I picked up what I think is a Chinese Paratrooper SKS?

[bdb benzino]

I have always been into hunting, and have a couple hunting rifles. As well as a shotgun and a 10-22. Although mainly I have been a handgun enthusiast and will admit to not being very knowledgable about rifles,

So on to the SKS!
I picked it up from a buddy. It already has a OD green Tapco pistol grip stock and a cheap scope. The barrel is 20'' long and it also has the 20 round Tapco AK type mags. It has the sling mount on the side of the barrel and as far as I can tell this is a Chinese Paratrooper model.

This is made by Norinco right?

The only question is that I have read that the Paratrooper model normally has a 16 inch barrel, and mine is a 20inch.

Just wondering if I am correct on the model, thanks for your input!

 

[SaxonPig]

I'm not sure if the SKS was ever actually used by front line military units. The AK47 was developed about the same time and it overshadowed any SKS success. I think they were mainly issued to reserve units and civil patrol sorts of folks.

I got this one about 25 years ago. They advertised it as "The Cowboy Carbine." Not sure what the purpose was for this variation, but I seriously doubt any SKS was ever used by an elite paratrooper outfit.

 

[Onmilo]

When I had my own gunshop, I bought a couple of those from Navy Arms.
Replaced the cheapo stamped trigger guard assembly, upgraded the firing pin assemblies to spring loaded inertia type instead of the slamfire prone free floating type, added 20 shot Chinese fixed box magazines and put them in Chinese sythetic stocks.
Sold both in a matter of a couple days at a very nice profit.
This was back in the early 1990s and parts for SKS rifles were dirt cheap and abundant.

The guns have no military significance, if you look, the trigger assembly is a stamped commercial variation and the barrels are pinned in place instead of screwed into a receiver.
They were built strictly for the U.S. commercial market.

 

[briansmithwins]

Sounds like you just got a ordinary SKS that's been Tapco buggered. Did you get the original stock also? Original mag?

BSW

 

[bdb benzino]

Yes all the original parts were included except for stripper clips. The old box mag has a star on the side, how do I tell if it is a 20 round box mag?

I have only test fired a bit when I first got it, and even though it was dirty, it ran flawless. Do the plastic Tapco mags have a bad rep? If so what would be the most reliable mags to use in this rifle? I want it to be stone reliable for a SHTF type situation.

Thanks again for the info guys!

 

[briansmithwins]

From what I've heard the Tapco mags are the best of the aftermarket mags. None of the extended mags are as good as the original 10 round magazines.

I generally don't like the Tapco furniture, but that's personal opinion, not performance related.

The metal mags with the star on the side are usually 20 round chicom manufacture. The 10 round mag protruded about 1” from the bottom of the rifle. Some of the chicom 20s actually work, some are utter crap.

If you're in the PDX area you might come by one of our rifle shoots and try it out.

Here's a pic of me running a Yugo 48 at a match this spring. BSW

 

[bang_bang]

^^^

briansmithwins is correct as far as I know.

By your description, you have a standard SKS rifle. I have both, a standard and a paratrooper model, both Norinco.

Tapco makes the better replacement detachable magazines. I would stick with a fixed box magazine. With stripper clips, you can reload with ease.

The paratrooper model is the one fitted with a folding stock, muzzle brake, and crap paint job (I bought it like that). The standard is well...standard, like they should be.



You can see the obvious differences in barrel length. Note how far the gas block is from the front sight on the standard model.

 

[jem375]

I'm not sure if the SKS was ever actually used by front line military units. The AK47 was developed about the same time and it overshadowed any SKS success. I think they were mainly issued to reserve units and civil patrol sorts of folks.

I got this one about 25 years ago. They advertised it as "The Cowboy Carbine." Not sure what the purpose was for this variation, but I seriously doubt any SKS was ever used by an elite paratrooper outfit.

The SKS was issued to front line Soviet troops in 1946 and was the main battle rifle until the mid 50's when the AK-47 took their place....

 

[bdb benzino]

If you're in the PDX area you might come by one of our rifle shoots and try it out.

I live in the Albany, Corvallis area and am in PDX qiute a bit. I would enjoy having someone with more experience giving me some pointers! When and where do you have the rifle shoots?

 

[ifit]

para models only come in 16", as for the 20 rounder fixed magazines with a star on them, i bought 2 and both have issues. like stated above these are a hit or miss. saxon pig, nice sks. cool that you still have it, just picked up a never fired norinco sks from a friend, which he registered it in 1991.