sks loosing zero??????

T

themouser

Regular
Rating - 100%
341   0   0
Location
Out West
Hey was wondering if anybody has any problems with their sks loosing its zero. I seem to be constantly adjusting it at the range. Im usually shoot 50 or so surplus rounds and dont let the barrel get too hot. Im shooting at 100 yards and it seems on target for about 10-20 rounds. Im begining to wonder if i should clean it every 15 rounds or so. Or maybe some other reason the sights are just loosing their zero?
Some sks expert advice would be appreciated!!!!!!!
 
Are the sights stock or aftermarket?
Do you have it in a tapco stock?
How is the condition of your bore?
What make of SKS do you have?
Is your front sight loose, drifting out, or damaged in any way?

Without these questions answered, there's not much we can do for you. A rifle built to be Communist soldier-proof should not simply lose zero willy-nilly. We'll need more information about your rifle.

You do not have to clean it every 15 rounds. I've fired 1440 rounds of the raunchiest surplus you can imagine in one day without any cleaning and the rifle both held zero and never malfunctioned once. A rifle that needs to be cleaned every 15 rounds is not something I can imagine Communist Russia or China giving to their conscripts.
 
Last edited:
That would be LOSING, not "loosing" which is not a word.

Check both sights for any play or slop. I've never seen a loose SKS sight but I suppose anything's possible. Where are the shots going after 20 rounds? Stringing or right off the target? Do the shots drift back to paper after a while or are you readjusting the sights? Shooting supported, prone, offhand?
 
Ok thanks for the speling check!
Its an unmolested russian 1951, bore is very good, nothing is damaged that I can see but I will have a closer look tonight when I clean it.
The shots seem to drift about 4-6 inches off target. I find I have to adjust the vertical and horizontal.
I left the range frustated cursing comrad Stalin!!!!!!
 
Does an SKS have zero to lose :) Just kidding.

My SKS sights are still set up for Ivan, never occured to me to adjust them. I just see where the first shot goes at any range and adjust my poa accordingly.
Sent 24 cans of chicken soup to the other side today at 100 and 200 yds. Very satisfying :)
As has been said above, no need to clean after 15 rds...damn I can go thru 400 and the thing shoots the same as when I started.
Might just be the old surplus ammo doing its thing and opening up...as it does in the SKS. Some days its a 4 to 6 inch group next time its 4 to 24 inches LOL.
I would say if it shoots within 6 inches your doing alright.
These sights were designed for Minute of Man, theyre not tack drivers.
 
I think maybe a tight fitting stock/improper bedding and heat my be the problem in this case. Make sure there is no dirt debris or anything that may put pressure on the barrel say after 20 rounds and some heat.

Now if you are hitting a target @ 100 yards you're doing all right with an sks. As for cleaning, I do it after I'm done shooting that day. I have shot a bazillion rounds in one day and really I've never noticed any issues.
 
I had a wandering zero problem with my SKS with a bad fitting laminate stock , had to dremel down the recoil bar in the stock a bit so the action sit lower a bit , the action would teeter totter back and forward before, just ground it down slightly and it sit flat like my other SKSs.. , zero holds perfect now.
 
Mine holds zero. I have it sighted for one inch high at 25 yards.

I found mine odd in the fact that I had to move the front post ALLTHE WAY DOWN. My tool doesn't reach any farther down... Also its a good amount to the right.
 
sewktbk said:
Loosing is actually a word.
Click to expand...
Hmm, so it is. A present participle of loose, as it were. As Lost said I've always used "loosening" in such circumstances. Regardless it is not the same as lose, though I appreciate the correction.

I would concur the OP's problem is probably with the stock.
 
Canadiankeeper said:
Mine holds zero. I have it sighted for one inch high at 25 yards.

I found mine odd in the fact that I had to move the front post ALLTHE WAY DOWN. My tool doesn't reach any farther down... Also its a good amount to the right.
Click to expand...

Do you have the rear sight at the 100m mark? or is it all the way to the rear at the "battle" setting (which as i understand is supposed to match the 300m mark)?
 
One thing I have found is that my SKS will change zero after the barrel heats up and fouls a bit. I now zero SKS's after at least 50-100 rounds through it. Apart from a potentially loose stock, this sounds like it is happening to you. 20 or so rounds right on target, and then the groups open up and shift a bit.
 
Hey thanks guys had a close look at my sks and looks like it is a bedding issue. Theres movement between reciver and stock. I guess i'll have to shim it up or something
 
FastFord58 said:
One thing I have found is that my SKS will change zero after the barrel heats up and fouls a bit. I now zero SKS's after at least 50-100 rounds through it. Apart from a potentially loose stock, this sounds like it is happening to you. 20 or so rounds right on target, and then the groups open up and shift a bit.
Click to expand...

rear sight is flat. Not up at the 100 mark...so it have 0 elevation.
 
after 10 rounds the barrel is warm, and after 20 its hot.

Every SKS I have owned moves zero on a hot barrel, some as much as 8 inches at 100 yards. it just seems to be the nature of the gun's design.

so you have 2 options:

zero to a cold barrel and keep it cold at the range (very little shooting its a light barrel) this is good if its going to be used for hunting.

or fire 10-20 rounds then zero on a hot barrel. much better for a plinker that you plan to drop lots of rounds through every time you fire it. most of my SKS were zeroed like this.
 
Canadiankeeper said:
Mine holds zero. I have it sighted for one inch high at 25 yards.

I found mine odd in the fact that I had to move the front post ALLTHE WAY DOWN. My tool doesn't reach any farther down... Also its a good amount to the right.
Click to expand...

All of my Russian surplus firearms seem to have the front post considerably off centre. They all seem to shoot fairly well like that so I don't question it. Looking at the rest of the gun, there are milling marks all over, rough spots here and there, I think it's just Russian quality control. If it went bang when it came off the line it was good enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom