New SKS firing problems

This is odd. Usually SKS rifles are extremely reliable. I've used them at -30 without a hitch. Is the bolt locking into battery properly? If it isn't, a misfire should result. Make sure the bolt carrier is completely foreward after the action cycles.
 
tiriaq said:
This is odd. Usually SKS rifles are extremely reliable. I've used them at -30 without a hitch. Is the bolt locking into battery properly? If it isn't, a misfire should result. Make sure the bolt carrier is completely foreward after the action cycles.
i did check for that, also checked that there was a strike on each failed shot.
maybe the best thing would be to replace the pin and go from there. at least then i can rule it out. we ruled out the ammo when the other sks was firing the same without fail
 
clean the firing pin hole real nice. The stuff in there prevents the firing pin from striking the primer fully. Check the ones that failed to fire. Mine has little dimble in it. I cleaned out the bolt real nice and it shot nicely.
 
cheeko said:
clean the firing pin hole real nice. The stuff in there prevents the firing pin from striking the primer fully. Check the ones that failed to fire. Mine has little dimble in it. I cleaned out the bolt real nice and it shot nicely.
first thing i did, and second time i broke it right down
 
First off, what does the primers on the spent brass look like?

For example...
100_25572sm.jpg

One the Left is a fired czech cartridge, and on the right is an unfired czech cartridge that was next in the chamber to be fired.

Yours should pretty much all look like the ones on the left.

Btw slightly off topic, but worth mentioning again... Notice the dent in the unfired cartridge, this is from our later made SKS's not having a return spring on the firing pin...if this had been any other type of commercial primer it probably would have gone off, and resulted in a slam fire.

So if you ever reload for these rifles be sure to use the CCI#34 'arsenal' primers.
(thanx Poutfoo for noticing it is the #34, and not the #41 primers)
 
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Calum said:
First off, what does the primers on the spent brass look like?

For example...
100_25572sm.jpg


So if you ever reload for these rifles be sure to use the CCI#41 'arsenal' primers.

hey calum!!!! ;) wow your fireing pin goes deep! Mine craters a bit :rolleyes:

skspin.jpg


are you sure about the #41 arsenal thing? are they not #31 or something? I have a 1000 CCI #41 primer order coming to me soon and according to my gunshop dude, they are small-rifle primers :redface:
 
mines definently not striking as hard as the first pic, i'd say it's even more shallow than the second. i should've compared one that fired to one that didn't while i was out there. but i wasn't thinking....
 
so a got a close look at the dent in the primer compared to a primer fired in a sks w/o problems. looks like mines striking 50% lighter


the other thing i never noticed until i fired my friends sks was the trigger on mine is alot less smooth and needs to travel more to fire, would that have any effect on the rate of ftf? or is that a clotely seperate issue?
 
Calum said:
thanks, good info. not sure i feel confident mucking with the trigger assembly yet though, but i'd like to clear up the creep.

if the pins hitting softer could i use newer ammo without ripping them in half?just a thought. i'll try the hungarian non-corrossive stuff next i think as well as replace the pin. today it decided to work for the first 15 rounds with the odd fail, and an hour later 10 ftf in a row....fack
 
markl said:
thanks, good info. not sure i feel confident mucking with the trigger assembly yet though, but i'd like to clear up the creep.

if the pins hitting softer could i use newer ammo without ripping them in half?just a thought. i'll try the hungarian non-corrossive stuff next i think as well as replace the pin. today it decided to work for the first 15 rounds with the odd fail, and an hour later 10 ftf in a row....fack
In all SKSes, the creep is built-in; it is a result of the trigger design which doesn't make use of a conventional sear but uses a sliding block instead.
The only way to diminish that sensation is to hone and polish the block and housing surfaces with a small finishing stone and polishing wheels where possible.
I did and it is quite pleasing.
BTW, my trigger housing is an older machined one.
PP.
 
I think its just break in.

When I bought my 1st SKS, I had FTE's for about the first 100 rds, after that no problems.

If your rifle was rebuilt, then some of the trigger parts may have been replaced. They are now "wearing in".

Craig
 
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