What is the best SKS?

[JBD]

This is a recent Chinese import it’s not bad. SKS are generally reliable. Many think they can’t hit a barn door from the inside that is not very true these are groups at 100 yards with various ammo From yesterday sighting it in. This rifle I bedded with JB weld and I did a trigger job with McCarbo spring. The sight is a Magwedge raven eye which is actually a disadvantage for shooting groups as it act as a big ghost ring. Several of my groups were smaller than these as the wind was calmer. Unfortunately I didn’t take pictures as there was more than one group on the same page. The Barnaul was shooting much closer to 2.5 inch. So how accurate is an SKS I don’t really know. Certainly 2.5 MOA With irons is achievable.

 

[Joel]

Be fair to say consistent 3.5" gun after bedding, the lighter trigger spring, etc?

 

[powerbaitron]

This is a recent Chinese import it’s not bad. SKS are generally reliable. Many think they can’t hit a barn door from the inside that is not very true these are groups at 100 yards with various ammo From yesterday sighting it in. This rifle I bedded with JB weld and I did a trigger job with McCarbo spring. The sight is a Magwedge raven eye which is actually a disadvantage for shooting groups as it act as a big ghost ring. Several of my groups were smaller than these as the wind was calmer. Unfortunately I didn’t take pictures as there was more than one group on the same page. The Barnaul was shooting much closer to 2.5 inch. So how accurate is an SKS I don’t really know. Certainly 2.5 MOA With irons is achievable.

The Barnaul shoots 2-3 moa for me as well. At least twice as accurate as some of the surplus.

 

[powerbaitron]

If there was a reliable way to mount an optic these rifles could shoot 2.5 moa. It’s difficult to shoot sub 2 moa without an optic.

 

[Snider shooter]

If there was a reliable way to mount an optic these rifles could shoot 2.5 moa. It’s difficult to shoot sub 2 moa without an optic.

I have a scout scope on mine. Front hand guard has a mount built into it. Haven’t a clue who made it. Moulded from from some type of plastic type stock material. Works excellent. Check out Bad Ace Tactical they mounts that replace the rear site. They sit lower than the mounts that replace the dust cover. Bad Ace is here in Halifax. Under $300 it’s $20 shipping and over $300 it’s free. I have 5 mounts from them for various military surplus rifles. Well made.

 

[Joel]

If there was a reliable way to mount an optic these rifles could shoot 2.5 moa. It’s difficult to shoot sub 2 moa without an optic.

Maybe hand picked examples. The odds of grabbing one and having a sub 3" gun seem low.

Lots of people out there shooting much better groups with Swede Mausers, K31, Finn M39s and other nice rifles with irons. At least under 3". Often well under.

Never really matched that with an SKS. They sure dont all seem to even with robust scope mounting either.

They're half 5" guns imo

 

[powerbaitron]

Ok, I agree. Hard to get sub 3 inch with Soviet.

 

[powerbaitron]

My K31 is built like a Rolex. Very fine craftsmanship and the ammo is match precision surplus. So not fair to compare a bolt to a boom stick.

 

[Joel]

My K31 is built like a Rolex. Very fine craftsmanship and the ammo is match precision surplus. So not fair to compare a bolt to a boom stick.

Oh, didn't mean to.

I'm saying that people shoot groups 2" or under with irons, its not that big of a limiting factor.

Lots of commercial handloads are pretty much match ammo, and there's handloads too. An SKS still isn't getting 2" or better groups with the same shooter who is doing that with the K31, Swede Mauser, etc.

Hard to get sub 3" with any SKS...at least, any that can seems to be a real standout.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

This is a recent Chinese import it’s not bad. SKS are generally reliable. Many think they can’t hit a barn door from the inside that is not very true these are groups at 100 yards with various ammo From yesterday sighting it in. This rifle I bedded with JB weld and I did a trigger job with McCarbo spring. The sight is a Magwedge raven eye which is actually a disadvantage for shooting groups as it act as a big ghost ring. Several of my groups were smaller than these as the wind was calmer. Unfortunately I didn’t take pictures as there was more than one group on the same page. The Barnaul was shooting much closer to 2.5 inch. So how accurate is an SKS I don’t really know. Certainly 2.5 MOA With irons is achievable.

I've had 3 of 'em in the past and they shot decent enough for me uses. 1st thing I did was lose the pig sticker from under the barrel and
rework the trigger assy to lighten it up along with bedding the action to the stock. I also shaped the front sight post to a tapered, pin type
which I preferred back then. With my handloads it wasn't hard to get 2 MOA at 80 yds.

Best way to get the SKS platform to shoot its best though is to convert it to a straight pull bolt action. Ye can go from mild to wild with these
if ye got the skills & tooling to do 'er.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/straight-pull-bolt-action-target-sks.528343/

 

[JBD]

Be fair to say consistent 3.5" gun after bedding, the lighter trigger spring, et

If there was a reliable way to mount an optic these rifles could shoot 2.5 moa. It’s difficult to shoot sub 2 moa without an optic.

If there was a reliable way to mount an optic these rifles could shoot 2.5 moa. It’s difficult to shoot sub 2 moa without an optic.

 

[Joel]

No I shot several groups tighter than sh

Oh good! Happy to hear it.

You guys are really making me want to try modding one similarly

 

[Buck1950]

I've considered pulling the gas piston and just running straight-pull, to reduce the 'Bolt-recoil' that may be affecting accuracy. If the rifle is reacting to the Bolt b4 the bullet is out, this may help 'calm it down'? I wasn't aware that the chamber has such a jump (3/8" per the RFC post), that's amazing that the bullets come out the 'right way' forward. Maybe handloads with less of a jump would help ? but the mags don't have much leeway for longer rounds, might have to 'single shot' to use some ?

 

[scianna54]

My K31 is built like a Rolex. Very fine craftsmanship and the ammo is match precision surplus. So not fair to compare a bolt to a boom stick.

You have only one gun?

 

[Tiker]

Chinese M21s are the best:
https://chinesesks.weebly.com/late-m21.html

They are more rare than the regular FT, thus more collectable, and they are built better.

 

[MkivSupra]

I am looking at getting a SKS which is the gold standard of sks models ? and which one is the cheapest ?

Yugos are very cool but the russian Tula rifles just feel iconic to me

 

[Exoticdancerclips]

I am looking at getting a SKS which is the gold standard of sks models ? and which one is the cheapest ?

To answer like the guy at the counter at Tenda “chinese”

 

[breakleftdogsbody]

They’re all good, although I’ve heard of Albanians suffering from ejection issues

 

[JBD]

Back the range this morning. Groups opened up a bit as I put the original heavy trigger spring back in. The 2.5 McCarbo occasionally released the mag on recoil. Everything shot at 100 yards iron sights

Chinese surplus 4 inches
Norinco red box 3.75
Barnaul 2.5
Hornady Black 9.75.
American Eagle 3

 

[Joel]

Back the range this morning. Groups opened up a bit as I put the original heavy trigger spring back in. The 2.5 McCarbo occasionally released the mag on recoil. Everything shot at 100 yards iron sights

Chinese surplus 4 inches
Norinco red box 3.75
Barnaul 2.5
Hornady Black 9.75.
American Eagle 3

Wow does it ever hate the Hornady Black! Wonder why. The Barnaul is good! Wonder how much it could shine with a handload it really liked.

My experience with the breed is very similar to this. Course, its not bedded or otherwise tuned/tweaked.