Russian SKS - what if I fire when bolt is partially closed (pics)

[john777]

Sorry for being a noob. I don't have words to describe this.

I've been playing around with A-Zoom snap caps and when I pull the bolt back and release it gently, it doesn't fully close and looks like this:

If I let it snap back, it fully closes normally but it gets stuck in really tight and requires lots and lots of muscle to pull to bolt back.

As for real ammo, it eats bullets fine I think. But if I let the bolt close really gently, it won't always close either. But snapping it back always seems to do the trick, but what if one day I load live ammo and gets loaded like first pic, what would happen to me or the SKS, more importantly, to ME! LOL!

As should be seen in both pictures, the bullet is 100% chambered, just the bolt not in full closed position. When there is no ammo used, bolt always closes no matter how gently I let it go.


Thanks!

 

[JP]

Military Semi-auto rifles like rough handling and not the delicate touch!

 

[john777]

Military Semi-auto rifles like rough handling and not the delicate touch!

LOL! So it's okay if for some reason bolt ends up like that in first pic?

I don't think it would ever get stuck like that under real world conditions, but I just want to make sure.

I do like snapping the bolt back hard, but resisted eventhough the firing pin is spring. Scared man, especially indoors and if it slam fires on me, cops will be at my door in no time and there goes everything I've worked hard for not to mention charges. Doh!

 

[boltonscouter]

John777

I know you're using "dummy" rounds but in a real life situation........First order of business I would suggest is keep the weapon pointed down range and drop the floor plate of the magazine & remove all unfired rounds. Leave the floor plate open! Once that is done #### the bolt back. With the magazine open, the bolt & carrier should stay to the rear. This will allow you to deal with the chambered round. From what I understand of your scenario, the firing pin never indents the primer cap so hangfires shouldn't be the issue. The last thing you want to do is try pull the bolt carrier back without emptying the mag since if you do & the bolt picks up another round to try chamber, say if your hand accidentally slips from the cocking handle, it will run the nose of the next round into the primer of the first round still in the chamber & BANG. See the recent thread on CGN about the guy killed when his SKS blew up. Search " Double feed in SKS kills operator " Drop the ammo out of the mag first thing!

By the way, the SKS is built so you let the bolt & carrier move forward briskly & solidly. Do not let it move forward slowly when live firing. Pull the cocking handle back all the way & let her go! Enjoy!

 

[telesquirt]

"I do like snapping the bolt back hard, but resisted eventhough the firing pin is spring. Scared man, especially indoors and if it slam fires on me, cops will be at my door in no time and there goes everything I've worked hard for not to mention charges. Doh!"





I live in an area where I can shoot deer from my kitchen table,and if a round went off it is only a 50/50 chance that you would see police around after. I would never f##k around trying to chamber live ammo unless I was preparing to fire the weapon. I would think that would go double if you are living in a huge city that is full of people that are scared of guns to begin with.

 

[john777]

boltonscouter: Oh yeah! I read up on that incident. Poor fellow, should not have died. :-( Total noob I am, bad things could happen to me but I am making sure that I won't forget any of the basic rules to make sure to empty mag before ever attempting to do anything else.

 

[boltonscouter]

John777

OOOPs ....... seems the bolt doesn't stay back with the mag open. Drop the floor plate, empty the mag, visually check magazine is empty & then close floor plate. Then draw bolt back & it should stay open! You can then open the floor plate again if you like & the bolt will stay open.

 

[john777]

telesquit: okay.. I must admit, I suffered a brain fart. I bought those snap caps for 1 reason only and they ended up jamming on me (bolt suck on really hard in closed position) and I was thinking the gun was no good. That's all she wrote. I'm not going to load live rounds indoors anymore. SKS seems to be fine but no one has answered really answerd my question yet. lol.

Heck, I compared those A-Zoom snap caps with the Czech ammo. They don't look the same. Arrgh!

 

[john777]

John777

OOOPs ....... seems the bolt doesn't stay back with the mag open. Drop the floor plate, empty the mag, visually check magazine is empty & then close floor plate. Then draw bolt back & it should stay open! You can then open the floor plate again if you like & the bolt will stay open.

No worries... I didn't catch that part too. But I am aware that the bolt won't stay open if mag is dropped. Can't wait to get out and shoot this old timer!

 

[telesquirt]

No worries... I didn't catch that part too. But I am aware that the bolt won't stay open if mag is dropped. Can't wait to get out and shoot this old timer!

I went to the range today----no one else around, and I rapid fired that old Russian untill it started to smoke!

You will love to shoot your SKS for sure!

I can honestly say it is the funnest rifle I have ever owned!

Enjoy!

 

[john777]

I went to the range today----no one else around, and I rapid fired that old Russian untill it started to smoke!

You will love to shoot your SKS for sure!

I can honestly say it is the funnest rifle I have ever owned!

Enjoy!

I was thinking about buying a .22lr handgun, but it's really boring to shoot, IMO. I called my cousin's .22lr handgun a pea shooter and we only shot it when we're out of other ammo or running low. He also has a .22lr rifle. It's just collecting dust.

This SKS will be my work horse. My verson of shooting on a budget. I just hope this refurb is top notch. Barrel looks great to me. I don't care if it doesn't shoot straight. So long as it won't blow up in my face!

 

[easyrider604]

As for real ammo, it eats bullets fine I think. But if I let the bolt close really gently, it won't always close either. But snapping it back always seems to do the trick, but what if one day I load live ammo and gets loaded like first pic, what would happen to me or the SKS, more importantly, to ME! LOL!

Try squeezing the trigger, with the dummy round chambered as per your picture. I believe the disconnector will not allow the trigger to move when the bolt carrier is not fully home. If the trigger can move when bolt carrier is not fully closed, there is something wrong with the rifle.

This disconnector is a safety feature.

 

[john777]

Try squeezing the trigger, with the dummy round chambered as per your picture. I believe the disconnector will not allow the trigger to move when the bolt carrier is not fully home. If the trigger can move when bolt carrier is not fully closed, there is something wrong with the rifle.

This disconnector is a safety feature.

Great idea! I just tried.

In that configuration as shown in the first pic, it can be fired. However, I tried again only this time purposely making bottom portion of bolt carrier not all the way in front (ie, actually able to visually see bullet is not fully chambered); it will not fire.

 

[guess_kto]

clean the gun! is that so hard?

Do you think it's much easier to take ripped case out of the chamber is much easier... not to getting into other point that can turn wrong?

 

[john777]

clean the gun! is that so hard?

Do you think it's much easier to take ripped case out of the chamber is much easier... not to getting into other point that can turn wrong?

I soaked all metal parts in kerosene for over 1 hour. Ran patch through barrel a few hundred times already. I haven't fired this 1950's refurb rifle yet.

 

[Rifleman1911]

The rifle will not fire until the bolt is in full battery position, even half cocked like in the first pic. It is all ways recommended to let the bolt fly when chambering a round at the range.

When the bolt is not in full battery the hammer won't hit the fireing pin.

Take off the bolt cover, remove the spring and try it for your self to see what it does.

You will see that the hammer just runs into the bolt carrier.

BTW what year is yours and does it have a spring loaded fireing pin .

Rifleman

 

[john777]

The rifle will not fire until the bolt is in full battery position, even half cocked like in the first pic. It is all ways recommended to let the bolt fly when chambering a round at the range.

When the bolt is not in full battery the hammer won't hit the fireing pin.

Take off the bolt cover, remove the spring and try it for your self to see what it does.

You will see that the hammer just runs into the bolt carrier.

BTW what year is yours and does it have a spring loaded fireing pin .

Rifleman

My SKS has a spring loaded firing pin. Most of the parts were made in 1950. At least the barrel and bolt.

Hmm... I'll try out your test. In first pic, lower portion of bolt is completely forward, but the top portion is not. But I'll check it out and see what really goes on with the mechanics.

Definitely, I'll let the bolt fly back hard at the range. I'm just being a little scared being a noob and never fired anything this old or this calibre before. LOL!

 

[Rifleman1911]

The SKS 45 is a tough old bird, and as you have the spring loaded fireing pin you wont have any problems with slamfires.

If you think that is old I still shoot my lee enfield from 1916, it is one of the most accurite guns in my collection.

 

[john777]

The SKS 45 is a tough old bird, and as you have the spring loaded fireing pin you wont have any problems with slamfires.

If you think that is old I still shoot my lee enfield from 1916, it is one of the most accurite guns in my collection.

Nice! I'm considering a Lee Enfield No.4. Not sure if they all shoot 30-06, but that's the cailbre I'm looking for.

I have belgian 12 ga hinged shotgun that built in 1933 that is in amazing condition. Concerned if it can handle target loads. I'm taking it to Epps and see what they'll recommend. Saving up $$$ right now. Going to walk out of there with some goodies. Considering the Norc M4 again and some handguns.

 

[tjhaile]

You should be fine so long as you let the bolt run forward on its own and all rounds are fed from the magazine. This applies to any semiautomatic rifle. The bolt carrier on my SKS can hang up slightly on the receiver if you ease it forward, but it cannot fire if the carrier is far back enough to move the bolt out of battery.

P.S.: Lee Enfields are generally .303, not .30-06. As for your shotgun, it should be fine with lead shot assuming good condition. It is the older guns with Damascus barrels that you have to worry about with smokeless powder.