Tell me about the SKS, Uncle High Road....

[kBob]

Of the SKS rifles imported into the US only the Yugos have a gas valve.

I have seen some folks that did not know what that little pin looking thing on the cleaning tool was for, gas port cleaner.

The fact that folks thought it necessary to include such on a cleaning tool at extra expense tells us it is a useful thing.

-kBob

 

[captmoto]

I have nearly 1000 rounds of steel cased Wolf through a gently used Norinco. I bought it with a plastic stock on it bit got the original with it. It has never had a FTF or FTE. It is short and heavy and about a 4" gun. It had a dust cover rail for it but it just doesn't work. I was not able to get the original numbered cover but have replaced it since. It also was missing the spike bayonet. As I recall they were sold in California without the bayo.
This gun operated very smoothly and consistently. I don't know what I was expecting but was surprised and pleased with it's function.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

I've got an old Sino-Soviet that I picked up not long ago. Packed in cosmolene, but the metal cleaned up pretty well, stock has seen some better days



But since getting it, cleaning it, firing it a few times it's definitely fun. Has run no problems using Surplus Yugo Brass cased ammo.

TBH I want to fire it more, but each time I look at it I debate firing surplus corrosive due to the cleaning it takes. Gas tube, barrel, action isn't a problem really, for me it's the dang retaining pin that holds the firing pin in the channel.

It's an absolute must for me to clean the firing pin and channel. I don't want a sticky bolt problem. I know, I know, they sell a spring loaded firing pin, but I'm hesitant to make alterations to the rifle. Sino-Soviet, all numbers matching including the stock so modifying the bolt is one of those "I want to, but I don't want to" at the same time type of things.

All in all, that's my only major complaint about the SKS

 

[mf-dif]

A good part of the allure of the gun was the price. I'm not sure I'd pay the going $350-400 range for them now. Heck I felt I was overpaying at $250 3-yrs ago. It is a great shooter though and rugged as hell.

 

[MIL-DOT]

IMO, just because they USED to cost a lot less, doesn't necessarilly mean they aren't worth what they're going for now.
I'm regularly seeing them around $300-350, which I think is still a pretty good deal, for a classic old rifle that just plain works, and is not imported anymore.

 

[jaytex1969]

I know, they sell a spring loaded firing pin, but I'm hesitant to make alterations to the rifle.

So is the upgraded/spring'ed firing pin a permanent alteration?

I usually don't alter my rifles. Could the spring addition evoke any of that 922r stuff? (about which I'm quite ignorant)

Thanks.
Jay

 

[Sam1911]

Could the spring addition evoke any of that 922r stuff? (about which I'm quite ignorant)

No. It is not one of the parts specifically enumerated in the law as contributing to "the count."

 

[MilsurpShooter]

http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

That's the best way of illustrating the modification. Like I said, for a mismatched truck gun, yeah. But doing that to a matching just... I can't bring myself lol

 

[shiftyer1]

Jaytex,

The spring upgrade is just a drop in part, pretty simple and totally reversible. If you want to try the detachable mags let me know, i'll loan ya a couple but they're kinda a pain. If you decide you don't like the stock theres several available and its pretty simple to switch back and forth. I bought my last sks from the same place.

 

[goon]

I like the chicom military or any unmolested European military SKS. I shoot them better than an AK. There's a lot to be said for them if you can get a good one at a decent price.

 

[TruthTellers]

A good part of the allure of the gun was the price. I'm not sure I'd pay the going $350-400 range for them now. Heck I felt I was overpaying at $250 3-yrs ago. It is a great shooter though and rugged as hell.

This is too true. Back when these were able to be had for $100, it was a type of quality that couldn't be beat. I think a fair value price of them today would be $200 or $250, but since the demand has been building over the years, the prices have too. I think for $350, someone would be better served getting a Savage Axis or a Ruger American rifle. Sure, they're bolt guns, but for the price, they're of better quality and accuracy.

The story is almost the same for Mosins. Use to be able to get them for $100, now prices have doubled because of the value price they use to sell for.

 

[nathan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjCs8qi3R0U

 

[MIL-DOT]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjCs8qi3R0U

Are you sure you posted this in the right thread?? Or did I need to sit through more than the 18-of-50 minutes that I watched, to get to the point .

 

[Sam1911]

FWIW, I did see two SKS rifles in the first minute of that video. I suppose the idea (of posting it here) is to show how it can serve a life-sustaining role in a reliable way. Though I suppose a very great many rifles could do that.

 

[Wishoot]

IMO, just because they USED to cost a lot less, doesn't necessarilly mean they aren't worth what they're going for now.
I'm regularly seeing them around $300-350, which I think is still a pretty good deal, for a classic old rifle that just plain works, and is not imported anymore.

For the win.

I wish I had bought an SKS back when they were in the $100-$200 range, but I didn't. I hunted and shot clays with shotguns back then. The only rifle I had was a little Henry 001, which I still have.

I ended up paying $370 for a used, but decent example of a mid-1960's era Chinese SKS. I've shot everything from cheap steal cased stuff to Yugo surplus to factory hunting loads with 100% reliability. It's plenty accurate and I wouldn't hesitate to use it as my 150 yard deer rifle.

 

[Devonai]

Never has worked with clips, the rounds just don't "flow".

Try polishing up the inside with steel wool, that might help.

 

[DPris]

Thanks for the suggestion, not sure I want to put that effort into polishing stripper clips.
I've got maybe 50 or so, Chinese military originals, and none has ever fed worth a flip.
Denis

 

[boom boom]

I would recommend two alterations that can be easily undone which improve the SKS. Murray's firing pin--easy to put in and if you sell it then simply put the old one back in, and Techsights which give the SKS a longer sight range aperature sights. On reloading using stripper clips, I have always had better luck with brass stripper clips than steel. Brass seems to have better lubricity against the steel in the receiver.

 

[goon]

Never had a problem with the SKS stripper clips. Some of the parked ones can stand some polishing, but it's literally 3 passes with medium sandpaper. You can do it while you're watching reruns of Desperate Housewives - probably get a dozen polished in just one commercial break.

 

[MCgunner]

The triggers usually suck. Accuracy is 3 MOA average. I get 2.5 out of my Norinco rifle with 154 wolf or tula soft point. Accurate and powerful enough to shoot deer to 150-300 yards. I prefer the ergos to any AR or AK. The aftermarket supports the SKS pretty well and I've put a sporter stock on my rifle, folder on my Norinco paratrooper. Both have ambi safeties since I shoot lefty. I took the scope off my rifle. I'd used it for a hog gun, but I have better hunting rifles from Remiington and Savage.

As collectors, they've appreciated in price over the 25 years I've owned 'em despite the fact that bazillions were made and imported. I gave 75 bucks for the rifle and 115 for the paratrooper. I bought 'em for cheap shooters, not collectors, and they're great for that. The trigger in my rifle is actually crisp. I had a FFL in the early 90s and ordered a lot of these guns. I found that about 1 of 10 had a decent trigger and I skimmed one of the better ones out of the pile. I don't shoot my carbine much, just a range toy really, but the trigger on that one creeps about 25 inches before it breaks, or seems that way. Real hard to control. I treat it like a DA revolver trigger and can control it fairly well.

 

[boom boom]

MCGunner,
There is a guy named Kivaari that does a bang up job on SKS triggers via Mail order. You send him your trigger unit and he does his magic and returns it to you. Try the SKS boards to find him if you are interested. If I recall, one of Shotgun News advertisers, maybe KeepShooting, had brand new old stock trigger units for the SKS for around $75 dollars if you are worried about him altering the original. I also believe that Murray's Gunsmithing used to do trigger jobs for the SKS as well but you would have to check with them.

Might want to check the SKS board whether this would involve a 922r compliance issue if you did install a new old stock trigger unit but generally as it does not alter the original configuration of the rifle should be ok. As all SKS's are imported, 922r regulations apply to alterations. But, the BATF has generally appreciated efforts to make a firearm safer (e.g. prevention of slamfires) and given exceptions to such things as the Murray Gun Works' firing pin from the 922r regulations--he ships those firing pins with a copy of his letter from the ATF granting the exception.

It should not affect the C&R status however if that matters to you. Many C&R rifles do not have the original triggers, springs, and sears installed (often being replaced by trying different old stock triggers and sears to improve trigger pull or to fix something buggered up over time).

 

[Swampman]

Originally posted by: boom boom
I have always had better luck with brass stripper clips than steel. Brass seems to have better lubricity against the steel in the receiver.

I've never seen a brass SKS/AK type stripper clip.
Could you possibly post some pics?

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'm on my second SKS. My first was a Bubba special that I sold to fund something else. My current is an older import, govt model dated to 1968, all matching. Sweet shooter, combat accurate, and has all the flaws inherent to the design. But, as an infantry rifle for conscripted soldiers, the manual of arms can be learned in a short time. It's 7.62x39 round is cheap, effective and abundant. They just plain work, with little maintenance or care. Still, a little maintenance and care go a long way for any firearm.

A few SKS gems to keep an eye out for... the D model which takes AK mags by design (not the bubba jobs) and the stamped receivers. Those are very few and far between. It turned out to be more cost effective to mill the SKS rather than stamp it out like an AK, which is just the opposite.

All in all, the SKS is a fine, proven combat carbine.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Thanks for the suggestion, not sure I want to put that effort into polishing stripper clips.
I've got maybe 50 or so, Chinese military originals, and none has ever fed worth a flip.
Denis

Hey Denis, try to hunt down some of the BXN-marked clips, they seem to be almost universally considered to be the best around
among the serious SKS junkies , and I can say that the ones I've tried function VERY smoothly.
Ebay seems to be the place to find them. I got a box of 25 for $15, delievered, a couple months ago, shipped from someplace in eastern Europe.

 

[Col. Plink]

+1 on Kivaari

I have a Yugo m59 that shoots like a dream, well enough to make use of a rear peep sight.

I'l; see if i can find a pic I haven't posted here yet; it has "checkpoint" marks for having been used by combatants out of uniform in the Bosnian conflict (three dots inobtrusively located, this one in the carrier's name "Dano"...