SKS mag seating and new gas tube install

[N3rday]

A couple of questions. First: the 10 round fixed mag on my SKS. When I pull on the front part of the magazine, it will actually come out quite a bit, though it won't detach and can easily be pushed back in. When I use the mag release, however, it swings out normally and doesn't seem abnormal in any way. Is this normal?

Second, how should I go about filing the end of the synthetic gas tube I ordered? Just take a file to it and file in small increments?

 

[mainmech48]

My guess is that your magazine is either not installed correctly, or the lip on the forward end of the housing which engages the notched block on the receiver is very worn or damaged.

IIWY, I'd first check to make sure that the number on your mag matches the receiver. Then remove the trigger group assembly and check to be sure that the lip on the magazine and its corresponding engagement lug on the receiver are not damaged or excessively worn. Then check to see that it is inserted into the notch fully. You can check for this by pulling on the forward end of the magazine before reinstalling the trigger group. Movement should be negligable.

It is sometimes possible to seat a magazine fully enough at the rear for the trigger group to be installed while the forward portion is not seated properly. It's also possible that a mismatched magazine assembly would be a sloppy fit, but even then it shouldn't move around much more than a small fraction of an inch.

At worst you might have to buy a new magazine and fit it yourself. Not a biggie if you're carefull and patient.

Do all of your material removal on the gas tube at the rear where it engages the rear sight/transfer rod housing. Work in small increments and recheck the fit often. If your old gas tube fit well, use it as a pattern to show you where material needs to be removed and what angle(s) need to be maintained. Fit doesn't have to be super-tight, but should be snug at the forward end where it fits over the gas port lug.

Hope this is of some help.

 

[N3rday]

Thanks! Yes, the magazine moves by much more than a fraction of an inch, though I cannot just pull the entire magazine out. I DID find it oddly easy to reinstall the magazine and trigger assembly after i took them apart, so I'm assuming the error is mine until found otherwise.