SKS-D hard to remove the magazine

[Horilka]

I was wondering if anyone is having problems extracting magazines from SKS-D (early import, with AK-style magazine latch)?
What happens is magazine lug sometimes catches one of side walls of trigger unit and this prevents removal.

Here's how the mag catch looks like.



Here's how magazine lug suppose to be positioned.



However it can be shifted left or right and this will prevent mag removal, because it's now caught above the trigger unit wall.



Here is how it looks with magazine and mag catch.



Having higher walls of trigger unit would prevent such an issue



Or having thinker walls of receiver in this place would prevent this.



Another possible way to fix is to round the angle of trigger unit walls.


And extending the walls forward would also prevent mag lug from shifting left or right.



So basically two questions: do you experience such an issue with your D and if so - how did you resolve it? I would rather stick to reversible fix/mod when it's possible.

 

[45ACPKING]

never had this problem personally..... and I've owned and shot a lot of D models over the years
probably why the D models came with the snug magazine well liner afixed to the stock so the magazine can't shift side to side

are guys having this problem in the original stocks or is this happening in aftermarket stocks?

 

[Deckard]

Pmags. They wear into place. Way better.

 

[Horilka]

The rifle is all original, so stock is original D stock as well.

 

[Vicar]

The fix should not be difficult, all you need is a file.

 

[sphen]

Just did a bunch of swaps on mine, couldn't get it to jam like that. I tried 4 steel mags.

I only just got this rifle and only realized through the wealth of knowledge on these forums it's an SKS-D, but I couldn't get it to do what you're explaining here. Good luck.

 

[Horilka]

Can someone post couple of pics of their trigger units with AK-style mag release?

 

[mac100]

So the original 5rd mag doesn’t work? Mine came with the 5rd mag as did all of them and if it didn’t work I would have sent it back. Did it not come with one? I have a couple of 30,s that are tight but the original is perfect.

 

[Horilka]

This rifle was sold about what 20 years ago She also shoots 1.9MOA at 100yards iron sights, so I would rather iron out this minor, but annoying issue.
I tried 2 short and 2 long chinese mags, all of them sometime have this issue and I think it's either design flaw or specifically this rifle issue. That's what I'm trying to understand.

 

[mac100]

Is it fitting in the slot on the front of the mag. Sometimes you need to file that a little wider so that it sinks in and allows for more space at the back of the mag.

 

[GunCrazy762]

I had this same problem with the longer mags. After filing all the rough edges it smoothed out.

 

[medvedqc]

yes always found the smaller mags worked better now i got a good answer but too late: the canoe accident did not help to use them ...

 

[Deckard]

I have found the front locking part harder to grab.

 

[Auggie Doggie]

The five round mag mine came with way back when was very difficult to remove, as was a second one I purchased. Also had a couple of pinned 30 rnd mags that were much easier to remove. I solved the issue by selling the rifle.

Auggie D.

 

[Vicar]

It's hard to beat an SKS that uses stripper clips.

 

[Horilka]

Is it fitting in the slot on the front of the mag. Sometimes you need to file that a little wider so that it sinks in and allows for more space at the back of the mag.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I don't think mag needed to sink in more, however I looked closely and found not quite perfect shape of the well. It looks like in the upper left corner rounding was not sufficient. Upon closer examination it turned out that in this part mag was not allowed to sit in its proper position and was pivoting to the opposite side. Examination of the mag confirmed the issue, one can see where mag surface was heavily rubbed by the edge of the receiver well, that was the case with all magazines that were tested with this rifle. A little bit of smoothing out with file and now mags are not pivoting to the side and tend not to catch the walls of the trigger unit. I also smoothed those trigger unit walls, as technically one can wiggle the mag into the position to catch those wall. Overall issue came to almost non-existent.

Thanks to everyone who contributed.

 

[nick237]

every one i ever owned has finicky

 

[Leadwizard]

In my limited experience, the SKS-D is about as picky as a two year old child when it comes to magazines. Mine sometimes likes KCI, hates promag, i think it's okay with circle 10 and absolutely loves bakelites.

 

[The Kurgan]

Owned two. Both had finicky mags. Happy to see them go to new homes. At the end of the day, apart from the novelty of AK style mags, they are inferior SKS's and hardly military grade reliability. But hey, your mileage may vary.

 

[medvedqc]

Owned two. Both had finicky mags. Happy to see them go to new homes. At the end of the day, apart from the novelty of AK style mags, they are inferior SKS's and hardly military grade reliability. But hey, your mileage may vary.

so true but some really like them but as you despite tried them i did not keep them. on the practical side i prefer a t81 if i have to choose but that is just me.