Problem with SKS detachable mag. HELP!!

Hojo

I recently purchased a 30-round detachable Zytel magazine for my SKS. I checked with the ATF office in my city to make sure it was legal on my gun beforehand.The mag is black Zytel with COBRAY stamped on the bottom.Problem is now that I got it I cant make it work, and I'm afraid that I'll end up with a serious problem if I tinker any more.First problem was this: when I loaded it into the gun without any rounds in it, the two curving sides of the magazine designed to keep the rounds in were so protrusive inward that I couldnt get the bolt past!I proceeded to file them down to a level which allowed the bolt to pass.New problem: I loaded the magazine, slapped it into my SKS, and snapped the bolt shut to chamber a round. No problem. Fired a shot, and the next round up jammed. Really, really badly jammed.I cursed some, stomped some, and extracted the round and tried again. I manually guided the first round into the chamber, made sure the bolt was locked, and fired again.This time, the next round somehow ended up being popped out of the magazine and HORIZONTALLY stuck between the bolt and the chamber. You should have heard me scream.So now the question is, what do I do? Is there any way I can fix this? Is there any plausable explanation for this?I'd like not to have to toss the mag and start over from scratch, but if I have to then I will.Please give me any advice you might be able to offer.

1022man

They don't work very well at all. It's best if you just use stripper clips, that is what the guns was designed for anyway. I have tried on both my chinese and romaian. Every one I ever talked to about it said the same. Had one guy got it to work, after days of frustration, but if he removed it it just jammed then.

Hojo

Anyone got any idea how I might be able to make the thing work? Any idea at all? Please?

boeboe

SKS after market magazines don't work very well, as 1-22man says, better to use the fixed box amazines and stripper clips, which is ultimately more reliable and you can put out more rounds per minute. Better to get rid of the detatchable mags and use the SKS as it was originally intended. If you want to be able to use detatchable mags in an SKS, get an SKS Sporter.

duster68

I had the same, exact problem with the plastics. If you absolutely insist on the detachables, go with the USA metals. Normally USA magazines aren't worth a damn as most people know, but in the case of the SKS, I've managed to get mine to work, sort of. It took a lot of bending of the feed lips, but I have gotten my five mags to feed. I haven't gotten any of them to hold the bolt open after the last shot, mind you. Makes reloading a real pain and to me, this was reason alone not to use them. My SKS has never jammed, misfed, misfired or done anything other than function absolutely perfectly in its stock configuration. Leave it like that and have fun!

Hojo

I think it is a Sporter. It says Sporter on the reciever next to some weird markings.Every site I've seen referring to problems with the detachable SKS mags only refer to problems getting it in there. Now I've got it in and I cant get it to freaking load!Quite a conundrum.

boeboe

The post-'89 SKS Sporters with thumbhole stock, they take AK mags just as they came. That's the SKS you need if you want it to take detatchable mags.

juddroy

I feel or should I say felt your pain.I wanted those thirty rounders to work well.The frustration isn't worth it.I have put all mine back to the original ten, and found that we live in harmony :-)Teach your children well.Teach them often.