Is this reciever twisted?

I bought this Tantal in January, and have put somewhere around 750-800 rds through it with no problems, accuracy isn't bad, and I haven't had any keyhole problems (it is a century). I've always noticed how the whole gun seemed to have an odd twist to it, and I didn't know if it was normal, or if this was just the fine work of Century Arms. I tried to get a good pic, but it didn't work too well, here it is http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/Sadgeon/CIMG0584.jpg

It's like the back of the receiver was torqued counterclockwise or something. But like I said, I have had no problems, just wondering if this is normal.

Sure looks twisted to me but, then again, the rifle could be set up better across the books that it's resting upon in the photo (straight across and not diagonally aligned, for example)...

In my experience, twisted receivers are very common for some manufacturers and quite uncommon for others.

For example, most all of the Ewbanks receivers that I've seen have been 'twisted' to some extent.

On the other hand, it's very rare to see a NoDak Spud receiver that's twisted. I've used several of the NDS-2T receivers for Tantals, and they've all been nice and square. And I've never seen a NDS-2 that's been twisted (and many have built Tantals on the standard 5.45mm receivers).

Having said all this, there's no reason that a rifle built on a somewhat twisted receiver won't still work all right. But, having said that, I really don't like twisted receivers and would not build on one for myself. I'd only build on one if the person that I was building for insisted on using a (their) twisted receiver.

One reason why I use NDS receivers is because of all this...

Of course, if you wrongly apply enough force to any receiver, you certainly can 'twist' it. And Century does have a reputation, you know...

Forrest

Any receiver can be tweaked/twisted by uneven installation or forcicing rivet fit. As soon as they are pressed the receiver will twist/move. Not uncommon. Depending on where and the severity it may or may not impact the rail alignment and bolt & carier movement. It always looks bad though. Yours looks tweaked but not for sure by one pic.

It is sort of a hard thing to capture in a picture.

Everything works smoothly, so it's obviously not twisted real bad, but tweaked a little like you said. I've held a few other AKs that seemed a little twisted also, so I figured it was not a big issue. The only "problem" it has is it seems to shoot slightly left, but that's not exactly a "problem".

Using a pair of bubble levels will quickly reveal a twist.

Definitely twisted and dangerous to shoot! Send it to me for proper disposal.

I don't understand how it can be dangerous to shoot it if I have put so much ammo through it without a single problem. From all your guys experience, what do you think I should do? Sell it? I thought maybe I could do a trade in for something else, I would want it to be a '74 though.

Keep it....Twisted is just a matter of perspective when it functions properly....The only danger I can see is letting it go because of a minor flaw.

Now go put it back together and shoot that bitch some more.

You can demil the rivets and relieve the receiver to trunnion fit that is tweaking the receiver.., then reset the rivets so the receoiver is straight. BTDT.

AKBLUE, I don't have the equipment to do something like that, but if I really felt like making this gun perfectly aligned, could I take it to a gun smith? How much would something like that cost?

(I understand that it's really not entirely necessary though.)

Look at it this way, you have the other end of the spectrum, a rifle that looks bent yet it functions great. Try to relate to the guys that have rifles that look straight and don't work correctly. :mad:

As mentioned I also had a experience with a Ewbanks receiver rifle and mistakenly tried to straighten it, what a mistake, from there on the rifle would not cycle properly and bind :mad: .

So if you can't live with a bent rifle that works properly then trade it, hopefully you get a straight rifle that does work correctly, good luck.

Looking at the picture you posted it looks like the problem if any is in the front sight post alignment with everything else. Maybe is just a canted front sight post. :wink_smal

Straigtening the receiver will not affect the cycling at all if done properly. No reason a straight receiver malfunctiions unless there are other issues at work. If you cannot do the work yourself then economically it will be expensive to have a smith do it IMHO. The time to demil and re-rivet will be costly. Guessing $150 and up. If it functions OK then just shoot it. Or sell it and move on to another rifle. You know what to look for now.

Okay. Thanks guys. That pic kind of sucks, if you are holding the rifle it is a lot easier to see, and it looks like a slightly counterclockwise twist right behind the handguards to the back of the receiver. The sights aren't bad, but when you line them up and you can see that the back of the receiver is setting a bit low and to the left. But this just adds some character! Right?

The reciever is straight,the rest of the world is twisted...

There's no such thing as a 100% straight receiver. It's sheet metal and as far as I can see it's well within spec. I'm saying this based on the number of factory rifles that I've seen, they all have a slight deformation to a certain degree.

I am inclined to agree with this, or at least agree that some twist is common to the 1mm receiver.

Properly drilled rivet holes and careful setting of the rivets will minimize if not prevent receiver warping during assembly.

There's no such thing as a 100% straight receiver. It's sheet metal and as far as I can see it's well within spec. I'm saying this based on the number of factory rifles that I've seen, they all have a slight deformation to a certain degree.

Any receiver can be tweaked/twisted by uneven installation or forcicing rivet fit. As soon as they are pressed the receiver will twist/move. Not uncommon. Depending on where and the severity it may or may not impact the rail alignment and bolt & carier movement. It always looks bad though. Yours looks tweaked but not for sure by one pic.


BINGO!

OF Course its twisted! Its an "A" "K" !!! :D

Dude it is ment to look and feel like it was made in a cave. Also I have seen some Ohio receivers twisted worse out of the box and I have never built on one my friends have and they have several thousand rounds. As said shoot that bitch and be happy its a AK!