SKS Advice

C

Conformer

New member
I'm not trying to start anything but help out. I am 20 years old I have owned 3 SKS , 1 Chinese milled, 1 Chinese Stamped, 1 Romainian Milled 1957 model. I noticed a lot of dressed up SKS the Dragunov Stocks the Pistol Gripped Stocks and so on. Then the detaches have 3 strikes agianst them expensive, reliability, and hard to use I dont know why one would scope one it is still effective to about 200-300 yards depending on skill. I like the milled Chinese ones the best. I would also like to say that most of these dressed up SKS I see wiegh as much as an FN-FAL. I was at a gun show and bought a used but good condition HK-91 clone w/aluminium reciever for $400.00 while I watched some one pay $375.00 for a Romianian SKS w/dragunov stock,detachable mag, scope and bipod, and the thing was heavier than my HK-91 copy! Now I am not being a gun snob, just saying the trigger groups on SKS were not designed for rapid firing, the accuracy is the same as an AK-47. I think the bolt on the AK-47 closes a bit tighter. The mags are easier to change out. The gas system is one part, the SKS has 3 Piston,Operating Rod Spring. The trigger group on an SKS is easier to get out but harder to get apart. So lets think about it for $375 he could of bought a Maadi,SAR-1,saved a little and bought a CETME,Century FAL, and HK-91 copies. I love my Maadi its ugly but never fails:) . Well, I know a lot of you are going to gripe at me for this post. I do like the SKS with a 10 rnd. fixed mag, maybe the 20 rnd. fixed I would like the bi-pod too,and lots and lots of stripper clips Well,theres my .02 cents worth.
 
Obviously, the Soviet military felt that the AK was the better rifle. There has been a lot of discussion as to why the SKS was adopted in the first place. Some feel that it was a kind of "payoff" to Simonov for long and faithful service to his country, and was always intended to be an interim rifle.

One advantage of the SKS today is that, unless altered, it is not an "assault rifle" since it does not have a detachable magazine or a pistol grip, so it is more politically correct. IMHO, the best is the Russian, made at Tula. They seem more accurate than the others, but that may be the difference in individual rifles rather than a general case.

FWIW, the last pictures of the Russian Kremlin honor guards showed them with SKS's, probably because they handle better than the AK.

Jim
 
SKS

I think you have some valid points, BUT I still think the SKS is a valid, low cost solution. I have a Chinese SKS (for 6 years) that i have kept pretty stock, Irons Sights and Fixed 10 rnd. It still shoots VERY well and is fun to take to the range for minimal costs. I too, would love a FN-FAL, or a HK-91 copy, but with a tight budget (aka KIDS) it just out of the question.:(
 
:) I remember the days you could by SKS type 56 rifles (Norinco) all day long for $90. I picked up a new, unissued Norinco SKS for $90 at a local Roses about 8 or 9 years ago without really knowing what the heck I was doing. 7.62x39 ammo back then was about $7 a box back then too.

Who would have known that the costs of the rifles would have doubled or tripled and the price of ammunition would have dropped as low as a buck and a quarter in some places?

It must have been a lucky year. I ordered 100 rounds of Norinco 124gr FMJs immediately after and received them in yellow boxes instead of the common silver/grey boxes. They were steel core, I couldn't believe my luck!

I also ordered a Springfield SAR-48 (FN/FAL clone) around that same time, before they discontinued the SAR line. That rifle appreciated grossly in a few short years.

Luck... I guess it's all used up now.


Anyway, I must admit that even with it's lack of cosmetic appeal, the SKS is one heck of a plinker! Those Russian 122gr JHPs are nasty little pills to boot!
 
$375 for a Romanian? Even with the Dragunov stock, detachable mags, scope and bipod, that's too much IMHO. I got a Romanian 1957 milled this weekend for under $200. I also got stripper clips, a synthetic stock, a second bolt, a carrying strap, a replacement return spring and guide, and a maintenance manual. I could still buy a bipod and scope and still be well under $375. I guess I'm feeling kinda lucky now. ( I could have had a Tula Russian for $300 but would have felt guilty actually shooting it b/c it was pristine).

From what I've read, the SKS was an "interim" solution to an immediate need felt by the Russian military. During WWII, they had submachine guns for massed fire close up and they had slow, outdated bolt actions for longer distance, but they didn't have any autoloader for medium to long range fighting. The SKS was meant to fill that need - kind of like the role of the Garand for the U.S.

As for the Russian honor guard, it's my understanding they still use the SKS for parades, honor guard duty, etc... due to its more traditional rifle-like length and balance, which makes it easier for such purposes than the AK's.
 
As for the Russian honor guard, it's my understanding they still use the SKS for parades, honor guard duty, etc... due to its more traditional rifle-like length and balance, which makes it easier for such purposes than the AK's.
Click to expand...

Just like many US armed forces Honor Guards still use M1903's, M1 Garands, M14's, instead of the M16. It's a pain in the rear to do anything fancy with the M16 (mag well gets in the way), but M1's are beautifully balanced for spinning, etc.

Conformer, have fun with your HK91. I have one of those with the aluminum reciever too, and it's a very fun gun! :) You're the first person I know of who got a better price - I paid $450 (but it included 4 Thermold mags, so who knows?)
 
You got a better deal I got a bad 30 round clip with mine. I need more mags. How do those 20 round Thermold mags work.
 
I think the SKS is a little better built and more accurate than the AK. However since the Red army was looking for a battle rifle and lots of them the AK was a better choice for them for that pupose.
If you can save $10 per copy and need millions of copies it adds up to stretching the defense budget pretty well.
For most of us the SKS should do just fine in plain or fancy dress depending on taste and/or budget.
For sure, there are a lot of 'em out there, they are fun to shoot and the ammo is way cheap so you can shoot all day!
 
The SKS rifles that I have shot through the years do seem to be a little more accurate than the AKMs in my experience. But the AKMs make up for it in pure unadulaterated fire power and raw sex appeal. IMHO the AK-47 is one of the baddest looking rifles that has ever been made. It's outline is known by people who don't know diddly about guns.

7th
 
How do those 20 round Thermold mags work.
Click to expand...

I cleaned them when I got them about a year ago, and they've worked flawlessly for the last few thousand rounds I've put through them.
 
I have heard off a few promblems with the SKS I don't think they are better built. I have heard of the springs going out on them first,and when they get real worn the trigger groups tend to fall out. They were built with an open bolt too. I think the closed is better for keeping dirt out of.
 
Conformer, what problems have your heard about with the SKS? Since I just bought one (my first SKS), I'd appreciate if you'd fill me in on anything to look for. I know about a tendancy to slamfire because of the firing pin desing, but not of really anything else.

As for the open bolt of the SKS, it's easy to figure that such a design allows more exposure to dirt, mud, etc...., so maybe an enclosed bolt is better in that sense. However, I venture that having an open bolt design would allow easier clearing of any potential jams. Seems it would be much easier to rack back the bolt on the SKS and dig out any debris than it would be on a rifle with an enclosed upper receiver/bolt. (Especially in stress situations).

Also, I tend to think the open bolt design actually reduces the tendancy to jam. Any debris which enters is just as easily thrown out by the cycling and ejection process. Also, less of a chance for ammo to jam when feeding and nothing for the spent casings to get stuck on when ejecting. (The open top design of the M9 pistol is one reason it is so reliable at feeding and ejecting. I know it's a pistol, but seems the same principle holds). Just my thoughts.
 
Yes, the hammer spring after so many rounds will give out Im talking like 5000+ rounds. The way the bolt slams shut at the chamber and around the reciever on the top of it causes a lot of wear and tear after a few thousand rounds. One thing I have heard of doing is using a recoil buffer,it will help with the recoil contact on the back of the bolt. Yes, the open bolt design is great for clearing jams. The trigger group was made for semi-automatic fire do not rapid fire the gun it will last longer if you take your time.
 
Hey folks,

I am a bit confused by what you have been saying about the SKS being an open bolt design firearm. The SKS trigger releases from a closed bolt position, and I am sure you guys know that. So, what am I missing about your open bolt comments?

Also, I have a bunch of stripper clips for the SKS that I would like to trade for stripper clips for other military rifles such as the Enfield and the Swedish Mauser or others. If anyone is interested, you can send me an E-Mail or a personal message through TFL.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
I think they mean that the entire bolt comes back and opens up the action, as opposed to, say, an AR-15, where only the dust cover comes open and all the shells are ejected through that hole.

Think Beretta slides vs 1911 slides.. Berettas are open; 1911's aren't.
 
Foxy has it right. Perhaps a poor choice of terminology on our part. The SKS indeed fires from a closed bolt as opposed to an open bolt like, say, the Sten gun.

Our reference to "open bolt" in this discussion refers merely to the open top design of the receiver, such that the bolt carrier is exposed, as opposed to being wholly (or mostly) enclosed in the receiver - think AK-47 or AR-15 or most other semiauto rifle designs. No confusion intended.
 
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