sks firing pin question

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Lumpy59

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Hi, I just picked up an all-matching 56 tula refurb and after cleaning the cosmo remnants out I find I still have a slightly "sticky" firing pin. It appears to be the newer style (not the "triangle_style", but rather the one-side rounded style) pin.
I polished it with Brasso to lightly lap it. This brought it to a nice smooth finish. I reinstalled it, and while a great improvement I find it still a bit "sticky", by that I mean it doesn't rattle back and forth that freely.
I'm wondering if I should lap out the bolt-channel a bit as it does show some roughness (previous sanding?) or just leave it and get a new tri-side pin? I'm afraid that if both surfaces are polished too highly they might tend to "glue" or suck tight together in the presence of lube.
I don't want to get to the range and have the thing go nuts on me.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Ps sorry no pics...I'm a luddite with computers, I'm surprised I can manage this.

Thanks
 
If you hold the bolt in your hand and shake it like a spray paint can, can you hear the firing pin banging back and forth in there?

Yes? You're good to go.
 
I had slamfire issues on one recently due to sticky firing pin.. I sonic cleaned the whole disassembled in mineral spirits at work then soaked it in MEK before polish everything with extra fine scotchbrite, I think the issue was a bit of a material was pushed up on one end of the retaining pin area on the firing pin causing a slight hump. I took that down with a file and polished it and it hasn't had an issue since.


check for burrs and non-uniform areas on the firing pin. I also reamed the channel a bit.
 
I'd leave that SKS alone.

All my SKSs have a bit of stickiness in the firing pin, usually when firing pin is at one end more than the other. I believe this is due to the shape of the firing pin channel. This is expected.

The way I test it is shake the bolt vigorously if I can hear the firing pin move then it's good.

If still unsure, go to the range run the following tests:
- Load one round, release the bolt by hand let it slam home, verify no discharge.
- Load 2 rounds, fire the first, verify 2nd round does not discharge. Unload the 2nd round, check the dent on the primer. You should see a small dimple on the primer from firing pin, this is normal. Compare it with a fired case, you'll see how insignificant the dimple is.

When shooting SKS rifle, I always remind myself that these rifles (and most rifles) have the possibility to discharge when the bolt slams home. I pay extra attention to make sure the muzzle is pointed down range and not over the backstop when loading the rifle, and to support the rifle well in case slam fire happens.
 
Thanks for all the help folks, I appreciate it. I do believe I will do exactly what you suggest, 1; leave it alone (excellent advise, I'm fundamentally lazy anyway)

2; Will follow Diegocn's advise to the letter, interestingly enuff that procedure was exactly what I had in mind to try.
I will post a note after my range session as to how it all worked out......I know this is probably all old news to you folks, but it's still new to me and once again thanks for taking the time help sort out a newbie. Cheers
 
Well, I just couldn't leave it alone so I took the firing pin out again. This time I put on my glasses and found a wee, tiny little burr on one end of the retaining pin channel on the pin. Out comes the tiny file set and after a few minutes of careful work the pin is now magically fully functional ( it rattles freely now).
Off to the range I go, shiny SKS in hand. Get all set up, load one round into magazine, rest it on a sandbag, grip firmly and let fly with the bolt! Click clack! no bang! Woohoo! pull trigger and get a bang...awesome! Load two and try again, hanging on firmly...clickclack, excellent. Fire one while hanging on...just one bang and clickclack. Perfect. I went thru about 100 rounds with zero malfunctions. The thing is even surprisingly very accurate at 25 and 50 yards. I set up a 100 yard target but found I couldn't even see the thing...hmmm.... must get bigger target or at least bring the other pair of glasses (getting old is irksome at times).
Anyway, thank you all for your input. I now have a new way to turn money into noise.
Cheers.
 
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