I recently acquired a Russian SKS (thanks starpuss!), and I'm in the process of familiarization. The videos and posts regarding SKS basics have been of tremendous help, but I do have a few questions. Is there a Canadian dealer, or someone on the EE who has the spring for the firing pin? Mine is free-floating, and I would like to correct that. Question #2 is maybe trickier. I noticed that the foresight/bayonet attachment point has 2 pins holding it in position. Does anyone know if these 2 pins were drifted out, would the whole assembly slide off the barrel? Is it indeed a one piece unit? Years ago when I took the rear sight off my buddy's sporterized Kar 98, I found that the whole sight block had been soldered and pinned, but I did get it off eventually so now he has a clean barrel line. Older eyes being what they are, I plan to put a scope on this rifle, and the open sights are really not needed. Lastly, the face of the gas piston seems slightly pitted. Not the rim of the concave part, but inside the concavity itself. Is this a problem? Is it a casting flaw, or a result of poor maintenance? Any help would be greatly appreciated from you SKS gurus. Thanks muchly!
New to the SKS
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
As far as I know, the pitting on the gas piston face just indicates prior use which led to corrosion. Almost all the SKS's available right now are refurbished, which would involve cleaning off any corrosion and painting over it. I have some pitting on my gas piston face as well, but it's underneath the paint so I figure it's just because someone wasn't cleaning it properly 50 years ago. I don't see how it would affect the operation of the rifle.
I went to a gunsmith yesterday to get the rear sight pin knocked out of mine, and he told me that he had a guy come in who had owned an SKS for almost 20 years and had it suddenly stopped cycling the bolt after firing. He asked the guy if he had been cleaning it, and the guy said of course. He then asked the guy if he'd been cleaning the piston and he said "No, I don't know how to get it off". After the gunsmith replaced the completely rusted up and seized piston assembly the rifle went back to working fine.
My point is, these rifles aren't exactly the most accurate you can buy, but are very very robust. A little pitting isn't going to throw the whole mechanism off.
I went to a gunsmith yesterday to get the rear sight pin knocked out of mine, and he told me that he had a guy come in who had owned an SKS for almost 20 years and had it suddenly stopped cycling the bolt after firing. He asked the guy if he had been cleaning it, and the guy said of course. He then asked the guy if he'd been cleaning the piston and he said "No, I don't know how to get it off". After the gunsmith replaced the completely rusted up and seized piston assembly the rifle went back to working fine.
My point is, these rifles aren't exactly the most accurate you can buy, but are very very robust. A little pitting isn't going to throw the whole mechanism off.
thanks curtton
After I'd asked the question, I looked at the Marstar website for the exploded view of the SKS. I noticed there that unit was 1 piece, and I'd assumed correctly. Had I done that in the first place, I wouldn't have had to ask the question DUH! To the best of your knowledge, is there ever solder applied as well, or is it just a snug fit? (maybe heat fitted?) Thanks for the input. Lawrence
After I'd asked the question, I looked at the Marstar website for the exploded view of the SKS. I noticed there that unit was 1 piece, and I'd assumed correctly. Had I done that in the first place, I wouldn't have had to ask the question DUH! To the best of your knowledge, is there ever solder applied as well, or is it just a snug fit? (maybe heat fitted?) Thanks for the input. Lawrence
Changing the firing pin configuation wouldn't even be a consideration for me. They are all free floating!! with the exception of the earliest models which was short lived. Putting a spring around the firing pin is a gunsmith job and if it ain't broke dont fix it,shoot it. That's the design. As far as I know the sight/lug is only press fitted and not welded or tacked. There are stories of the sight block coming off with just a few light whacks with a 2X4 after the pins have been removed. And stories that are the exact opposite too! The SKS actually looks pretty good with all that gear off the end with a decent scope attached. I've heard that taking that stuff off the end of the barrel may improve repeatable shot placement much like taking off the bayo and cleaning rod. Anybody tried it? Cheers
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