New to me SKS came home the other day.

[koger]

I recently had sold 9 of my competition ML's, since having 3 strokes in one day left me unable to stand without crutches, and I shot mainly offhand, prone chunk and cross sticks. I have my right side 70% paralyzed, but I can still see good, and my hand/eye coordination is still good. Feeling flush with my newfound$$, I decided to invest some of my money in a great condition SKS at a nearby LGS, that only deals in high end stuff. They also buy estate collections and have some ugly ducklings from time to time. The cheapest SKS I had seen in these parts for well over a year, had been $550, I got this one with cleaning rod and spike bayonet, sling for $450 out the door. I got it home, dropped in some wolf ammo, and shot it at 100yds. It shot low, I moved it up 2 notches and it was dead on and hit my 4x6"clanger 4 times in a row rested. I forgot how much I like these old rifles. This one may be used for Ranger patrol in my side by side for the occasional groundhog or coyote.

[hoodat]

Glad to hear you're staying in the game. A side by side and a SKS will go good together. Happy clanging. jd

[Adam Helmer]

koger,

My SKS and Blue Heeler ride all the time in my side by side Ranger here on the farm. As you probably know, you can adjust Elevation by moving the front sight up or down.

Be well.

Adam

[725]

Good to hear you are still in the game! KBO. Williams makes a fiber optic set I have seen on SKS's. No alteration to the rifle. Replaces the rear sight with a peep and the front with a fiber optic. Absolutely fantastic and ! quick !! Still adjustable. Whatever you do with the SKS, have fun and keep it warm.

[Wag]

I absolutely love my SKS. I can't say it's the best rifle I own, but dang, it's a ton of fun to shoot!

--Wag--

[Hanzy4200]

I would like to get one of the recently imported Chicom models. I had a Yugo (with the grenade launcher mount on the muzzle) when I was 18. Think I paid $229. Sold it regrettably. I have a Norinko side folder I bought privately maybe 10 years ago for $350. They are great guns. More accurate, in my experience than their AK counterparts.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Same here. An SKS is much more of a rifle than is an AK, which is basically just a bullet dispensing machine. An SKS is one of those rifles that is just about right for a sporter the way it comes, but they can be customized. By the way, every now and then someone is looking for SKS stripper clips. I see that J& G Sales is offering them new in packs of 20 at a reasonable price.

285889

DG

[roverboy]

I recently had sold 9 of my competition ML's, since having 3 strokes in one day left me unable to stand without crutches, and I shot mainly offhand, prone chunk and cross sticks. I have my right side 70% paralyzed, but I can still see good, and my hand/eye coordination is still good. Feeling flush with my newfound$$, I decided to invest some of my money in a great condition SKS at a nearby LGS, that only deals in high end stuff. They also buy estate collections and have some ugly ducklings from time to time. The cheapest SKS I had seen in these parts for well over a year, had been $550, I got this one with cleaning rod and spike bayonet, sling for $450 out the door. I got it home, dropped in some wolf ammo, and shot it at 100yds. It shot low, I moved it up 2 notches and it was dead on and hit my 4x6"clanger 4 times in a row rested. I forgot how much I like these old rifles. This one may be used for Ranger patrol in my side by side for the occasional groundhog or coyote.

Sorry to hear about your strokes. Wish you the best. And sounds like you got a good SKS. I sold mine years ago that I bought from a guy in Burkesville, Ky.

[richhodg66]

In the mid 90s, I bought a Chinese one I'm pretty sure was brand new for about 90 bucks. It was really not the kind of thing I was into then, even less so now, but it was a surprisingly good shooter with cast and jacketed and as reliable as the son. Stock is way too short for most American men, sights are crude, trigger was pretty awful, but it shot way better than it had a right to. A guy could do a lot worse.

Good on you for staying in the game, strokes are scary things. I hope you recover quickly.

[Texas by God]

After thinking about it for just a bit, I realized that the SKS is my favorite Russian designed gun of all that I've tried. I like it much more than the AK or Moisin Nagant. At over 6 feet tall, I never liked the short stock and the sights are,well,...Russian. But they are still shootable and never jam.
I removed the cleaning rod and bayonet from every one I owned, also.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[hoodat]

I've got three SKS's, two Tula Russians, and a bubbafied Norinco with a folding stock shortened barrel and fixed to
receiver scope mount.

This pick is of my favorite, one of the KBI Russian imports with all accessories. Pretty cool little package. Rifle has been refurbed and stored by Russian armories, then sold to the importer. This one is a 1954 Tula.

285941

Kits like these probably retailed for $199.95. Chinese rifles used to come in at $99.95, with a spam can full of ammo. Back in those days I thought they were junk, and wanted no part of them.:-( jd

[robertbank]

The SKS has been reborn up here with new pricing as well. Gone are the days....

That said it seems we are getting fewer and fewer "nice" SKS's imported. Fortunately the use market here is active. Mine is a Russian and I may pick up a Chinese SKS to add to the fun. They are the ultimate "truck" gun. With a little TLC they can become useful campanions.

Take Care

Bob

[Earlwb]

I wish you all the best. It is nice you are able to stay in the game, so to speak. I like the little SKS. I think it is a great little gun. It used to be cheap to shoot before the pandemic and the ammo shortages. But even at present the 7.62x47 ammo is still not terribly expensive albeit it has gone up quite a bit in cost. I put a pistol scope on my example.

[jimlj]

I think you'd be hard pressed to get a better rifle than an SKS. More tacticool, yes. More modular, yes. More modern, certainly. A rifle that could be drug through the dirt, thrown behind the seat of the truck, fed any ammo that is available, badly neglected and then called upon to dispatch vermin....I can't think of anything better.

[Texas by God]

koger,

My SKS and Blue Heeler ride all the time in my side by side Ranger here on the farm. As you probably know, you can adjust windage by moving the front sight up or down.

Be well.

AdamAdam, don't you mean that you can adjust windage by drifting the front sight with the SKS/AK front sight tool( or a punch and hammer?)
My late brother had this one and it now belongs to my sister. It has scope mount bosses on the dust cover and set screws.
We clobbered an old Kwik Site Win 94 mount to fit it and it has held zero. Jim killed several hogs with it using the cheap Wolf hp ammo. When he got it from a friend, it was equipped
With the ( dumb to me) Tapco 30 round AK type mag- so I found an original magazine and reconverted it. I don't like the side mount scope- but it's not my gun so it stays.
The last time I shot it, it put 3 of the Wolf hp inside a Copenhagen lid at 100 yards.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210715/11ebe53f2f674d3a35eac88d4cbbdb0d.jpg

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[robertbank]

The SKS is like a lot of WW11 vintage rifles. Put a scope on them and you find out they are shooters.

Take Care

Bob

[Adam Helmer]

Adam, don't you mean that you can adjust windage by drifting the front sight with the SKS/AK front sight tool( or a punch and hammer?)
My late brother had this one and it now belongs to my sister. It has scope mount bosses on the dust cover and set screws.
We clobbered an old Kwik Site Win 94 mount to fit it and it has held zero. Jim killed several hogs with it using the cheap Wolf hp ammo. When he got it from a friend, it was equipped
With the ( dumb to me) Tapco 30 round AK type mag- so I found an original magazine and reconverted it. I don't like the side mount scope- but it's not my gun so it stays.
The last time I shot it, it put 3 of the Wolf hp inside a Copenhagen lid at 100 yards.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210715/11ebe53f2f674d3a35eac88d4cbbdb0d.jpg

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Texas,

Yessir! My mistake: I meant to say Elevation adjustment is possible by screwing the front sight up and down. Windage is easily adjusted with a pusher-type screw gizmo. (Gently).

At the range last month a "hammer mechanic" did use a hammer on his SKS front sight to adjust windage and broke it off! You cannot fix stupid.

Sorry for the mistake.

Be Well.

Adam

[Texas by God]

Been there done that Adam. I made a wooden jig with a hole for a brass punch to move the front sight on my second SKS way back in the 80s- after hitting it pretty hard with it secured in a vise- it still didn't want to move. So I coughed up the money for the sight pusher tool and voila- it moved!
I always thought that a reciever sight that would mount with the takedown pin removed would be a great addition- but then the barrel sight would have to be ground down.
Remember the plastic replacement front sight posts that came in different colors?

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[Adam Helmer]

Been there done that Adam. I made a wooden jig with a hole for a brass punch to move the front sight on my second SKS way back in the 80s- after hitting it pretty hard with it secured in a vise- it still didn't want to move. So I coughed up the money for the sight pusher tool and voila- it moved!
I always thought that a reciever sight that would mount with the takedown pin removed would be a great addition- but then the barrel sight would have to be ground down.
Remember the plastic replacement front sight posts that came in different colors?

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Texas,

Yessir, I recall the colored plastic front sight posts and have a half dozen in assorted colors somewhere in my stash.

Adam

[pietro]

.

Once upon a time, I ran into several SKS' (some Russian; some Chinese) in excellent condition for sale @ $99 on the wall behind the counter of a Maine convenience store/market while I was up there deer hunting (go figure).

I bought 2 of those Russian "poor man's .30-30's" and gifted them to family members who couldn't afford a "deer rifle".

They were pretty accurate when I test fired them, and only needed 5-shot magazines to make them legal for hunting there.

.

[hoodat]

Here's the "drill and tap" scope mount that I created for my Norinco SKS. Made from bent angle bed frame stock. Every landfill has them. It sits just high enough to allow rifle disassembly without dismounting the scope or mount. It is completely solid and with countersink screws that re-locate it if I do remove it.

286245

I've also got a folder stock with a cheek riser to drop this rifle into which puts my eye on level with the scope. Something to think about if you put a scope on one of these rifles.

286247

[funnyjim014]

Sks is definitely one of my favorites. It's just fun to shoot. Ammo is cheap and it will eat anything stuffed in to it. To shrink your groups replace the front sight with a smaller one. Midway has 3 sized ones( they look like a ball sitting on top of a stick) I used the middle one and my groups were cut in half.the factory sight is just too big for any kind of precision

[KCSO]

I remember selling these to every farmer in the county for $79.95 and never thought to keep a couple. Same with the russian revolvers. I did think the Yugo's were dandy truck rifles and deadly shooterd with cast.

[Maven]

286275286276 funny jim, I understand what you mean about the large front sight, but take a look at these 50 yd. groups. On the double target, I'm referring to the one on the right. Btw, my SKS is entirely "as issued" and the loads on the target would not eject.

Edit: I should add that finding the proper CB design and diameter was the bigger problem for me than the sight. As you may have noticed, I was using the Lee ~175gr. CB for the 8mm Mauser sized to .316" to suit my Type 56 SKS. However, the C.E. Harris designed ~160gr. CB that I got from NOE (target #1) is as accurate and much easier to site down to .316". One more thing, those were test targets. I've done much better with the issued sights, but don't have pics to post.

[Texas by God]

As seen, an over bore scope must be short tubed to avoid being pummeled by ejecting brass. DG, yours is the best looking that I believe an SKS can get-and I bet that is soft shooting.
Hoodat- was the side of the receiver hard to drill? One of mine sure was( broken tap;argh).

[hoodat]

Hoodat- was the side of the receiver hard to drill? One of mine sure was( broken tap;argh).

I got a brand new bit, and tap from Track of the Wolf to do it. Was kind of worried about it but it wasn't that bad. I was careful. jd

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I remember selling these to every farmer in the county for $79.95 and never thought to keep a couple. Same with the russian revolvers. I did think the Yugo's were dandy truck rifles and deadly shooterd with cast.

Yep, I remember pallets of them in the gunshops. I should have bought one too.

[Lloyd Smale]

still remember a gun shop here that had a basket full of them for 59 bucks each. I was to stupid to by one.

[TCLouis]

I have one of the chinese made ones that were the rage of the 90s ?? well whenever SKSs were the rage.

Have no idea how it shoots shot 4 shots with AA1680 and Hornady 130 grain SSP bullets back then and it is taken out and cleaned once in a while, but has not been shot since.

Keep saying I am going to sell it, but never get around to it. Probably won't!

[Adam Helmer]

still remember a gun shop here that had a basket full of them for 59 bucks each. I was to stupid to by one.

Lloyd,

In 1992 or 1993, on payday, I went into a gun shop and got 5 NEW SKS arms for $90 each with sling, cleaning kit, chest pouch, etc. They are the best farm guns a farmer could have.

I swapped a few off for farm equipment I needed. The coyotes continue to suffer....

Adam

[3006guns]

Texas,

Yessir! My mistake: I meant to say Elevation adjustment is possible by screwing the front sight up and down. Windage is easily adjusted with a pusher-type screw gizmo. (Gently).

At the range last month a "hammer mechanic" did use a hammer on his SKS front sight to adjust windage and broke it off! You cannot fix stupid.

Sorry for the mistake.

Be Well.

Adam

This might be a good place to discuss those front sight adjustments. I purchased a good quality front sight adjustment tool and headed for the range. The gun was shooing slightly to one side, so I whipped out my tool and began moving the sight over.

Huh..........the tool actually bent and the sight never moved. The Chinese must push those things in with a 100 ton press! I finally went to our local Ace Hardware and bought a metric bolt that matched the tool and replaced the adjustment screw with the bolt. To adjust, I use a small Crescent wrench to put force on the sight........then whop it with a small hammer. The impact will move the sight over and allow you to adjust the sights.

So, the next time you see some guy using a hammer on his SKS, he may have already figured this out! :)

[turtlezx]

have 1 for cast and 1 for js both scoped
shoot to a diferent poa between the 2 bullets about 9" apart at 100yds

[Fishman]

Before AR's became ubiquitous, I used my first sks to teach my daughter how to operate a rifle. I turned it into a "bolt action" by removing the op rod on the recommendation of a gun writer at the time. Super soft shooting, and she just had to pull the bolt back and let it go to chamber another. Short length of pull was perfect. I foolishly bought her a Contender in 30/30 for her first deer gun instead of just letting her shoot the sks with some quality bullets. The recoil difference was too much and she ended up deciding to wait a couple years before trying it again.

It also shot lead bullets quite well, and I developed loads that cycled the action for the two .30 cal molds I had at the time, the Lee 93 gr .312 pistol mold and the Lee 170 gr .310 gas checked 30/30 mold. No leading either. Blasting ammo was $2 or less per 20 round box and I introduced several people to shooting a semi-auto using that gun, also loaning it as a deer rifle to others who had none. Since it cost me $89 plus tax in 1992, I wasn't too worried.

Since then I bought several, sold a couple, and they all work perfectly. I bought an AK clone in the mid-90's and within a few days came to the conclusion that the sks was a much better gun in almost every way, and I haven't changed that opinion.

Now-days I mostly play with my AR's but I'm not getting rid of my sks's any time soon.