1959 polish rpd range report

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by sharky47

Pirate - what size of gas piston do you use in your builds? I fabricated a new one with a diameter of .710 for my first build and it has run on position 1 since day 1.

we use the existing pistons, once the guns are working they can be cut back to 2 or possibly 1, it depends on the gun.

[kevin917z]

well im still running on 3 after about 300 rds now. Gun is working much better but now the problem is light primer strikes. I shot about 150 rds today and had about 1 in 10 with light strikes. This is better than not feeding like i had at first though. I can just pull back the charging handle and keep going. Any advice? Ive been keeping this thing imaculately clean hoping it would help. I think part of the reason its working better was that the gas regulator was full of crap and grease/cosmoline?

[guns r us]

Kevin
I had the same problem as you I also cleaned mine and the gas regulator but it was clean. I also found my hand guards where too tight part off the charging handle was rubbing on the wood slowing the action down after doing this it still would not feed so I pulled the belt thru while fireing and after 15rds it started feeding on its own. My first RPD came with the gas regulator set on 2 and it ran perfect from day one. After 200 rds I will try my 2nd RPD on #2

[serialnumber00078]

+1 On the handguards, you have to watch the tightness on those.

[kevin917z]

i didnt realize that affected anything, i took them off my gun before this last shooting session to detail clean the whole gun. Maybe thats why its working now except the 1 in 10 or so lite primer strikes?

[Pirate]

the handguards on these are the biggest pita, some take over an hour to get to fit right, if they are binding the carrier or charging handle it wil affect the function of the gun.