r/canadaguns • u/thecoop1999 • Mar 08 '26
Fix my gun SKS Fail To Feed
I've been having this issue with my SKS where the 5th round feeds vertically and the bolt carrier slams into the side of it. This happens between 3 and 5 times per 100 rounds
I've seen some solutions online but don't fully understand the terminology used to fix it
Has anybody else had this issue and know how to solve it?
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u/Boattailfmj Mar 08 '26
Its sitting there looking at you like "Please no, I don't want to go down the scary tube"
I honestly have no idea why this would happen. Thinking mag follower or feed lip issue. Maybe take a slow-mo video of it mis feeding with your phone to help diagnose it. Not sure how you would do that without a third hand.
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u/goodfleance Mar 08 '26
I have the same thing!!
It's because of how my mag is pinned, through the follower. So it pushes the bottom round out of alignment slightly and allows this to happen.
I live with mine as it's only about 1 in 5 mags this happens but you can try swapping for a different mag and see if that cures it.
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u/Dill_Pickle_Tears Mar 09 '26
Currently have the same problem, the spring on the magazine is a little rust but feels strong. I tried filing the pin down flush and it fixed it temporarily, but came back right away after the first magazine. Mine is particularly bad as it will happen every time I get to the final round
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u/JaxIsLoud Mar 08 '26
Sound like it's gotta be a mag issue. If you have access to a known good mag I'd start there. If the issue doesn't persist with a known good magazine you can start by trying to fix it. Or you can buy a new one.
As others have said it would be interesting to check if the numbers match on magazine and other parts of gun.
Idk where you are but if you do want to buy a stock style mag I have one I don't need you can dm me and we can work out someyhing
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u/briancatams Mar 08 '26
I'm no expert the only time this has happened to me is when the follower in the magazine was actually bent and wouldn't feed properly. It had to do with how the mag was pinned and loading with stripper clips seemed to bend it out of spec
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u/GunLife94 Mar 08 '26
Anytime I've had that issue, it's because the chamber is dirty, usually a bit of rust from corrosive ammo. I find 0000 steel wool or a 357 brass brush works well for cleaning the chamber.
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u/FedInformant Mar 08 '26
Should have purchased something with a reputation for reliability like a kodiak defense WK180C or something.
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u/vroflraptor Mar 09 '26
Awww cute little guy poked his head out to ask if the range was hot or not.
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u/Acceptable_Visit_115 Mar 09 '26
Likely a magazine issue. Feed lip geometry, follower spring, or the way your mag is limited to 5 (some are pinned too tight).
Since SKS mags are cheap and abundant in Canada I'd just buy another one.
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u/Even-Somewhere-9554 Mar 09 '26
My sks does with 1 of 100 rounds using MFS ammo. I never had any issue with PMC, PPU, Winchester white box so I thought the ammo was the cause lol
Mine is an unissued French tickler
I don’t really worry about it or maybe I should shoot mine more
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u/HappyCan7250 Mar 11 '26
I had this exact same issue with my SKS but was running a Promag duckbill mag. It actually went away on its own after a couple hundred rounds. Was kind of enjoying because the 5th round that always jammed like this would dent the casing badly.
Have you cleaned it thoroughly since buying it? I believe it would be a mag issue as it only popped up for me once I swapped over to a Promag, but did go away once I ran more rounds through it.
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u/thecoop1999 Mar 11 '26
Interesting it went away on its own. I do clean it thoroughly after each use but I don't think I was doing enough in the gas chamber. It seemed pretty rusty in there so I cleaned that out with a 50 cal brush. We'll see if that does the trick, otherwise I'll get a new mag
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u/Jaysus1288 Mar 08 '26
I've never seen this either, I own a couple and have shot so many rounds. All I would suggest is you take it apart and clean it.
There are some good YouTube videos
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u/Moist-Wolverine-8531 Mar 09 '26
Are you loading it from the bottom?
The last round has to sit on the left side (right side if you’re looking down into the open mag from the bottom), otherwise it pops up and stovepipes.
This is due to idiot internet advice telling people to dump rounds in from the bottom, instead of using stripper clips from the top like they were designed to.
Don’t listen to internet idiots.
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u/thecoop1999 Mar 09 '26
Haha no I'm feeding from the top using stripper clips
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u/Moist-Wolverine-8531 Mar 09 '26
Hmm could be a weak spring or bent follower arm. SKS magazines are usually 100%, even the beat up ones.
Post a photo of your open magazine? If this is your only SKS you won’t know if something is amiss.
I know a guy who bought an SKS with a missing op rod, so it was a single shot until he bought a replacement.
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u/thecoop1999 Mar 10 '26
I'd love to but not sure how to post pictures in the comments. Can I DM you?
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u/NVZ_v1 Mar 08 '26
I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re running ProMags, and this would be the reason why everyone calls them dogshit
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u/thecoop1999 Mar 08 '26
Nope, standard 10/5 SKS mag. I've heard bad things about those ones too though
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u/NVZ_v1 Mar 08 '26
Is it a surplus 10/5? I had continuous FTF issues with both ProMag and surplus pinned mags even though they’re OEM. I switched up to John Masen mags and haven’t had any issues since
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u/thecoop1999 Mar 08 '26
I'm not entirely sure. It's just the standard SKS mag. Curious it happens with multiple types
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u/spicymeatmemes Mar 08 '26
I've personally never seen this, but if its only on the last round then more than likely a mag issue