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Primer puncturing in gun....

leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
This is kind of a continuation of the "Barrel Shot" topic that totally evolved when found out more data. Turned out the primers were being punctured, but he sent the gun to a gunsmith, so the topic ended. But I think some serious safety issues need to be descussed about this problem, and I have some questions myself.

One main reason I can think of that your gun could be puncturing primers in factory loads, if in all loads, is that the firing pin really needs to be replaced. It may be sharp, warped out, or to long. There are guages for measuring to see if the firing pin is comming out to far, but firing pins are so cheap that its probably best just to replace it, if that fixed the problem fine, if not, then you should send your gun to a gunsmith.

Now I have a question. A buddy has an SKS, and when he uses wolf brand ammo it works perfectly fine. However whenever he uses American Eagle ammo, he has problems with the primers getting punctured. The only thing I can think of is that the two different ammunitions have two different seating depths on their primers. Not only that but also wolf ammo is berdain primed so the anvil would be facing the opposite side. I've been trying to convince him to replace the firing pin, and/or send it to a gunsmith, but he wont since it works fine with the wolf ammo. Also, the gun is a Norinco SKS. Has anyone else ever had this problem in a Norinco SKS, and what was the cause. Any scare tactics I could use to get him to check the darn thing out before he has an accident and blowes himself up?

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Comments

  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Another thing I just thought of is this. Was this gun originally manufactured for use with berdain primed ammunition? Are there guns that were designed to fire berdain primed ammunition, that arent safe for use with baxer primed ammo without modification?

    Visit me http://www.geocities.com/gunsmithlee
  • rsnyder55rsnyder55 Member Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is it possible the Berdan primers are harder than the primers American Eagle (Federal) uses?
  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    No but Wolf might use military grade primers which ARE harder.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417
    edited November -1
    I believe that the SKS is designed without a firing pin spring, which, when the firing pin gets dirty and sticks, can cause slam fires. There is probably something wrong with the pin, but because the berdan primed cases do not have a flash hole in the middle ( one on either side) the problem is not noticed until boxer primed ammo is used. I would imagine that it was designed for berdan primed, making a pin spring unnecessary.

    oneshy
  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Pierced primers come from overloads, Rough or too pointed firing pin tips or excessive firing pin protrusion.
    Take the firing pin out and examine it for roughness. Polish off roughness and sharp edges with a fine handstone. If firing pin protrusion exceeds .055, dress it down to about .050".
  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417
    edited November -1
    Just as a post script, I have looked at a schematic of the bolt, and there is a retainer pin which holds the firing pin in place. This could be worn or broken.
  • tccoxtccox Member Posts: 7,379 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    ONESHY, Please expound on your theory about the Beridan and Boxer primers. What difference does it make if there are one or two flash holes. Am very curious how you reached this conclusion. Thanks, Tom

    Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who dont.
  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417
    edited November -1
    The boxer primed has a hole in the middle, so if the firing pin is too long it will go through the primer and into the hole. On a berdan primed the holes are on either side and where the firing pin hits the primer is backed by solid metal preventing the pin from piercing the primer. This may or may not have any creedence but was a possible explanation as to why the berdan primed were not being pierced.

    Edited by - Oneshy on 05/03/2002 15:27:59
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,083 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There may be merit to the idea of the berdan system limiting firing pin protrusion. The military primer cup is much harder tha civilian. CCI sells milspec large and small rifle primers for this reason. We use several mauser 93 type actions for which we use milspec to prevent an overlong pin from firing as the round is chambered.

    Mobuck
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