Got Lucky

O

otter

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Eastern Ontario
They say:

1. Don't over oil your SKS, it'll make a mess.

2. When shooting corrosive ammo, clean right away.

Well... I got lazy. Went to the range about a month ago, shot a pile of Czech surplus and..... promptly put the gun away for a month, really, really, really meaning to get around to cleaning it. Today was the day and I had visions of the action being rusted shut. Pulled her out, NO rust. I think the only thing that saved me was oiling the hell out of her before she was put away last time. So much so that on the first five rounds, she puked oil up and onto my glasses when at the range the last time.

Okay, there was a tiny bit of rust on the piston... needed a little extra push to get it out. That's it, that's all.

Anyway... I think I dodged a huge bullet and am not going to neglect her again. Thank goodness the Chinese chrome the barrels on these.
 
It always depends on the humidity and location you stored your sks after shooting corrosive ammo. If you shoot it in desert where humidity is low, you may not notice any rust at all for months. If you shoot your sks during rain storm, youll find it start rusting few minutes after.
Oiling it is absolutely helps and more the better.
 
Oiling is always good.. Really all they need to run. I have a friend who owned one for 2 years. Only wiped down and oiled after shooting... Trigger group failed after 2 years.. took rifle apart cleaned, no rust... Put new trigger group in... Thing shoots fine still...
 
A buddy of mine was at the range a couple of weeks ago. His SKS was giving him trouble. The bolt stop wouldn't move. I took it to my place and stripped it down. Even though he swore he cleaned it, the firing pin spring was rusted, the bolt surface was rusted, the entire interior of the receiver was rusted, the bore (it's not chromed) was rusted and is now nicely pitted. Required rust remover and a couple of hours to get most of the corrosion out. The bore was pristine 6 months ago. The bolt stop spring was rusted and jammed.
The moral of the story is, you should probably clean your SKS when using ANY type of ammo.
 
Similar thing happened to me, OP, but it had been sitting in the gunsafe since last December - only cleaned it last weekend.

Absolutely no rust or anything on it, and I took it shooting before I cleaned it. I'm not going to be doing that again, as I was lucky.
 
If I shoot my SKS I clean and oil it twice. A second time for a once over kind of thing. If I don't think I'll get to shooting it again for more than a week or so after, I take it out and lightly oil it again.
 
points said:
The moral of the story is, you should probably clean your SKS when using ANY type of ammo.
Click to expand...

I agree, good habit to get into. Periodic cleaning if using non-corrosive, immediately after shooting if using corrosive. After cleaning, lube well. If storing for any length of time, lube generously and when you are ready to shoot again, you can always take the excess off.
 
I shoot two of my three SKS' in rotation with only corrosive ammo. The bores and actions get rinsed/sprayed/oiled at the range then a full strip and clean at home within a few hours.
I pull each one out as weeks pass and look them over for any issues.
 
points said:
A buddy of mine was at the range a couple of weeks ago. His SKS was giving him trouble. The bolt stop wouldn't move. I took it to my place and stripped it down. Even though he swore he cleaned it, the firing pin spring was rusted, the bolt surface was rusted, the entire interior of the receiver was rusted, the bore (it's not chromed) was rusted and is now nicely pitted. Required rust remover and a couple of hours to get most of the corrosion out. The bore was pristine 6 months ago. The bolt stop spring was rusted and jammed.
The moral of the story is, you should probably clean your SKS when using ANY type of ammo.
Click to expand...

Firing spring pin rusted? I've not shot my SKS yet but does the bolt need to be taken apart each time the rifle is fired with corrosive?
 
Whenever I shoot any of my Commi rifles with surplus ammo, I always give it the old hot water rinse/wipe then regular clean and oil as soon as I get home.

My favorite part is going back into the locker to double check 2 or so days later, I'm usually holding my breath until I verify that I actually cleaned it right and there's no rust lol

I shot my SVT40 at a milsurp competition in a very light/misting summer rain a few years back. About 60-70 rounds was all. Put it back in the case hung around the range until the end of the comp, maybe 3-4 hours, got home and the gas piston had started surface rusting as well as the chamber!!!

It happenes fast if there is enough humidity.
 
Here in Vancouver the humidity is the killer. There has forever been some myth about over-oiling a gun. Don't believe it. After a thourough cleaning I always douse the rife with oil and clean it up befor shooting. No rust. If you live in the prairies, you might get away with less preservation but the oil will not hurt it.
 
south eastern ontario here. We've had a cool damp summer and on hot days the humidity has pushed up to 90%. Best my ac can do on those humid days is a pull down to 55-60%. So she had the opportunity to rust. I did cringe when I pulled her out of the safe yesterday, but was surprised and these types of surprises are the best ones.
 
I had ammo that was sold as non corrosive so I didnt give it a great cleaning. The whole gas system got a little rusty and the bore two months after when I checked gave it a good cleaning it still works fine
 
ricohman said:
Firing spring pin rusted? I've not shot my SKS yet but does the bolt need to be taken apart each time the rifle is fired with corrosive?
Click to expand...

I think the most common fault I have found in rusty SKSs is the rusted firing pins. I found a 50 model that the firing pin spring was broken from rust.I take mine apart usually every other shoot. I have bought a few for very cheap because the bolt was rusted solid. I believe it is the most over looked part. The gasses blow out the chamber on these and SVTs and into the foward part of the breech. For the few minutes it takes it is well worth cleaning.
 
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