A Turk doesn't go bang all the time

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miguel	A Turk doesn't go bang all the time	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (05/05/09 11:44 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None Hi, I'm a new member here. I just picked up a Kale Turkish Mauser, with a receiver stamp of 1941. Looks like all the numbers match but the bolt. Took it out to the range for the first time this weekend and when I pulled the trigger...nothing happened. Re-cocked it, pulled the trigger, nothing happened. Finally, on the fourth try, she fired. I was using Yugo ammo (stamped 1979) that a friend gave me. He had his Yugo Mauser with him and had no problems, while it took 3-4 attempts to fire using my Turk. I've read that Yugo ammo can have hard primers and also that Turk springs can be weak. In your experience, if there anything I should consider, other than trying different ammo? I'd like to try the Romanian that AIM is selling, but am thinking I need to baseline the situation to determine if it is ammo-related or spring related. Any thoughts from you Turk Mauser experts is appreciated!
RichardWV		#1	[-]
Posts: 290 (05/05/09 12:09 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Yes Yugo can have hard primers and springs in any bolt action of this age can of course have become weak. However since we know from your friend's use of the ammo that it isn't dead, then we have to assume it is a weak stike since any M98 should be able to fire it. However before we blame the spring first I've got to ask whether the bolt has been broken down and cleaned.....preferably boiled......to ensure all the storage grease is out of the bolt? These bolts were often packed in grease for storage and an amazing number of them remain that way well after being out and about in their new civilian life. Needless to say if the bolt still has some of the now fossilized grease in it that it could significantly weaken the strike.
miguel		#2	[-]
Posts: 2 (05/05/09 12:27 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Ah, I have not broken the bolt down. I literally picked it up Saturday morning from a guy in my area who had refurbished it a couple of years ago and said it was "ready to shoot". I took him at his word, maybe foolishly, and we went straight to the range with it later that day. Probably not the best decision in the world, I'd imagine, looking back on it now. It looked to be in pristine condition, nice crisp arsenal marks on the receiver, no rust in the barrel, no signs of left over cosmo, solid stock, etc. Each of the three shots I took needed 3-4 strikes to fire, which started to creep me out, as you can imagine. I did give it a thorough cleaning once I got home (and did the whole windex/water and some patches down the barrel at the range) but didn't do anything with the bolt than clean the surface with some Rem oil. I will plan on breaking it down tonight to see what's in there. My other thought was to get some modern ammo from Remington, Winchester or Partizan just to see how it'd behave with that.
miguel		#3	[-]
Posts: 3 (05/05/09 06:47 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	OK, I am breaking down the bolt. It is not dirty or gummed up in any way. That said, I'm looking at the tip of the firing pin and it doesn't look right. I mean, I've owned a Mauser for 3 days and am by no means an expert (!) but the tip of the pin looks like it's rather beat up. Non-symmetrical if that makes sense. I wonder if the entire surface is not making contact with the primer, leading to my FTFs? I would take a picture, but I'm not sure my camera would provide the level of detail to show you what I think is irregular about the tip of the pin, but may try later tonight. Looks like I may need to call Sarco or head to GunBroker to find a replacement.
RichardWV		#4	[-]
Posts: 293 (05/05/09 10:36 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	It takes very little deviation to mess up a firing pin from doing its job. Sounds like you've found the problem.
Renfield54		#5	[-]
Posts: 428 (05/06/09 12:47 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Also wouldn't hurt to try some modern ammo in it........see if that fires on the first try, and I'd still give the spring some thought. Cover all the bases, so to speak.......couldn't hurt..... "Dusty old helmet.....Rusty old gun......They sit in the corner and wait" ~Audie Murphy--1925-1971~
miguel		#6	[-]
Posts: 4 (05/06/09 08:07 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Today I compared my firing pin to one from a friend's Kale. His firing pin looked alot better than mine, nice and symmetrical at the tip. Mine was not only a little crooked near the tip, but also appeared a little shorter when we took them next to each other. Can't decide between trying a new spring vs. getting a new firing pin. Saw Sarco had new production firing pins for $20. Also saw one, with a new spring, on gunbroker.com for $30, with shipping included. Decisions, decisions! May also try some modern ammo before deciding, just to help me know which way to go.
jjk308		#7	[-]
Posts: 2930 (05/06/09 08:10 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	miguel wrote: I've read that Yugo ammo can have hard primers and also that Turk springs can be weak. Not just weak. One of mine had a broken spring held together with some wire. Another had the bolt stuffed full of burlap!
miguel		#8	[-]
Posts: 5 (05/06/09 08:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	jjk308 wrote: miguel wrote: I've read that Yugo ammo can have hard primers and also that Turk springs can be weak. Not just weak. One of mine had a broken spring held together with some wire. Another had the bolt stuffed full of burlap! BURLAP? Yowsa! Do you think the #22 spring will do or should I go up to #24? Not sure why there are different weight springs.
RichardWV		#9	[-]
Posts: 295 (05/07/09 12:16 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	In a properly functioning rifle with a proper firing pin, the #22 will do just fine. Some folks wanted a stouter spring to deal with hard primers or just thought it was better. Where there is demand, someone will fill it....hence the stronger spring. However the stronger the spring, the more work in cocking and the more likely a pierced primer. This may sound stupid, but if Paul Mauser thought the M98 design needed a stronger spring, it would have had it.
miguel		#10	[-]
Posts: 6 (05/07/09 02:52 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	RichardWV wrote: In a properly functioning rifle with a proper firing pin, the #22 will do just fine. Some folks wanted a stouter spring to deal with hard primers or just thought it was better. Where there is demand, someone will fill it....hence the stronger spring. However the stronger the spring, the more work in cocking and the more likely a pierced primer. This may sound stupid, but if Paul Mauser thought the M98 design needed a stronger spring, it would have had it. Good point!
gil		#11	[-]
Posts: 899 (05/07/09 10:33 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I have only had two types of 8x57 that needed the Wulff 24 # spring. Ecadorian and Yugo. I have a vz-24 bolt that I use on any Czech mauser when I fire the yugo ammo. don't have any more Ecuadorian. gil
miguel		#12	[-]
Posts: 7 (05/08/09 11:21 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thanks to all for sharing your expertise. Earlier today I ordered a 22# spring from Brownells. I'll follow up with status once I get it installed.
miguel		#13	[-]
Posts: 9 (05/25/09 09:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	OK, I installed a new Wolff 22lb spring and took it to the range this weekend. Went bang every time using Prvi Partizan! Didn't try the surplus Yugo, 'cause I didn't bring my Windex with me. Thanks for all the help!!!