Need to check headspace?

[wewoapsiak]

I recently got a wild hair about a few older rifles, and I picked up a Chinese SKS from a friendly local gentleman and have an O-PAP from Buds on the way. With one being "a good shooter" and one being "new" from the importer, would it be a good idea to get a go / no go set? It's my first adventure with any rifle other than an AR and a 10/22, so I'm curious what y'all think.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I would not worry about it. I am sure the PAP's are test fired before leaving the factory and any SKS that had headspace issues would probably have been scrapped when they were $59.

[Luke E.]

^ This ^ Of course if you've got a curious mind like I have, once an idea enters it, it won't be content until you do it/tryit.

[wewoapsiak]

Thanks guys! I guess I'll just be on the lookout for symptoms of it over time and not wait to go shoot them when I can.

[peejman]

While checking headspace is never a bad idea... I wouldn't worry about it.  Both of those guns are built like tanks so you're likely to see headspace issues manifest in poor function or accuracy. 

[Djay3]

A much more frequent occurrence with SKS's is a gunked up bolt resulting in a stuck firing pin which can cause multiple round bursts.

So, a good cleaning of the bolt might be a sensible measure when acquiring a new to you SKS.

My one and only SKS had this issue and it did double tap on the first range outing.

[peejman]

A much more frequent occurrence with SKS's is a gunked up bolt resulting in a stuck firing pin which can cause multiple round bursts.

So, a good cleaning of the bolt might be a sensible measure when acquiring a new to you SKS.

My one and only SKS had this issue and it did double tap on the first range outing.

 

 

Good point.  The firing pin in the SKS should be loose.  There is no spring, so if it's stuck the rifle may slam fire. 

[Slasher]

I know they sell springs for the sks bolt to keep the firing pin back to prevent slam fires. Has anyone ever tried one? Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Oh Shoot]

I know they sell springs for the sks bolt to keep the firing pin back to prevent slam fires. Has anyone ever tried one? Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

Is there something about the SKS that is more prone to do this? Meaning, AR and AK platform also have floating firing pin arrangement, so it's obviously not much of an issue with the millions of them out there.

 

- OS

[Slasher]

Makes sense. Thanks. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[gregintenn]

What you could do is to cut a piece of masking tape the size of the head of a round of ammunition, and stick it over the primer. See if the bolt will fully close with the round chambered. If it will, add another piece of tape and try it again. It probably shouldn't close on more than about three pieces of tape applied. This isn't scientific, but will give you a general idea of headspace on your rifle.

 

I don't normally check the headspace on a rifle unless I have some reason to be suspect of it.

Edited August 18, 2014 by gregintenn

[Djay3]

Is there something about the SKS that is more prone to do this? Meaning, AR and AK platform also have floating firing pin arrangement, so it's obviously not much of an issue with the millions of them out there.

- OS

That sure is a good question. Just speculating, but the AR bolt is easier to disassemble and clean so maybe that is one difference. My doubling SKS is a 1951 Russian so I have no idea when prior to my ownership it's' firing pin channel had last been cleaned. I naively ignored the bolt assembly before taking it to the range. Also, mine doubled using U.S. Commercial ammo that likely had softer primers than the Milsurp harder primers.

As I understand it, Simonov originally designed the SKS WITH a firing pin return spring, but the Russian bureaucracy decided to eliminate that spring for cost savings. : /

A lot of slam fire bad outcomes are due to an inexperienced shooter losing control of the weapon: "In 1996 at the California, Sacramento Valley Shooting Center an SKS slamfired as it was being stripper clip fed, with neither individual having a firm hold on the rifle. The gun subsequently emptied its magazine as it recoiled out of the shooter's and assistant's grasp, with the last bullet entering the face and exiting out the top of William Ferrante's head" Edited August 19, 2014 by Djay3

[peejman]

That sure is a good question. Just speculating, but the AR bolt is easier to disassemble and clean so maybe that is one difference. My doubling SKS is a 1951 Russian so I have no idea when prior to my ownership it's' firing pin channel had last been cleaned. I naively ignored the bolt assembly before taking it to the range. Also, mine doubled using U.S. Commercial ammo that likely had softer primers than the Milsurp harder primers.

As I understand it, Simonov originally designed the SKS WITH a firing pin return spring, but the Russian bureaucracy decided to eliminate that spring for cost savings. : /

A lot of slam fire bad outcomes are due to an inexperienced shooter losing control of the weapon: "In 1996 at the California, Sacramento Valley Shooting Center an SKS slamfired as it was being stripper clip fed, with neither individual having a firm hold on the rifle. The gun subsequently emptied its magazine as it recoiled out of the shooter's and assistant's grasp, with the last bullet entering the face and exiting out the top of William Ferrante's head"

 

 

Cleaned prior to your ownership... likely never.  Taking the bolt apart isn't part of the standard "field strip" so it wouldn't get done unless there was a reason, such as slam firing.  I've never taken mine apart.  I try to remember to make sure the pin moves freely before shooting it, but that's about it. 

[Dolomite_supafly]

WD-40 works wonders for cleaning firing pin channels. It is all I use anymore to get a gun back running. If the WD-40 trick doesn't fix it then it is time to take the gun apart and clean it.