sks safety question

[SHM]

I'm a rifle newbie so bear with me.
I recently got an SKS caked in cosmoline.
The firing pin was stuck forward in the bolt putting the rifle in slam fire full auto.
(I didn't load it like that, but it would have been bad.)
The rifle is clean now and lubed and fires with no problem.

BUT.
If I load a round into the chamber and eject without firing, the primer has an indentation obviously caused by the free floating firing pin.

Is this a safety issue? Should I put a spring on it?

 

[KParms]

Absolutely. Get one of the spring loaded firing pin kits.

 

[RNB65]

It depends on what type of ammo you're using. Wolf is made to Russian mil-spec standard and uses a hard primer to prevent slam fires with free floating firing pins. Other brands of ammo may have softer primers which are more likely to slam fire. As long as you're sure the bolt is clean and stick with hard primed mis-spec ammo you won't have a problem.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Keep the firing pin channel of the bolt clean and you should have no problems. I never had any problems with mine, though I sold it before I put a thousand rounds through it.

 

[carbine85]

I don't let the charging handle slam home under full force. My Russian can slam fire and has slam fired with the spring loaded firing pin. It only slam fired when you charged the first round.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

I don't let the charging handle slam home under full force.

Doesn't it do that whenever it loads the next round?

I haven't checked for indented priers on my Rommy, but it has a free floating pin I keep the bolt clean and it has never slamfired on me.

 

[jad0110]

Just be sure you fully disassembled the bolt and cleaned the firing pin and firing pin channel REALLY good. Then, don't let any lubricant get on the firing pin or in the channel as that will only attract more grime (best to blast down both with brake cleaner or a similar product that doesn't contain any lube). And even if you don't clean the whole rifle after shooting, I'd at least take the bolt apart can clean it good each time. Never had a problem with a slamfire.

Either that or go with the spring adapter kit.

Interesting that the SKS has this reputation and not other designs, many of which have free float firing pins (the AK and AR both come immediately to mind).

 

[jcwit]

Doesn't it do that whenever it loads the next round?

I haven't checked for indented priers on my Rommy, but it has a free floating pin I keep the bolt clean and it has never slamfired on me.

Excellant answer.

Yes the SKS may leave a slight indent on the primer, this is why some of the primer mfg., mainly CCI make mil. spec. primers.

BTW, the Garand, and the M1 Carbine will leave a small indent on the primer also.

Nothing to worry about, just keep it clean.

 

[bigfatdave]

I don't let the charging handle slam home under full force.

Well that helps one time out of ten, I guess.

I see no reason to use ammo more expensive and less ideal for my SKS. It eats the cheapo hard-primer Wolf MC stuff, which happens to be a decent HP design (decent, not great but probably the one of the best HPs out there for $0.20/round)
That's pretty much all I feed it, and I've never had any issues with slam-fire. I do soak the bolt in solvent every 5 cleanings or so, but I'm mostly doing it to make myself feel better, it is always free in there, and has been ever since I de-Cosmolined the gun. (well, I tried, the stock will probably bleed Cosmoline until the end of time)

If I went on a SKS improvement kick I'd put in the spring-loaded FP, but as it is I really like the gun with no modifications whatsoever except adding Tech-Sights and a longer sling.

 

[chicharrones]

Yep, just learn how to take apart the bolt for proper cleaning. It's a surprisingly easy job.

 

[mdThanatos]

When I first got my SKS I had done some reading regarding the rifle and how to take it apart and clean it. I had heard about the firing pin issue so when I got mine and saw how much cosmoline had been used on it, I made sure to thoroughly clean it. Just take apart the bolt, remove the firing pin itself, clean that well and clean the channel it rests in to make sure that there is no left over cosmoline.

Both of mine have never had an issue after I did this. One way to test it is take out the bolt and hit the back of it, the end of the firing pin, on a solid surface a few times. If it sticks, check to see if it is clean. If it is clean and sticking then maybe one of those spring kit firing pins I have seen would work for you.

Also should mention that after the initial cleaning I haven't broken the rifles down to fully clean very often, I think one of the rifles went about 1800 rounds before I stripped it again, but your experiences may vary.

 

[SHM]

This forum is more helpful than my local gun shops.

Mine is very clean. But it sticks when I bang it forward. I can't push back with a finger, but it's easy with a punch. I'd rather not put any more money into it. I'll just be extra careful with it.

 

[bigfatdave]

I'll just be extra careful with it.

Not loading a round unless the muzzle is pointed into a safe backstop would be a start.

After some thought, I've realized that carbine85 isn't that far off the right path ... if you intend to load for some reason at home, easing it forward isn't such a bad idea. I never load mine up at home, though ... keeping stripper clips handy is tactical enough for me.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

those stripper clips can reload that SKS pretty fast with a little practice. Thumb close to the stripper clip...

Nothing wrong with that as a plan.

 

[DougW]

The SKS will always leave an indentation on the primer. The floating firing pin is the reason. The design does not normally allow for a spring to prevent the pin from moving. I would be careful fitting anything that is not specifically intended to prevent the pin hitting the primer. Happens on my SKS. Never had a problem.

As far as HD, you can keep 5 or 6 rounds in the mag with the bolt closed, chamber empty. If you have to rack the bolt and fire, one shot will have a perp runnung like a scalded jack rabbit! I keep all my "loaded" weapons with the mag charged and nothing in the chamber (the exception is my conceleaded carry pistols).

 

[SHM]

I don't keep it loaded at home.
My fear was a friend (or me) charging the bolt and loosing control.

My revolver is for defense.
If my three room apartment turns into a war zone, lol...stripper clips.

 

[bigfatdave]

DougW, my understanding is that Simonov designed the SKS with a sprin-return FP and the design was simplified to save a few [strike]pennies[/strike] rubles.
Now whether there is still room in the bolt for the original design spring is another question ... I don't know for sure, but I'd assume there is, given that the replacement is a drop-in part.

 

[Waywatcher]

Take the bolt completely apart and clean it until it would be safe to eat your supper off of it. Disassemble, degrease, scrub with brushes, degrease again, and put a light film of oil on the parts, reassemble. (Light film of oil=wipe it with an oily patch, then wipe it again with a dry patch.)

If you are still worried about slamfires, buy this: http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

 

[DougW]

bigfatdave, I don't know for sure. I have taken to firing pin from the bolt of mine, and it is an unremarkable design. I agree with Waywatcher, having a clean bolt and rifle is the key.

 

[Ignition Override]

The Garand can also slam-fire if the bolt bangs closed (not wanting to squeeze eight rds. into a clip each time), based on what seasoned owners sometimes tell me.

 

[bubba in ca]

Before i knew better...

...

 

[bubba in ca]

Before i knew better...

I succesfully shot my rusky, chinese and Yugo SKSs without disassembling the bolt to clean it with zero problems. Seems from what I read it is that small amounts of cosmoline inside the bolt will cook and become hard and then gum up the works. SKS boards or Surplus rifle.com has instructions.

Before I take then out to shoot again I'll give them the once-over, and also carefully inspect some primers. I think this is one gun I would not load in the house.

I may also put a Murray kit in the chinese or the yugo when I figure out which one I am going to shoot the most. i think they are about 40 bucks. If somebody is going to keep it as a house gun or hunting piece it is probably worth it.