Rumor is that they are .223 barrels and don't employ the proper grove/twist rate (not all of them at least), which the 5.45 is .2236 cal./5.68mm, the 5.56mm is actually 5.69mm. Which, the size difference in bore should be close enough to work but not taken into consideration is the construction of the US and Russian/WARSAW ammo. Lead core US/NATO ammo will fill rifling better than the non-lead-lined bi-metal/steel core (depending on which bullet, 7N6 is hardened steel core) of Russian ammo.
Twist rate/groove should be; 4 groove 1:8 (1:200mm which is 1:79 specifically) the Century's come in 1:7 and 1:9 with 6 grooves and rumor has it they do offer a 1:8 with 4 grooves.
I honestly think, after doing too much reading up on this 'issue', that you can in fact find a load that will work for either but it would be better to have a 1:8-4 groove barrel and shoot 7N6 till the cows come home. Problem is probably that the 5.45x39 is a pretty unstable bullet to begin with so the minor change in diameter of the bore and trying to use NATO twist rates and grooves is not going to work. Seems people with the 1:8 Tantals don't have issues with key-holing.
In any event, anyone considering buying one of these should be aware of issues, just as they should research for issues before buying any rifle and make an assessment of whether or not you want to take the chance on it.
FWIW - supposedly the SN's that 'fixed' this problem start with Y-XXXXXX, the problem children are in the TTL-XXXXX range (supposedly).
Hey Sprout. It sounds like Century bought a bunch of factory second/rejected barrels for next to nothing and slapped them onto the receivers/actions just to make a few bucks. RAT BASTADS!!!
__________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms" - Thomas Jefferson
I called century arms about the problem they supposedly had with putting the wrong barrels on their Aks. They said it wasn't that. I was the twist of the barrel and people using the wrong ammo. The said the twists are 1 in 7, 1 in 8, and 1 in 9. The key marks are from using the wrong ammo. Or that's what the guy at century told me.
Might you have a link, if they still have them listed, to the exact item you're talking about? I'd really appreciate it.
__________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms" - Thomas Jefferson
Hey Sprout. It sounds like Century bought a bunch of factory second/rejected barrels for next to nothing and slapped them onto the receivers/actions just to make a few bucks. RAT BASTADS!!!
Either that or they were using their Golani Sporter barrels.
__________________ When I can't think of anything original to post I think to myself, 'what would Sprout say?' -PSLMAN
In a catastrophic SHTF collapse I tend to think that hunting would be illegal. Control would be the order of the day under the Martial law that would almost certainly be inacted. ANY food source would quickly become the property of the government, much like England used to do in the days of kings and serfs. Those in power would simply crack the whip harder to remain in power.
Sorry for the off topic ramble.
Oooooh I don't think they'd be able to stop Alabamians. There are too many of us with lots of land that is INFESTED with white tail. We'd just have to use bow and arrow to keep from getting caught as much.
But seriously, I wasn't thinking it would be martial law type situation,(not out of the question, just not what I thought was most likely) more like a depression. Hunting is one of the things that helped the south during the Great Depression. So, I was counting on it, hence the bulk, legal ammo.
__________________
Get the largest caliber you can fire accurately, rapidly, in the largest gun useful for the purpose.
