PSA AK-103:
I’m about (200) rounds in and just had something very odd happen. The bullets will no longer fit into the barrel to allow lock. It stops out about an inch out. I cleaned the barrel and the BCG and still no fit.
Any ideas on what would cause this?
That’s odd. I assume no stuck case? The base ripped off of one during ejection and the rest is still in the chamber and formed to it. Case is thin and could easily be missed when cleaning. Other than that, no idea.
Check for a barrel obstruction.
I contacted PSA Support to get their take as well.
Is the barrel loose? Never worked on an ak and don’t know it very well at all but it looks like something isn’t lining up. Is the feed port and barrel separate parts that can miss align if it isn’t torqued correctly?
I’ve seen brass casings lose a piece at the end of the neck. Looks like a little ring. When this happened to me I had one ring fall out when I was changing mags (caused FTF). And one came out when cleaning. It’s possible you could have a brass ring stuck in the chamber even after cleaning.
difficult to tell from the pic but that looks like it’s binding. @Spider1 may be on point as something looks like it’s not aligned correctly. Like him, I don’t have an AK so not sure what that could be.
I went back and double checked the barrel again. It looks like I have a case head separation problem. Now what?
Try to get it out…a wooden dowel from the muzzle end would be what I would try first to not mess up the barrel.
Just bought a Broken Shell Extractor - 7.62 - 7.62X39mm and will handle it that way. Thank you everyone for the input!
Cheap brass sh!t ammo! 
How dare it jack up my 103!
This might sound crazy but if the extractor doesn’t work get yourself a dental tool with the hooks on each end and use that. I have one in my kit and find myself using it all the time.
glad you figured it out. Good luck with it. What kind of brass? Was it a reload or something?
I didn’t even know these existed. May have to get a few, just in case
Brownells case extractor
It was new (allegedly) that I bought at my range. They do not allow any steel. I honestly don’t remember the brand, but wasn’t a national known brand.
Now make a Lamp out of it. 
Way to go……this is about as an extreme issue as anyone can have without going to a gunsmith. It was good to see that you
1 recognized the problem.
2. Understand what you needed to correct the problem
3. Was able to fix it yourself.
What happened to you is rare….now you are an expert on this issue….and the knowledge will live on in infamy…in your mind. It will probably happen to someone else before it happens to you again. You will be able to help the next person out.
Very impressive……most people don’t have the courage to resolve what you did. Most people would have taken it to a paid professional.
Excellent Job ! !
Brass was NOT ripped off the bottom of the cartridge. If you look closely at the brass on the broken shell extractor……it’s not jagged or torn……it’s cut cleanly in a circle. That is a clear indication that the rifle fired BEFORE the cartridge was completely chambered……(bolt was not completely locked). It shouldn’t have……but the evidence is there. I have seen this most often on pistol caliber ARs……but the reason they are shearing brass is that they are extracting……before the chamber pressure drops to a safe level. The back half will get extracted and the next round will only push that piece of brass further into the chamber ……making removing it more difficult. It could have been various reasons why it fired before it was completely in battery….but it only takes a fraction of an inch out of battery for this to happen.
Was the ammo factory new ?
Multiple reasons this might have happened……if it happens again…definitely get the headspace checked……it’s the easiest cheapest 1st step.
Thank you @iznthesky! 
It’s a good thing no one recommended breaking out the step bit or angle grinder.
Great find, great fix, great job!
