WK 180 Charging Slot - Is it really that big a deal?

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lmar

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Not wanting to start an argument but I am curious................

Given that the venerable AK-47 has a prominent slot in the upper dust cover to facilitate the charging handle and is known as one of the most robust designs in the world......

What is the big deal about having two slots in the WK 180?

Is it really a design feature that promotes stoppages or is it the perceived idea that it might?

I remember talking to a structural engineer when commisioning a plant. I had noticed a steel beam had 2 mounting bolts while all the other ones had 4. It looked out of place.
When I asked him why there wasn't 4 mounting bolts his amused reply was that it only required a single bolt to meet structrural requirements -- but he had added another one because people kept freaking out that there was only one bolt.
Asked if this was standard practice -- he replied that it was for those structural connections that were visible to the public.

Is it really that big a deal?

L
 
lmar said:
...
Given that the venerable AK-47 has a prominent slot in the upper dust cover to facilitate the charging handle and is known as one of the most robust designs in the world......
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There are far more knowledgeable people than I out there on this, but what comes to mind is that (at least) 2 factors exist: (1) points of entry for dirt; and (2) looseness of "tolerances" inside the rifle. ... :yingyang:
 
For a rifle that you're not fighting with, who cares? If your life depended on it, refer to forgotten weapons youtube channel and see what the ar15 vs. Ak47 mud test results were. Ingress of pasty muck is bad. In 99% of all scenarios, there is a negligible difference between the philosophies
 
Jube said:
For a rifle that you're not fighting with, who cares? If your life depended on it, refer to forgotten weapons youtube channel and see what the ar15 vs. Ak47 mud test results were. Ingress of pasty muck is bad. In 99% of all scenarios, there is a negligible difference between the philosophies
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It's InRange, IIRC... :yingyang:
 
I will let the "armchair experts" debate this one but let me add one point that I think has been somewhat overlooked by many.

The bolt in the WK180-C rides on two guide rods that have the two operating springs round them. This allows for a much grater clearance between the bolt carrier and the receiver, I think this feature alone improves reliability and in theory would allow the rifle to better cope with debris in the action, but keeping the action as clean as possible is always the first choice. Also remember that very few us lubricate adequately and the worse the conditions the more important the lubrication.

I have a lot of confidence in what these rifles will endure, I have never announced the abuse I have put one of these rifles through as nobody would believe me. :)
 
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I have now put about 300 rounds through mine.
I have not noticed large quantities of dirt, sand, mud or rocks magically sucking into the receiver lol

Unless you're going to be leopard crawling through bog in the backwoods of Northern Ontario or re-enacting scenes from Platoon, this should be the literal least of anyone's concerns.
Rifle reliability from rifle to rifle and being able to use functional AR15 pattern magazines though......
More to follow on that from this user anyhow.
 
The ability to easily switch the side of the charging handle far outweighs any perceived detriment of the extra gap in the receiver.
If it really concerns a prospective buyer, there appears to be a work around with guys making some M-loc panels fit in the slot and one looks to be in the process of R&D'ing an aluminum cover.
 
lmar said:
Given that the venerable AK-47 has a prominent slot in the upper dust cover to facilitate the charging handle and is known as one of the most robust designs in the world......
Click to expand...

That slot is a big issue with AK family. Thing is when chit can rain down you keep it all the way down on "ОД" (semi). The only safety is in your head and nobody tells you "don't touch trigger guard with your finger". And when all kind of other chit gets in the slot you just pray to gods of "loose tolerances".
 
Mr Wolverine said:
The bolt in the WK180-C rides on two guide rods that have the two operating springs round them. This allows for a much grater clearance between the bolt carrier and the receiver, I think this feature alone improves reliability and in theory would allow the rifle to better cope with debris in the action, but keeping the action as clean as possible is always the first choice. Also remember that very few us lubricate adequately and the worse the conditions the more important the lubrication.

I have a lot of confidence in what these rifles will endure, I have never announced the abuse I have put one of these rifles through as nobody would believe me. :)
Click to expand...

I don't think people are very worried about dirt getting into the piston system but more about it either getting into a) The trigger mechanism and seizing it or b) the locking lugs of the bolt. I haven't handled a 180c yet to see how exposed the trigger is, but from watching InRange TV, modern firearms almost always failed the mudtest the moment anything got into the barrel extension. The AR15/M16 designs were robust even with the dust cover down simply due to tight tolerances and the barrel extension/bolt being protected deep inside the receiver
 
I don’t understand what the big deal is with the slots. When I take my WK coyote hunting I hang it on my shoulder. I don’t drag it behind me with a rope.
 
Gorilla tape, as mentioned. I patched a grain bin with the stuff 5 years ago and it's still fine. 5 years of vicious Saskatchewan weather. It will fix your nit.
 
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