I recently bought a yugo sks covered in cosmoline. I read up on how to clean it + disassemble and decided I was going to use mineral spirits to remove it. Every tutorial I watched showed the bolt cover pin just flipped up easily, I tried this on mine and left a huge scratch along the cover and main assembly. Is this normal or am I just an idiot? :banghead:
SKS question
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briansmithwins
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Normal and can't be avoided.
Have fun with the Cosmo.
BSW
Have fun with the Cosmo.
BSW
okiewita40
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I know my norinco has the nice arc from it.
pseudonymity
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Bolt cover pin = receiver cover pin? My SKS is Chicom, but I think the receiver and a bit of the cover is scratched from the indent on the pin.
While mentioning bolts - the most important place to clean in any SKS is the firing pin channel in the bolt - I recommend driving out the firing pin retainer pin in the bolt and just soaking the bolt in mineral spirits. Auto brake cleaner works well for the firing pin channel and other tight spaces as well like the sear rails. I would probably not use the brake cleaner on the gas block though - I am not sure if I would want that stuff in my bore, maybe just use some mineral spirits on a bore brush and maybe some aerosol CLP in there also.
While mentioning bolts - the most important place to clean in any SKS is the firing pin channel in the bolt - I recommend driving out the firing pin retainer pin in the bolt and just soaking the bolt in mineral spirits. Auto brake cleaner works well for the firing pin channel and other tight spaces as well like the sear rails. I would probably not use the brake cleaner on the gas block though - I am not sure if I would want that stuff in my bore, maybe just use some mineral spirits on a bore brush and maybe some aerosol CLP in there also.
bigfatdave
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The other toggles to take various parts off the gun will also leave scratches, it wasn't designed to be a collector's piece, it was designed as a battle rifle / infantry rifle for USE.
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briansmithwins
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I always shake the bolt before re-install it. If the firing pin doesn't rattle, strip and clean the bolt.
The one (and only) slam fire I ever had was from placinga cartridge in the chamber and letting the bolt drop.
Fortunately it this happened at the range and the 4 rules were being obeyed.
BSW
The one (and only) slam fire I ever had was from placinga cartridge in the chamber and letting the bolt drop.
Fortunately it this happened at the range and the 4 rules were being obeyed.
BSW
Jeff F
Member
I used kerosene to clean cosmoline. Just keep open flames away. Not flammable like gasoline but very combustible like mineral spirits, cheaper then mineral spirits and does a better job. $4 bucks a gallon.
browningguy
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Oven cleaner works great on the stock by the way.
WardenWolf
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Breakfree CLP will cut cosmoline and allow you to wipe it off cleanly. It has the additional benefit of lubricating at the same time.
SlowFuse
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Heat is also your friend with cosmoline. All Ive ever done with milsurps is leave them outside on a hot day and then wipe it down and begin regular "first time" cleaning. As someone said before, pay extra attention to the floating firing pin.
mljdeckard
Member
Yep. Cosmoline melts with heat and or steam.
I bought mine specifically to have to beat up. I don't care about the scratch mark. And by the way, if you install a Tech-Sight, it replaces that pin.
I bought mine specifically to have to beat up. I don't care about the scratch mark. And by the way, if you install a Tech-Sight, it replaces that pin.
browningguy,
Oven cleaner will strip the finish, I would not recommend it for just removing the cosmo. I used it on a Mosin Nagant 91/30 to strip the finish before refinishing.
I used an old tooth brush, Hoppes #9 and a rag to wipe clean the cosmoline from my two SKS's and Mosin Nagant. Worked great but required a second cleaning in a couple spots on the Mosin Nagant. Most any gun cleaner should work.
Oven cleaner will strip the finish, I would not recommend it for just removing the cosmo. I used it on a Mosin Nagant 91/30 to strip the finish before refinishing.
I used an old tooth brush, Hoppes #9 and a rag to wipe clean the cosmoline from my two SKS's and Mosin Nagant. Worked great but required a second cleaning in a couple spots on the Mosin Nagant. Most any gun cleaner should work.
IMHO boiling water works best and it heats up the metal and evaporates very quickly as well. Take the stock off and put all teh small parts in a pan of water and put them on the grill outside. Boil more water and pour it down the barrel. Done.
bigfatdave
Member
The REAL fun starts when you run a few hundred rounds down the pipe rapid fire, and cosmoline starts bleeding out of the stock and handguard all around the gas system.
Seriously, throw a cheap pair of work gloves in the case with the gun when you go to the range, that stuff is like getting hot oil on your skin, probably because it is hot oil on your skin.
Seriously, throw a cheap pair of work gloves in the case with the gun when you go to the range, that stuff is like getting hot oil on your skin, probably because it is hot oil on your skin.
When I cleaned the cosmo off of my SKS. I stripped everything down to parts and put all the wood in my oven set on warm (150ish). That slowly melted the cosmo off (be sure to put a drip pan in the bottom) but when my wife came home she nearly killed me. but the finish looks great and all the nasty cosmo is off.
as to the scratch yeah it happens, a real bummer on a nice looking SKS especially but it seems that on my Yugo it is unavoidable.
hope that helps
ID
BTW when I cleaned my Yugo out it took a can of mineral spirits, three cans of brake cleaner, 3 hours total in the oven for the wood parts, and about 5 hours total from initial teardown, to oiling, to putting it in my safe.
as to the scratch yeah it happens, a real bummer on a nice looking SKS especially but it seems that on my Yugo it is unavoidable.
hope that helps
ID
BTW when I cleaned my Yugo out it took a can of mineral spirits, three cans of brake cleaner, 3 hours total in the oven for the wood parts, and about 5 hours total from initial teardown, to oiling, to putting it in my safe.
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