Should I or shouldn't I?

SKS come with rust preinstalled so no worry comrade!!!

And since its rusted u cant rust rust can you loader up with all the corrisive u want... but yea I have an SKS and shoot Corrosive its fine if u cant clean a gun well thats ur problem....
 
Strato50 said:
I do the same... corrosive is 6.50 a box while the non-corrosive goes for 9.00, I really don't mind spending the little extra for peace of mind.
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Hey Strato,
I was thinking the same. Problem is identifying the non- corrosive vs. the corrosive when coming as milsurp ammo. Unless you get AE, which will be more than $9 a box, you can't be really sure, can you? Or do you have an exact brand in mind that is 100% non- corrosive?
And you are the second person to warn me about multiplying SKSs....now I really can't wait to get to the store. They'll be open in an hour!!
 
Still alive said:
Hey Strato,
I was thinking the same. Problem is identifying the non- corrosive vs. the corrosive when coming as milsurp ammo. Unless you get AE, which will be more than $9 a box, you can't be really sure, can you? Or do you have an exact brand in mind that is 100% non- corrosive?
And you are the second person to warn me about multiplying SKSs....now I really can't wait to get to the store. They'll be open in an hour!!
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I have been using MFS brand. They sell it in Halifax Army Navy store for $9.00 a box but even with that I still always do a vigorous cleaning when I get home from the Range just to be sure, I am sure that using corrosive is fine too and many guys do with no problems so just make sure that you clean asap after a Range trip... really it just comes down to personal preference. I remember when I bought my first SKS it wasn't even a Month later I had to get another and then another...lol ....Now I am starting the same thing with the Mosin Nagant's.

btw- I will save you experiencing a nasty surprise..lol. When you disassemble your SKS for the first time there is an Gas Piston extension rod underneath the rear sight, when you go to take your Gas Cylinder off only move the take down latch upward high enough so you can take this Cylinder off first. Once you get the Cylinder off the Rifle, make sure that your hand or thumb is covering the hole where the the Cylinder was connected to before you push the take down latch up any further... or the spring and Rod inside will fly out of there like a bat out of hell as it is spring loaded.
 
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I DID IT!!!
Great thing when the store is only 10 mins. away!! Got the SKS for $330 tax in with 320 rds. of milsurp ammo. Good deal?
Sorry guys, now more questions from a milsurp newb!
First, the store said but could not confirm that I have a russian rifle. The stamp on the dust cover is a star with an arrow in it and dated 1953. All the serial numbers match. To all you pros out there, is mine a real Russkie gun?
Second, what does this famous cosmoline look like? My rifle was bought off the rack and not from a crate. It is greasey but not goopy. I've always envisioned cosmoline to look like vaseline, kinda gummy and in blobs, but my gun isn't like that. It really looks like some Hoppes and elbow grease with a rag will clean it up. Do I still need the hot water treament on it?
Lastly, should I do a full teardown ( good ole Youtube can help here!) before it goes bang on Boxing day??
 
Still alive said:
I DID IT!!!
Great thing when the store is only 10 mins. away!! Got the SKS for $330 tax in with 320 rds. of milsurp ammo. Good deal?
Sorry guys, now more questions from a milsurp newb!
First, the store said but could not confirm that I have a russian rifle. The stamp on the dust cover is a star with an arrow in it and dated 1953. All the serial numbers match. To all you pros out there, is mine a real Russkie gun?
Second, what does this famous cosmoline look like? My rifle was bought off the rack and not from a crate. It is greasey but not goopy. I've always envisioned cosmoline to look like vaseline, kinda gummy and in blobs, but my gun isn't like that. It really looks like some Hoppes and elbow grease with a rag will clean it up. Do I still need the hot water treament on it?
Lastly, should I do a full teardown ( good ole Youtube can help here!) before it goes bang on Boxing day??
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Welcome to the Dark side it is now official...lol ...What you have there is a 1953 Russian from the Tula Arms Plant. Yes do a full disassemble and clean all the gunk off it before you shoot!! Make sure you clean out the Bolt and firing pin channel make sure the Firing Pin rattles around in there freely....youtube is definitely your friend and there are a number of stickies in this forum as well as the members who are full of a wealth of knowledge to help you.
 
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Strato50 said:
Welcome to the Dark side it is now official...lol ...What you have there is a 1953 Russian from the Tula Arms Plant. Yes do a full disassemble and clean all the gunk off it before you shoot!! Make sure you clean out the Bolt and firing pin channel make sure the Firing Pins rattles around in there freely....youtube is definitely your friend and there are a number of stickies in this forum as well as the members who are full of a wealth of knowledge to help you.
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Thanks Strato for your help. Still need help on the cosmoline question... Do I have cosmoline, based on my description, or do I just have normal lube on the gun?

PS. Tearing it apart now with Youtube and CGN on the ipad! Talk about multitasking!!
 
Still alive said:
Thanks Strato for your help. Still need help on the cosmoline question... Do I have cosmoline, based on my description, or do I just have normal lube on the gun?

PS. Tearing it apart now with Youtube and CGN on the ipad! Talk about multitasking!!
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Sounds like Cosmoline....I took a pic off the net to give you an idea what it appears like.

6CosmolineParts_zps3c4054ff.jpg
 
Still alive said:
Nope!
Mine definitely does not look like that!! That looks disgusting!! Nothing brown and gloppy! Just greasy looking.
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Yours may of had the most of the Cosmoline removed already or it could be just grease so it shouldn't be to bad to clean up..... The pic is an extreme example but one of my Chinese SKS's came looking just like that...what a mess, took me hours to clean.
 
Still alive said:
How the H___did the Commies clean their AKs and Toks and SKSs during battle in crappy conditions? You would think with corrosive ammo and low budget " serfs" as Collector67 puts it, all these guns would have rusted out during use when they can't possibly have time to clean them thoroughly like we do with ours? Do they just junk them after use and pick up a new one? I can't see rusty barrels being very accurate?!
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All the troops in WWII used corrosive ammo, cleanup was done when practical or possible and most rifles were just fine most of the time. It's not like the ammo's filled with battery acid or anything.
 
Still alive said:
Nope!
Mine definitely does not look like that!! That looks disgusting!! Nothing brown and gloppy! Just greasy looking.
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Even if it looks clean do a detailed disassembly, making sure to take apart the bolt and physically scrub the firing pin and it's channel. When you put the bolt back together make sure not to oil the firing pin or channel if you're going to be shooting in the cold (and only very very lightly oil it in warm weather) because it can easily get sticky in there.

There's really only two gotchas to watch out for with SKS's; gunk in the firing pin channel and negative engagement of the sear and hammer. Both are easily prevented/fixed, I suggest reading this article: http://bsclem.8m.com/triggersafety.html

Good shooting and have fun!
 
Pop said:
Even if it looks clean do a detailed disassembly, making sure to take apart the bolt and physically scrub the firing pin and it's channel. When you put the bolt back together make sure not to oil the firing pin or channel if you're going to be shooting in the cold (and only very very lightly oil it in warm weather) because it can easily get sticky in there.

There's really only two gotchas to watch out for with SKS's; gunk in the firing pin channel and negative engagement of the sear and hammer. Both are easily prevented/fixed, I suggest reading this article: http://bsclem.8m.com/triggersafety.html

Good shooting and have fun!
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Thanks Pop and Strato for your kind words and help.
I am having trouble removing the firing pin assembly. I shook the unit and can hear and see the pin moving. The cross bolt locking in the pin seems to be stuck. Tried using a punch but just leaving scratches. Can I just boil the whole thing in hot water and hope for the best without taking it apart further?
 
Strato50 said:
Yours may of had the most of the Cosmoline removed already or it could be just grease so it shouldn't be to bad to clean up..... The pic is an extreme example but one of my Chinese SKS's came looking just like that...what a mess, took me hours to clean.
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And you bought more of them??LOL!! You must be a real cleaning freak!! Just kidding, friend!
 
Still alive said:
Thanks Pop and Strato for your kind words and help.
I am having trouble removing the firing pin assembly. I shook the unit and can hear and see the pin moving. The cross bolt locking in the pin seems to be stuck. Tried using a punch but just leaving scratches. Can I just boil the whole thing in hot water and hope for the best without taking it apart further?
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If you give it a good boil and it rattles freely it should be okay, and you might find it easier to take the pin out after that too. After the first few times taking it apart that pin will get easier to punch out.
 
If you have a look at pictures from the syrian civil war youll see many guys use a tin of gasoline and a tooth brush to clean their aks. Not sure how much attention their barrels get but the cleaning kit is right there. Thats why i love the sks, everything to maintain it is right there.
 
Still alive said:
And you bought more of them??LOL!! You must be a real cleaning freak!! Just kidding, friend!
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lol.......I am a slow learner, That retaining pin can be a bugger to get out...you may have a punch that comes with the cleaning kit that is stored in the stock... I know one of my Chinese Rifles did. If so use a vise or a block of would and tap the retaining pin out of the Bolt after that the Pin will just drop out.....sometimes you really have to whack those little suckers to get them moving...However like Pop said... if you boil it well you should be okay as long as it rattles.
 
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