SKS and accidental full auto?

[hightower]

I looked at an SKS for sale online and the guy said he had a mod done to the gun which prevented it from slam firing and accidentally going into full auto. Does this really ever happen? Is it a concern? To me it seems like he was playing the fear card but I just wanted to know in case I get one sometime.

[hightower]

bump

[bigun]

All that means is he cleaned the bolt good, lol usually if the SKS slam fires its due to cosmoline built up on the firing pin or in the bolt. I clean them by soking in diesel fuel overnight then using compressed air to blow them out good and have never had a problem.

[I_Route]

You have to be careful too if you get a trigger job done on them. Some file the sear down too much and/or the angle and the thing will go full auto.

[jeepinbanditrider]

What he is talking about is the aftermarket mod done to the firing pin. Most SKSs have a floating firing pin. In other words nothing keeps the pin from moving around inside the bolt. This is why you get a firing pin indention on your primers when you chamber a round in an SKS.

There are companies that sell a diffrent firing pin that incorporates a spring that keeps the pin from moving foward. Keep in mind there is still no drop safety on an SKS. And even though I have a springloaded firing pin I have still had two instances of a "slam-fire".

When the bolt goes foward and "slams" the round home the pin may travel foward with suffecient force to ingite the primer.

The "full-auto" condition as stated above is from cosmo or gunk holding the firing pin foward. The weapon will fire untill the mag is expended. In extreme cases if the weapon fires out of battery it could cause the weapon to be destroyed or the shooter or bystanders to be injured. I have only heard of one or two instances of this happening.

if you have any more questions just ask.

[brian40]

It is a real problem though I don't know how common.

Mine goes into auto when below freezing. Gunk in the firing pin channel must get too solid. I have cleaned and cleaned and can't seem to fix the problem. So I only shoot it when it is warm out

[jeepinbanditrider]

Have you removed the firing pin from the bolt? If not do this and then take the bolt and firing pin and soak them in something like engine degreaser. The best thing would be an ultrasonic cleaner but not everyone has access to one.

[Brickboy240]

That is why it is best to NOT use liquid oil or teflon lube anywhere near the bolt on an SKS rifle. Most people do NOT pay enough attention to thins area, when they first buy their SKS nor do they give it much more than a quick wipe or spray with Rem Oil or Break Free.

Bad...bad...bad!

When you strip an SKS and clean it, use Gun Scrubber or other degreaser that dries and degreases and make sure that when you shake the bolt in your hand, the firing pin moves back and forth like a BB in a Coke can. Freely...very freely. If it sticks in one direction or another...you have grease or gunk somewhere inside the bolt and you'll need to remove the pin and clean a bit deeper.

I have never expereinced a slam fire or full auto in my 4 SKSs and I have been shooting SKS rifles Since 1990. I also never use oil, Break Free, Rem Oil or other liquid lubes inside my SKSs. I use M-1 Rifle Grease (a very heavy,thick grease) on the rails and thats it. The SKS needs very little lube period. Nothing inside the bolt area. I also clean like mad after shooting.

Do this and the chances of slamfires is slim to none. Even with commercial ammo with softer primers.

- Brickboy240

[brian40]

Originally Posted by jeepinbanditrider

Have you removed the firing pin from the bolt? If not do this and then take the bolt and firing pin and soak them in something like engine degreaser. The best thing would be an ultrasonic cleaner but not everyone has access to one.

I have completely disassembled twice, using carb cleaner and brake cleaner both times with a pipe cleaner. Believe me it looks spotless. And I never use any lube here. Anyway, never have figured it out.

Might have to try the soaking in diesel overnight and compressed air.

[brian40]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

When you strip an SKS and clean it, use Gun Scrubber or other degreaser that dries and degreases and make sure that when you shake the bolt in your hand, the firing pin moves back and forth like a BB in a Coke can. Freely...very freely. If it sticks in one direction or another...you have grease or gunk somewhere inside the bolt and you'll need to remove the pin and clean a bit deeper.

- Brickboy240

Believe me, after I clean it, it shakes very freely. Take it out while the temp is below 32, it will slam fire. Never figured it out. Just take it out while it is warm because I have plenty of other guns to shoot when it is cold!