My Chinese SKS is piercing primers...

[fireman 9731]

I picked up a nice all matching Chinese SKS a few weeks ago for a steal.

The only downside was the heavy gritty trigger. So, I watched several videos on youtube about how to tune up an SKS trigger. I carefully do all the work and safety checks and it turns out much better. A tad heavier than before, but shorter, smooth, and crisp.

I put about 20 rounds through it before the trigger work, then about 100 through it yesterday after the trigger work. I noticed about a half dozen of the cases I picked up had pierced primers and all of them had very deep firing pin impacts. It was Wolf ammo.

Now my first question is this: Could my trigger work affect firing pin protrusion?

My second question is how do I fix it?

 

[bang_bang]

I'm not totally sure about this, but maybe there is some cosmoline in the bolt. Take your bolt apart and clean it well, check everything as cosmoline could result in FA fire if the firing pin sticks. Several people have been killed by a SKS going FA.

Hopefully someone else chimes in.

 

[fireman 9731]

Thanks for the advice but I have already thoroughly cleaned it and checked the firing pin and channels...

 

[grimjaw]

I have not found this to be unusual. The Norinco SKS rifles I had would all occasionally pierce primers. When I asked about it on forums, I got the same answer I just gave.

 

[bang_bang]

Found this as well. Might be better off getting a new firing pin...

http://www.gunrightsmedia.com/showthread.php?t=74839

NOTE: This is on www.thehighroad.us and not the current .org site.

 

[IBEWBULL]

If you modify the pin do it slowly and use a stone or crocus cloth.
Do not over do it, mike it to see what is happening.
You won't have to do much.
If you take too much off it would be a bad thing.
Then a new pin will be needed for sure. Streatching is not an option.

 

[briansmithwins]

No chips or sharp spots, right?

I'd try rounding the tip off with emery cloth, as mentioned. A file is too aggressive. You don't want to take length off, just round the tip of the FP and buff any sharp edges.

Also, order a spare firing pin. If you bogart the fix completely or if it doens't work you won't be stuck waiting for a new FP. And FPs do break.

BSW

 

[fireman 9731]

So just smooth out my firing pin? or shorten it ever so slightly?

 

[wally]

I'm in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of thought. Not that uncommon with the SKS and as long as its not spitting gas back at you, I don't see how it matters if all the other function is fine.

 

[Matrix187]

http://www.murraysguns.com/poppedprimers.htm

 

[Hammerhead6814]

Send the trigger to Kivarii (check www.sksboards.com) and get a Murray's firing pin. Even hardcore SKS purist favor those two small modifications.