Tell me about the SKS, Uncle High Road....
- Thread starter jaytex1969
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ontarget
Member
There are 3 in my collection. All very good shooters but I believe I have a problem with the gas system on the oldest one. It has frequent failure to eject. But all are accurate.
GBExpat
Member
I have 4-5 SKSs and none of them is very accurate.
I could probably improve upon that lack of accuracy, tune them a bit, but I found that they just do not appeal to me. Well, the Albanian, maybe a little.
I haven't fired any of them in a long time.
Most folks seem to reeeeeally like the rifles, though ... especially Prepper-Leaning/Talking Types.
I could probably improve upon that lack of accuracy, tune them a bit, but I found that they just do not appeal to me. Well, the Albanian, maybe a little.
I haven't fired any of them in a long time.Most folks seem to reeeeeally like the rifles, though ... especially Prepper-Leaning/Talking Types.
maxxhavoc
Member
If you want better accuracy, and don't mind making a small change I would recommend the Tech-Sights.
Increasing the sight radius really helps them.
Increasing the sight radius really helps them.
GBExpat
Member
Yeah, I added Tech-Sights to one of them 10+ years ago as I prefer aperture sights. IMO, a big improvement over the OEM sights.
FiveStrings
Member
Depending on how tall you are you may find that stock too short to shoot comfortably. Check out the after market stocks. THere are a lot of choices available.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I have one from the early '90s that I got as new issue. The one you have there looks like it barely has any wear on it from that angle.
I'd leave that beauty of an SKS unmolested and enjoy shooting it. The most I'd do is add a screw on butt pad if you needed to make the length of pull of the stock work for you.
chipcom
member
If I could only have one, inexpensive rifle, it would probably be an SKS.
My choice used to be the M1 Garand...till the prices went bat-freakin-crazy.
My choice used to be the M1 Garand...till the prices went bat-freakin-crazy.
Speedo66
Member
I'm sure those Tech-Sights are great, but some of them cost more than my Norinco SKS did new.
A short low-power scope or a $60 Tech Sight will dramatically improve usability.
"More than it cost new" isn't actually accurate when you're talking about 1990 dollars. 79 1990 dollars = $145 at today's value.
"More than it cost new" isn't actually accurate when you're talking about 1990 dollars. 79 1990 dollars = $145 at today's value.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
I've long felt that the SKS is a really great little carbine, and that it suffered unduly by being introduced right at the same time as the AK which was more modern and put the SKS into its shadow immediately.
I think that even at $400 or so that they're going for these days, you get a very useful, very capable rifle for your money. Good capacity, ammo that will do 90% of what most of us really need out of a rifle, extremely reliable, plenty accurate (never had trouble picking off a bowling pin at 100 yds, which is a decent standard for "working rifle"), and handy enough for almost anyone to shoot it well.
The carbine market's ups and downs often makes ARs and AKs come close enough in price to the market rate for an SKS that their clear advantages outweigh the small price difference. But that honestly shouldn't be held against the little Karabina Simonova.
I think that even at $400 or so that they're going for these days, you get a very useful, very capable rifle for your money. Good capacity, ammo that will do 90% of what most of us really need out of a rifle, extremely reliable, plenty accurate (never had trouble picking off a bowling pin at 100 yds, which is a decent standard for "working rifle"), and handy enough for almost anyone to shoot it well.
The carbine market's ups and downs often makes ARs and AKs come close enough in price to the market rate for an SKS that their clear advantages outweigh the small price difference. But that honestly shouldn't be held against the little Karabina Simonova.
MIL-DOT
member
Nice,clean rifle there. Can we ask how much it cost you, and what arsenal stamp is on it? I've gotten to be a bit of an SKS fan lately, and particularly like the shorter Paratrooper versions. These are much handier and more nimble than the full-sized versions, though an aftermarket stock improves the ergos (for both size rifles) , as does adding a screw-on butt-pad, as Chicharrones mentions above. Last I checked, there's a guy on e-bay that sells them for about $10 delivered, it's money well spent, I promise you. That little extra LOP makes a BIG difference.
I've been seeing decent (or nicer) SKS's on the local (Georgia) used market recently down around $300-350, and still not selling very quickly.
A couple days ago we dropped by a favorite old gunstore about an hour away and they had a beat-up Chinese for only $249. It looked like the very used (but still servicable) one's that AIM,Classic Arms and J&G have been selling for a while now, for $279 (plus shipping and transfer).
You should look into getting some stripper clips. The one's everybody are raving about right now are the one's marked "BXN", out of eastern Europe. The best place to find these seems to be e-bay. I got a pack of 25 a little while back for $15 delievered, which was a deal. And these things do hold the ammo well, and feed like buttah !! They are a "force multiplier" for the SKS, you want to get you some!
Also, when re-assembling the rifle, if you have the bolt/carrier attached to the receiver when snapping the magazine back into place, make sure you have the bolt pulled to the rear.As I understand, you can damage the mag if you don't.
Also, be careful not to try and cram more than 10 rounds into the magazine. Resist the urge to attach one of the tapco 30-rd mags, they are considered junk by most SKS fans.
Check out the two SKS forums for more info than you would think there is on these things, The SKS Files, and Survivors SKS Boards.
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GBExpat
Member
Just checked out the Tech Sights website. I think that when I bought my set (the first type offered, Model 100, IIRC) it was, like, $20 a decade+ ago ... but a quick perusal of the site leaves me with the distinct impression that Tech Sights has been busy improving their product(s).
I seem to recall that they later offered a nice discount to purchasers of the Model 100 when the Model 200 became available ... but by then I had moved on to other things.
I seem to recall that they later offered a nice discount to purchasers of the Model 100 when the Model 200 became available ... but by then I had moved on to other things.
MikeJackmin
Member
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- Feb 24, 2005
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Here's a few things you should know:
1) Clean all the cosmoline out of the bolt. There is a possibility of slam-fire if the firing pin gets glued in place.
2) Clean all the grease off the gas piston and the gas tube, and don't oil them afterwards.
3) Accuracy is similar to an AK - it varies not only with the quality of the particular rifle, but with the quality of the ammo as well. Cheap ammo can be surprisingly bad. (It can also be corrosive, too).
4) The round is a virtual ballistic twin to the old 30-30. They make fine deer rifles.
5) Loading with stripper clips is kind of fun.
1) Clean all the cosmoline out of the bolt. There is a possibility of slam-fire if the firing pin gets glued in place.
2) Clean all the grease off the gas piston and the gas tube, and don't oil them afterwards.
3) Accuracy is similar to an AK - it varies not only with the quality of the particular rifle, but with the quality of the ammo as well. Cheap ammo can be surprisingly bad. (It can also be corrosive, too).
4) The round is a virtual ballistic twin to the old 30-30. They make fine deer rifles.
5) Loading with stripper clips is kind of fun.
I got mine in '88, unfired government surplus.
Took all afternoon & an entire can of spray brake cleaner to get all the cosmoline out.
Reliable shooter.
Only things I've done to it are remove the bayonet (weight) and add the rubber buttplate (too short).
Holds about 4 inches at 100 yards.
Pleasant shooter.
Never has worked with clips, the rounds just don't "flow".
Had two later tourist models, neither compared well in workmanship, both had pinned barrels instead of threaded, one required major effort to get the trigger group out & back in. Machining not done as well as the "real" thing.
Sold both.
This summer local gunshop had one on consignment.
Decided one day to buy it at $300, till I actually hefted it & noticed the absence of government markings.
Tourist model, passed.
I would not mind another one, if condition & pricing were right.
Denis
Took all afternoon & an entire can of spray brake cleaner to get all the cosmoline out.
Reliable shooter.
Only things I've done to it are remove the bayonet (weight) and add the rubber buttplate (too short).
Holds about 4 inches at 100 yards.
Pleasant shooter.
Never has worked with clips, the rounds just don't "flow".
Had two later tourist models, neither compared well in workmanship, both had pinned barrels instead of threaded, one required major effort to get the trigger group out & back in. Machining not done as well as the "real" thing.
Sold both.
This summer local gunshop had one on consignment.
Decided one day to buy it at $300, till I actually hefted it & noticed the absence of government markings.
Tourist model, passed.
I would not mind another one, if condition & pricing were right.
Denis
kBob
Member
well do not expect it to be as accurate as a modern sporting bolt gun out of the box.
A lot of folks bought the Chinese guns......and I do mean a lot at one point customs said 6 million had been imported (where are they all? In closets with a spam can of ammo). Unfortunately the ammo available early on was the Red Chinese that smelled like Pee after shooting. A lot of the SKS really did shoot 4 inch groups and to a nation of folks used to buying 2 in grouping hunting rifles that seemed in accurate. But think about it a minute a four inch group at 100 meters means a 16 inch group at 400 meters and that friends is minute of field jacket not counting the sleeves.
Fortunately I lucked into some of the first Lapua ammo from Finland that at the time cost only about ten percent more than the Chinese military ammo. My own rifles groups were halved by changing to this better ammo.
The only change on my rifle was a screw on rubber butt extension ( I swear at times I suspect that darn Texican and I must be cousins) though I did try to find one of the Chinese made fixed 20 round magazines for it only to find the ones I found where apparently made of gold and being sold by weight.
Back before the Tech Sight was available a buddy and I played with the idea of a fixed peep set via the front sight to a 300 meter Zero (just as the original sight is in the rear most position) but neither of us wanted to drill and tap the rear of our SKSs' receivers. I would think the Tech Sights might help most folks.
This bring me to the one accessory one really needs, a front sight adjustment tool. Mine is a sort of C shaped bit of steel with a screw through one outer arm. This is used to push the front sight left or right. No it is not "repeatable" and there will be no quick few clicks into the wind, you have to use Kentucky windage. The end of the screw that sticks up is cut to fit over the front sight post which screws up and down like an AR front sight only it is friction locked rather than detent. Again no add a click or drop a click for temperature just aim that way dag nabbit!
People slam the sights but they are better to me than what I grew up with on .22s and .30-30s and such.
The Cleaning kits are nice to have and trying atleast once to use a bit of cotton string in place of a cotton Mop or patches is a hoot. Of course you will be tempted to store the SKS cleaning kit in the hole in the butt plate. Remember those toy "Chinese Handcuffs" where you put one finger of each hand into a woven tube and it is hard to get your fingers back? Well so did the designers of the SKS and there is little more embarassing than having to ask a buddy to help you get your finger out of the apply named "Butt Trap."
A fair number of our Southerons on THR have successfully taken white tail deer or pigs with SKS Carbines.
I rather like most I have seen that were not shot out or neglected.
-kBob
A lot of folks bought the Chinese guns......and I do mean a lot at one point customs said 6 million had been imported (where are they all? In closets with a spam can of ammo). Unfortunately the ammo available early on was the Red Chinese that smelled like Pee after shooting. A lot of the SKS really did shoot 4 inch groups and to a nation of folks used to buying 2 in grouping hunting rifles that seemed in accurate. But think about it a minute a four inch group at 100 meters means a 16 inch group at 400 meters and that friends is minute of field jacket not counting the sleeves.
Fortunately I lucked into some of the first Lapua ammo from Finland that at the time cost only about ten percent more than the Chinese military ammo. My own rifles groups were halved by changing to this better ammo.
The only change on my rifle was a screw on rubber butt extension ( I swear at times I suspect that darn Texican and I must be cousins) though I did try to find one of the Chinese made fixed 20 round magazines for it only to find the ones I found where apparently made of gold and being sold by weight.
Back before the Tech Sight was available a buddy and I played with the idea of a fixed peep set via the front sight to a 300 meter Zero (just as the original sight is in the rear most position) but neither of us wanted to drill and tap the rear of our SKSs' receivers. I would think the Tech Sights might help most folks.
This bring me to the one accessory one really needs, a front sight adjustment tool. Mine is a sort of C shaped bit of steel with a screw through one outer arm. This is used to push the front sight left or right. No it is not "repeatable" and there will be no quick few clicks into the wind, you have to use Kentucky windage. The end of the screw that sticks up is cut to fit over the front sight post which screws up and down like an AR front sight only it is friction locked rather than detent. Again no add a click or drop a click for temperature just aim that way dag nabbit!
People slam the sights but they are better to me than what I grew up with on .22s and .30-30s and such.
The Cleaning kits are nice to have and trying atleast once to use a bit of cotton string in place of a cotton Mop or patches is a hoot. Of course you will be tempted to store the SKS cleaning kit in the hole in the butt plate. Remember those toy "Chinese Handcuffs" where you put one finger of each hand into a woven tube and it is hard to get your fingers back? Well so did the designers of the SKS and there is little more embarassing than having to ask a buddy to help you get your finger out of the apply named "Butt Trap."
A fair number of our Southerons on THR have successfully taken white tail deer or pigs with SKS Carbines.
I rather like most I have seen that were not shot out or neglected.
-kBob
OP
OP
jaytex1969
Member
Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
MIL-DOT, I gave $378 ($350+tax)
The only markings on it are, as pictured, 3 Chinese characters, then the arsenal mark [0141]. To the right of the arsenal mark is a 6 digit serial number. Then, a small CAI import mark on the right side of the barrel in front of the hand guard.
MIL-DOT, I gave $378 ($350+tax)
The only markings on it are, as pictured, 3 Chinese characters, then the arsenal mark [0141]. To the right of the arsenal mark is a 6 digit serial number. Then, a small CAI import mark on the right side of the barrel in front of the hand guard.
Attachments
I have the one with the triangle 306 made by JingAn Factory. I wonder what part of China could it came from. Very reliable as always with 3 -5 inch groups at 100 yrds on sandbag is a combat weapon.
And get plenty of these before they run out. You need the strippers.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.a...n+7.62x39+on+SKS+Chargers+40rd+box&groupid=39
And get plenty of these before they run out. You need the strippers.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.a...n+7.62x39+on+SKS+Chargers+40rd+box&groupid=39
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Oh heres something i found something regarding JiangAn. I bet this was runned by Chicom govt like the rest of them.
Jiangsu province is near Shanghai which we know is full of factories and what not.
http://www.globalsources.com/si/AS/Jingan-Defense/6008826757687/Homepage.htm
Jiangsu province is near Shanghai which we know is full of factories and what not.
http://www.globalsources.com/si/AS/Jingan-Defense/6008826757687/Homepage.htm
Salmoneye
Member
Why, oh why, didn't I buy cases of them when they were coming in at under $70/ea...
kBob
Member
Cheapest I ever saw to the public was US $59.99 which makes me wonder what the dealer price was. These guns were packed in crates and looked like they had been rode hard and put up wet.
Seriously some appeared to have been used as hammers or shovels or shovels for hammering but the guy had multiple crates of them.
I on the other hand had an empty wallet (but $ 20 get home money in the ashtray of the car) and was struggling to carry all the other crap I had bought at that show (like the last Astra 400 ever saw under $200 and dang if I didn't let it get away a few months later cause no one was making the ammo at the time)
I was interested in the Navy Arms shorty SKS but did not strike while the iron was even luke warm.
-kBob
Seriously some appeared to have been used as hammers or shovels or shovels for hammering but the guy had multiple crates of them.
I on the other hand had an empty wallet (but $ 20 get home money in the ashtray of the car) and was struggling to carry all the other crap I had bought at that show (like the last Astra 400 ever saw under $200 and dang if I didn't let it get away a few months later cause no one was making the ammo at the time)
I was interested in the Navy Arms shorty SKS but did not strike while the iron was even luke warm.
-kBob
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