FTF in my new Yugo SKS?!

[InterWebGuy]

Hi all, I’ve run into a snag with the new Yugoslavian SKS I just bought, and I was hoping you guys might be able to help me diagnose the problem.

The rifle intermittently fails to fire after being stored for any length of time (even a few hours), but always works after the first time it fires. I’ve had it fail to fire 10 times in a row, and then function perfectly for over an hour afterward (about 100 rounds or so). When it fails to fire, I pull the trigger and I just hear a click as if I were dry firing it. The primers don’t show any indication of a firing pin strike. I’ve completely disassembled the rifle, particularly the bolt and firing pin, and hosed all the metal components down with chlorine-free brake cleaner and mineral spirits, and it looks clean as a whistle. I’m wondering now if maybe my hammer spring is too weak or something along those lines. Has anyone run into this before? If so do you know of an easy way to fix it?

I’ve got a 30-day warranty on the rifle, but I’m pretty attached to it at this point, so I’d prefer not having to bring it back and get another one, but I guess that’s an option if solving the problem is going to be tricky.

Thanks in advance,
IWG

 

[Picard]

Are you not letting the bolt carrier slam forward when you first cycle the gun? Next time, try pulling all the way back and just letting go. It seems like the round isn't seating properly, and then later, when the gun cycles by itself, it is able to do it correctly.

 

[mtngunr]

ditto above...I don't personally know a single SKS shooter/owner who hasn't been mystified by the click/no-bang when first getting/shooting one....make sure the bolt carrier is fully seated forward....this is a safety to help prevent out-of-battery fire....

 

[32 Magnum]

SKS Problems

We sell A LOT of Yugo 59/66 (unissued and issued) and Yugo 59's - your problem is the most common one we hear. The majority of the time it is with the unissued pieces and some of that God awful crap still in the firing pin channel - but you said you've cleaned yours completely, so we go to the second fix, and that is as stated above, the bolt is not fully in battery - if the rails are clean and properly lubed, then you need to let it slam forward with a bit more force - the operating springs may be dirty or weak.

 

[InterWebGuy]

Thanks for the quick replies - I hadn't thought of that! I usually cycle the bolt for the first round by pulling it almost all of the way back, letting it slam home, and then I usually give it a quick tap with the palm of my hand (an old habit that was sometimes necessary to get my buddies norinco SKS to work). I'll experiment a bit next time I take it out to the range
Thanks again,
IWG

 

[chris in va]

I had a FTF issue with my Yugo one day. Click, no primer dimple.

Turns out a half moon shaped piece of chrome (or what looked like it) had shaved off and wedged itself in the firing pin hole.

I got fed up with the thing after that and bought a Saiga.

 

[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

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