It actually shoots very well right now.... just a bit hard on the eyes as the rear sight V is so darn tiny... How does the TS200 sights attach? I'd likely buy a Chinese SKS and put them on it if i were going to get them, as I would not want to mar the finish of my '54 Tula... I'm trying very hard to resist the urge to pull out credit card... Ahhhhhh LoL
SKS Tweaks: Which Are Worthwhile?
- Thread starter Dakk
- Start date
It actually shoots very well right now.... just a bit hard on the eyes as the rear sight V is so darn tiny... How does the TS200 sights attach? I'd likely buy a Chinese SKS and put them on it if i were going to get them, as I would not want to mar the finish of my '54 Tula... I'm trying very hard to resist the urge to pull out credit card... Ahhhhhh LoL
I've owned several SKSs with all manner of mods. The only one I decided I might have kept was a sidefolding stock. Just for a trunk-gun.
I keep them factory now. Bone stock is the way to go. Save the money you'd spend on mods and buy another SKS, or a crate of ammo. 2 rifles are better than one! and you can keep one nice "just cause" so you wont feel bad beating on and having fun with the other. Camping + Beater rifle = mad fun
I keep them factory now. Bone stock is the way to go. Save the money you'd spend on mods and buy another SKS, or a crate of ammo. 2 rifles are better than one! and you can keep one nice "just cause" so you wont feel bad beating on and having fun with the other. Camping + Beater rifle = mad fun
In the answer choice, i would have included the "none" option. I got used to the SKS the way it is, good enough for me, but its me
Joce
There doesn't need to be a 'none' option because that option is represented by the absense of your votes. I'm totally okay with people saying that all the options are crap, etc. If that's how you feel, that's exactly what I want represented here... which options are most worthwhile, and which are not.
For the record, I haven't voted at all, since one of my SKSs is in very original non-refurbed collectible condition, and the other I just acquired, so haven't had a chance to complete yet. But my plans are to do the fixed tactical scope, recoil buffer to lessen the metal on metal slam of the action as it strikes backward (possibly help the scope a bit), and the ejection port mod; all of which are scoring reasonably well so far. Since I got my rifle for $100 the cost of tweaking it up won't take me much beyond its actual value.
I'm quoting myself since I think I need to clarify this comment a bit further. The purpose of the thread is to provide some insight for people who might be new to SKSs and who might be thinking of making some adjustments. The poll will hopefully give us an 'at a glance' idea of which modifications might be worth considering, and which might not be, based on the experience of people who have been down that road. Comments to the effect of 'leave it as is' are perfectly welcomed as well.
- Location
- south of Detroit
For a while I thought about doing the whole bubba thing to my SKS. But after alot of reading I found that its all really subjective to the person who owns the gun. I finally just asked myself, what do I need? I wanted to make sure the gun was safe, so I got a murrays spring firing pin. That was a waste cuz now all the springs that they sent along with the FP are now NFG due to what appears to be popped primers. Lil bits of primer metal getting into the FP chamber and ruining the spring. So its now back to the original FP and keep it clean, which I do anyways so whats the differance? About 45$, thats what. Other than that I found it hard to see the sights, I wear glasses. So I got a Scout Scope mount and a Greendot/laser combo that works pretty good. I went with the Scout Scope mount cuz it is a little more forward than the BC tactical. The Greendot/laser is just a cheap one, I didn't feel like spending a pile of $$$ on optics for a 200$ plinking rifle. I won't be taking any 200-300 yard shots with it so why waste my $$$. I am pretty happy with it now. It does exactly what I want it to and expect it to. Except feed itself and clean itself. Both of wich are a pain in the ass for me to do
Also I gotta say why bother having a magazine that LOOKS like it holds 30 rounds when you can only legally have 5? You ain't foolin me! lol. Also I see all the headaches people get from trying to make them work.
All that said, this gun was made for peasant soldiers to shoot lots of bullets at the enemy. It is not a tactical assault rifle, it is not a sniper rifle so why waste your cash on a bunch of doodads that only add to the cosmetic value? Like someone else in this thread before me said, >save your money and buy another gun or more ammo for the one you already have<.
Also I gotta say why bother having a magazine that LOOKS like it holds 30 rounds when you can only legally have 5? You ain't foolin me! lol. Also I see all the headaches people get from trying to make them work.
All that said, this gun was made for peasant soldiers to shoot lots of bullets at the enemy. It is not a tactical assault rifle, it is not a sniper rifle so why waste your cash on a bunch of doodads that only add to the cosmetic value? Like someone else in this thread before me said, >save your money and buy another gun or more ammo for the one you already have<.
An interesting point about scoping an SKS that I hadn't considered before... someone warned me that the with the low comb of the SKS, it can be hard for some people to stretch upward to see through the scope. Personally, I find that I have to strain my neck a bit to get down to ironsights. So a scope may be a good idea for me personally. But I can see that with a different body type, it might not be. The same with recoil pads. The SKS fits nicely for me as is, but I know some people need the extra 1" of pull.
My replacement factory magazine and recoil buffers came from Hical today. Thanks Dave! Super fast shipping, next day delivery by FedEx.
My SKSs magazine was minus the pin, so I just bought another 5/10 factory mag as none of the other replacement mags appeal to me. Don't see the point of a 5/30 especially. It's a bit like stuffing a banana in the front of your pants. I'm already fully equipt.
My replacement factory magazine and recoil buffers came from Hical today. Thanks Dave! Super fast shipping, next day delivery by FedEx.
My SKSs magazine was minus the pin, so I just bought another 5/10 factory mag as none of the other replacement mags appeal to me. Don't see the point of a 5/30 especially. It's a bit like stuffing a banana in the front of your pants. I'm already fully equipt.
What kind of stock would you guys recommend?
I'm looking for something that still supports the bayonet and has a few rails.
Also- I know this isn't an *upgrade* exactly, but what are the differences between a Russian made SKS and a Norinco?
I'm looking for something that still supports the bayonet and has a few rails.
Also- I know this isn't an *upgrade* exactly, but what are the differences between a Russian made SKS and a Norinco?
Russian SKSs are 'type 45' (1945-1955/56), and Chinese SKS start with 'type 56' (1956+), and include a variety of related types that 'evolved' afterward. Some of these Chinese variants are just loosely related to the SKS.
While the Soviet SKSs are all milsurp, the Chinese SKSs are not all milsurp, some are made specifically for commercial sale, while others are a combination of milsurp and commercial parts. The SKS 'D' for instance, which uses AK magazines, was made specifically for sale commercially in North America, and isn't really a military rifle, though at least the original ones used milsurp parts from what I understand.
I have the front target post and ts100 on the rear, i havent sighted it in yet but just taking some shots its not that far off and i its way better than the factory setup.I also have the recoil buffer and tapco mag i did some mods too.I did the ejection mod and modded the bolt to allow inserting the mag with the bolt closed and also modded the tapco mag to use stripper clips.
i was gonna bubba mine but decided not to its just a cheap rifle.
i was gonna bubba mine but decided not to its just a cheap rifle.
- Location
- south of Detroit
You will find there are basically 3 companies that make stocks for SKS's. Tapco, ATI and Choate. These are the ones I have heard about anyways, after googling "SKS stocks". (GIYF)There are all kinds of companies that sell all kinds of stuff for SKS's. Its really up to you and what you want. Keep in mind the more rails = the more stuff you will want to put on it = more $$$ and more weight. SKS is already pretty heavy, especially with the bayonet.
I'm surprised there are so many votes for the recoil buffer, I was led to believe it was a useless mod.
If you do the ejection port/gas tube mod it's even more irrelevant.
I'd love for the people that voted for the recoil buffer to speak and provide more info.
Thanks.
If you do the ejection port/gas tube mod it's even more irrelevant.
I'd love for the people that voted for the recoil buffer to speak and provide more info.
Thanks.
I voted for the fixed scope drill/tap and the recoil pad.
If you want to mount a scope that isn't a scout scope on your SKS, the drill/tap method is the only way to ensure you will keep your zero when you take the receiver cover off to clean the rifle.
I like the recoil pad mod, not to reduce recoil, but to extend the length of pull as the SKS stock is a little short for me.
If you want to mount a scope that isn't a scout scope on your SKS, the drill/tap method is the only way to ensure you will keep your zero when you take the receiver cover off to clean the rifle.
I like the recoil pad mod, not to reduce recoil, but to extend the length of pull as the SKS stock is a little short for me.
For a while I thought about doing the whole bubba thing to my SKS. But after alot of reading I found that its all really subjective to the person who owns the gun. I finally just asked myself, what do I need? I wanted to make sure the gun was safe, so I got a murrays spring firing pin. That was a waste cuz now all the springs that they sent along with the FP are now NFG due to what appears to be popped primers. Lil bits of primer metal getting into the FP chamber and ruining the spring. So its now back to the original FP and keep it clean, which I do anyways so whats the differance? About 45$, thats what. Other than that I found it hard to see the sights, I wear glasses. So I got a Scout Scope mount and a Greendot/laser combo that works pretty good. I went with the Scout Scope mount cuz it is a little more forward than the BC tactical. The Greendot/laser is just a cheap one, I didn't feel like spending a pile of $$$ on optics for a 200$ plinking rifle. I won't be taking any 200-300 yard shots with it so why waste my $$$. I am pretty happy with it now. It does exactly what I want it to and expect it to. Except feed itself and clean itself. Both of wich are a pain in the ass for me to do
Also I gotta say why bother having a magazine that LOOKS like it holds 30 rounds when you can only legally have 5? You ain't foolin me! lol. Also I see all the headaches people get from trying to make them work.
All that said, this gun was made for peasant soldiers to shoot lots of bullets at the enemy. It is not a tactical assault rifle, it is not a sniper rifle so why waste your cash on a bunch of doodads that only add to the cosmetic value? Like someone else in this thread before me said, >save your money and buy another gun or more ammo for the one you already have<.
I'm in the minimalist camp as well. If I had wanted to spend a crap load of money on a great semi-auto I would not have bought the SKS. But, a greater milsurp carbine for the money cannot be found. And cheap ammo too!
That being said, I did replace the FP with a Murray's (and have had no problems). And looking to improve the sight picture, maybe with a TS200 or a cheap red dot scout scope.
Save yourself some money and use it as it was intended. That way you can spend money on better rifles and handguns.
Got the recoil pad to increase the length of pull. Got the buffer to keep my spring in one place. On one of my SkS's I put the B.C. Tactical scout mount and a redot optic and slapped on the Vietnam fiberglass stock witch I bedded and also did the double spring trigger mod to. Constantly will hit a 12x12 inch gong @ 200 meter's. What more do I want from a almost 70 year old design of a rifle. Not much as I save up all my money to trick out my other rig's like, CZ/VZ's, AR's, M14's and so on.
What I've heard is that the recoil buffers don't generally work well for lessening recoil itself, but on the SKS they soften the metal on metal slam of the action as it strikes backward. They apparently reduce the noise of the metal striking metal, as well as dampening potential vibration damage to the scope (if you are using one).
Just to be clear, I haven't voted for them (yet), since I haven't tested mine out (yet).
Trigger job by far....my SKS had a negative engagement and it felt like sandpaper.
Half an hour with a file and its got a shortened smooth pull with a positive engagement.
Some SKS dont need this though....my friends SKS already has a nice positive smooth trigger.
Half an hour with a file and its got a shortened smooth pull with a positive engagement.
Some SKS dont need this though....my friends SKS already has a nice positive smooth trigger.
Yes but this one keep's your spring in place.
Hmmm, interesting point. I hadn't realized that was an issue. Can you elaborate a bit more and teach this old dog a new trick?
