I forgot to disassemble the bolt and clean the firing pin.
So today I started again. I beat in that pin to remove with anything I could find. No results except for a sore thumb and a search for nerve pills.
Right now I have it soaking in come CLP.
Anything else I'm missing?
You need the right size drift punch and a solid surface with a relief hole.
I use a socket to set the bolt on and knock the pin out into.
What size punch?
You'll want a flat bottomed punch just smaller than the pin. Maybe 3/16" or 1/4"? (I can't remember the size I typically use.)
And set the socket on your garage floor or other concrete surface. Put it on a table or bench that has a bit of give and ypu'll fight it forever. Honestly, a press is your best option to avoid messing anything up...but that's not a typical home workshop type tool...but it's the right tool for the job.
Sounds like a trip to Harbor Freight!
5/32” is perfect but 1/8” will usually do thumb1 needs to be a good hardened steel punch, no babying that pin with brass :))
Perhaps I need a good set of punches!
I used a steel punch (tore up a brass one), a 2lb-er and a bench vise and smack that SOB out in no time. After 2 days of soaking and beating on it. Only had one with this problem and the bad thing is I can't remember which one it was. :-[
This one looked good on the outside, but was covered in cosmoline in non-visible areas. I was just concerned the firing pin area might be dirty.
That pin's in there good, that's for sure!
I have a hole drilled in a 2x4 that I use to hit them out with........ man I love harbor freight...... go in for one thing and come out with a shopping cart full chuckles1
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 15, 2019, 09:04:30 PM
This one looked good on the outside, but was covered in cosmoline in non-visible areas. I was just concerned the firing pin area might be dirty.
That pin's in there good, that's for sure!
The issue is...... cosmo left in the firing pin channel when firing. The hot gasses go through the firing pin hole and solidify the cosmo which will lockup the firing fin in the forward position..... causing a slamfire. When you shake the bolt, the pin should rattle.
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on February 15, 2019, 09:43:37 PM
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 15, 2019, 09:04:30 PM
This one looked good on the outside, but was covered in cosmoline in non-visible areas. I was just concerned the firing pin area might be dirty.
That pin's in there good, that's for sure!
The issue is...... cosmo left in the firing pin channel when firing. The hot gasses go through the firing pin hole and solidify the cosmo which will lockup the firing fin in the forward position..... causing a slamfire. When you shake the bolt, the pin should rattle.
That don't sound good! (Literally and figuratively!)
A good spray of carb cleaner through the firing pin hole can do wonders.
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 15, 2019, 10:32:40 PM
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on February 15, 2019, 09:43:37 PM
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 15, 2019, 09:04:30 PM
This one looked good on the outside, but was covered in cosmoline in non-visible areas. I was just concerned the firing pin area might be dirty.
That pin's in there good, that's for sure!
The issue is...... cosmo left in the firing pin channel when firing. The hot gasses go through the firing pin hole and solidify the cosmo which will lockup the firing fin in the forward position..... causing a slamfire. When you shake the bolt, the pin should rattle.
That don't sound good! (Literally and figuratively!)
But he's right.
There is a mod for a pin held to the rear by a spring.
Quote from: Larry D. on February 15, 2019, 11:20:38 PM
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 15, 2019, 10:32:40 PM
Quote from: Loose}{Cannon on February 15, 2019, 09:43:37 PM
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 15, 2019, 09:04:30 PM
This one looked good on the outside, but was covered in cosmoline in non-visible areas. I was just concerned the firing pin area might be dirty.
That pin's in there good, that's for sure!
The issue is...... cosmo left in the firing pin channel when firing. The hot gasses go through the firing pin hole and solidify the cosmo which will lockup the firing fin in the forward position..... causing a slamfire. When you shake the bolt, the pin should rattle.
That don't sound good! (Literally and figuratively!)
But he's right.
There is a mod for a pin held to the rear by a spring.
Oh, do tell!
https://murraysguns.com/sks-firing-pins/
Check this guy out. If it is something you would be interested in...it is a system for newer than the first couple years of Russian production SKSs....so about 99.8% of them :)
It utilizes a spring rather than leaving the firing pin floating in the channel. The spring would help prevent slam firing by at least pulling back on it. A gummed up one likely would do the same thing eventually...at least on the originals.
Murray redesigned the modern pin to utilize the same concept. They also have the benefit of being US made, and are on the 922r list of parts you can add when modifying an SKS with stuff you likely wouldn't ever buy...but if you have an inner Rambo, it might be plus down the road. chuckles1
Its a nice way to improve upon the safety of your SKS, without modifying anything. You can go back to original just as easy as your experience getting your FP retaining bolt out.... how did that go BTW?
I don't have experience with Murray's pins, but I do have an early Russian with that type of firing pin...and honestly I cannot fathom as to why they elected to change it to free floating.
So this would still consider my rifle "as-issued" instead of "bubbad"?
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 16, 2019, 03:08:12 PM
So this would still consider my rifle "as-issued" instead of "bubbad"?
I like to think including the term bubba requires permanent modification. This is reversible so I wouldn't call it that. It essentially is an enhancement to make up for an issue with the design, that if left unchecked can be dangerous. Many folks get one so they can modify their SKS with aftermarket accessories, and still comply with 922r, which you can look into...it gives me a headache and makes me grumpy.
Adding this does not put you into a bracket where you would need to replace five imported parts with US made parts. It is one of the acceptable modifications under some seriously confusing 'rules'. It is one modification that is generally not frowned upon for a gun that is going to be shot.
If I were to ever need a firing pin...which I won't...I would go this route.
Currently I daresay I could pledge to replace any board members broken firing pin until 2029...and still have leftovers. They rarely need replacement, and are, at least currently...readily available....especially at my house. :)
I have even two backups for my Russian spring loaded SKS fer cryin' out loud.
Quote from: Justin Hell on February 16, 2019, 03:34:25 PM
Quote from: OldManBryson on February 16, 2019, 03:08:12 PM
So this would still consider my rifle "as-issued" instead of "bubbad"?
Currently I daresay I could pledge to replace any board members broken firing pin until 2029...and still have leftovers. They rarely need replacement, and are, at least currently...readily available....especially at my house. :)
I have even two backups for my Russian spring loaded SKS fer cryin' out loud.
Does this apply to floating firing pins or the ones with the spring?
I installed the Murrays spring loaded firing pin (that I won in a drawing) in the second SKS I owned. It worked great but I sold that SKS with the spring loaded firing pin still installed. Nothing against it, it functioned great, and if you're looking for extra peace of mind, buy a Murrays FP thumb1
On the other hand, I've never had a slam fire in any of my other 3 dozen SKSs (okay, I haven't shot them all). I always remove the firing pin and clean out the FP channel in the bolt and inspect & clean the firing pin. I've had some rough Type 56s that came in from Albania with grease covering a not so healthy concoction of rust and dirt. Once I cleaned them up, which included steel wool scouring of any rust on the FP, and emery cloth deburring of any rough firing pin tips, I've never had a problem.
Just my opinion.... Not really needed. If it were such a great idea... Why didn't manufactures stick with it and not go away from it. A Garand has a free floating pin, as does a M1 Carbine and a M-14. Any of them can slam fire.... Keep it clean and free moving and it's usually not a problem.
1 SKS, an early '50 Russian, out of my pile has it cause it came with it...none have ever slam fired. Even my slam wore out, sloppy clanky Yugo hasn't.
And if you pop a primer with the spring.....where does all that high pressure hot gas go.... Right in the pin hole, melting the spring and seizing the pin.... Could be an insta slam fire on the next trigger pull cause your pin is now stuck.
Just my .00000000002 cents worth. :)
On that bolt and firing pin.....cleanliness is next to Godliness...
I'll say this in the free floating vs spring loaded debate: anyone who thinks a spring loaded pin will never slam fire is delusional. If you have foreign matter building up in the firing pin channel of the bolt, spring loaded pins are just as likely to jam forward as free floating pins are (some would say with the smaller clearances to expell foreign matter, they are more likely.)
Popped primers wreak havoc on the springs as well, causing them to distort and in extreme cases break apart into pieces that then wedge in the channel to lock the firing pin forward.
Quote from: running-man on February 16, 2019, 08:22:52 PM
I'll say this in the free floating vs spring loaded debate: anyone who thinks a spring loaded pin will never slam fire is delusional. If you have foreign matter building up in the firing pin channel of the bolt, spring loaded pins are just as likely to jam forward as free floating pins are (some would say with the smaller clearances to expell foreign matter, they are more likely.)
Popped primers wreak havoc on the springs as well, causing them to distort and in extreme cases break apart into pieces that then wedge in the channel to lock the firing pin forward.
All excellent points thumb1
Quote from: Greasemonkey on February 16, 2019, 05:02:47 PM
Just my opinion.... Not really needed. If it were such a great idea... Why didn't manufactures stick with it and not go away from it. A Garand has a free floating pin, as does a M1 Carbine and a M-14. Any of them can slam fire.... Keep it clean and free moving and it's usually not a problem.
1 SKS, an early '50 Russian, out of my pile has it cause it came with it...none have ever slam fired. Even my slam wore out, sloppy clanky Yugo hasn't.
And if you pop a primer with the spring.....where does all that high pressure hot gas go.... Right in the pin hole, melting the spring and seizing the pin.... Could be an insta slam fire on the next trigger pull cause your pin is now stuck.
Just my .00000000002 cents worth. :)
On that bolt and firing pin.....cleanliness is next to Godliness...
A broken or
lost spring could be catastrophic. The bolts were heavier with the design, perhaps the notion of either caused them to shun the concept as the bolt, and the rest of the gun evolved.
A bonus benefit, that
may be noticed with a spring loaded pin, is that if you drop it muzzle down, with a round chambered, it would likely reduce an accidental discharge from happening as easily as it could with a floating pin. Which, could be why it was thought of in the first place.....as one would expect the military to maintain their weapons cleanliness better than the average shmo. It's likely they weren't considering the possibility of slam fires with dirty weapons....whereas it does seem like they might have taken running around in combat...and dropping it awkwardly as a possibility. It could be we in the western world took the original side effect and traded it for the primary function....and brought the idea back. When the SKS became the darling of the milsurp imports, and were cheap as dirt, slamfires were commonplace as the general SKS buying public didn't know to clean the thing properly....nor did they know about the nature of the SKS bolt and firing pin. They just new they got a cheap semi auto, and a thousand rounds for less than the cost of an Emerson VCR....and once they got it clean enough to touch without getting all icky, were off to get their yee haw on.
Does the firing pin and its' area require any lubrication?
less than zilch
I put a thin coat of a THIN oil on the bolt and FP simply to make carbon removal easy.
I suspect the Soviets moved away from the spring loaded firing pin for one or more rational reasons.
The most likely reasons to switch a component design would be ease of manufacture, less expensive manufacture, and/or increased reliability.
This comparative picture from the poster suggests that the spring loaded firing pin is of a much smaller diameter at the “pin” end and has stress risers at the flange area. I suspect it was more prone to breakage than the simple firing pins of later design. It was also clearly more complex to machine and finish.
If there were no manufacturing benefits and/or they hadn’t had any functionality or reliability problems, they wouldn’t have switched. If the spring loaded design had been superior, I’m certain one of the other countries that manufactured the SKS later would have reincorporated it into their design. The Yugoslavians loved to change designs to make it their own, but they didn’t change anything with respect to the firing pin.
(https://i.ibb.co/bXB9jXH/IMG-8283.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SBnCDBQ)
P32 you getting any use out of those posters you bought? clap1
Quote from: Bob_The_Student on February 16, 2019, 11:01:59 PM
P32 you getting any use out of those posters you bought? clap1
:)) Yes, indeed!