Tula SKS Rounds will not feed properly

[Kberg]

I bought a while back a refurbed Tula SKS from a reputable gun shop, because prices were good I decided to outfit it with a Tapco mag and stock.
With the old wooden bits on it worked fine, I could feed Filthy ammo through it all day with zero problems.
With the new stock, I decided to try brass case ammo instead of my usual choice of whatever the cheapest thing I could find. I fired a solid 40 rounds of PMC through it but now it won’t seem to chamber the rounds properly. They stick out about 5 cm. I tried steel case with the same result, I thoroughly cleaned then re cleaned the entire SKS with the same result. There does not appear to be any blockages in the barrel.
If there’s a thread buried here with a similar situation, please point me in the right direction! I have not tried to put it back to factory wood and metal mag, I was using the tapco mag for quite some time before I purchased the tapco stock with zero reliability issues. Thanks for any help!

TL DR: The neck of a shell casing was stuck in the barrel, I made a tool to extract it all is well now.

 

[Donkin]

You may have had a case neck separate, which is now stuck in the chamber?

 

[Kberg]

That’ll be the next thing I check, what’s the best way to check for that?

 

[05RAV]

I bought a while back a refurbed Tula SKS from a reputable gun shop, because prices were good I decided to outfit it with a Tapco mag and stock.
With the old wooden bits on it worked fine, I could feed Filthy ammo through it all day with zero problems.
With the new stock, I decided to try brass case ammo instead of my usual choice of whatever the cheapest thing I could find. I fired a solid 40 rounds of PMC through it but now it won’t seem to chamber the rounds properly. They stick out about 5 cm. I tried steel case with the same result, I thoroughly cleaned then re cleaned the entire SKS with the same result. There does not appear to be any blockages in the barrel.
If there’s a thread buried here with a similar situation, please point me in the right direction! I have not tried to put it back to factory wood and metal mag, I was using the tapco mag for quite some time before I purchased the tapco stock with zero reliability issues. Thanks for any help!

I'm not sure if that's your problem or not but the Tapco mags need some fitting. Watch a few videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9R33LmVvQ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4eKDoW7vr4; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dYWae1rJJk

 

[Kberg]

I'm not sure if that's your problem or not but the Tapco mags need some fitting. Watch a few videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9R33LmVvQ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4eKDoW7vr4; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dYWae1rJJk

The mag seats fine, and the bolt will close when there’s no ammo in it. I can remove the mag altogether and place a round in the barrel but the issue remains, the round sticks out of the barrel about a third of the length of the cartridge. I’m leaning towards and obstruction in the barrel or warping of some sort but I’m kind of at a loss.

 

[howiebearse]

Get a dentist type mirror and flash light check the walls of the chamber. May be fun to get it out but I am sure that is your problem.

 

[05RAV]

Quote Originally Posted by 05RAV View Post
I'm not sure if that's your problem or not but the Tapco mags need some fitting. Watch a few videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9R33LmVvQ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4eKDoW7vr4; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dYWae1rJJk

The mag seats fine, and the bolt will close when there’s no ammo in it.

What? Do you mean that if you insert an empty mag then you can close the bolt? I have TWO Tapco SKS's and none of them closes on an empty mag! The mag can only be inserted if the bolt is open and it stays open with the mag in. That means that after the last round the bolt locks back and stays open. I don't quite understand what you mean.

 

[supernova]

You have a broken case in the chamber. Buy and use a broken case extractor.

 

[Suther]

OP can you confirm that the case sticks out 5cm and not 5mm? 5cm is A LOT, the case (without a bullet) is only 39mm long.

 

[lone ranger]

Here is what you will have to do to get it to feed Reliably with the Tapco mag.

I do this when ever I go Aftermarket stock or regular stock with Tapco mag.
" get a Round File."
You MUST Chamfer the barrel on the Bottom. " make a little feed Ramp" The rounds will GLIDE right in.

 

[mac100]

Does it work when you put the original stock back on? That may help you narrow it down from a stuck case.

 

[lone ranger]

It works great either way.

 

[Deathrawt]

Here is what you will have to do to get it to feed Reliably with the Tapco mag.

I do this when ever I go Aftermarket stock or regular stock with Tapco mag.
" get a Round File."
You MUST Chamfer the barrel on the Bottom. " make a little feed Ramp" The rounds will GLIDE right in.

I’ve ran quite a few sks with tapco and pro mags and have never had to do this
Wonder if some rifles have wonky tolerances or something

 

[Kberg]

Update:
There indeed was just the neck of a shell casing caught in the barrel, I made a tool to extract said brass. It seems to function properly now. Thanks for the help folks!

 

[Kberg]

If you have an empty mag inserted you can force close the bolt by pulling back on the bolt and pushing down on the guide? Inside the mag, this will allow the bolt to close with the empty mag in it. If that makes any sense, if I could post photos I would demonstrate haha.

 

[Kberg]

OP can you confirm that the case sticks out 5cm and not 5mm? 5cm is A LOT, the case (without a bullet) is only 39mm long.

Yeah 5 mm would be correct, sorry for the confusion!

 

[lone ranger]

I’ve ran quite a few sks with tapco and pro mags and have never had to do this
Wonder if some rifles have wonky tolerances or something

yes, you are correct. some do NOT require this Mod,...others absolutely wont function without it.