SKS trouble

Jim Jones

January 05, 2003 12:05

I have a SKS that only shoots one shell then either partly ejectes it and jams,or don't even try to kick it out. The rod gets hung up in the gas tube..won't slide freely have cleaned it out really good,but it still don't slide freely...Is this my problem,or should I be looking at something else other than the gas tube? This is my first SKS... Oro

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  Jim Jones

  January 05, 2003 12:05

  I've started practicing with this gun again recently, and something's wrong. A few days ago it was firing fine with some winchester rounds. After cleaning it and and buying some remington UMC rounds, i took it out again. Now for some reason it's firing off 2 rounds at a time. one of the third rounds i unloaded also had a small indent from the pin in it, but not enough to fire the round. What's the problem, a weakened hammer part? And what damage do think it could've done?

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  Mobuck

  January 05, 2003 12:13

  Take the bolt out again and make sure it is well cleaned and lightly oiled. It sounds like the firing pin is lodging in the forward position and slam firing. Clean and lightly oil the trigger group also. I had a "trigger job" done on an SKS some years ago and had problems with doubles unless the trigger was lubed with rem oil.
  
  Mobuck

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  kingjoey

  January 05, 2003 13:54

  One of three problems:
  1: As posted before, firing pin dirty/lacking lube
  2: Slamfire due to soft primers, try Russian or milspec ammo. They have hard primers designed for use with the AK and SKS rifle which doesn't have a firing pin spring.
  3: Trigger group or sear damaged from wear or dirt. Remove, clean, and lube trigger group and test. If you try 1 & 2 and still have problems let me know. I can show you how to disassemble and repair the trigger group. It is not easy nor fun.

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  maggiethecat

  January 05, 2003 15:59

  or you can even buy an entire trigger/hammer group from cheaper than dirt. here it is.
  
  http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product.asp?sku=SKS-100&mscssid=41U5KPNLT44C9L9HGJCLD7WWQE9PBTC1
  
  
  
  SGT RRG
  
  The greatest happiness is to see your enemy scattered before you, to see his village in ashes, and to gather to your bed his wives and daughters.-Genghis Khan 1226

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  competentone

  January 05, 2003 20:06

  What the others have already suggested--particularly the suggestion on using some of the foreign military spec. ammo.
  
  Also, a few years back there was some attorney running an ad regarding Chinese SKS's having problems doubling or going "full auto"--I think he/the firm was looking toward a some type of class action suit, though I don't know who they'd be suing. (The importer? Chinese government? Firearms retailers?)
  
  You may want to try a general web search if your SKS is Chinese.

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  Jim Jones

  January 05, 2003 20:27

  I took out the bolt and gave the firing pin and everything a good cleaning and some oil, guess i'll see how it goes tomorrow afternoon. I noticed the primers were really soft, too, it was like the pin was nearly punching a hole through it. If the first doesn't give me any results, i'll try some foreign milspec ammo.
  (and btw, the rifle is Chinese)

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  ShinJubei

  January 06, 2003 03:23

  i was about to say, could be a bad run of ammo too perhaps
  
  i usually fire wolf. never had any probs out of it

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  lrarmsx

  January 06, 2003 04:53

  The use of US made commercial ammo is not recommended. The standard commercial primer can be set off by the momentum of the firing pin coming forward as the bolt comes to a stop in the closed position. The SKS does not use a firing pin spring. Use the harder primered imported ammo and your problem will most likely disappear. You could also have some fouling on your sear in the trigger group itself, which could cause the problem, but I'd bet it is the use of the commercial softer primered ammo.

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  beantole

  January 06, 2003 06:54

  I have extensive experience with SKS trigger groups (no bragg---just fact) and I agree with the comments above. Here is my advice too:
  
  1. Use military ammo only, like Wolf Russian ammo. The primers are harder.
  2. clean and oil the trigger group and firing pin.
  3. If that does not work spend $40-$50. at TAPCO or Cheaper than dirst and buy a new trigger group. Try to get a milled triiger group rather than a stamped trigger group.
  
  Unfortunately, slam fires as you have described are not uncommon on an SKS.
  
  Bruce

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  v35

  January 06, 2003 07:05

  My money is on slam fire due to firing pin inertia on soft U.S. commercial primers.
  Use mil surplus or Russian ammo.

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  Jim Jones

  January 06, 2003 10:44

  I fired it again and still had slam fires, though not as frequent. I'll try some different ammo.

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