SKS problem, bolt is stuck forward with a round in the chamber

[tsteil]

I was out shooting in the desert the other day and my Yugo 59 SKS jammed. I am pretty sure there is a live round in the chamber so I'm kind of worried about working on it in my house.

Anyways, the problem is that the bolt is stuck forward. Something is blocking it from being moved backwards to cock the hammer / eject the round.

I already dissambled the rifle as much as I could. I took out the recoil spring and then the trigger assembly. The magazine would not come out because the bolt is holding it in place. I also took out the forward gas tubes but I don't think that was helping anything.

Still, the bolt is stuck forward.

My only idea was to reassemble everything, manually reach in and cock the hammer back, then try to fire it and hope my gun doesn't blow up. I'm not sure if that will even work though because I don't know if my trigger would be in a state that would let me fire it, given the bolt is locked in a forward position.

Do you guys have any ideas? This is a new (used) Yugo 59 SKS that I just bought off gunbroker.com. I only put about 8 rounds through it when this happened. It was dirty as **** when I got the rifle so I guess I didn't clean it well enough.

[stevie]

well, you can take it outside where it is safe and hit the charging handle with a rubber mallet. Sounds like the round is stuck in the chamber. Once its free, clean the chamber really good.

[JPglee1]

Still, the bolt is stuck forward.

My only idea was to reassemble everything, manually reach in and cock the hammer back, then try to fire it and hope my gun doesn't blow up. I'm not sure if that will even work though because I don't know if my trigger would be in a state that would let me fire it, given the bolt is locked in a forward position.

DONT do that...


There's 2 ways to do this....


1) Put the stock on the rifle, put your hand against the bolt handle with the muzzle sticking UP.... Pull DOWN hard against the bolt handle as you smack the buttstock on the floor... The idea is to transfer the momentum to the bolt/carrier. You gotta do this on FALs sometimes.

The other way is:

2) Put the muzzle of the weapon DOWN (Watch yer feet) and smack the bolt handle against something hard like a workbench top or a truck bumper or something. Put the bolt handle against the ledge/tailgate/etc and smack down on the STOCK (might wanna try using a rubber mallet as well on the stock)

Whatever you do, DON'T put the trigger group in while you're doing all this, it will lessen your chance at an accidental discharge.... SKS has a floating firing pin in it so you're OK as long as you don't smack that firing pin.


Be safe, and good luck.



JP

[USP]

I had this happen on my yugo once while at the range. I had the rifle pointed down range and had to hit the bolt with a piece of wood pretty damn hard to get the jam free.

[tsteil]

Wow. Thanks for all the info guys. I was worried about hitting the bolt really hard with a mallet but it looks like that is what I need to do.

Thanks again!

[zatoh]

A crusty range officer showed me this once:

With the muzzle pointed down range or in a safe direction, place the rifle on a bench or other sturdy table on its side.

Position the charging handle so that it catches the end of the table. Hold the rifle lightly in position so that it does not squirm around while you push. Now with your thigh or hip (depending on the height of the table/bench) resting on the buttstock, lean/push forward with gradual but firm pressure. If it still does not move change positions and give it a good shove with your hand with all your weight behind it.

If the bench is concrete remember to protect the rifle from on the sides. (where it'll slide) and the charging handle (use a block of wood or similar).

I've had this happen with rifles that have small deposits of hardened cosmo in the chamber that gets soft as the rifle heats up from firing. Once it's soft that stuff is like glue.

[50 Freak]

My FN-49 and FAL get stuck sometimes when I use pretty crappy ammo and the chambers and the ammo heat up causing the round to get stuck.

I turn the gun downrange and slam the rifle forward making sure the bolt catches on to the end of the table. That has always ejected the rounds.

It may mar your finish, but come on, these are guns we plan on using not safe queens.

[WallySparx]

i've had a similar problem before, mainly with wolf hollowpoints. seems one round gets stuck trying to get into the chamber, with another trying to come up from underneath it when i try to eject. getting the mag open and then putting more pressure on getting the bolt back seems to do the trick. so does not using wolf hps.

i'd imagine brute force is typically the prescription for most sks ailnesses, given the education level of those originally intended to use them.

[tsteil]

Yep. Just took a little elbow grease. Thanks again everyone!!

[Altahick]

u should look down the barrel to confirm that there is a live round in there

[Mesa Tactical]

u should look down the barrel to confirm that there is a live round in there

Some dudes I used to shoot with (Bianchi style handgun competition) swore they had a new guy do that when his weapon jammed during a string. They escorted him off the range and told him never to come back. Ex-cop, too...

[Blue]

was it a live round?

[Cato]

Point your weapon in a safe direction and use liberal amounts of WD 40. Then jiggle the bolt firmly. If that doesn do it use a rubber malet on bolt handle. Use gentle taps. If that doesnt work, come back the next day to let the WD 40 get worked into the nooks and crannies. Reapply and continue tapping. Ive never had my SKS jam like that but that's how I'd approach that problem.

[dmckean44]

Ive never had my SKS jam like that but that's how I'd approach that problem.

lol

Keyboard Jockey.

[tsteil]

It was a live round.