[kis2]

so i just bought a new yugo version of the sks. is there something i need to know before i pop off any rounds? any cleaning methods you guys can reccomend. i know the bore isnt chromed, will the old rag on a string trick work well enough? tell me what you think

thanks
kis2

[foghornl]

Is it coated in Cosmoline? {That sort-of petroleum-based sticky gooey stuff}. Mineral Spirits is a good friend here.

Make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that all of the goo is out of the firing pin channel. SKS firing pins are free-floated, that is no FP spring. You should be able to tilt the bolt, and have the firing pin move on its own. Otherwise, "Slam Fires" WILL happen...you will have a full-auto SKS, with no way to stop until the mag is empty.
Never mind HOW I know, I just know... :evil:


www.surplusrifle.com

has a great deal of info on the SKS, as well as MOST other Mil-Surp guns. They havbe a couple of downloadable videos on disassembly/reassembly of the SKS, as well as cleaning. Scroll down the left side of the home page untill you get to the SKS Carbine link.

[MudPuppy]

Clean the gas piston and tube thoroughly or you'll have a bolt action. :)

Boiling water is good. Cosmo is part grease, part wax as i understand it--just petro based solvents won't get it done. Need some heat.

Heck, if you got an old car put it in that since its summer time (need to get a couple of old Yugo AK parts kits in the sun and save myself some work!).

[Firehand]

Check surplusrifle.com links for full cleaning before you take it to the range; you've GOT to get all the old cosmoline out and properly lube it first.

As to cleaning after you shoot, if using non-corrosive ammo it's no different from any other; use a good CLP. If using corrosive-primed ammo or if you're unsure, you'll need to use something that includes water to flush the barrel & gas tube/piston. I've been using a mix of Ballistol and water, and it works very well.

Patch on a string will work; I prefer a rod. And if you clean from the muzzle, be sure to use a guide to keep from dinging the crown.

[kis2]

ok, so i look down the barrel, it looks clean, i can see some grooves, so is that good to go? i cant get the little weight on the end of the string to go down. that surplus rifle site dissassembly, if i do that, i should be good to go right? and what should i use to lube, gun oil? and forgive me for not knowing, but whats a firing pin?

thanks a lot for the suggestion so far, incredibly helpful.

[KINGMAX]

Hope you will be able to find ammo to feed this new SKS. I have about 1750 rounds put up for when the 'SHTF'. :what: (would like to get about 2000 more rounds before I shoot any for practice). On a trip to the range, I alone can burn-up a thousand rounds in two days, no problem, & when you break out the AK's, everyone wants to shoot them. That is when I break out the five round magazines. I don't care if you give them, (your buddies), five or fifty rounds, they will shoot every round they can. :fire: (Note: they will never show up w/ their own ammo). :cuss: :banghead: :mad:

I have three AK's and a SKS to feed - I need ammo - When will the shortage be over ??? :eek:

I currently have a guy building me a custom AR15 type chambered in 5.56. It will probably take somewhere about 30 - 45 days until I get it. My idea was to have something other than stuff chambered in 7.62 x 39 as a back-up just in case. I can't wait - I am getting a deal - He is building it for me at just cost. :) :) :) :) :) :)

[coat4gun]

Check out the stuff on these sites... and I would not close the bolt on a live round unless at a range with the barrel pointed at the target.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/cleaning/hs.asp
http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/operations.asp
http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/boltdisassemble/

[Limeyfellow]

As long as you give it a really good clean and get all the gunk out of the firing pin canal you should be set to go. If you have trouble with the rifle cycling check the gas tube and valve to make sure its cleaned properly and sometimes you might need to buy a new valve, but with any luck at all you be just fine.

Avoid 7.62x39 rounds from US domestic companies with soft boxer primers though. The SKS doesn't like that without a return spring, though you can get the firing pin modified to accept one. Its alot cheaper to buy the russian stuff being imported into the US.

[Smokey Joe]

Kis2--The firing pin--on any gun--communicates the energy of the mainspring to the primer of the cartridge, and thus causes the primer to detonate and the cartridge to be fired.

On some revolvers, the firing pin is an obvious projection on the front of the hammer. In the SKS it's not very obvious. It's a little pin found in a channel down the middle of the bolt. When firing normally, the hammer hits the back of the firing pin, and the pin goes forward and hits the cartridge primer and the SKS goes Bang. Once. Then it automatically reloads, and cocks its hammer (yes it has one, but it's internal, not obvious like a revolver) and is ready for you to pull the trigger again.

The problem in the SKS is, that if the firing pin channel is crudded up with cosmoline from storage, the firing pin is not free to move back and forth, and when the bolt slams shut on round #2, the firing pin still sticks out the front end, contacting the primer. If it contacts the primer hard enough, you get a second Bang, and the SKS cycles itself again, and you get a third Bang, and so on until either the SKS jams or empties its magazine.

It's a surprising thing when it happens. It's not dangerous if you're aware of the possiblilty and ready for it--just DON'T DROP THE WEAPON until it is done with its foolishness. Happened to me, once; kept the weapon pointed downrange, and no big deal.

I'd send you to surplusrifle.com, but coat4gun already did. Their info is really good. For retro goodies for the SKS, almost everything you could want is available from DC Engineering, www.rifletech.com in Detroit, MI. Good people, straight shooters, liberal with good advice if you call them on your nickel.

[Retro]

My Yugo SKS slamfires a lot... it turned out to be the firing-pin... it always jams after 50 rds or so... I disassembled it and found a whole bunch of copper scrappings lodged in the firing pin housing. I cleaned them out, and after 100 rds or so later, the same thing happened with new copper bits and pieces jamming the firing pin. I never figured out what caused it... so I sold my gun to my buddy for $120. I used Wolf FMJ only...

Anyone had similar problems like mine with the SKS firing pin? Forgot to mention that same things happened to my WASR-10 AK... Very mysterious.

[silliman89]

My Yugo SKS slamfires a lot ... so I sold my gun to my buddy for $120.

Uh... What did your buddy say when he found out?

[Retro]

I told him about the slamfire... he said he will changed the firing pin to a spring-operated one from some custom website. He got it for a bargain price since it was a new Yugo.

[silverlance]

if anyone here can get even, say, a 4" group at 50 yards, do let me know how.

i am referring to yugo 59/66s with grenade launchers (mine had it replaced with a muzzle break per ca law), used in good condition.

i can't seem to hit crap with it. bore looks about ok, but it's definitely not an "excellent" or even "very good".

[dmckean44]

The ammo shortage is overstated. I just order 1500 rounds of Wolf Sportsman's Guide last thursday and it shipped today. Also Outdoor Marksman as a ton in stock in their east coast warehouse.

[crazed_ss]

if anyone here can get even, say, a 4" group at 50 yards, do let me know how.

i am referring to yugo 59/66s with grenade launchers (mine had it replaced with a muzzle break per ca law), used in good condition.

i can't seem to hit crap with it. bore looks about ok, but it's definitely not an "excellent" or even "very good".

I have a Yugo SKS too. Got it at Turners.

Are you using the stock sights? I replaced my sights with these http://www.tech-sights.com/ .. I cant stand Russian sights.

I have only shot it at the local 25yd range and and that range it keyholes shots easily with the new sights. I know the groups will open up at longer range, but I imagine they should stay pretty tight up to 100yds.


Also, make sure you dont have the night front sight post up. When I first took mine to the range with the stock sights, I didnt notice I had the night sight up. My target wasnt pretty.

[dfaugh]

if anyone here can get even, say, a 4" group at 50 yards, do let me know how.

i can't seem to hit crap with it. bore looks about ok, but it's definitely not an "excellent" or even "very good".

I think you answered at least part of your own question. If the bore is ugly, and especially the crown, you won't get any kind of accuracy. Also, the typical "cheapo" ammo most of us use alot ( Wolf and other Russian stuff), isn't very accurate(for me at least), either. But my 2 SKSs will shoot quite a bit better than 4" groups at 50 yards, with better ammo, and both have really good bores. SKSs are more accurate than most people give them credit for (and more accurate than most AKs). Not tack-drivers, mind you, but reasonably accurate nonetheless.

[sw9f]

It doesn't make any sense but a spring loaded FP voids the gun C&R status. Then you have to play the 10 or less game. Doubt anyone would actually be checking the firing pin though.

http://www.victorinc.com/SKS-FAQ.html#_Toc138675126

[silverlance]

well..

i guess if a cop is REAL zealous, he be able to get the firing pin out for examination.

better him than me, though. I couldn't get the extractor out for the life of me, and belive me, I tried.

[k_semler]

@ SW9F:

No. Firing pins don't matter.


18 U.S.C. section 922(r)

(r) It shall be unlawful for any person to assemble from
imported parts any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun which is
identical to any rifle or shotgun prohibited from importation
under section 925(d)(3) of this chapter as not being
particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting
purposes except that this subsection shall not apply to -
(1) the assembly of any such rifle or shotgun for sale or
distribution by a licensed manufacturer to the United States
or any department or agency thereof or to any State or any
department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or
(2) the assembly of any such rifle or shotgun for the purposes
of testing or experimentation authorized by the Secretary.

18 USC section 925(D)
(d) The Attorney General shall authorize a firearm or ammunition
to be imported or brought into the United States or any possession
thereof if the firearm or ammunition -
(1) is being imported or brought in for scientific or research
purposes, or is for use in connection with competition or
training pursuant to chapter 401 of title 10;
(2) is an unserviceable firearm, other than a machinegun as
defined in section 5845(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(not readily restorable to firing condition), imported or brought
in as a curio or museum piece;
(3) is of a type that does not fall within the definition of a
firearm as defined in section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 and is generally recognized as particularly suitable
for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes, excluding surplus
military firearms, except in any case where the Attorney General
has not authorized the importation of the firearm pursuant to
this paragraph, it shall be unlawful to import any frame,
receiver, or barrel of such firearm which would be prohibited if
assembled;

27 CFR section 178.39

(a) No person shall assemble a semiautomatic rifle, or any
shotgun, using more than 10 of the imported parts listed in
paragraph (c) of this section if the assembled firearm is
prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) as not
being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to
sporting purposes.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(1) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for sale or
distribution by a licensed manufacturer to the United
States or any department or agency thereof, or to any
State or any department, agency, or political subdivision
thereof; or

(2) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for the
purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the
Director under the provisions of section 178.151; or

(3) The repair of any rifle or shotgun which had been
imported into or assembled in the United States prior to
November 30, 1990, or the replacement of any part of such
firearm.

(c) For purposes of this section, the term imported parts are:

(1) Frames, receivers, receiver castings, forgings or
stampings
(2) Barrels
(3) Barrel extensions
(4) Mounting blocks (trunions)
(5) Muzzle attachments
(6) Bolts
(7) Bolt carriers
(8) Operating rods
(9) Gas pistons
(10) Trigger housings
(11) Triggers
(12) Hammers
(13) Sears
(14) Disconnectors
(15) Buttstocks
(16) Pistol grips
(17) Forearm handguards
(18) Magazine bodies
(19) Followers
(20) Floorplates

[mljdeckard]

Those tech sights look fantastic, and it looks like they will work fine with a peep-thru scope mount, I will look into those.

I took my yugo to the range, and put their 6" gong at the 50 yard line. I was using winchester reload ammo, and it functioned flawlessly, (I had just scrubbed the rifle to death, I don't plan on babying it in the future,) and after about 50 rounds, I was hitting it about 8 out of 10. (I am far from being the marksman I want to be, so honestly, it was probably not the rifle that caused the fliers.)

[Smokey Joe]

K_Semler--Forgive me for not understanding all the lawyer-ese, but exactly where in 18USC etc etc, and 27CFR etc etc, does it say that firing pin return springs are OK?

If I modify anything on my SKS do I have to play the 10-imported-parts game, or what???

It's not your fault that all this "stuff" is written in legal mumbo-jumbo. But I failed Legal Mumbo-Jumbo 101 in college. :)

--Rant Mode: ON--

Since so many people have SKS's that they want to modify, why oh why couldn't the BATF come out with a short pamphlet, in PLAIN ENGLISH, saying "With this SKS you can do these things, you can't do these things????"

Or, better yet (dare I hope?) come out with a ruling that the SKS is no particular danger to the United States of America, go do whatever you durn please to it. We got better things to do with our time and your tax dollars than all this foolishness.

--Rant Mode: OFF-- I feel better.

[KINGMAX]

I must have a good SKS. :) I do have one of those w/ a launcher. It does not seem to have any bearing on my shot groups. :uhoh: Other than being heavy, (has launcher & bayonet), I have no complaints about the performance. :D I suppose it is not shot as much as my AK's, but it does get it's share of trigger time. :mad: = I hate having to cut back on my use of 7.62 X 39 ammo these days. :banghead:

[Cellar Dweller]

a) No person shall assemble a semiautomatic rifle, or any
shotgun, using more than 10 of the imported parts listed in
paragraph (c) of this section if the assembled firearm is
prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) as not
being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to
sporting purposes.


Springs are not listed in paragraph (c), therefore it doesn't matter where they're from.

None of that "sporting purpose/import parts" bureaucratese makes sense anyway. Norinco could set up shop in the U.S. (since China is our economic partner now :D ) and crank out eleventy-billion SKSs and semiauto AKs chock full o' evil features as long as no more than 10 of the listed parts are imported.
[Sam's Club] You want one or two pallets of ammo to go with that SKS 10-pack today, sir? [/Sam's Club] :evil:

[k_semler]

@ Smokey Joe:

They are not on the list of restricted parts, therefore it dosen't matter where it comes from. The legal concern of a spring loaded FP is right next to the legal concern of where the butt-plate retaining screws come from, (none whatsoever). The only parts restricted for assembly of a semiautomatic firearm are found in 27 CFR section 178.39 paragraph C.

It depends on what you want to modify. If you want to make it a sporting weapon by taking off the gernade launcher, night sights, and bayonet lug, go for it. It would be a sporting weapon not subject to 922(r). If you want to put in detachable magazines, you have to comply with 922(r). If you want a folding/collapsable stock, you have to comply with 922(r). If you want to put on Mojo Peep Sights, there is no requrement to comply with 922(r).

[Smokey Joe]

K_Semler and Cellar Dweller--Appreciate yr clearing that up! I hadn't considered that if it's not mentioned, it's not regulated.

I enjoy tinkering with milsurps; have been avoiding doing that w/my SKS's out of ignorance. Don't want BATFE's in my belfry.

Thx once more. :)

[sw9f]

Basically my understanding of what you can and cannot do to an SKS came from http://sksboards.com/forum/index.php
I remember reading a thread there, where they stated that the BATFE said that putting in a spring loaded friring voids the C&R status. Whether they were correct or not, I don't know.
How I understand it, is that any change to the original configuration of a C&R gun will void it's status. The 20 parts listed under 922(r) are the parts that are counted towards making it legal but it isn't everything that can void the C&R status. For example, if you added nights sights to an SKS that didn't have it, it voids the C&R status. With the firing pin, you can change out a free floating firing pin with another free floating firing pin and be ok, but when you change it out with a spring loaded firing pin, you've changed the original configuration of the sks and actually sort of changed how it operates, you've now made it safer. Anyways thats how I understand it and I could be wrong.
The laws are unclear and vague about a lot of these issues. I remember reading a letter on the sks board that someone wrote to the BATFE asking wheather a pistol grip was legal and the answer was something like an extreme pistol grip was illegal, but they would not define what an extreme pistol grip was.