The proper way to stick it in the butt

[Justin Hell]

It's been a little quiet...did that get your attention?

After in the past having a lid come off of a cleaning kit whilst inside his home once...I have debated the direction best to insert the tube.

Since (most) kits are rounded on the bottom, it would seem that would make for that end to go in first for less resistance, and to nestle securely into the spring.  By the same token, it is easier to get the mud flap over the well rounded ends of some kits....only for it to grab onto and rip the tip off should the lid lose it's ability to contain itself...spilling it's contents inside...partially leaving brushes, screwdrivers and reamers hanging out of a partally opened butt flap.

While this was laced with innuendo (even that word included sounds naughty)...it is a legitimate question. I am interested your opinion.

Just the tips please!

[Phosphorus32]

Cap end out, round "canister" end in   

[Boris Badinov]

Cap end out, round "canister" end in ...

+1

If the cap end goes in first, you run the risk of getting the end of the spring getting stuck in the hole in the top of the capsule, or the "porkchop sideburns" (if you will) getting hung up on the opening on the way out.

(no lube needed)

[Greasemonkey]

Sure..... lets bait the foul mouthed 'tard... Make RM's and P32's skin crawl if'en I make a comment. 

Well, shove it in just so..... the dogknot....errrrr, the cap end faces the flap. It's a one time deal, shove it in and fo-get about it.. unless your a freaky like type person who likes to pull it out to play with it, the cleaning kit, that is. I ain't never gonna use that greasy old crap anyway.....

but hey, it's like a suppository for a rifle......  you don't make a habit of using one of them either, usually  , but it's up in there in case of extreme duress

I said enough...back to my cage I go...I've broke, who knows how many rules.

[Justin Hell]

Sure..... lets bait the foul mouthed 'tard... Make RM's and P32's skin crawl if'en I make a comment. 

I was just checking for a pulse.... 

I really was curious how folks prefer to do it, I assumed the rounded end was intended to go in first. My first kit with the knurled cap had a bit of a loose lid...and this has happened to me. The rounded end does come out easier over the trap door...especially when the knurling wants to snag on the cap. At least with the rounded end, more comes out before the door snaps down on the lid edge. Perhaps that is a partial reason to simplify the kits and skip the knurling in later kits.  The 49 Russian kits don't even have the rounded end.

I likely need to get a new to me SKS...when I get bored, I dwell over weird crap like cleaning kits and slings...and whether I have the right ones for the era.  Seeing 'modern' and 'vintage' components swapped around is a pet peeve. Seeing a 50 Russian with a late Chinese kit to me would be like stumbling upon footage of Chuck Taylor wearing Air Jordans. Or a jungle stock on a Russian...or a spring style sling on a Yugo. Ick.

I did have a little fun with posting the question, as Simonov pretty much designed the joke into the carbine. 
I wondered if anyone else ran into this problem and actually contemplated doing it wrong but for the right reason. 

I purchased a buttload (yes, heavily intended pun) of kits to fill some holes in the collection (again, SO sorry). They were used, greasy and cheap. (just can't help myself) I had hoped to cobble some nice components together, complete a few restorations and sell/give away the remainder. It turns out they were Albanian kits from the recent imports...and what a melee of an assortment. I am surprised some of them didn't contain dental tools. Out of a couple dozen or so...I got about five serviceable kits in issued but unused condition...the rest were an odd assortment of brushes that looked like they were used also for teeth, AK tools, unidentified tools...and enough cosmoline to repack a rifle after cooking it all (yeah right) off. (sorry 'bout the crockery honey)  If there is even such a thing as a last ditch cleaning kit...these would be they.

This kind of piqued my interest a bit, plus during the lean times...in general, any cleaning kit that actually is correct that you need is cheap enough for any budget whenever they pop up. Half the fun is the hunt...I am currently on safari trying to locate a correct M59 kit. Whenever I have too much time on my hands...I can be found perusing the auction sites hoping kit listings have decent photos.

[K.Campbell]

I always catch my finger on the flap when I push the kit back in... hurts!

[Boris Badinov]

I always catch my finger on the flap when I push the kit back in... hurts!

We've all done this. Once was enough for me.

The trick is to never let your finger go any deeper than the length of the trap door tab. Once the cap passes the the end of the tab, just ease your finger out slowly.

[K.Campbell]

  I'll remember that!

[Larry D.]

I always catch my finger on the flap when I push the kit back in... hurts!

It's the Warsaw Pact version of Garand Thumb......SKS finger.

[Loose}{Cannon]

You guys need help

[Matchka]

Check out the direction the kit is facing on Simonov/Russian, Chinese, etc. operating manuals, instruction or display cards and posters? 

[Greasemonkey]

Check out the direction the kit is facing on Simonov/Russian, Chinese, etc. operating manuals, instruction or display cards and posters? 

instructions......we don't need no stinking instructions.... what, you think this is IKEA or something   

[Loose}{Cannon]

Check out the direction the kit is facing on Simonov/Russian, Chinese, etc. operating manuals, instruction or display cards and posters? 

NO... which way is it!?!     

[Matchka]

Ya gotta have a plan. "The Russians don't take a dump without having a plan." There's the which way? and Uncle Joe's way. Get with the program, comrades! 

[OldManBryson]

I must admit the perv in me caused me to look at this thread.
I've really not paid any attention which way I stick it in.  I do know, however, the I ease my finger in first before I stick it in.

[newchi]

Check out the direction the kit is facing on Simonov/Russian, Chinese, etc. operating manuals, instruction or display cards and posters? 

All the ones ive seen have the cap end out

[Matchka]

Going with cap end (semi-flat) out v base end (rounded). Makes sense. 

[Boris Badinov]

Going with cap end (semi-flat) out v base end (rounded). Makes sense.

Yes. If you put it icap first, you run the risk of the end of the spring getting stuck in the hole in the cap. When.you finally get it out the spring will be get stretched, and damaged to varying degrees

[Matchka]

Simonov & Co certainly designed it that way; simple, for the simple and illiterate conscript of the day. Harasho!

[jmaurer]

Ah yes, "SKS finger"...more than once. As others have said, cap out toward the trap door. Then, to keep from GETTING trapped, and to get the kit out, I always hold the rifle in the left hand with the muzzle pointing left, with the sights up. Then, with the middle of the palm of the right hand over the top of the buttplate, curl your "bird" (middle) finger into the trap only up to the first finger joint, kit (and finger) are free, and all is then well.