SKS firing pin question

O

Opie-IN

New member
Just got a old pre-ban SKS. Here is my question. When I look inside the action, the firing pin sticks out about 1/8 of an inch. when I aim the gun up, it falls back inside the (action?), but when I point it down towards the ground it protrudes again. I guess as easy as it is to go forward and back, this will not "slamfire". I dunno, will you guys look at your sks's and tell me what yours looks like. I may be paranoid, but I dont wanna unload 20 rounds in 2 seconds if I can help it. Thanks in advance, Opie
 
Perfectly normal. Like many other military firearms, including the M1 Garand, the SKS has no firing pin spring.

That's normally not a problem, especially with military ammo, which tends to have a harder primer cup.

When I worked for NRA, though, we received several reports of slam fires with SKS rifles. The common denominator was the use of one of the "super lubricants" on the firing pin in conjunction with commercial ammo. The lube apparently allow the firing pin to gather enough momentum when the action closed that it fired the softer-cup primers.

If you want to lubricate your firing pin, use a lightweight grease. This will provide good lubrication and will also provide just enough viscosity that it acts like a brake to keep firing pin velocity below the slamfire point.

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
Field strip it. Take the bolt assy. in your hand and shake it back and forth gently. You should hear the pin clicking from front to back. When it is at the rear, it should rest noticeably below the mouth of its opening in the breechface.

Stand as near as you can to the berm, load ONE round, and fire it. It should lock back on the empty mag. Load two, and repeat. If it did not 'double' both at once, try 3 and so on. Cleanliness is an ASSET for safe functioning of any weapon, especially the SKS. Enjoy.
 
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