Yugo SKS 59/66 problem... need input

[lsudave]

I have a nice 59/66, all matching, got it back when it was still cheap, paid 200 for it. Has functioned like a champ, up until now. I'm trying to figure out what happened, what to do, etc, to fix the issue and keep it safe.

Here's what happened (second hand info, my son took it to the range):

Firing Wolf steel cased (all I've ever used), gun was running well, and then, in his words:
"the rifle went nuts".
He said there was a double fire, and the impression that there was a lot of fire/smoke from the action, not the muzzle. And then the bolt was jammed back. He emptied the magazine from the bottom release, and said there was a casing stuck in the chamber.

In examining it- the stock and the exterior look fine. in disassembling it, the bolt assembly otherwise looks fine, but the firing pin was bent, and sticking out the rear (towards where the spring is). I actually was able to pull the firing pin out by hand.

I picked up another firing pin, and took the assembly apart, and placed the new pin where it is supposed to go. I'm not an expert, this isn't specifically a Yugo pin... fwiw there is no spring or evidence there ever was one.

Now to my naked and untrained eye, the reassembled mechanics of it look good. I don't see any evidence that there was any damage or breakage/cracks to any part of the bolt or carrier. I drove the retaining pin out to disassemble it, and after placing the new pin in, drove the retaining pin back in, and the firing pin does rattle around, "free floating". It sure doesn't seem like it's able to come out the rear again.

My deductive reasoning of what happened- it sounds like a pierced primer, which allowed the cartridge to expel the charge back into the bolt assembly (I imagine the firing pin channel in particular). This accounted for the "smoke and fire" from the rifle's action, not the muzzle; and this fouled up the pin and initially jammed it forward, so it resulted in the firing of the next chambered round. Part of the pin must have sheared so it would be free to exit the rear of the assembly, and then it bent as it exited. There was some slivers of metal in the internals, which I cleaned out extensively, and now it "looks" good.

I'd like to be able to shoot this gun again, as it otherwise looks great, but I'm leery that it maybe a danger. What do I look at, to ensure it's safe?

Thanks

 

[adcoch1]

First, check the bore and make sure there isn't an obstruction ( like a bullet, or a broken case body stuck in the chamber), then see if it will chamber a spent casing and close all the way. If it will and you are still concerned, tie the gun down to an old tire, or the bench etc, and fire it from distance with a string.

 

[adcoch1]

It really does sound like a primer or case head failure...

 

[hdwhit]

Are you sure you have the whole story of what happened from your son?

 

[lsudave]

Are you sure you have the whole story of what happened from your son?

Yeah, he's really pretty open and honest about things.

He took the SKS with some other guns, and what he said was very clear. They shot some pistols, had a mag problem with one of them.

The SKS was for recreation, as he normally shoots a Mosin and a Mauser, and he didn't want his shoulder to beat up too badly this session. Said regarding the SKS, they fired a couple of mags full (stock 10 rd integral), and on the 3rd go round, there was good firing for several shots, then it occurred- a quick double fire (I take that as a slam-fire), with the appearance of smoke and fire at the action of the gun. He told me he thought the gun "blew up" at first. He said there was an empty case stuck in the chamber, failed to eject, that he said got turned around in the chamber somehow. Said the episode scared the hell out of him, he called me as soon as it happened, and came straight home.

I see absolutely no evidence that he did anything wrong or out of the ordinary. If you're suggesting that he did, can you explain what else might have happened- I mean, what else might this be?

added- maybe a squib?

 

[lsudave]

First, check the bore and make sure there isn't an obstruction ( like a bullet, or a broken case body stuck in the chamber), then see if it will chamber a spent casing and close all the way. If it will and you are still concerned, tie the gun down to an old tire, or the bench etc, and fire it from distance with a string.

So- yeah, regarding the SKS- when he brought it home, we broke it down and cleaned it. The barrel is clear, and it was when he came home. The barrel does not appear to have any bulge or damage to it. He was shooting indoors at a 25 yd range, using splatter targets, and he said both that he did see new yellow holes appear after each good shot, and that each shot was normal and had the customary fire/smoke from the muzzle (so I'm comfortable that there wasn't a squib round stuck in the barrel).

Regarding the incident=
He was explicit about there being smoke coming out of the gun, not just at the ejection port... I just asked him, and he indicated that smoke came out:
the rear housing (where the takedown lever is)
the magazine well downwards
the trigger assembly downwards
the barrel/muzzle

pretty violent puff of smoke, and he said it persisted for a few seconds afterwards.

I asked him if he "felt" it when it came out the trigger assembly, and he said he wasn't sure, at the time he was more worried that he still had all his fingers. He definitely didn't get burned or have any metal hit him.

That day, we got some brake cleaner, and I broke the gun down to take it out of the stock, and hosed everything down good. The trigger assembly looks intact with no damage, as does the magazine assembly.

added- it does chamber a snap cap. and the new firing pin rattles freely, and doesn't protrude unless I shake the gun around.
Forgive me for not chambering a live round inside my house to check right now

 

[lsudave]

Also- I did ask him, after he got home, if he brought the empty cases home or took a good look at them. He didn't, but now we both know to do so from here on out, especially if there is another issue.

BTW- yay, I got a Norinco all matching online for a decent price (right at $300 after shipping and FFL), and my FFL said I just got the "proceed" today after being delayed on Monday. Going to pick it up right now. Gun is all matching serials, very clean, doesn't have a bayonet, 20xxxxxx numbers. I'll have to post some pics of the two rifles after we get it home.

 

[George Dickel]

I suggest taking it to a reputable (I know, hard to find one) gunsmith and pay him a few bucks to look it over. I agree tying it to a tire would be one way to determine if it will function or blow up. However, if there is something a gunsmith might find that could prevent blowing the gun up, and save a favored rifle, I think you would be dollars ahead. When you have something that could cause serious injury or worse, I think it would be advisable to have a competent gunsmith give it a green light.

 

[lsudave]

Agreed on the suggestion of having a gunsmith lay eyes on it; there's a guy I will hunt down to do so. I had him look over an old Argentine Mauser before I shot it. He used to work at a shop near my house, but we had a pretty bad flood last year and lots of people got displaced (I was lucky).

I will shortly post the Norinco photos, and I am very VERY pleased with that purchase now, after picking the rifle up. "Clean" is a misnomer; it's actually dirty on the inside mechanicals... but it looks like it's been fired maybe 50-100 times in it's lifetime. Appears to have 1 small ding on the stock. Every piece is matching number. The takedown lever on the rear housing was stiff, as is the lever to get to the gas piston... this Chinese rifle appears to have been bought brand new, shot, and then just cleaned inside the barrel. It does not have a sling or a bayonet, but it does have the cleaning kit inside the stock. The entire gun has a coat of light oil, on the cleaning kit as well as everything else.

 

[Ignition Override]

Isudave:

By now you realize that it was probably a 'popped primer' issue, which doesn't sound as serious as it can be. Both of my Yugo M59s (a 59 is not a 59/66) had these, and one was violent.

The rifle blasted the firing pin completely Out the rear, clear of the bolt!

Mr. Murray of Murray's Gunsmithing in Bowie TX has his Own forum at SKSboards.
He permanently cured both of my Yugos for about $40 each, two years ago. The problem is solved. Murray's (legally from a smith) ship the gun(s) directly to your Front Door.

He seemed to explain that certain batches of Yugos and even other origins appear to have less chamber 'free space', and the bullet engages the chamber before it is clear enough of the case, creating higher gas pressure inside the case than is normal in other SKS.
My ammo was Tula, and the combination of a possible ammo glitch and chamber free space could explain what your gun experienced. Murray's work was definitely worth the modest charge plus shipping. Both rifles have been perfect with Wolf and Tula, except for One stovepipe jam....yes...using Tula. But otherwise perfect.

Just trivia here, but AKs Never have popped primers, for anybody 'on the fence', in the market.

 

[lsudave]

Isudave:

By now you realize that it was probably a 'popped primer' issue, which doesn't sound as serious as it can be. Both of my Yugo M59s (a 59 is not a 59/66) had these, and one was violent.

The rifle blasted the firing pin completely Out the rear, clear of the bolt!

Mr. Murray of Murray's Gunsmithing in Bowie TX has his Own forum at SKSboards.
He permanently cured both of my Yugos for about $40 each, two years ago. The problem is solved. Murray's (legally from a smith) ship the gun(s) directly to your Front Door.

He seemed to explain that certain batches of Yugos and even other origins appear to have less chamber 'free space', and the bullet engages the chamber before it is clear enough of the case, creating higher gas pressure inside the case than is normal in other SKS.
My ammo was Tula, and the combination of a possible ammo glitch and chamber free space could explain what your gun experienced. Murray's work was definitely worth the modest charge plus shipping. Both rifles have been perfect with Wolf and Tula, except for One stovepipe jam....yes...using Tula. But otherwise perfect.

Just trivia here, but AKs Never have popped primers, for anybody 'on the fence', in the market.

Ignition Override- yeah, I'm fairly confident that the issue was a "popped primer", roughly on a par with the one you describe. As I stated, my firing pin was out the back of the bolt and bent like a crescent. I had to look up how to disassemble the bolt in order to put the new one in.

I think Murray's might be the route I will go to fix this.

 

[lsudave]

I know I'm hijacking my own thread, but as I examine the new-to-me Chinese SKS (and watch some college baseball on the tube)...

info using this site as a guide

• factory code 6602
• serial # actually 23xxxxxx, i guess that makes it a 1979?
• short barrel lug
• bayonet lug- no lightening cut, with screw
• 2 piece gas tube
• rear sight leaf- 3
• early rear sight base
• no lightening cut on bolt carrier
• milled trigger guard assembly
• wooden stock and gas tube cover; cut out for bayonet is for spike
• rear sling mount is bottom

Missing: bayonet, sling
present: cleaning kit in the buttstock, cleaning rod.

Numbers: matching receiver, rear housing, stock, magazine, gas piston, bolt carrier, bolt, rear sight leaf, trigger guard (might be more, as I examine it).

Import mark (?) on the right side- Shaanxi China, with a faint CA beneath it.

No cosmoline anywhere, just a light coat of oil.

added- I'm very pleased with this new addition to the family... I got the Yugo for $200 way back. The way the market has gone, I've seen a lot of mismatched frankenguns going for over $300, sometimes well over that locally (the LGS has them for $450 and nothing matches). I got this one for $280+sh+ffl, and after cleaning it, it's almost pristine/NIB condition. I get that there's no war history to it, but it's definitely a well-made rifle, and has been well cared for.

 

[easy]

Go here - http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php

All you ever want to know about SKS rifles.

 

[Ignition Override]

The first M59 went to the small UPS Store for shipping. They never asked about the contents (barreled receiver with no bolt).

When the second M59 went about eight months later, the lady said "Oh, this looks like there might be a rifle inside", but she never looked me in the eye.
I either lied about it as she looked down, or never responded to her calm, almost idle comment. The total, per rifle, including Murray's and round trip shipping to my front door was about $80.

To repeat what was stated in prev. remarks, they ship from the gun smith directly to your Front Door.

easy: "SKSboards": It's always puzzling how so many other SKS owners don't seem to be aware of that excellent website.
You guys know that the First Russian SKS rifles had springs for the firing pins? Murray's can also install a spring and prevent slam fires.

 

[easy]

Yeah, weird isn't it?

 

[Scooter22]

Sounds like he had a slam fire out of battery. He pulled the trigger and fired the chambered cartridge. Then the new cartridge fired while being fed letting gas by it and kicking the bolt back before the exstractor grabbed the rim leaving the case in the chamber. Probably had a stuck FP or sensitive primer. You replaced the FP and it's free to rattle. Shouldn't have a problem. My first SKS, a uninsured Tula. Put all 3 rounds downrange when dropping the bolt first time I tried it. I was ignorant of the stuck FP problem. I never did that again. LOL