SKS = FMJ only?

[LoadedDrum]

First of all I would like to thank Scout26 for having me as a guest at the private club for which he is a memeber. I think it was quite possibly the most fun I have had since getting into this hobby.

While we were there I was trying to burn up all the ammo I am not allowed to shoot at the local indoor ranges in my new (relatively) Norinco Paratrooper. This included Barnul HP's, Wolf SP's, and some Corbon 150gr SP's. The Barnul HP's would not feed reliably, and I would have to help them along quite often. The Wolf SP's would feed 95% of the time but some times the soft point would get deformed and a round would jam. I did not have enough of the Corbons to get an accurate picture of their reliablity but the 8 that I did have worked. I think their extra length had something to do with it. Does any one else have feed problems with non-fmj ammo? Is there some kind of mod that can be done to enhance reliablity with HP's and SP's?

 

[iamkris]

Not mine....my Yugo SKS gobbles up anything I feed it...FMJ, HP, SPs.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Both my Chinese and Yugo SKS's feed HP and SP without a hitch. Maybe you need to smooth up the feed ramp a little?

 

[rbernie]

Two questions - were the SP's 150/154gr or 123/125gr, and were you using the stock 10-round fixed magazine or a detachable magazine?

 

[natedog]

My Paratrooper has worked fine with Wolf JHP/FMJ, both the new polymer coated and the older laquered case.

 

[wasrjoe]

Also, when were the SP rounds jamming? Randomly during normal operation, or when you charged the rifle? If you do not let go of the charging handle and follow it through, it can cause problems with feeding (especially softpoints).

 

[Domino]

Is the gas system on your paratrooper different or modified from a standard Chi Com SKS? I've never heard of a picky SKS before, but I'm sure there is something you could do to fix this. Polishing the feed ramp, replacing the recoil and magazine spring, inspecting the gas system, and checking the headspace would probably be a good start. I wonder if there is a difference in bullet length from SP and FMJ ammo? I would advise investigation, Good Luck.

 

[OtG]

Only time I've had my Yugo SKS jam was shooting some cheap softpoint. Not sure how, but the cartridge ended up with the nose of the bullet crammed into the top of the chamber (on the edge). It deformed the soft lead point, so the thing stuck in place.

Kept the cartridge for the novelty of it.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I've heard that in an SKS, a less than clean chamber can really hamper the action. The cartridges tend to stick and prevent proper ejection and feeding.
On another board, someone suggested that it had to do with the laquer on certain cases or grease/wax that comes on others. Basically, it heats up and sticks to the chamber. After a few rounds, the deposits heat up and causes the casing (which is laquered) to stick.

Clean it well and make sure there is no buildup of any gunk, anywhere. Cosmoline, laquer, wax is all bad stuff to have in a gun that you are trying to shoot.

 

[benEzra]

My wife's Russian SKS really likes the Wolf JHP's. No failures, ever (standard fixed 10-round magazine).

 

[El Rojo]

Here is another vote for your gun having a specific issue. My Russians have never had a problem with any of the FMJ or HPs I have fed it.

 

[DnPRK]

Replace the magazine assy with another one. That should cure the problem.

I had a mag assy that would only take 9 rounds and had feeding problems. I replaced it and now it takes 10 rounds and feeds flawlessly.

 

[jefnvk]

I shoot HP and FMJ with no problems. Never tried SP. Mine's a Yugo.

 

[Red Tornado]

Same with me. Mine's a Norinco, and no problems. HP, SP, FMJ, and it's all cheap Chinese surplus.
RT

 

[Bridger]

Ok, well, my Yugo SKS doesn't feed HP reliably. Maybe 5-8 out of 1000 rounds will sometimes get caught between the chamber and the end of the magazine. I just stick my finger in and reseat the round in the mag and let the bolt go. But FMJ is perfectly reliable for me, the HP just sometimes ends up with the bolt open and a round unchambered, not worth the hassle to me.

Haven't tried SP yet, but wouldn't mind using it for hunting even with those issues.

 

[mainmech48]

I'm also inclined toward some sort of problem with the magazine. I have four SKSes of different makes and all of them will feed any 7.62x39 that I care to stuff into them.

My only feeding difficulties came when I installed a 'drop-in' 20-rd. fixed mag from Keng's. Same sort of malfs that you describe on a seemingly-random basis. The fix came when I noticed that the feed lips of the replacement didn't fit the profile of the stock mag re: relationship to the receiver opening. It didn't present the cartridges the same way. When I modified (okay, bent) them to match the stocker's, the problems went away.

If your "Paratrooper" is one of those that uses detachable AK mags, I'd look at the latching mechanism to make sure that it's holding them in the correct position if simply trying a different make of magazine doesn't change things. IMO, the consistent positioning of the cartridges as they are presented for feeding is crucial for reliable functioning.

 

[MoeMentum]

is it a stock mag, or aftermarket? I think its a mag feed problem, these SKS rifles will shoot anything you give them with no problems.

 

[LoadedDrum]

Can some one with a norinco post a picture of the feed ramp?

What is in my gun does not look like a ramp of any sort. Also, the problem was almost exclusive to rounds on the left side of the stack in the magazine. Which means pretty much the even numbered rounds. As for parts, it is completely stock. The SP's were 150 gr for the Corbon and 154 for the Wolf. The HP's were 123 gr.

 

[Bridger]

Yeah I didn't see any feed ramp in my Yugo SKS either. The flat HP points would get caught just on the edge of the chamber, while the profile of the FMJ rounds feeds just fine.

After all, they were not designed to shoot HP or SP ammo now were they?

In my case my magazine is stock, and has been 100% reliable with FMJ.

 

[scout26]

I think Bridger nailed it. It would not feed HP's from the left and seriously deformed the nose of the SP bullets. It just doesn't look like there is a feed-ramp. But I don't know enough about former East Block firearms to have helped while we were out there. It is fun to shoot. (a little tough to get sighted in.), and I hope you find out how to get it to shoot the inexpensive stuff.