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Updated 1/5/02 -DS
REMOVING THE FIRING PIN: First remove the bolt from
the rifle. The bolt has a retaining pin that goes all the way through
it. Remove that pin and the firing pin slides right out.
See this demonstration VIDEO
(950kb .MPG) if you don't know how to remove the retaining pin.
TYPES OF FIRING PINS: There are basically five
different types of firing pins. Two are Russian, two Chinese, and one is
Romanian. The Chinese and Romanian are VERY similar, but don't let the
similarities of the pins fool you. Put the wrong pin in the wrong bolt and
the pin is likely to seize causing the rifle to slamfire the second a round is
chambered. On the same note, put the proper pin in the proper
bolt incorrectly, (such as upside down which is VERY easy to do with the second
type of Chinese pins) and the rifle is likely to slamfire. Please pay
attention to the orientation of the pin before removing it from the bolt
and verify the orientation is correct before replacing the assembly in the
carbine.
PHOTO:
Taken from Guns and Ammo, Surplus Firearms 7th ed.
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RUSSIAN TYPE 1:
1949-mid 1951. This firing pin is the only type that was ever manufactured
with a return spring on the pin. This was later judged as unnecessary and
removed from future designs.
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RUSSIAN TYPE 2:
mid 1951-1955. Because the spring was eliminated from the design, an
entirely new bolt, extractor, and pin design was implemented.
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CHINESE TYPE 1:
This pin was based on the type 2 Russian firing pin.
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CHINESE TYPE 2:
This pin is EXTREMELY easy to install upside down. This will jam the pin
forward, causing a potentially deadly slamfire.
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ROMANIAN:
Very similar in design to the type 1 Chinese, but NOT
INTERCHANGEABLE.
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YUGOSLAVIAN:
To be determined
REINSTALLING THE PIN:
When the bolt is reassembled, the firing pin should be so loose in the bolt that
it rattles. If it doesn't rattle sharply, clean the inside of the bolt
with a pipe cleaner or Q-Tip and verify the pin is inserted correctly.
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