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Lil' Miss, the SKS - Part 2 |
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Lil' Miss is the SKS carbine that I recently wrote about in the
article Lil'
Miss, the SKS. I found her just as a
barreled receiver and have built her up from parts. Since she is
"my" proverbial Frankenstein, I feel inclined and
guilt free to use her as a
test bed for some rather wicked and safe modifications. In this
article I continue the Lil' Miss saga with three new additions
to her tricked out form. First I modify the bolt to make it more
safe, next I replace the gas tube assembly, and last I install
fiber optic sights.
I read a
post in our message forum recently by Texas gunsmith Ben
Murray about a new firing pin and spring that he made for SKS
carbines. He states that his firing pin and spring, "Virtually
eliminates the possibility of the dreaded slam-fire and
uncontrollable full-auto!"
Since I was having withdrawal symptoms from not making
any modifications to Lil' Miss in the past couple of months I
decided to take him up on his offer to let me check a kit out. |
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First off you can either install the pin and spring yourself if
you so feel inclined. Even though I cover the installation below
in detail you can
click
here for detailed SKS bolt disassembly and reassembly
instructions. If you choose the home modification route then the part set
is $22.00 including shipping (anywhere in lower 48) via
USPS "Priority" [TX residents add 8.25% sales tax].
You can also
send your bolt off to Ben and he will install the pin and spring for you for $30.00. The original Russian SKS Type 1 firing pin had a firing pin
return spring. This design allowed the firing pin to return
via the spring to its rear most position and stay there until
the hammer were to impact it again. Later SKS carbines and the one or
ones most likely that you own, have a free floating firing pin
that can float forward, lodge in place, and cause a slam fire
condition when the bolt is slammed forward and the primer of the
loaded cartridge is struck against the protruding firing pin.
This is one way this dangerous mishap can occur and since the SKS bolt is difficult to disassemble for most
folks this may actually become a reality as the more carbon and
gunk fouling build up inside the bolt around the firing pin.
Actually there are many ways you can have a "doubling or
automatic fire" occur in an SKS. Most occur as a result of the
trigger malfunctioning. But, it never hurts to improve on a
design and make a firearm more safe to carry and handle. Kind of
ironic that you would be reverting to the original or first
design of the weapon. Kind of a good idea that maybe they should not
have dropped in the first place. |
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First I removed the receiver cover. For detailed disassembly and
reassembly instructions for the
SKS
carbine click here. |
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Set the receiver cover, recoil spring, and recoil spring guide
off to the side. |
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Murray's
Guns Information |
Early Russian SKSs had a firing pin design
that incorporated a return spring. Why "later" Russians,
Chinese and most all others do not have this design and
spring, is still a mystery. Without it, slam-fire and
uncontrollable full-auto are much more likely! (even with
your finger nowhere near the trigger!) Removing all the
carbon, dirt, and/or Cosmoline, may not be enough to insure
the firing pin doesn’t lock forward. The pic below is a
cutaway SKS bolt with firing pin taper, and taper in bottom
of hole in bolt, vividly shown. This is where a mechanical
"lock-up" can occur, as any tapered pin driven into a
similarly tapered hole will likely lock the pin in place.
(check "Morse Taper" tools in any Machine Shop)
The alteration done to the firing pin in conjunction with
spring, or Murrays replacement firing pin and spring, will
virtually eliminate this problem. And, will allow the use of
soft-primered "American" ammo or reloads, as well!
Yugo/Russian style, newly manufactured,
CNC machined and heat treated firing pins with spring, are
now available. Drop in fit with no alterations required.
Fits Yugo, Russian AND Chinese. $35.00 includes "First
Class" anywhere in lower 48. ($37.00 for Paypal or CC)
[Texas residents add 6.25% tax]
If you want to send your bolt for disassembly and
installation of new SS firing pin and spring, just add
$6.00. We'll also return your original firing pin.
OR,
Send your breech bolt assembly, and we'll disassemble, alter
your original firing pin permanently, clean, and reinstall
with spring for $30.00. (ready to drop in your rifle and
shoot)
Attention Gunsmiths (ffl holders) -- Springs available at
the following prices:
Qty. 1 to 9...$2.50 each
Qty. 10 to 24... $2.00 each
Qty. 25 +...$1.50 each
NOTE: As of 3-15-05 all springs will be supplied by the
famous "Wolff" gunspring manufacturing company!
All prices include return First class postage to the lower
48 states.
Send a Cashiers Check or Postal Money Order for "SS Firing
Pin & Spring" or send your breech bolt for alteration TODAY!
All prices include return First class postage to the lower
48 states.
Murray's Guns
12696 FM 2127
Bowie, Texas 76230
Email:
ben@murraysguns.com
Web:
http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm |
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Remove the bolt carrier and bolt and separate the two and set
the bolt carrier to the side. |
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I have finally found the trick to removing the firing pin retainer
pins from an SKS bolt. While casting bullets I make lead alloy
ingots for later use. |
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If I lay the bolt across (as shown in figure 5)
the lead alloy ingot
and then while using a steal punch and a heavy hammer (as shown in
figure 6) the pin will come out easily - like
slicing through warm butter. Amazing what happens when you use the correct tools! |
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Set the retaining pin aside. |
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Remove the firing original firing pin and set aside. |
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Place the Murray's spring over the firing pin. |
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Insert the new firing pin assembly into the bolt with the longer
flat side facing upward. |
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While holding in the firing pin, insert the firing pin retaining
pin just to hold the firing pin in place. |
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Tap the firing pin retaining pin back into place.
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Now push the rear of the firing pin and you will see the tip of
the firing pin protrude from the face of the bolt. When you let
go, the pin will recede back into the bolt. Not bad! The pin does
not protrude unless the hammer strikes it. |
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Next, I found I did not like the job I had done on the ATI black
handguard when I had originally installed it. It was loose and moved back and
forth noticeably. I decided to pick up one of
the Tapco aftermarket handguard/gas tubes. Without reading the
instructions I tried to install it, as all males normally do, and
found it did not fit. Letting out an audible sigh I picked up
the instructions and actually read them. The instructions state that
you might have to file off some of the front of the tube so it
will fit properly. When I tried to install my new tube, the gas cylinder tube latch would
not close all of the way. I found by comparing against the original gas tube that I
needed to file at an angle in the area outlined in figure 14
above. I did this little by little until it finally fit snuggly. |
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Tapco Information |
| Designed to be stronger
and better than the original - black 33% fiber-glass filled
Nylon handguard matches aftermarket stocks.
New Design Benefits:
- Stronger ribs prevent slipping and enhance cooling
- Fits all SKS variants except Yugoslavian model
- Made in the USA
Price $29.99
SKS GAS TUBE WITH BLACK HANDGUARD |
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It does look mean and matches the excellent ATI Monte Carlo
stock. Also, they do make a model for the Yugo 59/66 SKS
carbine. This tube is a must have recommendation if you are
converting your carbine over to the dark side. |
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Williams
Firesights Information |
| Prepare yourself for the
fiber-optic light gathering sensation that not only
allows for higher visibility, but also presents a faster
sight and target picture. It's the day time sight that's
lightweight, and yet very durable. It's the sight that
brightens in low light situations. Made from aircraft
strength aluminum (front beads are made of steel) not
plastic. Price $39.95
SKS Rifle Fire Sight Set |
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Next, I decided to install a set of the William's Firesights.
Since this was not a Yugo SKS there was no filing or cutting to make the
sights fit as in
my original
article on the sights. |
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The sights are very bright and the sight picture, as shown
in figure 16, is excellent. Like I said before - "Like a
little red dot scope that does not need batteries, just
sunlight." |
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Note the red painted on the rear sight assembly. What you are
looking at is some of my
daughter's nail polish as I am too cheap to purchase commercial
bolt/screw lock. Once the carbine was sighted in for windage I put a
couple dabs on the screws as well as the aperture as I have
noticed it can come loose easily. Remember, nail polish makes
your rifle fashionable, yet battle ready! Nothing takes the fun
out of a firefight like a rear sight that is flopping around! |
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jlm;) |
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