SKS recoil buffers

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the11

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Hi all. I am pretty much a noob to this forum, though I do lurk around a bit.

Myself and two friends recently purchased 6 of the Marstar $75.00 SKS deals in order to have some quality time with our sons! And if 6 guys, 6 rifles, and 8640 rounds of ammo don't equate to quality time, I don't know what does!

Anyway, there is a cleaning and modding day coming up real soon before we take them to the range. I have ordered 6 spring loaded firing pins from Murrays, and I want to get some recoil buffers as well. The pins are easy because there is not a lot of choice. But I admit that I balk at $12.00 for a little piece of plastic. Does anyone know a good place to get them from where they are reasonably priced, and perhaps come in a package of 10 or something? I understand that they wear out after about 1000 rounds, so I suppose it would be good to have some extras on hand. Any help would be appreciated.
 
The ONLY time I ever had trouble with my Norinco M14 rifle was when I had a buffer installed in it. I took it out, and never ever put it back OR had any more troubles...

I know you're asking about the SKS, but to me, it will potentially cause the same problems...

Cheers
Jay
P.S. Good on ya for involving your kids in the Shooting Sports!
 
Thanks Jay

hmmm .... I have never owned an SKS before, but most of what I have read has recommended the buffer. But then, they were also in the business of selling buffers. :)

Hopefully some SKS owners will weigh in if they have had problems as well.

And involving my kids in shooting sports is no chore to me! :)
 
I don't recommend the stainless firing pin/return spring from Murrays as I had an issue with mine.

After installing it, I shot ~200 rounds and performed the obligatory cleaning but I did not disassemble/clean the bolt. The next time I went shooting, after about 100 rounds I started to get misfires. After about the 5th misfire I disassembled the rifle and found that the large part of the pin the hammer strikes had broken off. I assume the spring got jammed up with carbon residue and that caused the firing pin to get stuck. The repeated blows of the hammer turned a part of the spring into chunks of steel which took about 3 hours to remove from the bolt.
 
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Hmmm .... did you contact them and tell them about the problem? I would think that a reputable company would make good on it. But I don't like the idea of no return spring on the pin. It just seems to me like a poor design.
 
Buffers are a fix for a problem that does not exist.

plus your bolt carrier is meant to contact your reciever and not your bolt cover
 
I was new once and ordered a recoil buffer, but honestly i couldn't fit it inside the dust cover or my sks. The recoil is almost nothing on the sks's, so don't worry about buffers, just something to break and get stuck in the gun.
The firing pins as long as they are kept clean are fine free floating and i have heard the harder primers on some milsurp ammo can break the pins, so they are best with commercial ammo.
 
Never had a buffer or the spring loaded firing pin. Bad design.........??? It's all about maintaining your sks or your cz, take the bolt out , look for rust, does it move back and fourth etc. With millions made and used in service, there can't be that much to go wrong. Good gun, lots of fun, easy to maintain.
 
Save your money for ammunition.
Over 4000 rounds thru mine not a hiccup.
Its got the floating pin,which is perfect if you keep your gun clean, and no recoil doo dad. My 5 ft 130 lb wife says its a girls gun, and a whole lot of fun.
After spending 75 bucks on a gun which will work flawlessly if kept clean, the only thing I would buy is ammo.
The stuff just seems to evaporate once you open a can :))

Have fun and good on ya for getting the kids interested.
 
quinnbrian said:
Never had a buffer or the spring loaded firing pin. Bad design.........??? It's all about maintaining your sks or your cz, take the bolt out , look for rust, does it move back and fourth etc. With millions made and used in service, there can't be that much to go wrong. Good gun, lots of fun, easy to maintain.
Click to expand...

^^^ what he said!
Also recoil is very light even for a kid. I have two teens and when we go out we fire at least 400 rounds and never had a firing pin stick.
 
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OK, so maybe the buffer is not an issue. But I have already ordered the new pins, so oh well.

Rooster1a2, is it possible that you were having a problem with popped primers? Looking at Murray's page, I saw some good info on it and some suggestions for easy fixes. It apparantly happens with any firing pins, and might even account for some of the slam fire issues that people have experienced. Here is some info, and some suggestions for an easy fix/maintenance suggestion. http://www.murraysguns.com/poppedprimers.htm

But I still think that given the design of the bolt, a return spring is a good idea. Simonov's original design called for one, and from 1945-51 they all had them. Post 51 they went to a free floating pin, for reasons that are unknown, because it is well documented that it lead to more slam fire issues. Right at the top of this page you can see a pic of an original SKS bolt and pin, with return spring, and some helpful info on their replacement pins. I actually called them (Ben is who I talked to) and he was very pleasant and helpful. http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm
 
I wouldn't replace pins or add a recoil buffer, most of my shooting experience is with the sks and a properly maintained gun can't be beat.
 
the11 said:
Hi all. I am pretty much a noob to this forum, though I do lurk around a bit.

Myself and two friends recently purchased 6 of the Marstar $75.00 SKS deals in order to have some quality time with our sons! And if 6 guys, 6 rifles, and 8640 rounds of ammo don't equate to quality time, I don't know what does!

Anyway, there is a cleaning and modding day coming up real soon before we take them to the range. I have ordered 6 spring loaded firing pins from Murrays, and I want to get some recoil buffers as well. The pins are easy because there is not a lot of choice. But I admit that I balk at $12.00 for a little piece of plastic. Does anyone know a good place to get them from where they are reasonably priced, and perhaps come in a package of 10 or something? I understand that they wear out after about 1000 rounds, so I suppose it would be good to have some extras on hand. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Neither the spring loaded firing pins nor the buffer are necessary.
 
I dont recommend any changes this thing was built tough and correct
the first time out doesnt need anything.
And recoil is nothing on them i know you mentioned youngins but really i guess depends how little
because it really isnt much to consider on these
safe shootin
 
Recoil buffer not needed. Not much more than a .22. I suppose a 10 year old girl might get a tiny bruise after firing 1000 rounds as fast as possible. And the gun is built like a tank, it sure as hell doesn't need one.

Spring loaded firing pin? From the original post, its a safe bet you can read and write. Since the millions of illiterate Russian and Chinese peasant soldiers who used the SKS never had a problem with their un-sprung pins or maintaining their rifles, you shouldn't have any trouble. Keep the pin and channel clean and rattling, and no worries.
 
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