I've been trying to convince a buddy of mine to get one, but he's dead set against it because of "slamfire issues". I honestly never heard the term before then (I'm new to the SKS, and only put about a hundred rounds through mine), and never had the issue. He said he knows of a lot of people who have them at least once when they go to the range. I don't know if he's full of crap, or if I'm just lucky. Anyone else experience them and are they that common?
How common are slamfires on an SKS?
- Thread starter DVX
- Start date
There is an upgrade kit that adds a spring to the firing pin to reduce the possibility of slam fires. My 1950 sks had a factory spring, but they went floating pin after 51' or something like that.
Most slam fires happen when the rifle is new...people don't clean the cosmoline out of the bolt properly and the pin can get locked in place. As stated, keep it clean and lubes (especially with corrosive ammo!!!) and it is a fantastic (cheap!) rifle. Everybody done loves themselves some sks!
Most slam fires happen when the rifle is new...people don't clean the cosmoline out of the bolt properly and the pin can get locked in place. As stated, keep it clean and lubes (especially with corrosive ammo!!!) and it is a fantastic (cheap!) rifle. Everybody done loves themselves some sks!
- Location
- Lac Pelletier Sask
clean and dry the bolt, or get the spring kit,, no issues
dragonbait
Regular
- Location
- Port Coquitlam, BC
Like others have said, make sure the bolt is clean. Most issues occur because the cosmo is not cleaned out of the firing pin channel and/or oil gets in there during cleaning which attracts more gunk.
Your buddy is confused. Slam fires are caused primarily by improperly loaded ammo, not the rifle. Usually high primers. Mind you, not cleaning the shipping perservative(it's not actually cosmoline, but that doesn't matter) out of the bolt can do it too.
At least 4,000 rounds through mine....never an issue. It has a free floating firing pin but the cheap ammo has hard military primers.
By comparison an AR-15 has a free floating firing pin and most of the stuff I've put through mine and others have put through theirs is new commercial production with softer primers. Does a problem with slamfires in AR-15s exist? No.
The myth of the SKS being "prone" to slamfires is only as true as gun owners are "prone" to being lazy and/or ignorant of the effects of corrosive ammunition. If you shoot corrosive ammunition and do not clean the gun, the firing pin may rust into place and cause a slamfire. Maintain the gun and there will be no problems.
By comparison an AR-15 has a free floating firing pin and most of the stuff I've put through mine and others have put through theirs is new commercial production with softer primers. Does a problem with slamfires in AR-15s exist? No.
The myth of the SKS being "prone" to slamfires is only as true as gun owners are "prone" to being lazy and/or ignorant of the effects of corrosive ammunition. If you shoot corrosive ammunition and do not clean the gun, the firing pin may rust into place and cause a slamfire. Maintain the gun and there will be no problems.
I have not had a slam fire on my SKS or my father in laws SKS, granted they are only "a few months" old (a few months to us anyway, thanks Russia!).
But before I had my SKS and I was waiting for it in the mail, someone at the range offered to let my wife and I use his (we had ammo for it already). Every time we released the bolt on his SKS it would fire (like 2x before we gave up), it took my wife a few range trips to trust my SKS after that!
But before I had my SKS and I was waiting for it in the mail, someone at the range offered to let my wife and I use his (we had ammo for it already). Every time we released the bolt on his SKS it would fire (like 2x before we gave up), it took my wife a few range trips to trust my SKS after that!
- Location
- The Badlands
Slam fires are really a non-issue with SKSs if the rifle is kept cleaned and maintained......
clean is the ticket, never an issue, a simple visual inspection before each shooting session will generally guarantee you are good to go, open the bolt, hold the gun verticle and look at the pin if the barrel is aimed up, the firing pin needs to be in, turn the rifle 180 degrees, so barrel is aiming at the ground and pin should be out, this has now told you your firing pin is moving freely and you wont have an issue, buy one they are great!!!!
- Location
- Lethbridge
Well, with the free-floating firing pin in the SKS you can get slamfires if the pin channel is full of crud and the pin is no longer floating. Keep it clean and it won't happen. When going to the range I always pull the bolt carrier and shake it. If the pin rattles freely, you won't get a slamfire.
Attilathecanuk
CGN Regular
- Location
- On the way to Onoway
Kept it clean and you will not have issues. I too have fired many hundreds of rounds through mine and NEVER had a problem.
At all.
Ever.
Except the barrel gets hot and I burned my fingers.
But that's it.
At all.
Ever.
Except the barrel gets hot and I burned my fingers.
But that's it.
I've run 3000-4000rds of Berdan-primed ammo and about 500rds of Boxer-primed ammo, never had a slamfire. With that being said, the bolt gets taken apart and cleaned every time I shoot the gun, so no worries about crud getting in there. Note that I didn't say "lubed".. That's because lubricants attract crud. Crud causes slamfires. A clean, dry bolt will make a firing pin rattle and that's the sweetest sound a firing pin can make (other than BANG) 
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