Finally bough a SKS

I just didn't want to make a mistake, so I am OK with lots of questions.
All I can think of is that this rifle was designed and built by guys who have mastered the art of Vodka, not a lot of comfort in that.
Now I am trying to get my head around this whole "slamfire" issue, I will give it a good cleaning then send the wife out to give it a try. I'll stay back and guard the Vodka.

smartbomb said:
Aha. That explains it.

But anyway, the SKS is a simple rifle. You'll figure it out in no time. There's a huge wealth of info out there on the net about it.
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Pyd said:
I didn't buy the crate of ammo, I knew if I brought it home I would shoot some of it up, and the more I read the more it is becoming clear that this rifle needs some TLC before I start shoving ammo in it, and boy, do I ever want to shove ammo in it!:D
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Assume the ammo is corrosive.
That means cleaning with hot water - and that includes the gas tube, piston, and bolt.
Water dissolves the corrosive salts from the primmer. After you get rid of the corrosive salts and get it dry, do a second cleaning to remove powder fouling.

DO not forget a light layer of good gun oil on it to protect the metal from the air. Clean the oil off the metal and it will rust.
I use hot water with a bit of household ammonia in it and I rinse with hot water.
I have yet to get any rust on any gun that I have used.

I have purchased a number of SKS rifles with rusted solid gas piston/tubes and rusted solid firing pins. Improper cleaning will turn your rifle into a $50.00 wall hanger....
 
After every shooting session?

10x said:
Assume the ammo is corrosive.
That means cleaning with hot water - and that includes the gas tube, piston, and bolt.
Water dissolves the corrosive salts from the primmer. After you get rid of the corrosive salts and get it dry, do a second cleaning to remove powder fouling.

DO not forget a light layer of good gun oil on it to protect the metal from the air. Clean the oil off the metal and it will rust.
I use hot water with a bit of household ammonia in it and I rinse with hot water.
I have yet to get any rust on any gun that I have used.

I have purchased a number of SKS rifles with rusted solid gas piston/tubes and rusted solid firing pins. Improper cleaning will turn your rifle into a $50.00 wall hanger....
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I will maintain it, now that I understand how to.
Took it all apart after following some photo direction I found on line, seemed pretty straight forward. It is indeed coated with thick stuff in there, firing pin shook around just fine. I need to set some time aside and go over all the tips I have got for the initial cleaning, and go get it dirty again.

I have to say, I have accumulated quite a few nice rifles and guns in the past little while, this one has a character that just begs to be picked up and handled. I typically like new, modern, digital, shiny stuff, but this $200 rifle just became my favorite.
 
That's how it starts, pretty soon you'll have a safe full of them. Read the stickies at the top of the forum and google "yooperjohn" and read his site and you'll know everything you need to need to know about SKS rifles. And if you really want a manual, the US army made one for it during the Vietnam era. Google that and you get it free in PDF form easily. Don't "unscew" anything, as you said, it comes completely apart with 2 levers and a push pin. Couldn't be simpler to service this gun! Remember, it was designed to be serviced by illiterate peasants.
 
Thanks, I have been trying to find a manual, but so far I can only locate it in Russian. I think that what I have read here will make the manual obsolete anyways.
I just can't get over how popular a 50 year old rifle is.
More importantly, I can't believe this thread made it to 3 pages without bickering, name calling and degrading comments. That says a whole lot about who owns these rifles too, and that is kinda cool all on it's own.

RMXC51 said:
That's how it starts, pretty soon you'll have a safe full of them. Read the stickies at the top of the forum and google "yooperjohn" and read his site and you'll know everything you need to need to know about SKS rifles. And if you really want a manual, the US army made one for it during the Vietnam era. Google that and you get it free in
PDF form easily.
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I would say an SKS is a fantastic purchase, it is really difficult to ruin one. I have put 100's of rounds through mine, dropped it, banged it, drowned it, cleaned it every-which way, disassembled and re-assembled it many many times and it still works the same the day I got it. :cool:
 
Yup, pretty excited about the whole purchase.
Pictures, of what? I mean they all look the same to me, what do I focus on to capture the information that will tell me more? Markings and stampings or where those markings and stampings are?
My photography skills suck, but I can sure try!
 
You will love he rifle, what other rifle can you just sit their and shoot of 200 round and not worry about the wallet getting angry? They are really fun plinking rifles, and great or a wide veriey of shooters as the recoil is really light for a .30 cal rifle.
 
Pyd said:
Yup, pretty excited about the whole purchase.
Pictures, of what? I mean they all look the same to me, what do I focus on to capture the information that will tell me more? Markings and stampings or where those markings and stampings are?
My photography skills suck, but I can sure try!
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Photo everything, but mostly left side of stock and receiver, bolt, bayo, bottom of mag and trigger group.
 
" Congrats " on your New Rifle, and I,m sure you won,t regret buying it !! A great Rifle to own, shoot and Collect , as they can be very Additive !! Lots of History goes with them, and there is a Lot of info , as stated before, here on them, and Lots of people here to help you out. So, Enjoy !!
 
Seeing the price difference between a Yugo and a Russian(or Chinese) SKS would a guy be better off buying a Russian for general blasting rather than using the Yugo?
It seems to me that trying to wear out a Rusky at less than 1/2 the money makes more sense...anyone else?
 
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