Loose rivets on SKS magazine

Sporting Lad

Sporting Lad

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I ordered an SKS mag from Lever Arms and it showed up with a bad case of the wobblies.
I need to align the box carefully within the well when closing, then the follower wobbles so much that it
rises above where it should be when empty, creating cycling problems. I wrote to Lever but
got no reply. I have not tried calling them yet; the handguard/gas tube assy them sent me
had been altered such that it also wobbles at its aft end. Seems like their spare parts may
all be worn out/defective leftovers. Well, at least the rifle still shoots with the wobbly gas tube.

I'm hoping to fix the mag by tightening the two rivets that have loosened over the years.
I tried bashing them between anvil and hammer with no result. Squeezing them in the vise
also did nothing.
It there a special tool used to smoosh rivet heads flatter, or should I just try using a bigger
hammer?
 
Are you using these parts on a Russian SKS?
The parts you ordered are Chinese FYI and they are spare parts. I have installed two of their gas tubes and one blueing is gone, but both function just fine with some fitting.
No experience with their mags though.

Lever gets a bad rap for their ammo debacle but I couldnt care less about that. They have been just fine with me, and I'd rather deal with them than Marstar that's for sure.
 
Normally when you install a rivet the punch pulls the back forward and the front what ever it is called I cannot remember is forced back and the pin is expanded to fit... hammer will not work. and this is why when you loose the suicide pin from your magazines everyone gets nerves all shaky.
 
I am using these parts on a Chinese SKS (not that it matters in this instance). I know the parts are Chinese; I made sure of it before I ordered. Yes, these are 'spare parts', but these ones are very worn. The pieces of the Lever mag jiggle, the same pieces of my Tula do not. The tolerances of this Chinese mag are such that, about half the time, the follower hangs up after loading about three cartridges. When the mag is emptied the projection at the rear of the follower fails to stop at the mag's lips, but comes up beyond the designed limit of its travel.
The parts are too loose. I was hoping there might be a way to tighten it up. Sounds like there's not.
 
Secondgunman said:
Normally when you install a rivet the punch pulls the back forward and the front what ever it is called I cannot remember is forced back and the pin is expanded to fit... hammer will not work. and this is why when you loose the suicide pin from your magazines everyone gets nerves all shaky.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about a POP rivet?
 
New diagnosis!

OK. A closer look shows that the rivet is not "loose"--it's the holes in the mag body where the rivet passes thru that are over-sized.
Of course, it might also be that the rivet has been worn thin from constant use. I won't know until I drift the existing rivet(s) out
and examine the holes. It could be that we'll need larger diameter rivets if the holes have grown larger. If it's a case of worn rivets
then replacing them with the same size should work.
 
I have a factory (Russian) mag I'll give you if you want. I got it from Lever and it's good. Once I get an sks, first thing I do is get rid of that P.O.S. and put on a cool looking banana! I've bought at least 7 sks rifles from Lever over the years and I've never seen one that appeared to have riveting done a wile back and got used to the point of being loose. They have always been refurbished rifles and not used since refurbishment. PM me if you want the mag. Just pay the shipping.
 
That's a very generous offer that will save me untold hours of decking around trying to get this POS to work properly, so I accept.
Thx so much! Standby for incoming.
BTW-- It's better I get a Russian mag than a Chinese.
Thanks again,
Tom
 
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