SKS cleaning/lube

[HighStrung]

Well, I was gifted a Norinco a few years back. Until now this has been a safe queen and I finally decided that it was time to put some use to this gun. I found a "how to" online for disassembly, and cleaned it as I felt, lubed what I thought should be lubed etc. I'm not that familiar with older firearms and got to wondering if I did things right??? So, if any SKS owners would chime in here I would greatly appriciate it. What are the specific areas that I need to pay attention to for cleaning/lubing? What type of lube are you all using? I used "Steel Shield" for lube, thats what I've been using on my more modern firearms, is this acceptable for this somewhat older weapon? Any info would be greatly appriciated, this gun is in almost perfect shape and I want to keep it operating as such. It is no longer original (all numbers matched except stock) so I'm updating some things as money will allow, but thats beside the point. Either way, at least it's got a fresh coating of oil/lube and has been recently cleaned. I've got no problem tearing it back down to give it a proper treatment if I've done something wrong, I just don't personally know this gun very well yet. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[AKElroy]

After tearing down the gun, I use brake cleaner to blast away all powder residue & grime from the lose parts. For the bore, 3 or 4 runs with a boresnake & Hoppe's #9 is all I do. Make SURE you do not have any lube in the FP channel; SKS' are notorious for slamfires when it cakes up. I put just enough oil for rust protection & wipe off all the excess.

As for lube, not sure you will find a set process for this. On mine, I use a dab of slide-lube on the piston & bolt races, and a VERY light coat of Hoppe's gun oil on the remaining moving parts. I give all metal parts a wipe down with the oil & let it go.

 

[HighStrung]

As with most of my modern firearms, "just enough" lube is kinda my motto. I lube, then allow as much to drain/be wiped off as possible. I'm not one for over oiling my guns, thats exactly what made me wonder if I did some things wrong with the SKS. On some other forums, I've heard people talk about "greasing" their guns, and I'm not sure if a more grease like lube is needed for the SKS or not. Again, I'm totally new to the SKS. Heck, for that matter, I'm not exactly sure what a more grease like product even is. Hoppe's 9 and Steel Shield are my primary lube, break free/break cleaner are my primary cleaners. I could be way off base for the SKS and wouldn't even know it.