SKS Firing Pin Question

[noozeyeguy]

I just acquired a very nice Yugo M59. When I field-stripped it, I found the firing pin was fairly tight in the bolt. I could move it with finger pressure, but just barely. Stripping the bolt down, I found the pin was bent.

I ordered a replacement from Numrich, and the pin I just got has the same overall dimensions, but instead of a triangular profile the pin is flat on both sides. It fits fine in the bolt, and rattles freely. Am I GTG?

Pix:
Old pin on bottom


Profile

[Russ661]

Yes.

[hammerhead_77]

I got one from Murray's. It is spring loaded to avoid the slam-fire problem. Reasonable and high quality.

If yours rattles, you should be good to go...but I's still suggest a spring loaded one.

[CAguy]

I got one from Murray's. It is spring loaded to avoid the slam-fire problem. Reasonable and high quality.

If yours rattles, you should be good to go...but I's still suggest a spring loaded one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4VQMgnV5xM

[twotacocombo]

Just boil the bolt when you first clean them up and you should be GTG. I do the same for my Mosins and have never had a problem. Boiling for a few min ensures all the cosmo gunk it removed.

Brake cleaner blasted down the firing pin cavity does wonders, too.

[johnthomas]

I bought 4 of the firing pins with springs. They come with extra springs.
My experience is the springs end up breaking after a few outings and you have to make sure and get all spring parts out or you have the problem you are trying to avoid, slam fire. Has anyone else had this problem?

[noozeyeguy]

I bought 4 of the firing pins with springs. They come with extra springs.
My experience is the springs end up breaking after a few outings and you have to make sure and get all spring parts out or you have the problem you are trying to avoid, slam fire. Has anyone else had this problem?

See YouTube link above.

Thanks everyone for your help. Everything is back together and seems to be working to spec. Of course, it worked fine before...

[johnthomas]

Thanks guys, I'm not the only one. Makes me wonder if it is the reason the early SKS's with spring was changed.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have also had the spring on a Murray's pin compress / collapse like the example in the video. To Murray's credit, he sent replacement springs to me immediately, but it may be a solution looking for a problem. Most of my SKS rifles have FF pins and once the bolt has been properly disassembled and cleaned resulting in good rattle, the rifles all run like tops.

[DirtyRussianAmmo]

Just boil the bolt when you first clean them up and you should be GTG. I do the same for my Mosins and have never had a problem. Boiling for a few min ensures all the cosmo gunk it removed.

Yes... boiling water followed by a detailed cleaning with mineral spirits. Pipe cleaners work well for scouring the firing pin hole. Also, inspect the firing pin for burrs. If found, deburr/polish with fine grit wet & dry and a little oil.

[kcheung2]

I used to use the Murray's firing pins but after a few failed springs I went back to a regular pin. Btw if the broken spring gets stuck inside the channel, a wire coat hanger is the right diameter to shove it out.

[Dan_Eastvale]

I have also thought that might be the reason the Russians dropped the spring loaded version. The way it self destructs.

[chknlyps2]

I just acquired a very nice Yugo M59. When I field-stripped it, I found the firing pin was fairly tight in the bolt. I could move it with finger pressure, but just barely. Stripping the bolt down, I found the pin was bent.

On my 59/66 about every 500 rounds or so I get a pierced primer and the gas blows the firing pin back and the little hump in the center of the pin wedges under the the retainer pin and gets stuck. When pulled apart the firing pin is always bent, I have straightened it at least 5 times with a hammer. I ordered 2 new firing pins from Desert Fox a couple weeks ago and next time a primer goes south I will replace the pin.

[SanDiegoMan]

awhile back I read about that firing pin upgrade....glad I never decided to buy one. My free floating pin has been just fine. I just always make sure to do the shake test before going to the range and I'm good to go.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

On my 59/66 about every 500 rounds or so I get a pierced primer and the gas blows the firing pin back and the little hump in the center of the pin wedges under the the retainer pin and gets stuck. When pulled apart the firing pin is always bent, I have straightened it at least 5 times with a hammer. I ordered 2 new firing pins from Desert Fox a couple weeks ago and next time a primer goes south I will replace the pin.

This has happened to me as well, albeit only once in many thousands of rounds and it was with a Chicom. FP was FUBAR.