Slam Fires SKS

[gpracer]

New to the SKS world, purchased 2 SKS rifles 1953,1954 Russians. One operates fine, put a few boxes down range with no problems, the other one however tends to give me a double tap or slam fire occasionally, at least once every 10 rounds or so. Been using only Remington factory 123g FMJ ammo so far.

I cleaned both rifles the same way prior to use, disassembled the bolt and cleaned, cleaned the trigger groups, pretty much completely disassembled the rifles and got out as much cosmoline as possible. After first trip to the range I cleaned both rifles the same way 2nd time. On next trip to the range had exactly the same results.

Been doing a little reading about factory ammo and soft primers, and will be reloading for these rifles, Hioping milspec primers will solve the problem.

Seems another fix might be this? anyone used this pin setup? http://ww w.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

Suggestions welcome, thanks. Although I will not be using corrosive ammo, I prefer to make My own...

 

[deanner]

try looking up sks trigger on youtube with a little filing you should be able to fix it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpP4sfvWJlM part 1 of 5

 

[Gard]

Surplus has much harder primers and thus need a harder strike to set them off. I can chamber a round in mine then extract it and see a pretty good mark on the primer from the bolt closing. Not hard enough to set off the round but significant none the less.

 

[dinsdale]

Mine is an early 1950 Tula with the Spring on the firing pin already.
I was going to buy one if I had a later style.

 

[44fordy]

I have an SKS that slam fires once in a while. In my case, it may be caused by too much grease still in it.

BUT, considering it's a assault rifle, the "bursts" are kinda par for the course, no?!!
hahaha

 

[proonur]

Maybe take it back to the store and ask them to fix it?

 

[gpracer]

Maybe take it back to the store and ask them to fix it?

Not sure if a 55 year old milsurp has any warranty

 

[super7]

take the firing pin out of the bolt and clean it and clean the inside of the bolt up real good. If that doesn't fix it, try polishing the pin and inside of the bolt to make sure its not hanging up on a rough spot.

 

[gpracer]

take the firing pin out of the bolt and clean it and clean the inside of the bolt up real good. If that doesn't fix it, try polishing the pin and inside of the bolt to make sure its not hanging up on a rough spot.

done that 600 water paper, guess we'll see what happens on my next trip to the range, pin and bolt are completely dry this time, no cosmo and no oil.

 

[gommee]

The firing pin should rattle around. It should be free of oil and grease. Make sure it is dry.
If it continues, you can get an updated firing pin with a spring from sksman.com

 

[proonur]

Not sure if a 55 year old milsurp has any warranty

Not on warranty, most stores will have a "goodwill" policy where if it's only been a short time since you bought it they'll help a guy out.
Worst thing they can say is no, right?

 

[gpracer]

Not on warranty, most stores will have a "goodwill" policy where if it's only been a short time since you bought it they'll help a guy out.
Worst thing they can say is no, right?

I guess I could contact Frontier, it can't hurt and they seem to be excellent to deal with.

That being said I am only using commercial ammo, not what the firearm was designed for.

Definately have to scare up some mil spec primers..

 

[proonur]

You haven't tried any of the communist stuff in it yet? That's surprising!
I'm confident that dealing with any sponsors of this site will get you nothing but satisfaction, but first try some of the czech ammo in your rifle just to see if it is the primer being too soft or something.
Maybe your gun just "forgets" that it's only semi auto sometimes, eh?

 

[Curtton]

the firing pin should rattle around. It should be free of oil and grease. Make sure it is dry.
If it continues, you can get an updated firing pin with a spring from sksman.com

2x.

 

[5440fight]

2x.

x3 This is "normal" with soft , civi primers. Don't sweat it, add the spring.

 

[gpracer]

x3 This is "normal" with soft , civi primers. Don't sweat it, add the spring.

I kinda figured that was going to be my problem after cleaning and inspecting the rifle, it's clean as a whistle.

That being said I guess the fix is going to be using harder primers and possibly the spring loaded pin.

I usually do not shoot any factory ammo at all, Only reason I picked up the Remington was because I got a really good deal 12.00/20. At least I have a good batch of boxer brass..

Thanks for all the replies, and is there anyone in Canada that sells the pin?

 

[Curtton]

Only reason I picked up the Remington was because I got a really good deal 12.00/20. At least I have a good batch of boxer brass..

thats a good price , i cant even find them around here and im will to pay $20.

 

[gpracer]

I probably should not have got that price, I negotiated a price of 16$ a box and agreed to buy all the store had in stock, when the guy brought out the case, it was obviously older stock and every box was priced tagged 12.00. Obviously I refused to buy them for 16 when they were tagged 12, ended up getting them all for 12 bucks a box....Probably won't happen again at given ammo prices.

If the primers are too soft for my rifles than I wont be buying much factory stuff anyways...

 

[kwhunter]

x3 This is "normal" with soft , civi primers. Don't sweat it, add the spring.

Try former "communist" PRVI PARTISAN ammo, better than any Remington & Co.

 

[gpracer]

Unfortunately the only ammo I can find locally is the green box corrosive stuff, no idea what origin. Other then that it's Remington soft point at 26 bucks a box. I seem to have bought all the FMJ stuff already...

Is there such a thing as non corrosive milsurp ammo in this caliber, I have used Portuguese 7.62 NATO, berdan but non corrosive.