Buffer on a scoped SKS?

jethunter

jethunter

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
357   0   0
Location
Central AB
Got some scope mount plans for an SKS rifle - I have a set of Weaver Converta-Mount parts and a Vortex StrikeFire on the way.

I read that some people have installed a buffer in the SKS to soften the bolt slam, the intended purpose being to lessen wear & tear on scopes and optics. Kinda sounds good in theory. OTOH it could be just another internet fantasy like so many others. I'm stuck on the fence between:
1. Trying something new is good.
2. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.
Click to expand...
What do you do? I'm hoping some of the CGN members here have real experience and insight to pass on. Have you wrecked any scopes with a non-buffered SKS? Or not? Is a bolt buffer a useful thing or a waste of time? Tell me.

-Thanks in advance. :)
 
Last edited:
Some would say a scope on an sKs is a waste of time.
Many of the mounts fail to hold zero due to their afixment arrangement not necessarily the bolt banging around (though that is most likely a contributing factor)
I'd say, what can it hurt by adding a buffer. If it doesn't work take it off. I mean a short length of rubber fuel line and some krazy glue will make a cheap buffer. Not a big dollar investment.
 
I'd say its a waste of times coping an SKS. Yes, the factory sights are crude but if you want to improve them try a red dot or some ring sights. Either way, the rifle will never be a sniper, regardless of sights.

If you need a spring buffer on an SKS to protect a scope, its a real piece of sh*t for a scope. An SKS has only 5 or 6 pounds of recoil energy, compared to something in a .308 class bullet of about 18 to 20 pounds of recoil energy.
 
fiddler said:
I'd say its a waste of times coping an SKS. Yes, the factory sights are crude but if you want to improve them try a red dot or some ring sights. Either way, the rifle will never be a sniper, regardless of sights.

If you need a spring buffer on an SKS to protect a scope, its a real piece of sh*t for a scope. An SKS has only 5 or 6 pounds of recoil energy, compared to something in a .308 class bullet of about 18 to 20 pounds of recoil energy.
Click to expand...

Some people say it's a waste of time scoping a .22 rimfire too. I'd say it depends on your eyes and what you are doing with the rifle.
If you think about it it's not so hard to see that recoil energy isn't the only force at play. BTW, a Strikefire IS a red dot. :)
 
Cycle the action before the buffer, then after installation, the difference is quite apparent. We recommend them on scoped SKSs simply to soften the impact, we also happen to stock them, HERE.
 
I tried the Bolt Cover type mounts and never really had much luck as they all lose zero after a few shots. Personally I am happy with open sights with the SKS @ 100 yd distances but if you really must scope it out then use an S & K mount on the rear sight with a long eye relief Scope...I have one on my Mosin and it stays zeroed perfectly after firing over a 100 rds through it.
 
mbogo3 said:
Choate side mt.Whoever sells them in Canada?
Click to expand...

Thats what I have, bought it from SKSman... Came within a week, great guy to deal with.

And OP I'd say dont waste your money on a buffer, you'll be fine without one. I've fired over 500rds with mine and the sight held zero perfectly.

Cheers.
 
This thread is starting to jump the rails so maybe I can keep it on track. I used to run a strikefire on my old SKS-D both with and without a buffer. Although I have preferences for other RDS over the strikefire it is still a good optic. Its definitely built to take a lot of abuse and it does without fail. The SKS held zero without problems using the strikefire on a scout scope mount. I also mounted a fitco 4x32 on a Mossberg 500 mount lightly modified to D&T to the SKS reciever. It held zero and IMO improved the rifle for my needs. As for buffers, the only difference I've ever noticed is they get rid of the clang of the bolt carrier striking the dust cover. BJS7293 praises the convertamount for the SKS, given his experience I trust they work good and given my experience with strikefire RDS on SKS's I can confidently say your setup will work great. The buffer is up to you but your SKS won't hurt the strikefire without it. P.S. if you want to use the doubler on the strikefire, mount it with as little eye relief as you can get away with. It will work with a long eye relief but it has a tiny FOV. I never liked using it myself.
 
Hashhockey69 said:
Thats what I have, bought it from SKSman... Came within a week, great guy to deal with.

And OP I'd say dont waste your money on a buffer, you'll be fine without one. I've fired over 500rds with mine and the sight held zero perfectly.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

+1 to the whole post, i got a choat mount from SKSMAN, being put on a chinese sks now. The recoil on an sks is soo mild though that a buffer is about as useful as a front grip or a flashlight/laser combo, cool if it's your thing, but nowhere near necessary. If i scope can hold up to any centerfire in a bolt action, then the only way it will get ruined by an sks is if it is dropped scope down and the weight of the gun breaks it.
 
Strato50 said:
I tried the Bolt Cover type mounts and never really had much luck as they all lose zero after a few shots.
Click to expand...


The bolt cover/mounts are ok if you are using a dot type sight. I have a Ncstar mount with green dot that has never moved. I filed it so slightly to fit, that I don't require the side bolts to hold its place because its already tight. Makes it much easier to clean and disassemble. I'm pretty sure the dot is at least 5MOA so it doesn't really accomplish a lot at 100 yards, but gophers are ok to 40 or 50 yards. The only thing you will accomplish with the buffer pad is to make it quieter, but a flat piece of rubber shoved in place will do the same thing. When it starts making noise again, replace the rubber. Or you can spend 20 bucks instead of using something free you already have in the garage.

All in all, with all the playing and farting around I've done, if you want a gun with a scope, put your money into a better gun that will actually give you results. As much as I like shooting an SKS, it just doesn't feel or shoot right with a bunch of crap on it. You're gonna spend just as much on the scope as what the rifle is worth, but have no more reliable groups than if you left it alone and shot with open sights. Been there, done that, and thats my opinion.
 
supernova said:
This thread is starting to jump the rails so maybe I can keep it on track. I used to run a strikefire on my old SKS-D both with and without a buffer. Although I have preferences for other RDS over the strikefire it is still a good optic. Its definitely built to take a lot of abuse and it does without fail. The SKS held zero without problems using the strikefire on a scout scope mount. I also mounted a fitco 4x32 on a Mossberg 500 mount lightly modified to D&T to the SKS reciever. It held zero and IMO improved the rifle for my needs. As for buffers, the only difference I've ever noticed is they get rid of the clang of the bolt carrier striking the dust cover. BJS7293 praises the convertamount for the SKS, given his experience I trust they work good and given my experience with strikefire RDS on SKS's I can confidently say your setup will work great. The buffer is up to you but your SKS won't hurt the strikefire without it. P.S. if you want to use the doubler on the strikefire, mount it with as little eye relief as you can get away with. It will work with a long eye relief but it has a tiny FOV. I never liked using it myself.
Click to expand...

^ Good stuff.

It's nice to know there are still people capable of understanding written English and taking the time to make a helpful and pertinent reply. :) Thanks!
 
Last edited:
I wonder if it would be a good scoped gun if you disabled the semi-auto function by plugging the gas port and using hand loads.... it would be an interesting experiment anyway.
 
fiddler said:
The bolt cover/mounts are ok if you are using a dot type sight. I have a Ncstar mount with green dot that has never moved. I filed it so slightly to fit, that I don't require the side bolts to hold its place because its already tight. Makes it much easier to clean and disassemble. I'm pretty sure the dot is at least 5MOA so it doesn't really accomplish a lot at 100 yards, but gophers are ok to 40 or 50 yards. The only thing you will accomplish with the buffer pad is to make it quieter, but a flat piece of rubber shoved in place will do the same thing. When it starts making noise again, replace the rubber. Or you can spend 20 bucks instead of using something free you already have in the garage.

All in all, with all the playing and farting around I've done, if you want a gun with a scope, put your money into a better gun that will actually give you results. As much as I like shooting an SKS, it just doesn't feel or shoot right with a bunch of crap on it. You're gonna spend just as much on the scope as what the rifle is worth, but have no more reliable groups than if you left it alone and shot with open sights. Been there, done that, and thats my opinion.
Click to expand...

Twenty years ago I would have felt the same as you "I don't need no stinkin' scope on an SKS". Twenty years ago I didn't have 50 year old eyes. The SKS will never be a bench rest candidate but there are other reasons to use optical sighting systems.

I've cut group size in half simply by using handloads in a mildly tweeked SKS with iron sights. Mind you - that SKS is the best of 4 that I played with and the other three did not shoot as well with milsurp ammo or handloads. But shooting small groups is not why I am putting glass on an SKS. If I wanted to shoot little groups at obscene distances then I already have other rifles to do that. This is not why I am putting glass on an SKS.

My better-than-average eyesight twenty years ago is not as good as it was and optics make all the difference. I'm not trying to make a sniper rifle, I'm simply trying to make it more useful for me. My eyes, my rifle, my money, my choice.
 
Last edited:
The body cover "recoil buffers" short stop the rearward movement of the carrier which then actually puts energy into the body cover when the carrier hits the buffer which you don't want. The spring absorbs the rearward energy and slows down the movement of the carrier. I haven't checked the receiver "H" ones yet but I'm sure they will short cycle to.

The reduced buffer size was a test and may or may not do anything at all except hold the spring nicely.
 
i have had scope/reticle fail on sks...would try buffer
...not the recoil, but the slamming of bolt carrier to receiver that believe caused the fail
(scope did work on harder kicking bolt guns)
...and granted it was a cheaper scope,
my experience tells me it's worth trying (as long as gun is still reliable)
 
The people who say that you can't do this or that with a SKS are either uneducated or never tried to do anything with the SKS. They base all their opinions on here say information. I have fallen into failing eyesight crowd, optic are my only option. I have tried just about every mount option out there for the SKS, and made my mind up on the Weaver converta mount. The current optic is a 3x9x40 vism scope, a cheap scope with cheap rings. I have used this setup with many cases of surplus ammo with no buffer, with great "consistent" groups at 50, 100, 200 metres. For me the buffer issue is take it or leave it.
 
after playing around with the gas system on a ag42 , I wonder how it might work if a adjustable gas system was built for a sks , in terms of being kinder and gentler on a a scope .

but not only does a person have to deal with the bolt slamming backwards , when the bolt slams forward ,it seems to do so with a lot more force than may be necessary .

I'm thinking that while the recoil buffer may work , softening up the gas system and trying a lighter spring might be of some benefit too .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom