Thanks for the info, I'll make sure to keep it all in mind.
I understand the concept of breathing control, though I haven't practiced it much. Could you perhaps explain a bit more what you mean by trigger control? As for the rear sight, you're saying it is best to bump it up to the 100m notch then to leave it flat?
As for the 4-8" groups at 100 yards, that seems a bit high. I've watched lots of videos and people seem to often post pics here for ~2" groups from their SKS, though I think they may have all been using scopes.
As far as breathing control; you're going for consistency. Take up the slack in the trigger (about 3" on the SKS lol) get a nice slow steady controlled breathing pattern going. Either at the height of your inhale or at the point when you exhale all your breath, I try and get the front post to land exactly on the target where I am shooting the group. I prefer to do it at the top of the inhale, that way you have air in your lungs and have more time to focus on the sight. Some people do it on the exhale, some people do it half way between inhale and exhale, it's preference really. The idea being which ever method you choose, use the same one every time you pull the trigger.
So you hold your breath with the front post resting naturally to the spot you are shooting at and now trigger control starts; slowly start squeezing on the trigger in a steady fluid motion, focus on the front post, the shot should surprise you when you finally break the sear on the trigger. Don't jerk it or flinch/anticipate the shot with your finger or body on the trigger. Full trigger pull all the way to the rear (follow through). Start breathing again, get your breathing slow and under control. Release the trigger slowly until it engages again (you'll hear trigger disconnect on any semi auto including the SKS as a "click" sound), stop, take up the small amount of slack in the trigger from that point and start the whole thing again.
There's a recipe for good groups lol That's what I do anyway, there's guys that coach this junk professionally but the fundamentals are there. You can test out what I mean with the front post and your breathing with an empty rifle. Lay prone and sight the rifle on a spot across the room etc, breath normally and you'll see the front post rise and fall with your breath. Essentially you want to adjust your hold/point of aim on your target so that when you choose to hold your breath, the front post is naturally resting exactly where you want to the shot to go. Then practice keeping the site on that spot while you practice nice smooth non jerky trigger pull. It also effects your aim while seated and standing. Breathing is a very important part of making clean, consistent groups.
This is the part of shooting that I enjoy personally. It's the only reason I like it. Trying to discipline myself to improve every time I go out
Aye, there's lots of guys on here that can apparently shoot MOA with an SKS and surplus ammo with irons blah blah blah lol I've never personally achieved it myself or ever seen anyone in all my shooting in person do it. With an SKS, iron sights, surplus ammo and at 100 meters you can expect 4"-8" groups depending on your skill. I'm never shot a scoped SKS so I can't personally comment.
If you want a good cheap target as well so that you can see it/get a consistant aim point at 100 meters with the irons, try and use a black square the size of a piece of regular paper on the back of any white paper target. It's really easy to get a consistent point of aim at the base of the square as the thickness is about the same as the post for reference. You can line up the sides of the square with the sides of the post for horizontal alignment and you can get a nice little sliver of white paper between the bottom of the square and the top of your front post. It's also easy to pick up on the eyes. That way you know you are actually aiming at the exact same spot for your groups.
Let me know if you need any other tips of advice Sir!
