Few issues with my SKS

Morder

Morder

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It's my first gun so I don't have experience to know if what's happening is normal or not.

First of all, the gun has a weird wax look to it and all the parts are coated in oily brown stuff, I thought it was cosmo, maybe it is, but I decided to remove most of it and put my own oil.

After putting the spring in with the hollow circle facing the barrel, I use the cover to push it in place but sometimes it gives a bit of resistance and i need keep it in place to prevent it from bouncing off while I try to lock the thingy. Some other times it just sits in with no resistance at all. What is the right way?

I also noticed the bolt is really hard to pull back, could be me being too gentle but it also stop a cm before touching the rear sight block, I have to manually push it forward with a bit of force for it to fully chamber a round, I didn't actually test it but I would presume it wouldn't chamber it properly.

The mag is also impossible to remove. I removed the trigger, then I use a wedge to lift the mag a bit, but even with a vise grip, I couldn't pull it out so I decided to not break it and repack the whole thing.
 
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Check out the hundreds of you tubes on sks's. There should be some spring tension when installing the cover and the bolt should not be difficult to operate. Did you thoroughly clean all the cosmoline from the entire firearm when you bought it? Very important and a safety issue with the bolt.
 
Are you putting the spring in the same way each time? There tends to be a straight section and a curly section, the curly end goes into the back of the bolt carrier.
 
Hmm, sounds odd. Is the bolt spring in the right direction? Sqiggly end should be towards muzzle, straight end towards butt plate.
Make sure not to oil the gas piston system.
 
If you release the bolt very slowly, it probably won't close all the way. This is normal, and both my SKSs are the same. You don't have to be so gentle. Pull the bolt back hard, and just let it go. The spring will close it fully and chamber the round.

The mag should pivot pretty loosely with your trigger group removed.

Go to youtube and check out SKS disassembly videos. there are plenty of them.
 
As others have said, don't shoot the sks until properly cleaned and lubed, it is a surplus/ used rifle, look up sks cleaning on YouTube and watch at least 3 or 4 different ones, also at the top of this page are stickies, info on the sks and cleaning etc! Read before you shoot or you may be in a world of hurt!
 
I didn't remove the cosmoline at all, so it might be where my problem lies. I also put the spring on the wrong side, the bolt ain't too bad.
 
There is a library of info in the red rifle section. See the sticky posts and you'll find everything you need. Along with YouTube you'll probably get an info overload. BTW the best way to get the cosmo off the stock is in the dishwasher (ask the old lady first)
 
PinkyPlinker said:
Remove the bolt or lock it open before removing the mag.
Click to expand...

this...there are cutouts in the bolt that ride through the lips of the mag making it impossible to remove the mag with the bolt closed.

also for installing the cover, I will just push it on repeatedly until the main recoil spring falls into the back of the cover (you'll feel it) this should allow you to push the take down pin through with very little effort, this is the right way...

it should not be hard at all to pull the bolt carrier fully rearward, my 8 year old can do it...
 
I disassembled it again for cleaning this morning, the rifle is in pieces on my workbench but I can't remove the mag at all. I figured it might be the screws on the side of the stock? I'm a bit hesitant to unscrew them as all the videos I watched seem to pull the mag out with little to no effort.
 
Morder said:
I disassembled it again for cleaning this morning, the rifle is in pieces on my workbench but I can't remove the mag at all. I figured it might be the screws on the side of the stock? I'm a bit hesitant to unscrew them as all the videos I watched seem to pull the mag out with little to no effort.
Click to expand...

Did you take the trigger group out? You need to do that first to release the Mag.
 
open the mag 1/2 way, pull/shove/jerk it to the rear/butt. Keep trying that till it work's. Might have to open close the mag. Keep playing with it
 
Magazine should just drop out after trigger is removed and bolt is open or removed as well. Clean all cosmoline thoroughly from everything. Disassemble the bolt COMPLETLY to remove firing pin and clean it and the channel it sits in especially the first time(will require a punch)

First time took me few hours now i can completely strip and clean it after shooting corrosive in less than 30 min, 20 min if im really in a hurry.

Its built tough you wont break it just play with it till you get the hang of it.

Also NEVER oil the gas piston or the inside of the gas system/tube.
 
Mags can be tight. If trigger and bolt are out, knock the mag out from above. The tab at the front of the mag where it hooks in can be filed back so it isn't as tight. Go slow! You can't put metal back on!
 
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