Cleaning SKS Gas Piston and bolt

How often do you need to clean the inside of the SKS gas piston? my is a Chinese 1968 factory 26 built, also how often do you need to take the bolt apart for cleaning? I know there is big difference with modern none corrosive ammo and the old military surplus ammo, so if i shoot modern none corrosive ammo, the piston and bolt can be left dirty till detail strip time? Thanks

I know the piston will turn dark if you don't clean after you shoot and it will hard to get it to shine again.Thats why The first thing I clean is the piston.As far as the bolt goes I just clean the surface,but then again I have'nt put a ton of rounds thru any of my SKS's

my round count is low on this SKS also( less than 1,000), i just hate to take to bolt apart every time i shot her, since i have whack it hard every time to take the pin (that hold the bolt and firing pin) out of the bolt, and the little pin is almost out of shape after i take the thing out and put back in less than 5 or 6 times. Also sice the inside of the bolt is always clean, i thought there maybe no need to take the bolt apart that often. As for the piston, it seems no mater how hard i try, it always kind dirty, and i am afraid to cleaning the piston too hard, so not to damage it(i meant, the tub that holds the piston that is always dirty and hard to clean). Just want to hear what others are doing that i may learn from, thanks

Hello oneforall! Welcome to the files! I'm really anal when it comes to cleaning my firearms. It bugs the crap out of me when I know I have a dirty gun in the house. As far as my Sks's I always field strip them after each shooting and clean everything. I do not disassemble the bolt unless it is a first time cleaning just to make sure all the crud and cosmoline has been removed. I always scrub the inside of the gas tube and swab it out. Over time you will notice that carbon will build up on the end of your gas piston and is very difficult to remove. I'll usually clean it off with a small wire brush on my dremel tool. About every 3rd shooting I will remove and clean the gas piston extension and spring. I also run a solvent soaked pipe cleaner through the gas port. When the firing pin appears to be getting sticky I will let solvent soak around the pin and then blow it out from both ends with an air compressor until it moves freely instead of disassembling the bolt. But this is just me and like I said I'm anal, as a matter of fact my sister calls me analman.:uhoh_smal

thanks "analman", i am like you, can not go to sleep with a dirty gun in the house, thanks for the reply. I like to shoot the SKS, just wish the 7.62x39 ammo price was $100 for 1,000 rounds way back the good old days. ;)

I hear ya! I'm reloading for 7.62x39 using some cast bullets from a mold a friend gave me and saving the mil-surp stuff for Armageddon in 2012. And if the end does'nt come in 2012, I'll go out and rack off several 30 round mag's just to celebrate!:D

I have only shot one of my SKSs and probably only a thousand rounds through it at that. Back in the early 90s when I was shooting several thousand rounds of Chicom ammo out of a Norinco AK I would always clean the barrel and piston, tube, vent, etc, never did anything with the bolt, I mean its an AK for gosh sakes. Anyway, after oiling it well and putting it in storage I got it out a few years ago and everything stored well except the bolt is BLACK, well, DARK gray atleast and no amount of solvent will lighten it. I could put it on the buffer but everything functions well so I just left it. My point is I think if for no other reason than cosmetic you need to clean the bolt well!