How to use the iron sight on SKS

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kal1360

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I am new to firearms, last week i joined a gun club and had the chance to shoot my 1954R sks, at 100 yard, i didn't hit any where close to the target, how do use the iron sight on the sks and what are those numbers for? basically how can i improve my aim?
thanks
 
The numbers are for distance...the 1 means 100m 2 means 200m etc.

If you can, shoot at a birm or something where you can see dirt being kicked up...that will give you a rough idea of where you sks is hitting if you can't see hits on paper.

You may have to buy a sight adjustment tool if the problem is with the sights being zeroed.
 
kal1360 said:
I am new to firearms, last week i joined a gun club and had the chance to shoot my 1954R sks, at 100 yard, i didn't hit any where close to the target, how do use the iron sight on the sks and what are those numbers for? basically how can i improve my aim?
thanks
Click to expand...
Next time you go at the range, i suggest you shoot first at 25 meters,be sure the rear sight is set to position 1(100m), shooting at 25m will give you a pretty good idea where the sight are set.
 
If your rifle came right out of a crate it will be sighted on the battle setting, one notch behind 100, with a symbol that looks like an upside down "U". This is a general setting for distances out to about 300m. Slide the sight ahead to 1 and start from there, like the others said.

Get your sights level and pointed at the bullseye, and focus on the front sight. Breathe slowly, fire after exhaling, and squeeze the trigger using only your finger. Don't pull or jerk the trigger, just squeeze slowly until it lets go. Make sure the rifle is held tightly into your shoulder as well. There are all kinds of shooting tips on the net.
 
Usually when you get a rifle, you will need to "Zero" the sights. This is a procedure to adjust where the sights are pointing, to the exact point where the bullets hit. There is a youtube called "how to zero your SKS" or some such, and the guy goes through it patiently for the new shooter.

But...make sure your front sight post sits right between the rear site shoulders, like a handgun! Oddly enough I've actually met some people that didn't know this. Also ensure the rear sight setting is at the rough distance you plan on shooting: 1 for 100m/yards, 2 for 200m and so on. If you have it raised to 500m and are trying to get a bullseye at 100m, your shots will probably miss the paper entirely!
 
I agree with trying 25m first, off a bench or support if you can. Remember to make the top of the front post level with the top of the rear sight, and center the post in the notch. Bullet point of impact should be the top edge of your post, in dead center of it. Make sure you get a good baseline before making any adjustments. Its easy to flinch and pull the shot at 100m with a gun youre not used to, practice at closer ranges and move out to longer ranges as your skillset builds. Good luck and let us know how you do!
 
^^^ add to that. Focus your eye on the front sight post. The rear irons and the target should be bury. This gives you consistency with your aim, give your eye a reference point to line things up shot after shot at different distances.
 
RUSTSPOT said:
^^^ add to that. Focus your eye on the front sight post. The rear irons and the target should be bury. This gives you consistency with your aim, give your eye a reference point to line things up shot after shot at different distances.
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Yep x2 that's how I was taught as well!

Pistol shooting different of course,The sights are close enough to each other that both sights should be focused and centered and level:D

And then there's shotgun aiming...different again...but that's another thread
 
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Great information from all of you, Thank you. One question, can you close one eye when focusing or both eye must be open ?
Thanks
 
Either or. It doesn't really matter and it's all up to your style of shooting. You may find it easier to close one eye first, and then progress into keeping both open, with practice.
 
Make sure that when you have one eye open it is you dominant eye. To determine this, hold your hand out in front of you with your thumb up and with both eyes open place it under something in the distance and then close one eye. If your thumb doesn't move from under the object then the eye which is open is your dominant eye. For most people the dominant eye is right eye.
 
I don't know if you are new, but also consider that for accuracy, you need to learn trigger control, and breathing control...it makes a bigger difference than you'd ever imagine!

Satain, thanks, that's the youtube I was thinking of!

Start by putting up some targets at 25m, and put five round groups onto it. If it's a consistent group, doesn't matter if its not on the target yet, more important that you see the holes, and that they are tight together. And once you have tight groups in a consistent location relative to where you were aiming at, then you can ajust the sights, confident that once you finish adjusting, you will be consistently "on".

The other day, we took out my brand new VZ-58. I'd swapped in the fibre optic front made by NEA (Front Fiber Sight CZ FS0001). I'd never adjusted these before either. But in less than an hour, we were pretty close to "on" at 25m. So then I took aim at the 10" steel plate 200m away, remembering to put the range elevation on the "2"...and I was rewarded with 10 confirmed hits for 10 shots fired! My buddy was watching through a spotting scope. There is no reason why you couldn't achieve the same with an SKS, once you are able to zero the iron sights and get used to marksmanship techniques.
 
kal1360 said:
I am new to firearms, last week i joined a gun club and had the chance to shoot my 1954R sks, at 100 yard, i didn't hit any where close to the target, how do use the iron sight on the sks and what are those numbers for? basically how can i improve my aim?
thanks
Click to expand...

did you hit your target at all ? or did you hit and you expected small groupings ?

to do the first, follow all what has been said above, and lots of practice....

and if it's the second, don't until you have lots of practice, and then it just might not happen, there have been reports of 2 inch groupings, but expect 4-6 in groupings at 100 yards

use the rifle for what most have purchased it for, a lot of fun and the ability to shoot lots of rounds for very cheap....

try if your range allows, setting up some pop cans or water bottles, at least if you hit them you will know your on target......and your aiming is good....

have fun
 
Ftaview said:
did you hit your target at all ? or did you hit and you expected small groupings ?
Click to expand...

That is a good question to ask actually. The sks is not inherently the most accurate rifle in the world (Not that I'm saying it isn't accurate) but it is an absolute blast to shoot. Take the time and get your sights as zero'ed as you can at 25 meters and then you will find it more enjoyable to shoot.

Welcome to the terrible, terrible addiction that is firearms ownership! You'll love it!
 
Ftaview said:
did you hit your target at all ? or did you hit and you expected small groupings ?

to do the first, follow all what has been said above, and lots of practice....

and if it's the second, don't until you have lots of practice, and then it just might not happen, there have been reports of 2 inch groupings, but expect 4-6 in groupings at 100 yards

use the rifle for what most have purchased it for, a lot of fun and the ability to shoot lots of rounds for very cheap....

try if your range allows, setting up some pop cans or water bottles, at least if you hit them you will know your on target......and your aiming is good....

have fun
Click to expand...

Did not hit the target at all
 
Ridge_Fridge said:
Make sure that when you have one eye open it is you dominant eye. To determine this, hold your hand out in front of you with your thumb up and with both eyes open place it under something in the distance and then close one eye. If your thumb doesn't move from under the object then the eye which is open is your dominant eye. For most people the dominant eye is right eye.
Click to expand...

I don't buy into the whole dominant eye non-dominant eye thing. I naturally shoot right eye with rifles and left eye with hand guns and have never had any problems. I'm not saying that there isn't any merit though.
 
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