Author Topic: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?  (Read 2805 times)

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dantec68

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Hey everybody, I’m new to the forum and new to SKS’s in general.

I recently purchased a Yugo M59/66. Love the rifle, it’s an absolute beauty. Got it for a very fair price too. Anyways, I’ve been reading about the SKS for a while, so naturally, the first thing I did was dissemble the bolt assembly  to clean it out. I took apart the bolt assembly, which was tough considering how hard it is to punch the retainer pin out.

I disassembled the bolt, cleaned it really well, then I went to assemble it back together again. That’s when disaster happened: while hammering the retainer back in, I chipped the retainer pin head as I was hitting it. The retainer pin went back in, and it holds the firing pin just fine, but now the part of the retainer pin that covers the bottom of the extractor is broken.

Obviously I immediately searched online for a replacement retainer pin for the Yugo M59/66. Couldn’t find any replacements. I perused forums for hours and came to the conclusion that because the Yugo bolt assembly retainer pin is different from all other SKS retainer pins, it’s extremely hard to find.

Called a gunsmith and he said he could fabricate the part, but he said it would be a 200$ job. Worst case scenario I will have him do it. However, I would like to avoid that if possible. I found an old forum from 2006 on here where someone had the same issue I did: broken head on the Yugo retainer pin. Murray answered the forum stating that the older Russian SKS’s did not even have anything covering the extractor, interestingly enough. Do any of you guys think it would be just fine to use it with the chipped retainer pin and an exposed extractor? The bolt carrier covers the extractor, but I will get it fixed properly if it could cause further damage to my gun, or if it’s in unsafe.

Any feedback helps. Thanks!


Filroy77

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2021, 10:32:41 PM »
I can look at mine tomorrow and give you my estimate. Til then someone will surely come along and help out.
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dantec68

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2021, 11:05:38 PM »
Thanks! Yeah any help and guidance on this issue is greatly appreciated. It’s a shame I broke the retainer pin, because otherwise the gun is in beautiful condition and ready to fire. I guess now I know I gotta be a lot more careful when disassembling /reassembling the bolt assembly. I wish the Yugo bolt assembly was a bit easier to dissemble overall, but it is what it is.  :banghead:

Filroy77

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2021, 09:27:51 AM »
Ok, probably need a pic of the broken part. The lip of the retaining pin acts as a stop for the ejector when the bolt is separated from the slide. If the lip is completely broken off I would try to find a replacement. I don’t think the ejector can separate when the bolt is engaged with the slide. Not sure I’d want to find out tho.

How did it come to be broken? Driving it back in with a hammer or a drift punch? I ask as a lesson for all of us. I learned the hard way on another pistol I have and broke the safety catch. $160 later, it’s now functional.  :?

You can read over this for how to post a pic.  http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=151197.0

Rocket? X? Any thoughts?

Oh, BTW, the pin goes in and out easier after the initial wrestling it out of there.  :)  Also you might consider a spring loaded firing pin from Murray on this board. He’s in the business section. Good insurance from slam fires.  :shock:
« Last Edit: January 27, 2021, 09:47:03 AM by Filroy77 »
How can these people say such lies? Because lying is not an issue when truth is not a value. Dennis Prager

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

dantec68

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2021, 01:17:41 PM »

dantec68

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2021, 01:23:58 PM »
This is the pic of the damage. As you can see the bottom of the ejector is now exposed.

It broke when I was reassembling the bolt. It broke when I was hammering the retainer pin back in to place using a hammer. Basically I think what happened was that I unfortunately hit the head of the retaining pin at a bad angle.

The lesson I take from this is to be careful while reassembling the bolt. If you hit the retaining pin head at a bad angle, you can crack the lip of the retainer pin. I guess not everything on the SKS is indestructible. Gotta take the process of reassembly slowly and be more methodical about it.

Not quite sure yet what I will do now. Finding a new retaining pin for the Yugo M59/66 seems tough. Not sure if I should find a whole new bolt assembly to purchase, or just send it to my gunsmith to get the part fabricated for 200$.

dantec68

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2021, 01:25:23 PM »
Also, I already ordered my Murray pin  8)

Rocketvapor

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2021, 02:47:21 PM »
Take the pin to a machine shop.
Have blob welded on.  File to shape.
The blob doesn't have to be strong (unless hit with a hammer). 
It's just there to keep the extractor from moving back so that it stays on the case rim.
1/8" flat head steel punch to take pin out, same punch to put it back in.
Just make sure it goes straight into the hole on the far side.

Some firing pins will get in the way of inserting the retaining pin if they are upside down.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2021, 03:12:47 PM by Rocketvapor »
Well I guess my new **** stirrin paddle don't work . I got a like . WTF 😈

Flo just received her EXPERT Mid range card from the NRA.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/famed-ex-uss-john-f-003916449.html

Filroy77

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2021, 06:26:33 PM »
Thanks rocket. Are the retaining pins specific to country of origin?

Sounds much cheeper than $200 to man. a new one.
How can these people say such lies? Because lying is not an issue when truth is not a value. Dennis Prager

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

dantec68

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2021, 08:43:09 PM »
Update on my situation guys: I found a whole new bolt assembly on EBay for the Yugo M59/66. Exact bolt assembly I have. Bought it, thankfully it was cheap, it should be delivered to me at least by next week.

So basically, I got a whole new bolt, firing pin, retainer pin, and ejector on the way. I figured what the heck, might as well get an extra bolt just in case. Should hopefully fix my situation and I’ll have an extra part for my rifle just in case any other disaster happens.

Also got the Murray spring-loaded firing pin, so now I will have one spring loaded Murray pin, and two regular free-floating pins as back up. I might try to find another retainer pin to fix my broken one, then I will have two bolt assemblies: one with the Murray pin, and one with the free floating pin. Maybe I’ll use them interchangeably: I could shoot brass rounds with the Murray pin, and steel berdan-primed rounds with the free-floating pin.

Appreciate the help fellas. I’ll send a pic of my Yugo once everything is assembled and sparkly clean again! 

dantec68

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2021, 08:44:20 PM »
Also rocket, thanks for the advice, I will do that with my broken retaining pin. Then I should have two fully functional bolt assemblies for the rifle. Thanks for the great advice guys

Filroy77

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2021, 09:04:23 PM »
Good idea to have a spare parts piece.

If you use the new (to you) bolt, the head space should be checked.
How can these people say such lies? Because lying is not an issue when truth is not a value. Dennis Prager

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

dantec68

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2021, 06:45:42 PM »
Thanks Filroy,

If I use the spare bolt, I will definitely get the headspace checked.

As of right now, I’m just gonna remove the retaining pin from the spare bolt and put the pin into the bolt that came with my rifle.

I shouldn’t have any issues swapping out the retaining pin on the spare bolt to put in my main bolt assembly, right?

I’m assuming the retaining pin in the bolt assembly is the same for every Yugo model, but I don’t know for sure.

Filroy77

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Re: Broken Firing Pin Retainer Pin on bolt? Thoughts on what to do?
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2021, 07:27:45 PM »
Shouldn’t be an issue but these are com bloc rifles after all.

My problem is, I only have one SKS, a yugo 59/66 so my knowledge on these fine rifles is limited.  :)
How can these people say such lies? Because lying is not an issue when truth is not a value. Dennis Prager

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.