thread pitch for drilling and tapping sks receiver

supernova

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This question is for the guys out there who have made their own drill and tap scope mount for an sks. I've got a drill press, small tap and die set, and due to my collection of japanese machines, I've got a good amount of metric hardware at my disposal. But heres the problem, I'm thinking of using M6x1.0 hardware as that is the only thread pitch for taps and hardware that I have, but is it fine enough for the thin wall of the sks receiver? Should I be using a finer pitch? I like to do my own work as much as possible and dont want to invest in specialty tools and hardware just for this. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance
 
I have always used 8-32 machine fastners on all my SKS projects. They can be purchased anywhere, with any head type. Metric fastners are a pain to find if you are looking for a specific type. The standard fo gunsmithing is 8-40 but once again hard to find.
 
Use standard UN thread, much more common. 8-32 as mentioned. Stick to a fine thread on a thin wall to give you the most thread engagement possible.
 
I had a feeling a finer thread was necessary, but with my surplus of M6x1 it would have been easy as I already had everything I needed. 8-32 it is then, will have to shop around and find some. I am going to use angle iron cut from a piece of 2" .250 wall square tubing for the mount, and preferably a weaver rail and rings. I'll post some pics once I get everything under way. Thanks for the help guys, any more info on the subject would be great.
 
I had a feeling a finer thread was necessary, but with my surplus of M6x1 it would have been easy as I already had everything I needed. 8-32 it is then, will have to shop around and find some. I am going to use angle iron cut from a piece of 2" .250 wall square tubing for the mount, and preferably a weaver rail and rings. I'll post some pics once I get everything under way. Thanks for the help guys, any more info on the subject would be great.

If you are interested in something different in a scope mount for a SKS, check out post #25 of this link.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4532803#post4532803
 
I know that TeaPot2 sells 1 with it's own instructions and mounting hardware. I don't know if this will help you out any but here are the instructions;
sks_k_manual.jpg

sks_k_manual2.jpg
 
Satain, I'm basically going to be bolting a piece of angle iron to the side of the receiver, much like a choate mount with some inletting of the stock. I have to play around with the height and make sure I can remove the carrier and bolt with it mounted.
 
Thanks Teapot, I'm going to try and find allen head bolts, I just like the cleaner look. But 8-32 sounds like the thread size I'm looking for. Thanks to everyone for all the help :D
 
so I picked up an 8-32 tap and number bit set from Princess Auto, but the local gunshop I tried told me no one around here would have 8-32 hardware. Where do you guys go to get yours?
 
so I picked up an 8-32 tap and number bit set from Princess Auto, but the local gunshop I tried told me no one around here would have 8-32 hardware. Where do you guys go to get yours?

8-32 fastners are a very common thread size. Canadian Tire has a good selection, any local hardware store that sells nuts and bolts.
 
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Hey Supernova, I did my own and posted a thread in the Red Rifles forum about the build. I used round head hex bolts for the same reason you wish to. It is a cleaner look and it won't snag on clothes or brush. Check out the pics, and let me know what you think. Lots of luck on the build.
SKSfinalavatar003.jpg
 
Lawrence, your build was my inspiration for all this! I have to buy the scope before I get started, I'm going to be using a VOMZ 3.5x20 from westrifle. They have mosin nagant scope mounts too but I want my own design on this one. Those are the exact screws I had in mind though. I like how low your scope sits, the short rail makes all the difference. I may build one like that to mount a NC Star 3-9x42 compact as well. Thanks for the pics and info
 
Lawrence, your build was my inspiration for all this! I have to buy the scope before I get started, I'm going to be using a VOMZ 3.5x20 from westrifle. They have mosin nagant scope mounts too but I want my own design on this one. Those are the exact screws I had in mind though. I like how low your scope sits, the short rail makes all the difference. I may build one like that to mount a NC Star 3-9x42 compact as well. Thanks for the pics and info

I'm flattered, and happy you like my design. I ended up using #10-32 to secure the mount. I'd have liked #10-40, but try to find the tap and screws! You may avoid a mistake I made by putting a 1/16" or 1/32" shim on the receiver cover when you align your mount to the rifle. I had a slight backward lean on the mount when I was done, and discovered that those small scopes don't have a lot of adjustment range. I was impacting low on the target and I couldn't raise the crosshairs any higher to bring my main point of impact in line with the crosshairs. I filed down the mount from about 3/32" at the front to zero at the back so it has a slight downward lean at the front, and that solved the problem. If you run into any snags that I can help with, please feel free to send me a PM, and I'd be more than happy to
assist in any way I can.
 
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