Gotta pick my SKS... thoughts?

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coyo

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I bought 2 SKS's from weimajack, both 55/56 Tula's. Both free of cosmoline which was a surprise. Great service; answered questions, was helpful, had them at my door in 4 days which included a weekend.

Now I have to decide which I'm keeping and which is going to my brother-in-law.

They both have nice laminate stocks, different colours, each with its own imperfections (although mine will be going into an Archangel stock so it's not so important).
Inspections of the internals of both show them to be pretty much equal in terms of wear and marks; both very good.

#1
Has extremely tight take down levers; the rear is manipulable by hand but it's tough, the front definitely requires a tool (I tore up my finger trying).
Has a slight "click" taking up the trigger slack but the break is crisp, albeit heavy.

#2
The take down levers are solidly in place but easily manipulated by hand.
Is smoother taking up the trigger slack and a lighter break but maybe just a bit gritty. Where #1 is heavier and just goes, this one is a smooth pull and lets go easy.

Tomorrow I'm taking them both to test fire to determine which I'm keeping although I'm leaning towards #2.

IMG_2036_zps5c00b6c1.jpg
 
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The takedown latches will loosen over time so it doesn't really matter.

Keep the one that is the most accurate, you can always polish/shorten the sear to improve the pull.
 
In my experience with the SKS, accuracy is very much a function of how the action fits snuggly into the stock - which you are going to replace.

Buy your new stock and try both actions in the new stock and then choose the most accurate.
 
Ganderite said:
In my experience with the SKS, accuracy is very much a function of how the action fits snuggly into the stock - which you are going to replace.

Buy your new stock and try both actions in the new stock and then choose the most accurate.
Click to expand...

I hadn't thought of that. I'll bring the stock out today as well.

Thanks.
 
I almost bought that red one myself. Lot #13 right?

I've found the 55/56 no stamp versions to be the most consistently accurate russian sks'.

- Try and move the action inside the stock and see if there is any movement.
- check each crown.
- Check which mag follower operates best.

Shame if the red stock one gets the archangel treatment. I'll pay you for the stock if it's just going to go to waste.

Skip the Murray firing pin too, no need for them.
 
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EL34/6L6 said:
I almost bought that red one myself. Lot #13 right?

I've found the 55/56 no stamp versions to be the most consistently accurate russian sks'.

- Try and move the action inside the stock and see if there is any movement.
- check each crown.
- Check which mag follower operates best.

Shame if the red stock one gets the archangel treatment. I'll pay you for the stock if it's just going to go to waste.

Skip the Murray firing pin too, no need for them.
Click to expand...

#13 it is, and #5 is the other one. Thanks for the hints, I will do. As for the stock, I usually keep all stock bits for various reasons (I have totes full of stock motorcycle parts) but if I change my mind I'll let you know... that's of course if I keep #13.

As for the firing pins, I pulled them apart yesterday (took a lot of coaxing with a punch and hammer; one was good and the other was a little gummy. A little kero bath and light oiling and all rattles nicely now.
 
A word of caution. None of these are "Free" of cosmoline. Do a thorough cleaning of all parts and the barreled action before firing any SKS. You will be surprised how much gunk will come out of it, and don't be surprised if some sand does too. It is common with these. I have gotten a few of these off Weimajack as well.
 
Got out to my friend's farm just in time for the thunderstorms to start, which was OK as I still had to pull the barrels (the rest of the guns had already been cleaned down but I needed brushes). The remainder of the time was spent showing my friend how to strip, clean, and assemble his recently acquired XCR (very jealous).

The rain finally stopped and both SKS's were test fired; both without and then with the Archangel stock. I didn't screw with the sights; just went for groups (mine will get a scope anyway). Both were firing similar groups which tightened when in the Archangel stock (a testament to the fact that I prefer pistol grip stocks, I guess). #2 proved to be my favourite due to the afore-mentioned smoother, lighter trigger, but also as I noticed that the action itself was smoother. My friend, who fired both without knowing my opinion, also picked #2 as the better gun. Ironically, the forward take down lever is no longer easy to actuate since putting the Archangel foregrip on as the tube itself is now a tighter fit.

The day then went on to helping my friend sight in a 4X scope on his XCR (damn I like that rifle) and then a bunch of fun on our SR-22's and even my son's Rascal for ####s and giggles.

A good day!
 
coyo said:
I bought 2 SKS's from weimajack, both 55/56 Tula's. Both free of cosmoline which was a surprise. Great service; answered questions, was helpful, had them at my door in 4 days which included a weekend.

Now I have to decide which I'm keeping and which is going to my brother-in-law.

They both have nice laminate stocks, different colours, each with its own imperfections (although mine will be going into an Archangel stock so it's not so important).
Inspections of the internals of both show them to be pretty much equal in terms of wear and marks; both very good.

#1
Has extremely tight take down levers; the rear is manipulable by hand but it's tough, the front definitely requires a tool (I tore up my finger trying).
Has a slight "click" taking up the trigger slack but the break is crisp, albeit heavy.

#2
The take down levers are solidly in place but easily manipulated by hand.
Is smoother taking up the trigger slack and a lighter break but maybe just a bit gritty. Where #1 is heavier and just goes, this one is a smooth pull and lets go easy.

Tomorrow I'm taking them both to test fire to determine which I'm keeping although I'm leaning towards #2.

IMG_2036_zps5c00b6c1.jpg
Click to expand...

Interesting. The original question was not which one is the best, but which one is to leave for yorself. Funny, but most people in this group understood it as which one is the best. Very good litmus test for a human mindset: give a worse thing to relative, leave the best for yourself.
Greed? No, that is when you lost a concern for the welfare of your human fellows. What if those fellows are your relatives?
 
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