Russian Firing Pin ?

[hoopharted]

which is better , free float or spring loaded firing pin

[Cz315]

If you ask me spring loaded is better but the free floating type works just fine.

[hoopharted]

so basically its the safety thing then, the free float pin can get stuck and slam fire but the spring lod cant

[Greatguns]

Short answer is probably yeah, the spring loaded firing pin is better. Long answer, it probably wasn't as prudent in a military setting so they did away with it for simplicity sake. It's all a matter of maintenance and cleaning. Either can get stuck if dirty enough, but the spring loaded is more apt to get stuck in the rearward position, if clogged up, because of the spring. Which means it won't fire as opposed to a slam fire, but you also have one more spring that can break.

[hoopharted]

i understand

[running-man]

so basically its the safety thing then, the free float pin can get stuck and slam fire but the spring lod cant

That was the going assumption up until modern (90's+) commercial Berdan primed steel case ammo from the FSB and former iron curtain countries.  For whatever reason, pierced primers are an issue with this type of ammo and hot gasses traveling back through the FP channel tend to do a real number on *any* little spring down in there.  At that point, the spring is no longer functional and with the bits still remaining, a slam fire is a very good possibility.  I've heard of these early style spring loaded pins doing it, Murray's new production spring loaded pins doing it, and of course, free floating pins doing it too. 

Free floating FPs scare people because of them impacting the next round during chambering.  If you fire a round, then eject the next unfired round and look at it closely, you will see a distinct dimple from the FP contacting the primer.  Lots of guys really don't like this (probably with good reason).  All things said, I've never experienced a double fire, or uncontrolled slam fire in any SKS.  (I have had doubles come out of my Rasheed when it had a broken trigger bar extension.  That was less than fun believe me. )

[Greasemonkey]

Many rifles have free floating firing pins...AKs, RPD, SVD, RPK, PKM, SVT, PSL, oh wait... M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, M14s, AR's, Mas 49 and Mas 49/56, even a 870 shotgun... wait for it....even my Johnson.. errrr...my M1941 Johnson has a free floating firing pin...... I can always keep going... And any one of them can slamfire.  Take care of your bolt and firing pin, keep it clean and the pin straight, check your brass for a popped primer once and a while and life is good.

Just for giggles  here is a MAS 49/56 firing pin in relationship to an SKS bolt. It's a chunk compared to the toothpick SKS firing pin, and neither MAS has ever slamfired.

[pcke2000]

Many rifles have free floating firing pins...AKs, RPD, SVD, RPK, PKM, SVT, PSL, oh wait... M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, M14s, AR's, Mas 49 and Mas 49/56, even a 870 shotgun... wait for it....even my Johnson.. errrr...my M1941 Johnson has a free floating firing pin...... I can always keep going... And any one of them can slamfire.  Take care of your bolt and firing pin, keep it clean and the pin straight, check your brass for a popped primer once and a while and life is good.

Just for giggles  here is a MAS 49/56 firing pin in relationship to an SKS bolt. It's a chunk compared to the toothpick SKS firing pin, and neither MAS has ever slamfired.

SVT use spring loaded firing pin.

[Greasemonkey]

Many rifles have free floating firing pins...AKs, RPD, SVD, RPK, PKM, SVT, PSL, oh wait... M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, M14s, AR's, Mas 49 and Mas 49/56, even a 870 shotgun... wait for it....even my Johnson.. errrr...my M1941 Johnson has a free floating firing pin...... I can always keep going... And any one of them can slamfire.  Take care of your bolt and firing pin, keep it clean and the pin straight, check your brass for a popped primer once and a while and life is good.

Just for giggles  here is a MAS 49/56 firing pin in relationship to an SKS bolt. It's a chunk compared to the toothpick SKS firing pin, and neither MAS has ever slamfired.

SVT use spring loaded firing pin.

Oops..5am brain fog before bed... point is Garand, Kalashnikov, Stoner, Johnson and many others didn't really see any advantage to the spring, and slamfires can happen to any mis cared for weapons.

[Chevy Boy]

Well, I'm no expert but I've shot commercial hunting ammo as well as military surplus ammo through my SKSs in the past. One SKS I'm pretty sure had a spring-loaded firing pin. The other did not.

Never experienced an issue.

Always, always clean your guns and make sure there's no residual cosmoline in the firing pin or bolt body, and you ought to be OK.

[Bubbazinetti]

M-16s and AK-47/AKM have free float firing pins too as well as several other military small arms and pistols. Just keep your gun clean and safety checked often to avoid any potential problems.

[Boris Badinov]

No idea why the soviets changed to freefloating firing pins, but my guess it was based on extensive testing.

Remove the spring and replace it with a larger diameter firing pin, leaves you with fewer moving parts and stronger firing pin. No?

I've often wondered would last longer in extreme conditions with severe fouling in the firing pin chamber. My guess is that the spring is the weakest link. If you eliminate the spring, perhaps the fouled fp channel will last longer with a solitary free floating pin.