If I took off the machinery cover off my AK-47 rifle and I was to insert a loaded 30 round clip in the magazine well. And I was to pull back the charging handle, aim at the target, and then pull the trigger. Will it be a safe thing to do? Or will I get hurt?
Somehow, the idea of firing my AK with the cover off doesn't appeal to me. The slamming bolt, flying brass, blasting gases and lubricants.. bably not a good idea with your face/eyes down there in all that. It is entirely possible for tiny slivers of metal and/or lubricant from springs, brass, bolts, gas rods, etc to fly out and easily go in an eye. Why tempt the fates? Only fire the AK with the cover in place.
You mean the receiver cover? I don't know about that. Something tells me no.
Actually yes. The only purpose it serves it has is to keep dust out. Plus maybe some help with the aesthetics.
It's perfectly safe. The only thing the receiver cover does on an AK is keep debris out of the action. You might get a tad bit of extra gas up towards you rather than all diverted out the ejection port but nothing special. I've never pulled the trigger on one so un-encumbered myself but I've watched it done in a test. With sand poured into the action on a good AK it will still cycle and blow most of the sand out, not that I would do that to a rifle I owned. The only question is why would you want to?
Yes it will function fine without the receiver cover...however DO NOT engage the safety lever with the cover off because if you have a round in the chamber it will fire!!!!!!!!!!! The receiver cover is meant to protect you from gases and ejecting cases, etc...also its meant to keep dirt and whatever from getting into your receiver, not that any dirt getting in there will seriously affect your AK. Its best not to leave the cover off, but you can fire the weapon without the cover if you needed to for some reason. The most important thing to remember is to never engage the safety with the cover off, because engaging the safety without the top cover will release the disconnector and hammer and the rifle will fire.
