SKS - slamfires and other stuff

M

Morgan

New member
Okay, guys. I'm open to all sorts of suggestions, and SKS has been suggested.

What's up with the slamfires? Just how common are they? What causes them?

Anything else I should know about the SKS before I go looking?
 
Slamfires could happen with SKS which don't have a firing pin spring to keep it retracted. I think the later Chinese ones were reengineered to prevent this.

Many folks believe the Russian SKS are superior to the Chinese made ones (they certainly cost more) and the external workmanship, fit and finish seems to attest to this.

There's also a AK/SKS website out there, but I don't know where it is (and am too lazy to find it). Somebody else help?
 
I have re-stocked, to American Size, many, many, of the SKS and have reparied and test fired twice as many. I haven't experienced any slam fires with the SKS.

Using the corrosive ammo from abroad will create a lot of residue in the weapon and I suggest against it. Use of American 7.62X39 ammo is recommended.

I agree with the Russian SKS as apposed to China. It is better made, less tollerance in the action etc. Being exposed to this rifle, and caliber, in South East Asia, it is a good rifle. Here in GA we use them for deer and hog hunting, Small Deer.
 
Try these websites~

http://www.valuu.net/users/bailout/default.htm
http://amesp02.tamu.edu/~grimaila/recreation/sks/manual.html
http://www.ziplink.net/~wasik/sksmanual/sksmanual.html
http://www.access.digex.net/~45acp/sks.html

I had a slamfire once and only once with my first SKS-- the firing pin was so caked in dried grease! After soaking it and the bolt assy in CLP, it fired flawlessly. Every SKS I purchased afterwards got a complete firing pin cleaning. Never a problem again! :)
 
Here is my .$.02 worth. One day at the hunting cabin that I use as a range I had a slam fire with my SKS. My SKS is a Norinco and was bought in early 94. The gun has been well maintained, cleaned, and fired a number of times before and after the slam-fire. I do not recall what ammo I was using, but I had just loaded from a stripper and then racked the bolt to load BOOM it suporised me. luckily it was just me and my dog and the gun was pointed down range. I have never had this problem since. I still consider it to be a good gun, just as with any good saftey practices keep alert and point in a safe direction at all times. Hope this helps
Later
Daren
 
Gary-no model of SKS retains the firing pin with a spring. Chinese SKS's were never "re-engineered" to fix this, as it wasnt much of a problem. If the bolt is clean and the firing pin can travel freely, you probably wont have a slamfire. I've been shotting mine for 4 years. 4,000 rounds later, not one slamfire.

------------------
"Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist."
-Thoreau
 
Had slam fires with ammo reloaded with remington primers. Switched to winchester and cci primers no more slam fires. if you put your firing pin in upside down it will slamfire.
 
Gunguy,

You're probably right. I thought there was some sort of modification to prevent slamfires. Perhaps it was to keep the firing pin from being installed upside down as mentioned by JA.

Gary
 
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