Should Yugo SKS piston rattle back and forth?

[MidnightToker]

Hey guys, I picked up a Yugo M59/66 SKS that I ordered from Samco Global yesterday and I finally got around to cleaning up all the cosmoline from inside the rifle this afternoon. Now that the gas tube and piston are free of gunk and cosmoline, I can clearly hear the piston rattle back and forth when I shake the rifle. Is this normal? I'm sure it isn't the firing pin or cleaning rod that are making the noise since I removed them to see if it would make any difference. The rattle clearly comes from the gas tube. I hope to fire it for the first time tomorrow at the range

 

[nathan]

That should be normal.

 

[Murphy4570]

Those weapons are not known for their precisely machined and hand-fitted parts.


Kinda like owning a 70s-90s Chevrolet. The interior bits always rattle. LOL.

 

[Ignition Override]

Just make sure that the small spring behind (at the rear of) the tube does not quietly jump about eight feet away.

Having such a reliable rifle has its own rewards, and even though the magazine's capacity does not compare to that of an AK, ammo lasts longer and the ergonomics are better.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I usually is pretty well in there, the spring is in the part that taps the bolt, and not the piston itself. but hey if it work, it works.

 

[MidnightToker]

@Ignition Override

HAHA, yeah, I had a similar experience with the recoil spring. Taking it apart was easy enough but when I tried to compress it back into place to reinstall the retainer, the spring shot out like a heat seeking missile and caught my dad in the arm. I think the springs in this gun are more dangerous than the ammo itself lol.