Rust and pitting in gas tube.

[J.A.D.]

Bought a PSL, from a local gun shop. In their light, it looked good, felt good, and of course, looked clean.

Got it home and started to do the overhaul and cleaning on it, when I found that the piston, and the gas tube were pretty cruddy. Ran the brush through it a few times to find out that there was surface rust on the inside of the gas tube. There's also some pitting on the piston. Cleaned both up and then found that when the piston went into the channel, and into the gas tube, that piston looks like it's riding the wall of the tube, and the port on the lower receiver.

I'm a bit annoyed, because I haven't even taken it out to the range yet. I'm going to be putting a few rounds through it this weekend, and am wondering if I should be concerned? I suppose the worst thing is that I'll have a little rub on the piston, but if it keeps going like it looks like it is, I could have bigger problems down the road.

 

[Maj Dad]

PSL??

Not knowing for sure what a PSL is, I will launch off on a related tangent...

I bought a Chicom SKS ~1989; the gas tube & piston on it were corroded from the corrosive primers &/or poor cleaning. I cleaned it up, and clean it well after shooting, and it's doing fine. I could replace them, but it's not a priority. If I were to run across a good buy at a gunshow or the like I might get them, but, like I said, low priority. As far as the piston rubbing, I wouldn't think that would be an issue unless it causes malfunctions. If it's bad enough to do that, or cause serious wear, then I would replace them. I have a Poly-Tech AKS from 1984 or so, and I can see wear points in the tube, but I rarely shoot it and I can't say it would be problem. Considering the AK's reputation (and its gas system came from the SKS), I would say it's not an issue.

HTH
George J.

 

[Deus Machina]

Yeah, don't worry about it. Corrosive ammo does that, the AK design gives plenty of leeway for it, and that's the exact reasons the gas tubes come off--they can be cleaned and replaced.

Clean it up and shoot it. Just soak it down with water or Windex after any time you shoot corrosive stuff.