I.O. AK47 went Kabooom

[MNMGoneShooting]

I'll give you $5 for it.

I might consider that....

[AnIndividual]

In that case, I offer $6.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[gunderwood]

In that case, I offer $6.

Psst, go big or go home. $20.

[grumpyMSG]

I won't join in the bidding war, but was wondering did they offer any explanation of what happened to the first one when it went "BOOM!" or did they just say "here is a new one, it is on us".

[MNMGoneShooting]

I won't join in the bidding war, but was wondering did they offer any explanation of what happened to the first one when it went "BOOM!" or did they just say "here is a new one, it is on us".

I got the latter. No explanation even though I requested one.

[RWBlue01]

I am guessing either...
1. You got to be the lucky person with a bad Tula round.
OR
2. Headspacing issue.

$50 for the rifle.

[MNMGoneShooting]

$50 for the rifle.

Guys, guys - you've forgotten the day and age we live in where I must mark this up 1600% to get my profit from societies fear! $850 firm!

[MNMGoneShooting]

I.O - don't do it. That company is a mess. After four months, I just got a replacement rifle.

Timeline:
Dec 28th - rifle shipped, my cost $45
Jan 15th - emailed customer support to confirm receipt, no response. FedEx shows rifle received Dec 30th

~ Jan 20th- tried calling, phone rang, no one answered. No voicemail system established with company.

Jan 20th - Feb 5th, peppered more emails out, no response until Feb 5th. Response: firearm went into repair Jan 7th / allow 4-6 weeks.

Mar 5th, inquired status again after silence, response: "we need to replace your rifle with new - please provide FFL" (took 8 weeks to determine that?!)

Mar 6th - company confirmed receipt of FFL info

Mar 6 - 30th attempted to contact company via email and phone several times, no response or answer. No gun arrival

April 1st, finally got a hold of repair. Technician I had been in contact with was "no longer there". Company had to retrace all of my information.

Apr 5th, queried company / response was it is being worked.

April 9th, phoned company, new tech said replacement rifle not available and that they could send a similarly-priced replacement.

Apr 11th, queried company / no response

April 15th, queried, received FedEx tracking

April 19, FFL has rifle, but there is no paperwork of who it's for. Took approx one hour to get a hold of someone for confirmation that its for me as a replacement
FFL transfer fee to me: $45 (knocked down to $30)

[MarcSpaz]

Wow... that sucks. Sorry man.

[MNMGoneShooting]

Replacement works damned good - thank the good Lord.
Wish it had the wood though - it's all that poly-wanna-cracker-plastic stuff.
Will have to switch that crap out.

Fired great though and was accurate as all get out. Feel a little better.

[MNMGoneShooting]

Update from my blast from the past (literally), final synopsis: no trust in the company, but this is my favorite gun in my arsenal - most likely because of the AK-47 platform.

After numerous fees for shipping, FFL, and upgrades needed to make the replacement pretty, this was a costly purchase.

Lesson learned, Sig Prices don't seem to bad now...

[Remek]

I can see why. That puppy is one sexy tool!

[JustinCase]

I was reaaal close to buying an IO at a LGS, damn glad I got the WASR instead!

JC

[chuckyzfr1]

Possibly it was built incorrectly? IE excessive headspace?? Seems like there was a massive buildup of chamber pressure - unfortunately it is probably way too damaged to check it with a go-no-go gauge setup....hopefully they'll hand-pick the replacement they send you so that you get a top-of-the-line one....

[chuckyzfr1]

PS I'd definitely give you more than $5 for it!!! I'm sure there are plenty of salvageable parts left on it!

[RWBlue01]

So I guess drunken monkeys can't build an AK like has been said before.

[Reverenddel]

Drunken AMERICANS can't... Drunken Russians? Well shhhhiiiiittttttt! That's ALL that build them! HAHAHA

I love the AK platform, granted it's heavier than the AR platform, but something about that bigger built, and rugged build makes me feel better.

[MNMGoneShooting]

The replacement rifle is spot on and one of my favorites.

They never told me why the other one failed, but knowing what I know now and how the weapon acted up to the point of destructive failure leads me to believe it was headspace.

As for the company, don't consider my love for the replacement unit equating to being a satisfied customer. The original had the wood stock and foregrips - after months of waiting, they gave me a cheaper version without the wood. I ended up buying my own replacement stock and foregrip.

I didn't buy wood... But I like!

[kelu]

Been one of the guys who slept with an AK in bed literally (the original version), I was looking to get one. Thankfully, at the gun shows you can put your hand on most of these, and it's not the same as the original thing. Way less quality. In order to keep the price low with American labor cost, something has to be sacrificed.
Sadly, I could not see myself paying more than $200 on these replicas. On the original thing, probably I would pay $500.
Oh, and I never heard any to go kaboom. Not even in army urban legends.

[safaridave]

Sadly, hearing the name IO and "kaboom" are not a surprise. Dude, that was clearly a headspace issue... think about it--- what else would 1) blow of the top cover 2) bulge out the reciever and 3) destroy the mag? Had to be the pressure of a partially uncontained round detonation. I doubt you found the correct casing afterwards... The offending casing would be mangled. The one you describe sounds like a normally ejected casing.
Of course it *could* have been the tula round. The only situation on that would be a squib on the round before the kaboom round OR a super-hot round. If its that-- then you should pick up a lottery ticket... youre on a roll for lightning strikes.