How to fix and SKS jam?

SKSshooter · 03-24-2008, 10:56 PM

I recently traded for an SKS at a pawn shop and when i went out and shot it, after about the 10 rounds it started not to fully eject the shells. When I pulled the trigger the next time, just a "click", and I didn't see the last shell eject. So do I have a live round waiting? Or did it jam the spent shell back into the chamber? I don't know what to do, I already took it back and the guy at the pawn shop said he took it to a gunsmith and had the round removed, and said it was either the magazine or the rounds. I was using the rounds he sold me which looked like reloaded ammunition. So I got it back and used Winchester this time and after the second shot same thing. I have heard that I need to jam the bolt into a tree to discharge the spent shell? is this safe? safe on the gun? others say to put it on the floor and to hit it with a mallet? to me this doesn't sound safe. I have cleaned my .22 before and my shotguns, but not a lot of experience here, except what I am learning on these threads. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP. The magazine is aftermarket and a folding stock.

Ferroflame · 03-24-2008, 11:19 PM

Eh...

I'm no expert but...

Have you cleaned the gun?

Fully?

Including the gas tube?

That may be part of it.

Or the ammo just sucks really bad.

>.>

Or maybe it's the gun.

Personally, I have no idea. Don't take my advice. =]

But you should probably clean it if you haven't already.

M14man · 03-24-2008, 11:52 PM

Sounds like the chamber is dirty or scored. If it is taking alot of effort to get the bolt back and there is a fired shell stuck there, a dirty chamber or bad chamber could be causing the sticking. The mallet-tree method is used to get the leverage needed to get the bolt open. Though not actually dangerous itself if there is an empty in the chamber, it does not leave the people next to you feeling safe. Make sure you remove the mag so you don't avtually cycle another live round into the chamber when you do get the bolt open.Cleaning the gas tube, gas piston and port may help get more gas to help in extraction, but it won't cure a bad chamber. Clean the chamber with a wire bore brush, scrub it well. Use a mirror to inspect. It is not easy to see the chamber, but there should be no pitting or scoring. Buying used guns from places like that is always a gamble. Heavily modified changes, detachable mags, folding stock,etc usually doesn't help in the guns reliability.

SKSshooter · 03-25-2008, 01:27 AM

Well I wasn't going to go take apart and clean a gun i just bought at the pawn shop, I wanted to make sure it actually fired first. With the detachable magazine there is no way to remove the magazine with the bolt jammed. If I did use leverage to force the bolt back I would have to hold it open while I remove the clip. I don't want to force it though, since I still have the chance to take it back. I was using Winchester rounds. I know that the modifications do not add to the SKS's reliability but they sure do make it look bad ass. The folding stock does make it easier to fit in my truck. I don't care for the detachable magazine though because I have read that the SKS is not designed for them.

Big Dog · 03-25-2008, 05:29 AM

"Well I wasn't going to go take apart and clean a gun i just bought at the pawn shop"

That was your first mistake - guns I've bought at pawnshops are the dirtiest, grungiest guns I've ever seen! They MUST be properly cleaned and lubed - also to make sure the gun is complete and in good shape BEFORE shooting.

It sounds like the gas system is clogged or leaking - the gun may be 'short cycling' - not far enough back to eject and it simply shoves the empty back into the chamber.

Is it the Yugo model with grenade launcher, or the Chinese? If it's the Yugo, do a search for 'gas tube' or similar - this problem has been discussed many times. It's an easy fix.

jmp8927 · 03-25-2008, 06:28 AM

sounds most like a chamber issue. Take a 20 guage shotgun cleaning brush and clean that thing out real good with some solvent. It should help a lot. Mine never stuck, but I did that to mine and you'd be amazed at how much crap is in there.

billy · 03-25-2008, 06:36 AM

clean any new or new to you gun before you shoot it.

SwedeSteve · 03-25-2008, 07:43 AM

^+1! When you get a "new to you" firearm, get on the web and read all you can find. It is truly an amazing asset! Get on a forum (you did, but a little late), go back and read all the posts, then ask your questions. You would have saved yourself all this hassle.

jmp8927 · 03-25-2008, 08:01 AM

And for the record, brass shells will stick in the chamber worse than steel.

GlockMeister · 03-26-2008, 12:34 AM

Hell, I even clean brand new firearms. One reason, some if not all or most manufacturers coat the parts with only a rust preventative, and it has no lubrication cproperties what so ever. I say this because one I bought said to clean it before first shooting it and that was the reason it gave. The parts coated with only a rust preventative and it has no lubricating properties.

But dude, you gotta clean them and look them over. If anything to become familiar with them and to inspect them for your self. Especially if coming from a pawn shop.

Here, to help you out.

Collecting and Shooting the SKS Carbine - Disassembly and Reassembly

And here, go to the Educational zone.
Collecting and Shooting the SKS Carbine - Disassembly and Reassembly

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmp8927

And for the record, brass shells will stick in the chamber worse than steel.

Now are you meaning in the Eastern Bloc country rifles/firearms or all firearms in general? Cuz I've never had a problem like this with brass in anything. Of course, use the Wolf, both styles,in the Eastern Bloc rifles so and so far never had an issue with brass or steel. KNOCK WOOD. lol

jmp8927 · 03-26-2008, 06:24 AM

Only with eastern bloc rifles and only after they get dirty. My Norinco SKS shoots brass perfectly. But if I were to let it get really dirty as some people do, the brass would stick before the steel would. They expand more when fired than the steel does.

LouMG · 03-27-2008, 09:10 PM

Yugos with the grenade launcher have a "knob" to turn off the semi auto part.

03-24-2008, 10:56 PM	#1
SKSshooter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	How to fix and SKS jam? I recently traded for an SKS at a pawn shop and when i went out and shot it, after about the 10 rounds it started not to fully eject the shells. When I pulled the trigger the next time, just a "click", and I didn't see the last shell eject. So do I have a live round waiting? Or did it jam the spent shell back into the chamber? I don't know what to do, I already took it back and the guy at the pawn shop said he took it to a gunsmith and had the round removed, and said it was either the magazine or the rounds. I was using the rounds he sold me which looked like reloaded ammunition. So I got it back and used Winchester this time and after the second shot same thing. I have heard that I need to jam the bolt into a tree to discharge the spent shell? is this safe? safe on the gun? others say to put it on the floor and to hit it with a mallet? to me this doesn't sound safe. I have cleaned my .22 before and my shotguns, but not a lot of experience here, except what I am learning on these threads. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP. The magazine is aftermarket and a folding stock.

03-25-2008, 01:27 AM	#4
SKSshooter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	Hmmm Well I wasn't going to go take apart and clean a gun i just bought at the pawn shop, I wanted to make sure it actually fired first. With the detachable magazine there is no way to remove the magazine with the bolt jammed. If I did use leverage to force the bolt back I would have to hold it open while I remove the clip. I don't want to force it though, since I still have the chance to take it back. I was using Winchester rounds. I know that the modifications do not add to the SKS's reliability but they sure do make it look bad ass. The folding stock does make it easier to fit in my truck. I don't care for the detachable magazine though because I have read that the SKS is not designed for them.

03-25-2008, 05:29 AM	#5
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,219	"Well I wasn't going to go take apart and clean a gun i just bought at the pawn shop" That was your first mistake - guns I've bought at pawnshops are the dirtiest, grungiest guns I've ever seen! They MUST be properly cleaned and lubed - also to make sure the gun is complete and in good shape BEFORE shooting. It sounds like the gas system is clogged or leaking - the gun may be 'short cycling' - not far enough back to eject and it simply shoves the empty back into the chamber. Is it the Yugo model with grenade launcher, or the Chinese? If it's the Yugo, do a search for 'gas tube' or similar - this problem has been discussed many times. It's an easy fix. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

03-25-2008, 06:28 AM	#6
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,145 Images: 17	sounds most like a chamber issue. Take a 20 guage shotgun cleaning brush and clean that thing out real good with some solvent. It should help a lot. Mine never stuck, but I did that to mine and you'd be amazed at how much crap is in there. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-25-2008, 06:36 AM	#7
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,184 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	clean any new or new to you gun before you shoot it. __________________

03-24-2008, 11:19 PM	#2
Ferroflame Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 384	Eh... I'm no expert but... Have you cleaned the gun? Fully? Including the gas tube? That may be part of it. Or the ammo just sucks really bad. >.> Or maybe it's the gun. Personally, I have no idea. Don't take my advice. =] But you should probably clean it if you haven't already.

03-24-2008, 11:52 PM	#3
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 437 Images: 10	Sounds like the chamber is dirty or scored. If it is taking alot of effort to get the bolt back and there is a fired shell stuck there, a dirty chamber or bad chamber could be causing the sticking. The mallet-tree method is used to get the leverage needed to get the bolt open. Though not actually dangerous itself if there is an empty in the chamber, it does not leave the people next to you feeling safe. Make sure you remove the mag so you don't avtually cycle another live round into the chamber when you do get the bolt open.Cleaning the gas tube, gas piston and port may help get more gas to help in extraction, but it won't cure a bad chamber. Clean the chamber with a wire bore brush, scrub it well. Use a mirror to inspect. It is not easy to see the chamber, but there should be no pitting or scoring. Buying used guns from places like that is always a gamble. Heavily modified changes, detachable mags, folding stock,etc usually doesn't help in the guns reliability.

03-25-2008, 07:43 AM	#8
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,391 Images: 1	^+1! When you get a "new to you" firearm, get on the web and read all you can find. It is truly an amazing asset! Get on a forum (you did, but a little late), go back and read all the posts, then ask your questions. You would have saved yourself all this hassle. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-25-2008, 08:01 AM	#9
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,145 Images: 17	And for the record, brass shells will stick in the chamber worse than steel. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-26-2008, 06:24 AM	#11
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,145 Images: 17	Only with eastern bloc rifles and only after they get dirty. My Norinco SKS shoots brass perfectly. But if I were to let it get really dirty as some people do, the brass would stick before the steel would. They expand more when fired than the steel does. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-27-2008, 09:10 PM	#12
LouMG Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NY Posts: 13	Yugos with the grenade launcher have a "knob" to turn off the semi auto part.