School me on the SKS
- Thread starter Tim the student
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
I have to give considerable credit to those little SKS rifles. Back around 1990 I had my FFL but really wasn't doing much with it. My wife got a small windfall of about $3,000 and it was the holiday season. We spent $1,000 to pay off all of our debt (been debt free ever since) and another $1,000 on needed household items and Christmas.
With the remaining $1,000 We bought 12 SKS rifles from Southern Ohio Gun and two cases of ammunition, the NORINCO stuff. The rifles were $59 each and I forget what the ammunition cost. The guys selling SKS rifles at the shows all had the same ugly cases of guns covered in cosmoline and they sold for about $99. I wanted to try something different.
I meticulous cleaned every rifle and applied a light coat of oil. I found a SKS owners manual and we duplicated it. I bought a pile of $3.00 plastic bi pods. I bought some camo cloth material. Our first gun show was a small show in Mentor, Ohio in the banquet room of a Travel Lodge motel. We bought one table at $20 for the weekend.
Each rifle was angled on our table supported by the cheap bi pods. Below each rifle was a one gallon size zip lock bag containing 1 box of ammo, two loaded stripper clips and the complete instruction manual for a SKS Rifle. Our price was $129 or about $30 higher than the competition. I used one rifle as a demo and just kept dissembling and reassembling it over and over again showing people how it was done. By Saturday afternoon every SKS was sold with the exception of the one I used as the demo rifle. I still have that rifle.
I bought more rifles, then more rifles. A good friend hooked me up with Matt's SKS Supplies who were the absolute best people to deal with and right here in Ohio. We began buying and selling every accessory for the SKS that we could eventually graduating to adding the NORINCO MAK-90 rifles. This led to milsurp M1 Garands then available as imports for $249 each. We eventually moved into a brick and mortar store with a diversified inventory but everything began with a dozen little SKS rifles over twenty years ago. My guess is somewhere between 500 to 700 of those little rifles we sold and never deviated from the package of booklet and ammo. We built a hell of a nice business that we sold in 2000.
Damn, I love those little rifles!
Ron
With the remaining $1,000 We bought 12 SKS rifles from Southern Ohio Gun and two cases of ammunition, the NORINCO stuff. The rifles were $59 each and I forget what the ammunition cost. The guys selling SKS rifles at the shows all had the same ugly cases of guns covered in cosmoline and they sold for about $99. I wanted to try something different.
I meticulous cleaned every rifle and applied a light coat of oil. I found a SKS owners manual and we duplicated it. I bought a pile of $3.00 plastic bi pods. I bought some camo cloth material. Our first gun show was a small show in Mentor, Ohio in the banquet room of a Travel Lodge motel. We bought one table at $20 for the weekend.
Each rifle was angled on our table supported by the cheap bi pods. Below each rifle was a one gallon size zip lock bag containing 1 box of ammo, two loaded stripper clips and the complete instruction manual for a SKS Rifle. Our price was $129 or about $30 higher than the competition. I used one rifle as a demo and just kept dissembling and reassembling it over and over again showing people how it was done. By Saturday afternoon every SKS was sold with the exception of the one I used as the demo rifle. I still have that rifle.
I bought more rifles, then more rifles. A good friend hooked me up with Matt's SKS Supplies who were the absolute best people to deal with and right here in Ohio. We began buying and selling every accessory for the SKS that we could eventually graduating to adding the NORINCO MAK-90 rifles. This led to milsurp M1 Garands then available as imports for $249 each. We eventually moved into a brick and mortar store with a diversified inventory but everything began with a dozen little SKS rifles over twenty years ago. My guess is somewhere between 500 to 700 of those little rifles we sold and never deviated from the package of booklet and ammo. We built a hell of a nice business that we sold in 2000.
Damn, I love those little rifles!
Ron
MaterDei
Member
Great story, Ron. Very cool.
I have an SKS that I bought from a fellow THR member about 5 years ago. I had been turning my nose up for years at the cheap 'ugly' and 'inaccurate' sub-$100 SKSs. I finally decided to pull the trigger on one.
Now that I own one I kick myself for not picking them up when they were so cheap and the surplus ammo so readily available.
You live, you learn.
I wonder what other things I'm missing out on today that in 10 years I'll be kicking myself for not buying today.
I have an SKS that I bought from a fellow THR member about 5 years ago. I had been turning my nose up for years at the cheap 'ugly' and 'inaccurate' sub-$100 SKSs. I finally decided to pull the trigger on one.
Now that I own one I kick myself for not picking them up when they were so cheap and the surplus ammo so readily available.
You live, you learn.
I wonder what other things I'm missing out on today that in 10 years I'll be kicking myself for not buying today.
ApacheCoTodd
member
Thanks for the http://tech-sights.com/ link JUSTIN needs me one of those. Do you tech-sights guys find any issues using those sight with such a short buttstock?
As to the 10 round fixed - I love the no snag, no-muss design and the bolt hold open with strippers rocks.
As to the 10 round fixed - I love the no snag, no-muss design and the bolt hold open with strippers rocks.
mljdeckard
Member
No, not at all. I can use the Tapco stock fully shrunk, with my face right in the sight, and it runs just fine. More recoil than an AR, but still entirely shootable. (I suppose I should also say that I am using the brake that comes with the Tapco compliance kit, but I don't think it makes that much difference.)
ApacheCoTodd
member
Good to hear. How about the field stripping? Do you then need a screw driver to remove the receiver cover as shown in the catalog?
Roadking Rider
Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2012
- Messages
- 466
I put a set of these on my SKS and they made a world of difference. Does not require any perminent changes to the rifle.
http://www.amazon.com/Williams-Rifle-Fire-Sights-SKS/dp/B0038MAI6S
http://www.amazon.com/Williams-Rifle-Fire-Sights-SKS/dp/B0038MAI6S
bubba in ca
Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2010
- Messages
- 373
I`ve had rusky, chicom and yugos and all good reliable shooters. If you get one that hasn`t been butchered or eaten away with corrosive ammo, its a great HD or camping gun.
The fixed mag is one of the best things--if for no other reason it will save you a fortune in spare mags.
All of mine were kept stock, although upgrading the sights is a change I would consider.
At today`s prices, thanx to America`s greatest gunsalesman B.H. Obama, if you can`t get a super deal on an almost new one I would pass.
The fixed mag is one of the best things--if for no other reason it will save you a fortune in spare mags.
All of mine were kept stock, although upgrading the sights is a change I would consider.
At today`s prices, thanx to America`s greatest gunsalesman B.H. Obama, if you can`t get a super deal on an almost new one I would pass.
ApacheCOtodd, yes you will have to unscrew the rear peep sight to remove the receiver cover. It is kind of a wonky setup where you have to hold the cover forward, while inserting the right hand screw, and putting the nut on the left side. That being said, I absolutely love my Tech-sights on my 10/22 and SKS, and they are worth every bit of possible annoyances for the occasional strip and clean up. They are a vast improvement over the stock sights.
My brother in law had his thumb up a bit high and said the peep sight came close to him, but I don't think it is an issue, it just comes closer than people are used to.
I used to stick my nose up at those cheap SKS's with kinda dumb looking bayonets, but one day I decided to look them up, found their design, and really liked the thought that went into it. For a very practical, general purpose rifle, under $400, the SKS is unrivaled.
My brother in law had his thumb up a bit high and said the peep sight came close to him, but I don't think it is an issue, it just comes closer than people are used to.
I used to stick my nose up at those cheap SKS's with kinda dumb looking bayonets, but one day I decided to look them up, found their design, and really liked the thought that went into it. For a very practical, general purpose rifle, under $400, the SKS is unrivaled.
ApacheCoTodd
member
Thanks TRUEG - It's not like I'm in situations where I need to field strip in a hurry but I'd like to know before ordering.
I have three SKSs right now and would love to really slim up and streamline one of them and these sight look like the ticket for practicality.
I have three SKSs right now and would love to really slim up and streamline one of them and these sight look like the ticket for practicality.
ApacheCOTodd It just takes a short stubby screwdriver, so tool wise it isn't bad. I highly recommend you get the SKS sight adjustment tool as well, and the thinner front sight post (both available from them), the thinner front sight makes a bit of a difference. A Thinner front sight post is what makes my SKS more accurate than my brother in laws $1k AR The sight adjustment tool is pretty much required for the SKS sights, and makes the rear sight a bit easier to adjust (not like you will always fiddle with it, but its handy).
It won't streamline your SKS much, but you bet it is going to make any SKS you toss it on more accurate.
If any of your SKS's are Yugo models the take down latch is not really removable (at least in my case). I tried pliers, punches, etc.. to try and get it out, but had no luck, so I had to break out the dremel and just zipped off the take down latch.
The sight adjustment tool is pretty much required for the SKS sights, and makes the rear sight a bit easier to adjust (not like you will always fiddle with it, but its handy).It won't streamline your SKS much, but you bet it is going to make any SKS you toss it on more accurate.
If any of your SKS's are Yugo models the take down latch is not really removable (at least in my case). I tried pliers, punches, etc.. to try and get it out, but had no luck, so I had to break out the dremel and just zipped off the take down latch.
mljdeckard
Member
Yes, you do have to remove the sight to field strip it. I have not done so since I really dialed in the zero. HOWEVER, it's an SKS. It will run a long-dang time without a field-strip cleaning. Hose it out with brake cleaner every once in a while, and slather some lube into it. It will run. I suppose next time I field-strip it I should see how well it returns to zero.
Tim the student
Member
Thanks all. Lots of good info in here.
Ron - cool story!
Ron - cool story!
Ignition Override
Member
Gunbroker-at this moment-still has three full pages of SKS rifles.
There is a decent Albanian with a few bids, and it's only up to about $385.
Many generic Yugos and Norincos are either listed, or bid up to only $300-$400.
Considering that many were listed at $270-$300 in March '08, months before "our wise leader" was first elected, if the GB hidden reserves or "buy now" are decent, these can be a comparative steal.
Right now, the only people I see getting good deals are those Selling ARs (maybe VZ-58s, some AKs) along with those who disregard AR fashion magazines, French cologne, and choose to buy a decent SKS where there is lots of competition.
With my fully-adjust. Tech Sight, one group at 50 yards was as tight as with one of my good (4- or 5-groove) Enfield #4s.
On GB, those wanting to do make a few bucks have probably helped flood the market, keeping prices down.
There is a decent Albanian with a few bids, and it's only up to about $385.
Many generic Yugos and Norincos are either listed, or bid up to only $300-$400.
Considering that many were listed at $270-$300 in March '08, months before "our wise leader" was first elected, if the GB hidden reserves or "buy now" are decent, these can be a comparative steal.
Right now, the only people I see getting good deals are those Selling ARs (maybe VZ-58s, some AKs) along with those who disregard AR fashion magazines, French cologne, and choose to buy a decent SKS where there is lots of competition.
With my fully-adjust. Tech Sight, one group at 50 yards was as tight as with one of my good (4- or 5-groove) Enfield #4s.
On GB, those wanting to do make a few bucks have probably helped flood the market, keeping prices down.
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If you are curious about them and scopes, you do not want to use a receiver cover scope mount. The reason for this is the receiver cover on them is a loose fit. This means it will not hold zero.
If you want to scope it, the method to go about it is to use a receiver mount such as the one below.
http://kalinkaoptics.com/firearm-ac...mounting-rail-for-ak-sks-svd-side-mounts.html
If you want to scope it, the method to go about it is to use a receiver mount such as the one below.
http://kalinkaoptics.com/firearm-ac...mounting-rail-for-ak-sks-svd-side-mounts.html
Deer_Freak
Member.
I have two SKS's that I cut the bayonet lug off them. Shooting winchester super x SP ammo they are just as accurate as my marlin 60 at 50 yards. People have tried to beat my SKS's with a out of the box SKS. It wasn't even close. The bayonet lug does something to barrel harmonics. You don't need a scope for a rifle with a 200 yard effective range and the stock sights are just fine. They are aggravating to sight in but once they are sighted in they hold zero just fine.
Swampman
Old Fart
The above statement is incorrect.
THese guys did an informal comparison of AR and AK. Remember the SKS shoots more accurately than the AK bec of its longer barrel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aoiNo8cuQk&feature=endscreen&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aoiNo8cuQk&feature=endscreen&NR=1
mljdeckard
Member
Swampman is correct. Berdan priming does not equal corrosive priming. All of the ammo from Tula has been non-corrosive for a while now.
tahunua001
Member
I recently purchased a Chinese type 56 SKS. I have never had any interest in them but the shop selling it was selling for $239 while everyone else was hitting $400 so I pounced on the one with the least mismatched wood. when I got it home and cleaned the half gallon of cosmoline out of it I found that the stock has shrunk considerably to the point of complete non-serviceability. also playing with it I have to agree that the sights are terrible, much like the standard irons on the AK47 and it's clones so I decided to get a tapco plastic stock, and tech sights ST200 aperture system to see if I can get this thing up to plinking standards, also got at 20 round mag with it. I have no need to use it as a self defense or SHTF rifle, I already have a pair of AR15s for that.
I will say that even with the problems that this rifle has, I still prefer it to the AK47 platform. at least with the SKS you expect it to function like an outdated relic of war. with the AK you expect it to function as well as any modern combat design and it just doesn't measure up in my eyes. I like the SKS internals though...very simplistic design compared to AK variants.
I will say that even with the problems that this rifle has, I still prefer it to the AK47 platform. at least with the SKS you expect it to function like an outdated relic of war. with the AK you expect it to function as well as any modern combat design and it just doesn't measure up in my eyes. I like the SKS internals though...very simplistic design compared to AK variants.
Swampman
Old Fart
Quickest and easiest way to get the cosmoline out of an old milsurp is Cascade and a trip through the dishwasher on the "Pots and Pans" setting.
Field strip the weapon and place the parts in such a way as they won't catch and hold water. This process will even remove the old oil finish from the stock. DO NOT use the heated drying option. Run the weapon through a second time with no detergent to thoroughly rinse everything, then blow it out with compressed air and use a blow dryer on it to get everything completely dry, then oil as usual.
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ALUMINUM PARTS BEFORE YOU DO THIS!
Also, make sure when you do this that your wife is away and that you have some Lemi Shine available to clean up the dishwasher when you're done.
Field strip the weapon and place the parts in such a way as they won't catch and hold water. This process will even remove the old oil finish from the stock. DO NOT use the heated drying option. Run the weapon through a second time with no detergent to thoroughly rinse everything, then blow it out with compressed air and use a blow dryer on it to get everything completely dry, then oil as usual.
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ALUMINUM PARTS BEFORE YOU DO THIS!
Also, make sure when you do this that your wife is away and that you have some Lemi Shine available to clean up the dishwasher when you're done.
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