New to the AK, so hello all.
I have looked all over the Internet and all I can find is squabling back and forth and a bunch of CAI haters talking about how the Tantals keyhole constantly and the other side saying it's the early versions and they fixed the barrel problem. (used .223 barrels? fixed after or around 2500 serial #'s)
The deal is has anyone heard real eveidence that this is what happened or just the typical chatter. I've been searching for two days and can't find anything concrete, being that CAI sold more than 3500 of these I can't imagine no one has real information on the topic. I haven't seen a statement from CAI which is to be expected and I can't seem to find any real statements from owners either. It's basically STAY AWAY or I own one and it's fine. Most of what I have seen in the nay category is people that went out and rapid fired their new barrel into submission and blamed the rifle. (IMHO) G&G hasn't really touched the topic so.... let me have it!
I also just purchased one Ser#344X b/c no matter what they are the best looking /manufactured 5.45 guns in the east. IMHO and I could always replace the barrel. It's built to exceptional standards for a CAI and seems they put their best monkeys on the job after such a huge F up. Thanks all.
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Gun Control: A sharp eye and a steady finger
Ya done that Smart a$$. JK. my point exactly if you google "polish Tantal" you get BS. No real info just opinions that are unfounded and everyone is sayig the same bit of info meaning it all came from one person and it's been repeated over and over. I am looking for someone that talked to a smith or Century or someone who ACTUALLY knows what they're talking about b/c they actually slugged the barrel or used a micrometer to do some real figures, SOMETHING CONCRETE.
I won't be able to test fire mine for a while so....I want to know facts.
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Gun Control: A sharp eye and a steady finger
i use wolf and i will have to get the grain when i get home.... its an ak man don't worry she will be fine . i love mine .. shoots soft never hiccups and the ammo is still cheap .
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God doesn't give rights. Men have to fight for them.
These CAI Tantals have NEW U.S. barrels and supposedly they are meant for 50-60 grain bullets. the larger grain 72's I believe are what's making them keyhole. I'm not to concerned just interested really if the rumors are true or if it was just started by some CAI haters.
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Gun Control: A sharp eye and a steady finger
just bought a tantal at a show yesterday. I am going to be very diligent in cleaning this gun and breaking in the barrel, I will report back once I take it to the range. The one thing I can say is that this gun is a beauty, IMO at least.
Great.
Make this the ..I forget how many websites and forums I have been too today because i am the one that googled "Polish Tantal" and "Tantal AK74" and Century added to the other too.
The diffrence between Enscribe and me is that he bought his and I walked out of the gun shop 4 hours ago empty handed. I tried to see if I could tell if the dam thing had a Polish barrel...I could not tell.
$650.00 out the door. 2 left. I am going freakin nuts.
Store up the street has a Bulg. SSR85 1.6 stamped and a Bulg. barrel...But is not a Tantal and it is not $750.00.
Why in Hell can't Poland leave the barrel on the Tantal to be shipped into this country?
I'm done ranting...
If the gun was assembled by CAI it does not have a Chrome barrel. I still haven't shot mine, but I have an interesting peice to the puzle that makes my above statement unclear. I have read numerous things about how others have slugged the barrel and it swallowed the case mouth all the way to the neck of the casing. I however have performed this and have a very positive reading that my barrel is in fact the correct diameter. I am also no expert but I believe I may have a chrome lined barrel. I have been told the way to tell is if you have a different color metal coming out of the crown expanding out and fading before the end of the crown of the barrel. I have this.
I don't know what's going on with these but they have come back to the market. J&G has a new batch as well as Classic arms.
My newest theory is that they(CAI) sporadically released Tantals built with the original chrome lined barrels from a small amount of the build kits they obtained and supplemented the rest with Green Mountain U.S. barrels, that were meant to be chrome lined but Century changed their mind about doing it. OR They had so many returns with their first release that they had a run of their G. Mtn. U.S. barrels chrome lined, installed them and, when those ran out they resumed installing the previous G.Mtn. U.S. barrels. My theory is all speculation from my experience and peices of the hundreds of stories I've read. Whatever the real story is, it's denied by Century themselves as they claim the problem was fixed and if it still exists for you it's b/c of heavy grain ammo(above 60gr.).
If you are willing to risk it, the best method of checking a CAI tantal before you buy besides the canted sights and general quality of the build is as follows: bring a 5.45 round, a micrometer, and a cleaning rod with you to the shop(generally you would have to pull it from the casing or inform your store of your intentions before hand so that they can pull it, they may have a mircometer as well): Remove the muzzle break (remeber LH twist) and insert the 5.45 bullet into the barrel. if it doesn't go all the way down to the chamber you may be in luck, next take the cleaning rod and CAREFULLY push bullet through the barrel and out into the chamber: Next measure the bullet with the micrometer and see if it is in range for a 5.45 barrel. This is called "slugging the barrel."
If you cannot get a micrometer just bring a pulled bullet to the store and insert it into the muzzle, if it doesn't sink then you may be good. (I don't have acces to a micrometer so all I have done is insert the bullet into my chamber)
This is only advise and must assume the risk of your purchases on your own. Good Luck.
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Gun Control: A sharp eye and a steady finger
Enscribe,
Thanks for the info.
Atlantic arms has the Interarms Polish Tantal and claims "a original military chrome lined barrel & flash hider".
In another Tantal they have they said..."Please note these are not the Junky Century Arms builds".
I still have no idea what to do and tomorrow i am going to look at that Bulg. SSR85.
It is $100.00 more, but atleast I know everything about the gun. Waiting solves nothing as my gun stores keep telling me they have no idea when imports will just stop or get to the point where we are paying $1,000.00 for a Rommy.
The store I visited today that had the 2 Tantals had 8 Olympic AR's. They are selling the AK's faster than they can stock them.
Atlantic are top notch. They are indeed O.G. barrels.
Do whatever you're comfortable with. I would go for the tantal myself. If you do what I suggest or get the store to let you test fire it and take it back if it keyholes, you would be pretty safe. JMO
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Gun Control: A sharp eye and a steady finger
I agree, but I am also the gun owner that likes to support the local stores.
I thought of the idea of returning the gun if it keyholed.
Tomorrow is another day. Unless some other Goggle searching idiot like myself went down and bought both those guns they will be there tomorrow.
Took my century tantal to the range yesterday and fired about 20 rounds before thoroughly cleaning the barrel and then fired another 40 rounds. Not a single keyhole or misfire and the groups were quite impressive. I like the tantal just fine.
From what I read, guys were having problems when heating up the barrel or roughly putting 3 mags through the gun as fast as they can.
I am Very happy to hear you like yours.
I am still undecided. Tantal or SSR85
From what I read, guys were having problems when heating up the barrel or roughly putting 3 mags through the gun as fast as they can.
I am Very happy to hear you like yours.
I am still undecided. Tantal or SSR85
I hear you. I was concerned about this so I decided to try and break the barrel in a little slower. I am going to take it to the range again this weekend and put another couple hundred rounds through it followed by a thorough cleaning. I am usually focused on accuracy when at the range so I rarely "spray and pray" but I will give it a try next time to see if there are any keyholes. I will keep you guys updated.
I hear you. I was concerned about this so I decided to try and break the barrel in a little slower. I am going to take it to the range again this weekend and put another couple hundred rounds through it followed by a thorough cleaning. I am usually focused on accuracy when at the range so I rarely "spray and pray" but I will give it a try next time to see if there are any keyholes. I will keep you guys updated.
Good job breaking it in. It's just like a new car, your not supposed to just wail on it right out the box. Have you tried taking off the break and inserting a round as pictured?
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Gun Control: A sharp eye and a steady finger
1911's Rock! 
If the gun was assembled by CAI it does not have a Chrome barrel. I still haven't shot mine, but I have an interesting peice to the puzle that makes my above statement unclear. I have read numerous things about how others have slugged the barrel and it swallowed the case mouth all the way to the neck of the casing. I however have performed this and have a very positive reading that my barrel is in fact the correct diameter. I am also no expert but I believe I may have a chrome lined barrel. I have been told the way to tell is if you have a different color metal coming out of the crown expanding out and fading before the end of the crown of the barrel. I have this. 
