Sks, finally

[T. Daves]

I finally broke down and bought my first sks. It's the 59/66 mod. yugo, with the grenade launcher sight,and bayonet. I've never seen so much grease all over a firearm before. Can't wait to take it to the lease and try it out. Can you legally change the mag. for a detachable one. I'm going to work my way up to an AK next,and then probably the AR from Rock River. :fullauto:

[RIKA]

Glad you got the SKS. I have one just like it and its fun to shoot/ pretty accurate but heavy as heck.

RIKA

[BigEd63]

Can you legally change the mag. for a detachable one.


If I understand correctly no if you bought it as a C&R (curio and relic) but maybe yes if it's on a regular FFL. There is probably an ATF "ruling" on that by now.

If I make it over to my regular gun shop I'll ask the owner. They do their best to keep up with that stuff.

[Gunners762]

I've never seen so much grease all over a firearm before. The cleaning is going to be the fun part! Enjoy your new rifle Mr.Daves......

[Flinter]

Try lemon oil on the cosmoline. It will desolve it pretty quickly and smells much better than kerosene or some other type cleaner.

I'm not sure about the mag. It all has to with the part count. There is a list of what the ATF considers parts in a thread DW had about building his AK. I'm not sure which of those parts the SKS has. Once you see the list you'll understand. IIRC that thread explained the parts count pretty well.

[fffg100grns]

I'm a brake clean addict, I take em all apart and spend all my spare time for 2 or 3 days cleaning, (2 or 3 hours),, makin sure the F/P is good and free and that little dilly wacker that holds that holds the bolt back when all the 7.62s are gone.

Mine shoots straighter if I clean the barrel real good.

I like the idea of the on board cleaning/maint kit with cleaning rod, problem is,,,,,, when I flip the bayonet down to use it as a monopod(I know, redneck),the cleaning rod falls out, then I run over it with the truck.
Now comes my (redneck) fix........I take a black shrink tube, 1 inch diameter and carefully cut a 3/32 wide ring off(Hardly shows). I work it over the sight and all until its over the barrel and the cleaning rod I heat it down and it takes care of its self.
It now takes a little (just a little) effort to remove or install the cleaning rod, but I haven't lost one in over a year.

[Garand]

I bought my Chinese SKS for $156.00 at the end of December. In early December while I was getting ready for a World War II re-enactor match I was informed that I required a WW2 Carbine to complete the course of fire. Given just 9 days to "make it happen" I borrowed a chinese SKS from a friend. As the SKS first seen action in late 1944, the carbine fit the bill for re-enacting.

As we have a limit of 5rds mag capacity for semi auto rifles up here, the M1 Carbine was not even considered. To shoot the course of fire, I would have required at least 12 mags. Since I was already carrying a full sized Battle Rifle and ammo for longer ranges, that was out of the question.


I took the 10 rds stripper clips and cut them to 5 rds, crimped one end and painted that end orange. That indicated to me that that end of the stripper clip was to go into the carbine with the orange end of the clip pointed up. I was absolutely amazed how fast that the SKS could be reloaded under the stress of match conditions. The stripper clips are far superior when you are limited to mag capacity.

I've taken my own out since it arrived at the end of December and put a small amount of through it. It absolutely blows me away how much the groups open up when the barrel heats up. This is a nice 100 yds carbine, but I wouldn't feel confident shooting at farther targets, since at the match I tried to engage steel plates out to 400 yds. Waste of ammo.

Its not rocket science to realize that the 7.62mmx39mm is a short range cartridge. So I can't concieve why there are so many after market parts for it.

[RIKA]

Its not rocket science to realize that the 7.62mmx39mm is a short range cartridge. So I can't concieve why there are so many after market parts for it.

Most of the SKS are equal to MOBG out to about 300yds. Some are more accurate than others. For the after market parts, some actually improve the weapon but a lot of the stuff is cosmetic and greatly appeals to wannabe sorts. I guess there is a little kid hidden deep inside every adult (me included) and we just plain enjoy dressing up our guns regardless of practicality or accuracy.

RIKA

[Garand]

Being a young infanteer many, many moons ago, I learned the lesson of "Keep it simple stupid"! It works the way it was issued, so go with it. While wars have been won by pretty rifles (M1 Garand, Lee Enfield #4 Mk 1), thats not why they were chosen in the first place. But you have a point Rika, there are a whole lot of ad ons designed to separate the wannabe from his wallet.

[Coyote]

I like my SKS rifles quite a bit, they are reliable and the ammo is cheap.

I also like how you cut down your clips Garand. I may go the same route.

[Garand]

During the match in Wainwright, I carried 75 rds of clipped 7.62x39mm in British Army bandoleers and 5 clips in my upper smock pocket. Once the buzzer went, your were definately under stress trying to engage your targets and reload in a timely manner. The Orange marking helped ""Keep it Simple" and the cut down strippers made it easy to fit in the bandoleers and my pocket. One thing though, after you cut down the clips, smooth out any rough edges with a bench grinder. Last thing you need is to rip open your hand right in the middle of a string.

I had a friend from Langley BC phone me yesterday, first time I had talked to him in 16 years. I got him started in IPSC in the late '80's and he took the
national championship in the '90's. He mentioned to me that Burke Mountain has 3 gun matches from time to time. It might help you sort out what you like and dislike about your rifle and kit during periods of match stress.

[Coyote]

I cut up a whole bunch of clips yesterday. I did grind down the edges, just as you suggest, but no orange paint! Had to deviate slightly and go with yellow.

I haven't really ever gotten into match shooting, I'm good enough to at least participate (I think) but I can never find the time. I basically MAKE the time to go shooting between work, work, & sleep. I make it once a week despite it all. Thanks for the tip though, if schedules permit I'll look into it.

[Garand]

If you decide to compete, remember everybody started sometime. In the beginning the only person you should compete against is you in your last match.

[T. Daves]

I got to the deer lease Saturday,and that old rifle shoots pretty damn good. The wind was blowing about 30 mph so me and Dad crawled down into the creek bottom to shoot it. Dad was actually impressed with it. I will have to get some better ammo though, all i have is fmj. At a 100 yards,there abouts, we kept the rounds at 3" or so.

[fffg100grns]

Glad you like it.

[BigEd63]

Well I'm in the process of getting a Norinco SKS myself.