My SKS Carbine has a spring-loaded firing pin—What gives?
SKS Carbines generally use a free-floating firing pin. However, early Russian models have a spring-loaded firing pin. Trident Corporation of Commerce, CA sold aftermarket “Spring Return Firing Pins” for the SKS Carbine. However, it appears that this company is no longer in business. Murray’s Gunsmithing currently offers a spring loaded firing pin for the SKS Carbine. Only time will tell if aftermarket spring loaded firing pins are durable for long-term use. However, all shooters should seriously consider such products for two reasons: First, installation requires bolt disassembly and cleaning. Second, you won’t have to worry about using only “mil-spec” ammunition. Multiple Discharge Problems Attributable to Poor Cleaning: In addition to “slam-fires” caused by a seized or dirty firing pin, many believe that the design of the SKS trigger group can cause unintended “repeats” (even complete magazine dumps) when the trigger mechanism is not cleaned properly. In any semi-automatic firearm, o
