How can you tell if an AK is grossly overgassed?

[black22rifle]

I recently took an AK I purchased last year to the range and I think the rifle is grossly over gassed. It's a DDR ak47 I purchased from Atlantic firearms and I was shooting Wolf military classic 123gr FMJ. It was spitting out cases 1-2 o'clock and the rifle felt like it was jarring everytime it went off. It was unpleasant to say the least and since I'm used to shooting ar 15s I was not happy considering I waited almost a year to shoot it.

My first guess was that the recoil spring was probably just old and needs to be replaced. How hard would it be to check the gas port size on it? Are the gas blocks pressed on?

[mack7.62]

Ak's do not shoot and do not work like AR's, expect robust ejection and more recoil. Gas port size is not near as critical as excess gas is vented through gas tube holes. Bottom line is you are shooting a more powerful round through a less refined design made to function under adverse conditions, it will not shoot/feel like an AR but is fun in a whole other way. I suggest you put a lot more rounds downrange it likely will grow on you.

[MegademiC]

A lot of AKs are over gassed but it won’t really do much. I’d replace the action soring and see if it changes anything, outside of that I’d forget about it. It could just be the recoil as Mack said.

I’m shocked you could narrow ejection down to that narrow a space- mine ejects from 12-6oclock.

The gas block is pressed and pinned.

[black22rifle]

Yeah, the ejection was pretty consistent but I'm going to go ahead and order a replacement action spring and see what happens.

[dwhitehorne]

I would get a stronger recoil spring and maybe try a muzzle break. I was amazed in the change in felt recoil when I added a break. David

[citizensoldier16]

A lot of AKs are over gassed but it won’t really do much. I’d replace the action soring and see if it changes anything, outside of that I’d forget about it. It could just be the recoil as Mack said.

I’m shocked you could narrow ejection down to that narrow a space- mine ejects from 12-6oclock.

The gas block is pressed and pinned.

Mine does as well, and ejection distances vary from 2 feet to about 12 feet away. The AK isn’t going to make nice little piles of brass. To the Russians, as long as the casing is ejected and the rifle keeps running, it’s fine.

[amd5007]

Is it an AK? Then, yes. It's over gassed! Hah.

But seriously, every factory AK by design is over gassed to a certain degree. Some more than others. If however it's a custom build than it's possible to adjust the gas port to your requirements. I built a clone 74URD that I tuned to be perfectly gassed. It recoils like a 22 but the muzzle flash can be a doozy. It won't function with lower quality ammo, however with 7N6 it's a sweet shooter, and accurate I might add.

[Bret]

A lot of AKs are over gassed but it won’t really do much.

Is it an AK? Then, yes. It's over gassed! Hah.

Yes, most all AK's are overgassed.

If however it's a custom build than it's possible to adjust the gas port to your requirements.

Exactly. When I chopped the barrel of my SLR-107UR (7.62x39 krink), I had to open up the gas port due to the shorter barrel. I opened it up to well under the factory specification and the rifle still throws the spent cases plenty far. The downside to doing this sort of thing when building a AK is that it takes a great deal of work to fix if you don't make the gas port hole big enough.

[SteyrAUG]

The solution to AK recoil is to spend more time shooting FALs, HK91s and M1As. I always thought the AK was pretty tame to shoot.

[5.56 Bonded SP]

Dang I typed out a long response and my internet went out..
But let's narrow this down.

Are you new to AKs?
What other types of AKs do you own or have experience with?