Breaking In an Unfired SKS

Bubba Yugga

Bubba Yugga

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I just got an SKS and run a brass slug through it that hung up at the gas port.
This slug is 7.62 mm in diameter, and is from a set that I used to measure other units at notably larger diameters (up to 7.66).
This particular SKS had the slug pass through the bore with some noticeable drag over the rest of the barrel, but would hang up right at the gas port outlet.
I get the feeling that this is a virgin unfired barrel, with some uneveness from producing the gas port hole AFTER the production of the main bore.
Does anyone know if there's any veracity to that notion?

So, I have two other questions - do I have a true virgin SKS, and secondly, how do I break it in to be a nice tight shooter?

I have a load of ideas about smoothing the barrel. One of them is to fire a bunch of chinese surplus rounds that are essentially mild steel jackets with a copper (useless) wash, or I can go to a machine shop to try and hone out that little lump.

eh?
 
If you read the stickies above you will find ways of telling if the rifle is unfired, chances are if it wasn't then the barrel has been replaced on refurb, which is good of course, clean the rifle well ( YouTube) and fire with whatever ammo you bought! Cheers
 
Post some pictures here if you can of the rifle. Markings and cartouches will tell the story. Proper cartouches on the stock and original acceptance stamps along with no refurb marks or signs will signify a non refurb. A non refurb unissued would be a good find if you have one. Like Bob said loads of info in the Sks sticky in red rifle forum.
Also don't worry about a machine shop or honing , just shoot it. Or if you do have a non refurb unissued maybe find a refurb as your shooter , totally up to you though either way.
Quick and easy signs of a refurb are (I'm assuming it's Russian) grey rear leaf sight , ###x's on the stock, a black bolt or bayo or markings like a square with a line diagonally in it or a diamond marking which are both refurb factory marks and usually found stamped on the dust/receiver cover/recoil spring housing or can be on stock too.
 
Shoot one round of non corrosive
CLean to bare steel
Shoot one round of corrosive
Clean to bare steel
Shoot 2 rounds non corrosive
Clean to bare steel
Shoot 2 rounds corrosive
Clean to bare steel
Do that until you are up to 20 rounds of each.

This will ensure that you have gone through a break in process.

It won't have any effect on your rifle than if you just shot it, but you can say you did a break in process on it.

;)
 
Like others are hinting around the Sks is a battle rifle and built for durability and dependability, not pinpoint long range accuracy. Not saying they can't be decent accuracy wise but anywhere from 4-8 inch groups at 100m is really good in my opinion for your average Sks.
I think/believe I heard it's effective range is between 400-500m as well if you were wondering that.
 
It's an SKS they sell for 200 bucks, shoot it, until you have issues, sell it and buy another one
 
OP, you just might have one of the rarest SKS rifles made, an accurate one. If the bore is that tight I wouldn't fool around with "just shoot it" and forget it theories. Why take the chance???

Get ahold of a tight fitting 30 cal lead bullet and lap that part of the barrel until your brass guage passes with the same resistance as the rest of the bore.

I have a refurbed SKS that has obviously had a barrel replacement and it hand a similar issue. I shot a few rounds out of it after cleaning the packing crud out of it and it shot about a 10in group at 100m. Not willing to just resell it without finding out why I did what you did but with a lead slug. Same thing exactly, it was held up at the vent hole.

After lapping the hole until it was smooth and unnoticeable I shot it again. This time it grouped into less that two inches. That was close to a thousand rounds ago. It still groups around two inches if I do my part. Recently I mounted a fairly decent scope onto it. I doubt it will improve because of the inherent inaccuracies the design encompasses but my eyes do much better with a scope than irons.
 
They are ready to go. Can't say I ever thought about anything other than the performance on the 25 yard site in target.
 
I say clean cosmo off and shoot that thing..
Wonder if russian would have performed...
What we call break in if war broke out...
That would be a lot of rifles to break in
Before handing them out to soldiers...
 
Oh and yes please clean off all cosmoline and take the bolt apart to do the same. Sorry I thought we were getting a barrel ready.
 
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