Anyone experience slam-fire with their SKS? Or know of it first-hand?

[Bang]

Just read in a gun magazine last night, "Reloading for semi-automatics". Writer says SKS are known for slam fires. I don't recall reading enough about it to arrive at "known for".

[Emptymag]

Yes, it's something every new owner should be aware of.
As I understand it, the Cosmoline used for protecting them in storage can gum up the firing pin which is supposed to move freely. Failure to properly clean/check the firing pin/bolt can lead to a slam fire.

Pretty common topic in regards to the SKS rifle.
No I have not experienced it.

[Bang]

Not referring to fouled firearm. It's about the bolt flying into battery, and the unsprung firing pin continuing on via inertia, and striking the primer with sufficient force to set it off.

[Hawk]

In addition to the above...
If you're going to reload for it, its a good idea to use military spec primers (they are harder/thicker) than standard primers. Also, make sure you seat the primers so they are below the surface of the face of the base.

[Steve in PA]

Any rifle with a floating firing pin; SKS, AR, M1 Garand, etc can be subject to a slam fire. That said, I've never had one in any of my rifles. Just keep it aimed in a safe direction. Gunk can build up in the bolt causing the firing pin to "freeze" in the extended position.

[Willie D]

In addition to the above...
If you're going to reload for it, its a good idea to use military spec primers (they are harder/thicker) than standard primers. Also, make sure you seat the primers so they are below the surface of the face of the base.

Likewise, the risk is supposedly greater with domestic commercial ammo. (Com bloc is safer due to harder primers)

[Hodgie]

I have owned well over a dozen sks's from many different nations over the last decade some I modified with a spring loaded FP and others I left completely stock after fully disassembling and cleaning every inch of the bolt and FP assembly and after shooting what feels like millions of rounds split through them all I have yet to ever have a slam fire.

Over on Survivors SKS where I have been a member for the last decade I think there has been 1 or 2 members who actually had this happen and both were due to excessive cosmilone build up in the bolt and FP chamber. Mythbusters also did an entire segment on this with the help of Murray who is an excellent well known gun smith in the SKS world who makes several different FP, gas valve and trigger options for the SKS.

Spoiler alert:

At the end they were unable to get the rifle to slam fire in any condition. This is a very over hyped issue that almost never happens with proper maintenance and almost never happens with shitty maintenance.

[Seabee CO]

Been reloading for auto loaders for over 20+ years. Always used regular factory primers and never had an issue. I always made sure the primers were fully seated. I have noticed on some rounds that I have chambered but not fired, that some free floating firing pins do slightly indent the primers so never chamber a round unless you are ready to fire.

[Hodgie]

The bolt is a PITA to disassemble, but do so anyway and be sure to clean the bolt until you can hear the FP rattling freely inside when you shake it after re-assembly..

Put the bolt in a cup boil up a pot of water and pour it in then watch all the liquified cosmoline come bubbleing out.

[WarPig1976]

Put the bolt in a cup boil up a pot of water and pour it in then watch all the liquified cosmoline come bubbleing out.

Amen, the key to cosmoline is heat!!. Works on bayonet scabbards and anything else with nooks and crannies. A heat gun is another friend of a Milsurper.