The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Expecting my first SKS. It's a Yugo model. Besides a good cleaning especially the bolt, firing pin, etc. is this slam fire as big a problem or just having a clean gun good enough? Reading about spring kit but is it necessary?

It can happen but I haven't had any issues or know anyone who has had an issue with it as long as they've kept things properly maintained.

Personally, I have not had it happen, and I have quite....a few SKSs of various years, makes and models.. but, if shooting exclusively American made ammo with softer primers, I guess it ups the chance, usually ammos like the Bear, Wolf, or most any European/Russian branded ammos have harder primers just for this issue.

If you tear down the bolt completely, clean the firing pin and firing pin channel, and use very little oil, oil just attracts carbon, unburnt powder and other trash that can hang it up, in that area that greatly reduces the chances. Also inspect the firing pin for being bent and for burrs that can hang it up in the channel. You want a firing pin that moves freely and rattles when the bolt is shook.

And it always begs the question, if firing pin springs were such a great idea, why did Russia, the inventor of the SKS go away from using them fairly early in production? Also, popping a primer can toast a firing pin spring with the excessive temps and pressure causing the pin to stick. This is another time to check the pin, popping a primer can also bend a firing pin and/or leave primer debris in the channel hanging up the firing pin. And, it's not just the SKS that exhibits this, a M1 Garand, Ak, MAS 49/56 and many other rifles can slamfire given the opportunity.

I had a really dirty SKS slam fire many years ago, not since. I wouldn't change anything until I saw how it worked. Just don't load ten rounds the first time out....

SA1911a1 wrote:I had a really dirty SKS slam fire many years ago, not since. I wouldn't change anything until I saw how it worked. Just don't load ten rounds the first time out....

My general rule of thumb...I do not fire or even load any SKS until I have at least been through the bolt and verified with my own eyeballs it's clean and the pin rattles to satisfy me. I don't care who it comes from or where it comes from, the bolt gets torn apart, cleaned and checked. SKS bolt cleanliness is akin to all the preaching about checking headspace on a Mosin or some Mausers, one is better off to be safe, than sorry.

You'd think the Russians would have done a better job of making sure the SKS would not malfunction so easily if it got some dirt and gum inside the bolt. That was usually a big requirement for their weapons.

I detail stripped mine last night. Even though my firing pin moved freely I still detail stripped it, and put the brake cleaner to it. It's not my first free floating firing pin gun, so I'll just make sure I keep the bolt good and clean and oil free to prevent any build up in the firing pin channel.

Post #3 by Greasemonkey is great advice!

AMCHornet wrote:You'd think the Russians would have done a better job of making sure the SKS would not malfunction so easily if it got some dirt and gum inside the bolt. That was usually a big requirement for their weapons.

I wouldn't say there is a problem with the design.. look for instant, just how many Chinese SKSs follow the same design, the Chinese I would have thought, if there were a design issue or an issue in the field, they would have modified it given they manufactured and used the same basic design for just over 20 years, and then how many Yugoslavians, another 20+ year producer of the SKS, also the Romanian and others. So at least 40-45 years of production by at least half a dozen nations, millions of SKSs were made, fielded and used and are still in use today, and the bolt was never changed or redesigned by any military because of slamfire issues.

The biggest issue regarding slamfire malfunctions in my experience are soft primers, dried hardened gunk and goop in the pin channel, over use of oil, a lack of or lazy incorrect cleaning, bits of blown primer, all of which even the highly vaulted M1 Garand can suffer issues from.

I just make sure the pin channel is clear and the pin is loose/rattles.

I installed the spring kit only to have problems so I went back to the OEM pin: The cheap ammo (Herters) I was using at the time would occasionally pop a primer and the resultant blow back would melt the spring causing the firing pin to become stuck and either slam fire or produce light strikes. This happened twice before I finally learned my lesson. Yeah......the root cause was the ammo but the resultant condition of the firing pin being jammed up would not have happened with the stock (no spring) pin. YMMV.

Check for little pieces of metal where the bolt sits on the receiver when its in battery. I had a lot of trouble till i found a little tiny piece of a metal filing.

Bottom line is that an SKS that has been properly cleaned and inspected should never slam fire. My SKS has never done that. Of course, I strip it for cleaning after each outing. Periodically I detail strip the bolt and I always apply CLP oil. In my case, I spray the striker with Ballistol and wipe off the excess, insuring that the pin moves freely. Proper maintenance should prevent any unsafe conditions from occurring.

The NICE thing is it is pretty easy to check to make sure the firing pin is free. Just a shake forwRd and back and you can hear it once you know what “it” sounds like. I do agree with everyone else, to clean it well the same as you clean every gun well and function check it. I have four SKSs ( a mismatch BUT beautiful and super accurate Chinese(my first SKS!), a low serial number Yugo 59, and C and O series Yugo 59/66. There is something really special about that 59!) and four SVT40s sitting in my cave right now. I absolutely love these rifles. They shoot so nice. All seem to have that nice smooth recoil unlike the AK and my VZ58s which have that kind of snap to them.
I have never had a slam fire with any of the SKSs, SVT40s, VZ58s or my MAS49/56 and hope to never have. If you notice I really enjoy these rifles that have that full open top bolt on recoil! Pretty negates nearly ANY type of stove pipe!!!
On a second not folks, I will post a pic of a 1941 PE(?) adjustable focus scope that I can find NO info on anywhere yet (plastic type quite long adjustment with horizontal striations for easy grip on it. It is the typical post/cross reticle. That will be posted under the sniper rifle forum. I only bring it up here to have as many eyes on it as oossible. In the tears I have been collecting I have not seen one like it. Its also thick/heavy more like the SVT40 scope.

AMCHornet wrote:You'd think the Russians would have done a better job of making sure the SKS would not malfunction so easily if it got some dirt and gum inside the bolt. That was usually a big requirement for their weapons.

You have to keep in mind just what a short period of time the SKS was the main battle rifle. Once the AK came into production it would have been a waste of resources to fine-tune the SKS. For REMFs and police the SKS was goodenough as it is, (those guys don't wallow around in muddy fox holes.) and that still ain't too bad.

It seems to me my Russian is the best made of the 3 types I have. Cleaning and a little oil make them very dependable. Cousin has had a Norinco 39 yrs. , never cleaned, never malfunctioned.

SA1911a1 wrote:

AMCHornet wrote:You'd think the Russians would have done a better job of making sure the SKS would not malfunction so easily if it got some dirt and gum inside the bolt. That was usually a big requirement for their weapons.

You have to keep in mind just what a short period of time the SKS was the main battle rifle. Once the AK came into production it would have been a waste of resources to fine-tune the SKS. For REMFs and police the SKS was goodenough as it is, (those guys don't wallow around in muddy fox holes.) and that still ain't too bad.

They must have designed something right, these things have beat around in the sloppy muddy jungles in Vietnam, used and abused in Albania, some were used in the Yugoslavian break up and in Bosnia, and some are still lurking and hammering in the sandbox of the Middle East.


It's not general use that kills them, it's people who don't, won't or can't be bothered to maintain them.

And if the free floating firing pin was such a bad idea... the M1 Garand has a free floating firing pin. As does the M1 Carbine, M 14, Ak47 and others. These rifles can suffer just like an SKS if the firing pin sticks.

Don't know ANYONE having a ''slamfire'' with their SKS and LOTS of ammo gets burnt up here in the 'not so great' north of the 49th.!!!
that being said,its a given to strip the bolt and clean it well. reassembled DRY.
remembering almost ALL SKS up here are factory refurbs.....not well worn firearms.
again,
this is just my observation and NOT an endorsement to modify or leave ''as issued '' the firing pin.

Part of cleaning your weapon properly is removal and cleaning the firing pin and the bolt. Do that with the SKS and it doesn't build up enough crap around the pin to stop it's ability to retract after firing.

I saw a ten round full-auto slamfire, the owner didn't clean the action out completely; there was preservative grease in there that glued the firing pin forward; it was funny to see. I did a complete teardown for him, and showed him how to maintain it.

If it's in the grease, boil your bolt in a shallow pan of water, get all the oil/grease out...then it should rattle.

You won’t be sorry you purchased a Yugo. I love mine. It’s my favorite shooter after my M44


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