shot or clearing the weapon.

Tactical reloads are better as a matter of course, but if you need to be sure you still have a round and you're on your last mag, this is probably the fastest way.

Re: An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

the charging lever being on the opposite side of the receiver is not ideal, but it's easy enough to use

the FN Fal has a complicated as hell setup, I still don't know how to operate it right

the AR pattern is more ideal where the magazine and reloading stuff is concerned, seems to me

Re: An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

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Re: An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

What's your trouble with the FAL? I've always found them to be fairly intuitive.

The right side charging handle on an AK is simply a training issue and/or matter of personal preference. I've noticed a lot of people on the net advocating reaching over the top of the reciever with the left hand to pull the handle, but I find that to be akward as heck. I much prefer reaching under the reciever with my left hand. Of course this becomes a non-issue when you have to shoot from the left side of a piece of cover.

I actually don't like the charging handle on the M-16/AR-15 family, it'd be a total loss without the bolt hold open. At least I find it uncomfortable to use in odd positions. I'd prefer a top charger mounted a little further forward if anything. The pistol-like magwell on these rifles are definately faster than the rock-in style on the FAL or Ak. The other side of that equation is that the locked in mags are much stronger. In the case of the AK they're actually a useful extention of the weapon in hand to hand combat.

Re: An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

I appreciate that, I just never really mastered it. Maybe I'm dense. Or maybe it's just all the time I've spent handling aks and ars, I just cant get used to the thing. More likely Im just dense.

Re: An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

Well, there is one aspect of the FAL I find difficult to cope with... reinstalling the bolt on the bolt carrier! The AK's sheppard's hook is a cake walk in comparison to that FAL bolt. Every time I have to do it I find myself muttering "there is no spoon."

Re: An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

Just did this check on my Romanian. Works just like you said, thanks Rev.

I read somewhere (can't remember where) you could have your last couple of rounds be tracers and of course you would be able to tell your mag is about empty as you fired them.

Don't have any tracer as of yet so this is good info.

Re: An Easy Chamber Check On An AK-47
 

AKs are easy to assemble and reassemble for me. FALs, hard for me. I have a hard time with the barrell bushing setup on 45s too, I still cant get the hang of it. I almost put my freakin eye out with a flyaway bushing last time I cleaned my kimber.