sks trigger malfunction

I would like to share this with you for informational purposes.

I bought a Tula 1952 SKS FTR on Saturday. When I first picked the rifle out of the crate I looked for matching numbers on all parts. I was lucky enough to find one. I also noticed the hammer didn't fall when I pulled the trigger after cycling the bolt. I didn't think much of it because everything was full of cosmoline.

After dis assembly, cleaning and re assembly, the trigger still wouldn't release the hammer. The trigger was like most SKS rifles, rough and heavy but it didn't work. I then stoned the rails and ways on the sear and frame and changed out the springs for weaker versions. Still no hammer fall.

Upon closer inspection I noticed the sear wasn't being pushed far enough ahead to disengage from the hammer indent, even with the trigger depressed as far as possible. It turned out the trigger bar had been filed to short by the weapons tech to actually push the sear far enough ahead.

It's easier to take a bit off the sear than it is to add to the trigger bar, so I carefully honed the sear engagement area and after several tries got it to release the hammer smoothly and reliably.

One thing, the trigger was definitly lighter and smoother with a lot less creep when I was finished. I wouldn't have done the trigger job if it had functioned properly in the first place. There is a good reason why the Russians made the trigger pull so hard on their rifles. It stops a lot of accidental discharges and accidents under stressful conditions or whatever else.

I really like the SKS rifles. They were made with the idea that the lowest common denominator could shoot and maintain them unde all conditions. I've seen SKS rifles that were buried in the muck of a pond that were pulled out, swished around in the water to clear the muck from the mechanism and barrel, loaded and fired before it was dry or clean. It certainly gives me a lot of respect for it's designers.

bearhunter