Thought gun was semi-auto...

[NoLibs]

SO I took the SKS out for the first time yesterday and it wasn't ejecting or reloading without me having to pull the bolt back.
Aren't these semi-autos?
Maybe I was mistaken.

Also, how can I adjust windage on the sights?

Thanks
Oliver

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

Yes, they are semi-auto. There is likely something wrong with the gas system on your SKS.

 

[El Rojo]

They most certainly are semi-auto. Do you have a Yugo SKS with the integral grenade launcher? If so I believe there is a gas valve on it somewhere that you probably have set to the grenade launching mode. Move that valve the other direction and it will redirect the gas back into the gas system and you should have your semi-auto. Hopefully someone else with an Yugo SKS will get on soon and confirm this for me.

You can't adjust for windage that I am aware of. Maybe someone will help you out with that too.

 

[schromf]

Do you have a Yugo SKS with the integral grenade launcher? If so I believe there is a gas valve on it somewhere that you probably have set to the grenade launching mode.

If its a Yugo, the valve gets stuck some times. Move it and make sure its locked in place.

 

[Onmilo]

If it is a Yugo the gas system is shut off when you raise the grenade launcher sight.
Most likely the gun is still full of that nasty cosmoline type grease inside and needs a good cleaning.
Break the gun down and pull the stock, then clean the heck out of all the metal with kerosene.
A large bricklayers mortar trough is great for filling up and dunking actions into. Get one at a large hardware outlet.

Forsters and B-Square make front sight windage adjustment tools, both are available direct or from Brownells and many other larger gun part and gun tool shops.

 

[SDC]

It's not unheard of that a rifle will get through the manufacturing process without having its gas-port drilled, but it's likely that your valve (if present) is just set to the wrong position or it's clogged with grease.

 

[jefnvk]

The gun is single shot when the gas valve is straight up, semi auto at ~2 o'clock. If that don't work, clean it (you should have already).

 

[nitesite]

Yugoslav SKS rifles have a button above the gas tube near the tip of the grenade ladder sight. When aligned toward the vertical, it allows the grenade sight to be employed and shuts off the gas since a special blank cartridge is used to fire a grenade. No gas pressure, no semi-automatic action.

Push in and rotate to the right to lock the sight and open up the gas system.

Voila! Semi-auto again!

If the gas piston, shut-off valve and tube are really carboned up, you'll have no semi-auto. Clean them and reassemble DRY with no oil.

Here's a pic of one front sight windage tool. You might be able to make one yourself!

 

[rust collector]

If it isn't the valve, may be the piston (8" or so, located in gas tube) or the op rod (2" or so w/ spring) in the sight block either gunked up or missing.

Remember to keep your hand over the front of the sight block if you turn the lever to release the op rod, or it can take off. Don't ask me how I know this.

Note that it's also important so rattle the bolt to ensure that the firing pin is not held by grease.

Happy blasting.

 

[jhisaac1]

Do you have a Yugo SKS with the integral grenade launcher?

You know, I would pay money to be around when a MMM'er finds out that not only is an SKS an evil assault rifle (yes I know, work with me) but it also comes with a built in GRENADE LAUNCHER! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

 

[Bigfoot]

Semi-auto? Heck sometimes they're full auto.
I've learned to disstrust them, that includes the safeties too.

 

[jefnvk]

Semi-auto? Heck sometimes they're full auto.
I've learned to disstrust them, that includes the safeties too.

While the safety won't be winning any awards (simply keeps the trigger from being pulled), if you're safe it should be plenty enough. And if you clean your gun from 30 years of cosmo and dirt, no slam fires.

 

[WEPS]

Nolibs

I had this same problem with my SKS. I cleaned the gas system and checked for clogging but never could get the damn thing to work right.

 

[WEPS]

oh and yes it was a yugo and i checked the gas valve on it.

 

[NoLibs]

Well the valve it at the top so I suspect that is my problem. I wish the thing came with a book but all I got was some kind of inspection manual that is not in English.
I have cleaned most of the cosmo out. I haven't broken it down yet, I guess I was in a hurry to shoot it, but once I get some time I'll give it a thorough once-over.
Now when I get out to the range next I'll try the different setting on the gas tube.
Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

http://www.mcdl.org/manual.html

Instruction Manual for the

Samozaryadnyi Karabin Simonova (SKS)

Semi-Automatic Rifle (Caliber 7.62 x 39mm)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://world.guns.ru/downloads/sks.zip

 

[Daniel T]

Let me add the obligatory safety statement: make absolutely sure that all of the cosmoline has been removed from the firing pin channel, and that the pin rattles freely when the bolt is shaken. Otherwise, you could be in for a suprise, and not a pleasant one, as your SKS goes full auto because of a stuck firing pin.

 

[jefnvk]

Here is a translation of the log book, if you're interested: http://users.cableaz.com/~mjbvrb/Logbook Images.htm

 

[STORMIN29]

Sks

Go to WWW.SURPLUSRIFLE.COM
They are your best resource for step by step guidleines with pictures included. There is also a video for the SKS disassembly procedure.