SKS Recoil Buffer causing FTE

[SpareParts08]

Just go a Yugo 59/66 in exc condition a few weeks ago. I stripped off all the cosmoline, took it the range with some Wolf Ammo, worked great. Loved it. But then I thought, why don't I put the recoil buffer in that I keep hearing about, and while I'm at it, I'll put in the Wolff hammer spring/sear spring combo.

Next several range trips were pretty frustrating. The rifle wasn't cycling and I had to rack the bolt to eject/feed every round. This got pretty old after about about 20 rounds. I figured I had reassembled incorrectly/done something stupid/lost a gasket I didn't know existed- something along those lines. Finally, I just pulled out the damn buffer to see if that was the problem, and now the rifle is functioning flawlessly again. Crisis averted.

For those here with SKSs, have you all used a buffer in your rifle? Has anyone experienced these kind of problems with buffers? I went around different forums and couldn't find anything but positive stuff on SKS buffers.

[beardman2]

my uneducated guess would be a gas system problem. A recoil pad should remove enough umph from it to cause cycling problems. I'm guessing it was a weak cycle to begin with.

[ringojcp]

change the entire gas assembly....and for god's sake, it's an sks not some barret 50 bmg, the recoil is nothing

[SpareParts08]

I'm not worried about recoil. Recoil is already minimal, real fun to shoot. I'm just trying to reduce wear and tear from the bolt carrier slamming into the receiver. Seemed like a reasonable concept, little peice of rubber cushioning between two peices of metal.

The buffer's 1/2" thick with a 1/4" recess for the buffer spring assembly. Result was the buffer spring extending forward 1/4" further (not under compression) than before. I don't know how much more resistance the forward 1/4" would provide when fitted into the bolt carrier. Obviously too much I guess.

Reading around at different SKS and surplus forums, it seems they're used pretty commonly.

[einheit 13]

Yes they are but sometimes, as with snowflakes, they differ a little. Which buffer do you have?? there are four on the market, 3 poly and one leather. I think its Blackjack that sells two different "hardnesses" of buffer denoted by different colors. Buffer Technology makes one, and i don't know who makes the leather one. I put one in my AK74 and had to fit it to the sprng, it did the same as yours. Open it up with a razor hobby knife and start trimming its thickness till it works. As a side note, hundreds of thounsands of rounds can be fired from your weapon, you will wear out before it does, its not an over engineered weapon from the "west"....

[SpareParts08]

Einheit, it's from Buffer Technologies. And it was a pretty tight fit. I'll guess I'll give it a 2nd chance, take it to the range and start shaving it down. Appreciate it.

[chupacabrachus]

I'm a skeptic of recoil buffers, in particular, fitting one of the most robust rifles in existence with one. As abovementioned, your rifle may be cycling weakly to begin with. Does your brass eject very far when it is functioning correctly? I’d say if not, you have a problem that plagues all 59/66 yugos. Try the survivor sks forums for a lot of help. They’re generally a good group of fellows.

This is the thread on the “yugo gas system fix”:
http://www.sksboards.com/forum/viewt...6d2d011975cccc

You can also find replacement valves if that is in fact your problem. A few guys on that board fabricate them out of stainless steel and sell them for a reasonable price.

[hobocircus]

I got green ones and black ones for my MAK-90, SKS and Saiga. I shoot my MAK-90 the most and use the black one in it. The upper part of the buffer is broken because of repeated use, but apparently it is taking some of the punishment off the receiver as advertised. If you really think about it, these AKs and SKSs were never designed with them so are they really doing any good? Does anyone know of a AK or SKS that has a cracked receiver because of over use?

I think it's like adding one of those motor oil additives to your engine. Does it really work or is it a waste of money?

I use the buffers and oil additives. My theory is, "it couldn't hurt to try" :P

[chupacabrachus]

Originally Posted by hobocircus

Does anyone know of a AK or SKS that has a cracked receiver because of over use?

No

[HTOWN stunna]

Clean the hell out of the gas valve and piston. also check for leaks. My SKS was FTE because the pin that holds the firing pin in the bolt was not in all the way causing the bolt to cycle half way. lately ive been havin slam fires too.