Shooting the Hakim

[cavetech]

Egyptian Hakim Rifle

My Hakim is one interesting rifle. In says Made In Egypt and there seems to be a serial number in English. Everything else is in some Arabic language. I haven’t a clue what it says.

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/receiver1lr.jpg

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/receiver2lr.jpg

It sat in the back of a safe for some 20 years. You’ve heard this story from me before and here is another gun I just bought and wasn’t interested in it.

I ignored it because I didn’t know how to operate it, load it, field strip it or even what ammo it fired. Besides I thought it was ugly. It just wasn’t a US Garand and I was a snob.

So I made up my mind to learn something about it and go shoot the thing. I discovered a website that gave me step-by-step directions on how to strip it down and that was the key to my being able to shoot it since it would have to be cleaned. So I downloaded the tutorial onto my laptop for reference at the range. Here is the detailed stuff on the Hakim LINK (http://www.surplusrifle.com/hakim/index.asp).

I learned in my research that this semi-automatic rifle was quite something in it’s day. Made around the early 1950’s. It certainly is in good condition. Even better, it fires the 8x57 (8MM) Mauser cartridge and I sure have a lot of that on hand. What luck!

So I headed to the range with all my usual shooting gear. When I got there the rifle range was closed because there was a black powder rifle match using it. The only option if I wanted to shoot was the 25 yard pistol range, so I set up there. I was a little bit self conscious setting up a military rifle, spotting scope and bench rest for a whopping 25 yard shoot. But, I was there to learn about my rifle so the distance didn’t matter.

The receiver on this rifle has a bolt which in turn has a dust cover. There is something similar to a d-ring on the right side of all this bolt assembly dust cover stuff that seemed to be made for grabbing and operating the bolt and cover. Remember I found directions to field strip it. I didn’t know how to shoot it. Yet.

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/onbench1lr.jpg

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/onbench2lr.jpg

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/onbench3lr.jpg

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/onbench4lr.jpg

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/rearsightlr.jpg

I pulled back on the d-ring and the bolt/cover assembly opened and locked back. So far so good. So I placed one 8MM round down into the magazine. I’m glad nobody was around to look at me because they would have fallen on the ground laughing. I couldn’t close the bolt! I tried everything except jumping up and down on it. Through trial and error I learned that if I grabbed the d-ring and pushed forward it moved about 3/4”. Then I had to pull all the way back on the dust cover d-ring and the bolt slammed forward into battery and the dust cover stayed all the way to the rear where it belonged. It shot real nice! Crisp trigger pull and clear sights. Recoil was mild compared to a bolt action 8MM rifle. Also, the Hakim is a large heavy rifle.

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/receivclosed1lr.jpg

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/receivopen1lr.jpg



Now I was a Hakim, Pro. Pull the d-ring back and lock open the bolt. Load ten rounds down into the magazine. Push the d-ring forward slightly and then pull it all the way back. Slam, bolt closed, round chambered, kill enemy targets. This is cool.

It ejects spent brass about 12’ forward and about 15’ to the right. You’ve really got to go chase that brass to pick it up and inspect it for potential problems. The brass does tend to get beat up when it is ejected.

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/hakim25targetlr.jpg
25 yart targets

http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/ejectbrass1lr.jpg
Ejected brass

Is that a mean looking muzzle brake or what?
http://pics.ramanon.com/albums/userpics/10022/muzzbreaklr.jpg

I fired ninety-five rounds and got very comfortable with the Hakim. No bruised shoulder even though I wore a t-shirt. Tight groups. Nice trigger pull. This rifle is definitely a winner. I am not a Hakim snob anymore. I’m a Hakim enthusiast. I’ll be shooting this one a lot.

Picture this. Big mil-surp rifle, spotting scope, ammo cans, bench rest (wouldn’t fit on the narrow bench), laptop computer, cleaning equipment, empties all over………….on a 25 yard range. Priceless!

Thanks for looking.

[k98k792]

Pics don't seem to be working. Maybe you might try another hosting site?

[omerta123]

your right in english, it says error :)

[nevada]

Whoa, dude. Totally awesome pics. Like, I could see everything in my mind, man. Right arm , out of state and farm out. I'm up too late.

[amd65]

I understand the Hakim action can be dangerous to your fingers...be careful!

[nijwnfi]

Sorry I can't remember the distance, but 15' sounds like too far for shell to eject. You may want to turn the gas back some, too much gas pressure can break ejectors on these.

[amd65]

There is a hakim forum on surplusrifles, and also an egyptian firearms board on gunboards. Between those two, you should be able to find out everything you need.
The Hakim is an awsome rifle. I regret that I didn't buy one when they were cheap.

[turbothis]

i love mine! mine does not bend the shell casing like yours. you might try cranking it down a notch.

[nalioth]

Is there any way to get the pix fixed? All i see is little white boxes with "unauthorized referrer" in them.

[Rampager]

I really like my Hakims. They are great shooters. But like was mentioned, just keep your fingers out of the action cause it will bite you :icon_eek: . I found that out the hard way myself on my first Hakim before I fully understood how it worked.

Also you can "decode" the Arab numbers on the side of the receiver which represent the year it was made simply by comparing each arab number to the numbers on the rear sight (1-10). I have a 1957, '58 and '64.

Here is a pic of my Hakim I refinished BTW:

[cavetech]

I'm very sorry the pics didn't work.

I'll fix it as soon as I can.

[cavetech]

I re-did the pictures.

I hope they came out OK this time.

[rep30cal]

You have struck up an interest in that rifles action, now I am going to have
to read up about it. It sure does seem to be a finger masher since all you
need to do is bump the lever backwards a second time to let her rip.
I know a guy that had three of them for sale about ten years ago, they
were just as nice as yours. He also had a couple Schmidt-Rubins, wish I'd
have bought one of each now.

[Rampager]

cavetech...your hakim says it was made in 1958 (arabic). The trick on not getting your fingers bit is to put the safety on after the last shot holds the bolt open, that way when you pull the bolt/cover back it won't fly forward.

Also, you can use the cheap and easy to find yugo 8mm strippers too by grinding off 2 of the 3 bumps on the sides of them....that's what I use with my Hakims.

[M1 Tanker]

Thats one nice looking Hakim and it looks like a shooter!

[97th Signalman]

That is a great looking Hakim. I will be anxious to hear how you do when you can get off the pistol range and take her out to 100 yards or better. As you probably know, the design is derived from the original Swedish Ljungman AG42B that was the Swedes first officially adopted semi-auto battlerifle. They also had a reputation as a guillotine for fingers so be cautious. You can also gain valuable insights on your rifle by researching the AG42B.

The original direct gas impingment design (Stoner didn't invent it) of this rifle was intended for the Swedish 6.5 x 55 cartridge that operates at the relatively low chamber pressure of 41,000 psi so the higher pressure 7.92 x 57 is a bit harsh for it. As others advised, set you gas pressure limiting adjsutment only as high as needed for reliable cycling.

Thanks for the great photos.

[SteelCore]

looks great, looks like a good shooter, too!

I looked at a few, but now they're pricey/tough to find.

In the past few years, I've been buying milsurps based on ammo availability. I'll buy the rifle, then spend that much or more on ammo!

[cetme]

there getting silly prices at the local gunshows for hakims. If I find a resonable priced one I'll scoop it up.