SKS - re-attaching mag & trigger assembly

[bender]

I'm trying to do this... and gettin' frustrated. Before my son hears some new vocabulary words... thought I would post here.

I'm trying to insert the 5-round mag back in an SKS (chinese) and then attach the trigger assembly behind it. I just can't get 'em to fit together right.

Here's what I'm doing: the rifle is fully assembled except for the mag & trigger assembly. I have it cocked, and the trigger assembly safety on safe - if that matters. I am putting the mag in the bottom well, trying to make sure the front notch on the mag fits with the lug on the bottom of the barrel. I "squeeze" the mag and the rifle together till it seems it clicks in place. However, it seems like the back of the mag (towards the trigger) is out too far (not down in enough). I try to stick the trigger assembly in anyway, but I can't get it "squeezed" in enough for the trigger dissassembly pin to pop back in place. Besides that, the front of the trigger assembly in NOT going over the edge at the back of the mag like its supposed to.

I took the trigger assembly & mag off about 6 or 7 years ago - just one time. Now I am finally trying to put 'em back on!!

 

[grimjaw]

Can you post a couple of pics with the whole thing assembled as much as you can get it?

I once had a problem reseating a trigger group that I had removed from an SKS. For some reason the edge of the trigger guard that fits down into the rear groove (over the spring) had moved, and the pin that catches the group wouldn't stay latched. I ended up dremeling out a bit of wood in the groove to make it deeper, and that fixed things up.

jmm

 

[joneb]

The safty needs to be engauged to release and reinstall the trigger group.

 

[bender]

ok, I thought so. but I do have the safety on.

I took a couple pics, how do I upload them?

 

[jklinstein]

Getting the lask "click" is a bit of a "trick". I know that if I have not worked on it in a while I lose my touch and think something's wrong, then I find the right way to squeeze the receiver to trigger group and it snaps in place without a problem.

 

[bender]

actually I got the trigger assembly to "click" in once or twice... but the mag still "falls out" afterwards. The trigger assembly isn't holding the mag somewhere.

 

[grimjaw]

Falls out which end, barrel or butt? If it just the magazine that falls out or the trigger group, too?

There's a catch protruding from the underside of the barrel/receiver that the front part of the mag hooks into. Once that's hooked in, you usually press the mag down and it slots into place. Sometimes there's some slop to that process and the mag won't fit correctly. This is especially pronounced with commercial aftermarket types.

The two pins on the forward part of the trigger group should slot in, and the tongue that sticks out holds the magazine in place. If it's just the magazine that's falling out, it's not seated properly. If it's both, then sounds like the trigger group isn't seated properly, or both.

jmm

 

[rustymaggot]

your not getting the mag in correctly. open the mag and let the outer part swing out. it attaches to the inner part anyway and you dont need it closed to assemble. the trigger assembly has little pins that stick out on the sides that hold the mag assembly in. hope this helps a little.

 

[bender]

yeah the trigger assembly has pins sticking out the sides of the front, however the pins don't appear to have anything to do with the mag. On the front bottom of the trigger assembly, underneath the pins, there's a mag release thingy that goes over a lip on the back of the mag.

ok, I'm trying again...

I GOT IT !!!!

Turns out the problem was that the bolt needed to be held back so the mag could "drop in" correctly. Trigger assembly went back in, with a whack from the palm of my hand... sheesh, kind of need 3 hands...

hope it doesn't fall apart when I shoot it...

 

[grimjaw]

The bolt is normally the last thing to go in when I detail strip.

jmm

 

[bender]

ok, but it wasn't detail stripped, just the trigger and mag were off the bottom. Now that I know how to do it, will be easy next time.

thanks!

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Suggestion:

Do this operation a couple times a day for a few weeks. Seriously. Then the "touch" to do it correctly will become a habit, and you won't get frustrated next time you do it for a real purpose.

 

[>SHOCK<^>WAVE<]

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/carbine/index.asp

 

[bender]

that's a great link, thanks SHOCK WAVE. I bookmarked it for future reference.

At a gun show today, I bought ten 10-round stripper clips. Just got through practicing loading with them.... very weird, if you're used to US military rifles. Still, after some practice I got used to it, and it became faster.

Last time I shot the gun was back in the early 90s. I remember it being very accurate at 100 yds, or maybe it was beginner's luck

 

[silverlance]

well that's easy to fix

just don't ever completely disassemble the gun. all i ever clean is the bolt group, chamber, and barrel. i swab around the reciever a little bit.

it's an SKS, buddy, not a Steyr AUG. you gotta slap that rifle around some.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Heh...I just buttstroke it into place using an M48.

After making sure the front end of the magazine is properly seated in that little lip.

 

[Deles136]

I just finished re-assembling my SKS and I remembered to lay the 20 round magazine to one side while I attached the trigger group to the receiver. I inserted the front end of the group in the space for it and smacked the trigger guard hard with my hand and it snapped in place.When I finished that job I then put the muzzle end of the barrel on the carpet in my shop and held the rifle upright while I pulled back on the bolt while I picked up the magazine and inserted the front of it under the catch and then I snapped the rear of the mag back under the spring loaded clip which I held back with my fourth hand. This takes two more hands that I have so I should have removed the bolt first but I have help so it was no problem. I remembered changing mags at the range and having to get some help. Remove the top rear cover at the back of the receiver first and then remove the spring and bolt. Then the mag will go in easy if you insert the front end first and then hold back on the spring loaded clip and press the rear of the mag down.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

When I finished that job I then put the muzzle end of the barrel on the carpet in my shop and held the rifle upright while I pulled back on the bolt while I picked up the magazine and inserted the front of it under the catch and then I snapped the rear of the mag back under the spring loaded clip which I held back with my fourth hand.

Take a breath! You're turning blue.

 

[BoySetsTheFire]

Glad you got it! The SKS is so simple to break down and reassemble, but the first time there is always a learning curve. After that, you will be able to do it blindfolded. Also, when reinstalling, while pushing down on the trigger group with your right hand, also push slightly forward towards the barrel with your left thumb to make it click in easier.

It's good to always take the gun out of the wood when cleaning. Gun solvents, especially those with ammonia for dissolving copper, will take the shellac off the wood.

Don't you just love your SKS!