SKS - Which end is the "Squiggley End"?

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HoosierQ

HoosierQ

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Just got an SKS...Yay:D

Obviously while not rocket science, these are not at easy to take apart and put back together as many things are...fine.

I am trying to confirm exactly which end of the two-piece telescoping guide rod and spring assembly (with keeper) goes in first...into the carrier.

I have seen two explanations so far: The "squiggly end" goes in first. The "coiled" end goes in first. Now on mine, that would seem to be the end that is the inside part of the telescoping guide rod (the skinny end) and the end with the keeper. The outside (the much fatter part) goes to the rear of the receiver and is not "squiggly" because the fatter part of the guide rod keeps the spring straight.

So, does the keeper end go in first? Please comment.
 
FYI if you are new to the SKS some of them can slam fire. Check the firing pin for protrusion or sticking. Use ammo with hard primers.
 
Yes, I have this. However thanks. I am seeing on this on a better monitor now and it looks like the "coiled end" is the end with the keeper.

My bolt and bolt carrier and absolutely clean as a whistle...no gum gunk or dirt at all. Thanks.
 
Here's Something You Need

I didn't know I needed it until a week or so ago, but after reading about slamfires, runaways and a fatal runaway, I found it was something I wouldn't fire mine without. Seriously consider Murray's new Firing Pin and firing pin spring - I have fired well over a thousand rounds I know with no problem, but it's like wearing your seat belt: you never need it until you need it (and I would add my bolts are clean as a whistle as well). The issue is fully detailed on the website, and has been running around this and other forums for some time. Caveat shooter :eek:

http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm
 
The SKS doesn't need a spring loaded firing pin modification and more then an AR15 or any other number of military designs lacking this feature. All it needs is about 20 seconds of attention paid to ensuring the firing pin and corresponding channel is clean and free of cosmoline and other grunk.
 
krochus, you may be right. I keep all my weapons spic & span, bolts included, and I doubt I would ever have a problem. But after consideration of at least one reported (Sacramento Bee, I think) fatal accident, and my knowledge of probability and Murphy, I elected to shell out $39 in insurance. I hope my own AD&D policy is never cashed in, either, from any source... :uhoh:
 
carbine85 said:
FYI if you are new to the SKS some of them can slam fire. Check the firing pin for protrusion or sticking. Use ammo with hard primers.
Click to expand...

Yep, learned that the hard way. That whole "point it in a safe direction" thing pays off once in a while :).
 
"...The "squiggly end"..." Nothing like made up technical terms.
Slamfires are caused by improperly loaded ammo, not the rifle.
"...Sacramento Bee gun range fatality..." A fire suspected to be arson, in Korea, not a shooting. Has nothing to do with firearms.
 
Sunray

I also find the use of the term "squiggly end" pretty silly. In fact, that is the whole point of my post. Given that, so far, the only material I have seen uses the terms "squiggly end" and "coiled end" (it is a spring), I am trying to get a technical term clarified by somebody that has one of these things. In ten posts I've gotten lots of commentary about slam-fire, and some commentary about the use of the term "squiggly end" but otherwise, we're off topic.

What I would like to get is somebody to confirm for me the following: Does the keeper-end of the guide rod assembly go into the cavity in the carrier?
 
Rob

Thanks a bunch. I will refer to that source. That is just what I needed...confirmation.

By the way, I just stripped the thing all the way down and WOW was it clean! Very pleased with that. The firing pin is in top notch condition and all the white internal parts gleam. The wood is varnished not especially attractively but the wood it in very good shape...seems a little dry maybe. Of course the cosmoline still oozes out of my Mosin so maybe I am spoiled/lucky. Maybe someday I will strip off that varnish and do a Tung Oil or Boiled Linseed Job on 'er.

Thanks for the help everyone. These resources are good.

Q
 
Not the SLAM FIRE BS again.....Take the bolt apart, clean the

firing pin channel thoroughly with a pipe cleaner and solvent, they dry it completely with clean pipe cleaners. Clean the fifing pin completely and do not lubricate it or the channel in the bolt.
Re assemble the unlubed firing pin into the unlubed channel of the bult, pin it all thgether and shake it. The pin will rattle inside the bolt as it is supposed to, and WIL NOT "slam fire", even with commercial ammo. There is no need for a spring - it was designed to operate properly without one. The SKS rifle was used in combat for decades in some of the filthiest environments on Earth, and is probably the only autoloading rifle more reliable than an AK 47.

People make money selling gun "improvements", even when there is no improvement needed. Keep your wallet in your pocket.
ADDED_ I have been shooting autoloaders - including various SKS types- since the 1960's. The only "slam fire" I ever had was with a Garand M1 that on inspection had a broken part.
The only semi auto rifle I own now is a very old, well used Chinese SKS. It always works.
mark
 
My SKS bolt is clean as a whistle...and dry. When you shake it, the firing pin moves very freely fore and aft and will not stick at either extremity of its movement...not even a little bit. The entire bolt assembly (as well as the carrier) is as bright and shiny as a new stainless steel revolver.
 
I am liking mine a lot. I put one of those add-on recoil pads (a nice looking leather one from LL Bean) to get an extra inch of length of pull. That really fits nice for me.

I am fixing to stock up on ammo next. Found packages of 100 122gr Wolf Black Box FMJ for $29. May get a few hundred of those and head to the range.
 
Slam fire BS? No BS about it. Mine will slam fire as well as others I have wittnessed, even when clean. Telling someone that it's BS is wrong. If any rifle is known for this it's the SKS. These are cheap Comm bloc weapons not precision made rifles.
Keep it clean, use hard primers and keep it pointed down range. It's not a $800 rifle.
 
The way I understand it, a bic pen spring can cure it, just drop in into the FP channel, may need some fitting, saw a whole article on it somewhere, think surplus rifle.
 
The majority of slam fires happen when you put a dirty SKS away for a year without cleaning it. A year later you get it out of the closet and without checking anything you jack a round in the chamber.
 
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