Changing the firing pin in my SKS.

[Guns&Religion]

I have a Norinco SKS and I want to change the firing pin assembly. (It has the original chinese made firing pin). I've read that there is a danger of accidental discharge if the bolt is released forward and the bolt is dirty or has cosmolene on it.

I wasn't really concerned about it until I tried cycling some ammunition through it at home. I looked at the primer on one round and it had a slight indentation in it. I don't believe the bolt is dirty, as I have cleaned it (and the rest of the rifle) extensively.

I've never had an accidental discharge of any kind, and I don't want to start anytime soon. I also have a son whom I want to pass the rifle to someday, and I don't want an innocent mistake to turn tragic.

I've looked at the spring loaded firing pin assembly offered by Tapco. The website says it needs to be fitted by a qualified gunsmith. My question is, is a gunsmith really necessary, or can I shape the bolt myself to fit it with the tools in my shop?

 

[Guns&Religion]

I was asking about shaping the part myself, because I've had trouble finding a gunsmith here where I live.

 

[jawn]

You don't really need the spring-loaded one. Clean out the firing pin channel. Get it dry and don't lube it (or use as little lube as you feel comfortable with). It only gets gummed up if there's cosmoline or excess lube in it.

Incidentally, it's generally not a good idea to cycle live ammunition if you're trying to see if you have a problem with your firing pin. Every once in a while (between cleanings), I'll take the entire bolt assembly out and give the bolt a good shake. If the firing pin rattles around freely, then it's fine.

 

[SlowFuse]

+1 on Jawns response. As long as the pin is free floating, and not oiled or greased heavily (this would attract foreign matter) you're fine. Listen for the rattle. Use snap caps for examining/cycling if possible. Some SKS models are known for actually piercing modern primers. Some say these primers are softer than the Mil-Surp stuff that used to be around. If you are set on changing the firing pin, take a look at the Murrays variety. It is equipped with a Wolff spring that aids in having a sure "return" after every shot... There is also a thread floating around on here that I read a while back that gives a little info on smoothing out inperfections by buffing.