Just picked up my Russian SKS and the Numbers match!

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ronjonjd

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Hi All.

I got home to my mailbox today and my PAL/RPAL card waiting for me. So I didn't waste any time and went down to my local shop and picked out a Russian SKS. It's apparently one that was previously in service, and then resold here.
The magazine was blocked to accept only 5 bullets as per regulation. The fellow behind the counter told me that they usually are made up of parts from different SKS weapons, and that parts usually don't match. For $189.00 I wasn't going to worry about that.

I got it home and took it apart to get a lot of the cosmoline out of the workings and noticed that all the parts have matching numbers. The gun was built in 1950. I take it that matching numbers means that the gun is worth a bit more.

I also noticed that someone had lightly scraped their name into the side of the mag, and it was that person's weapon from 1974-1978. I couldn't read the name.

I also grabbed a box of 500 non corrosive rounds, a hard case, trigger lock, ATI strikeforce foldable stock, and new gastube with pickatinny rail. The gun came with two ammo carrying packs, an oil can, as well as some small tools. It was supposed to come with 2 stripper clips but they were missing. I'll be popping back into the shop to claim those and buy a few more. (forgot to get them when there)

I haven't installed the ATI stock yet, but I did swap out the gas tube when I had it apart. I took as much of the cosmoline off the trigger group and internal workings as I could. The gun is just as easy to disassemble as the youtube videos showed it to be.

I still want to get a tapco banana mag, as well as the dustcover scope mount. I may also swap out the firing pin with a spring loaded one I saw on the web that solves the slam fire problem.

Thus far, I'm happy. Off to shoot a few rounds this weekend!
Woot :)
 
ronjonjd said:
Hi All.

I got home to my mailbox today and my PAL/RPAL card waiting for me. So I didn't waste any time and went down to my local shop and picked out a Russian SKS. It's apparently one that was previously in service, and then resold here.
The magazine was blocked to accept only 5 bullets as per regulation. The fellow behind the counter told me that they usually are made up of parts from different SKS weapons, and that parts usually don't match. For $189.00 I wasn't going to worry about that.

I got it home and took it apart to get a lot of the cosmoline out of the workings and noticed that all the parts have matching numbers. The gun was built in 1950. I take it that matching numbers means that the gun is worth a bit more.

I also noticed that someone had lightly scraped their name into the side of the mag, and it was that person's weapon from 1974-1978. I couldn't read the name.

I also grabbed a box of 500 non corrosive rounds, a hard case, trigger lock, ATI strikeforce foldable stock, and new gastube with pickatinny rail. The gun came with two ammo carrying packs, an oil can, as well as some small tools. It was supposed to come with 2 stripper clips but they were missing. I'll be popping back into the shop to claim those and buy a few more. (forgot to get them when there)

I haven't installed the ATI stock yet, but I did swap out the gas tube when I had it apart. I took as much of the cosmoline off the trigger group and internal workings as I could. The gun is just as easy to disassemble as the youtube videos showed it to be.

I still want to get a tapco banana mag, as well as the dustcover scope mount. I may also swap out the firing pin with a spring loaded one I saw on the web that solves the slam fire problem.

Thus far, I'm happy. Off to shoot a few rounds this weekend!
Woot :)
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good for you! usually the refurbished rifles do have matching parts but some parts are force matched meaning they have electropenciled serial numbers to match

some advice: don't use the tapco mags, they may look better to you but the original magazines will be much better. Dustcover scope mounts are a bad idea because they don't hold zero, no matter how tight, better to save your money to buy more ammo!

the firing pin is a non issue, the spring loaded firing pin is only for people who shoot commercial ammo which have softer primers, even then slamfires shouldn't happen msot of the time.

Just enjoy your rifle the way it came, these things will last forever if you take care of it properly! be sure to read the sticky on cleaning after shooting corossive ammo :)
 
Congrats! Sounds like you got a good deal. I see you're also from Toronto. May I ask what range/club you were able to join so soon after getting your PAL? Or are you visiting a range as a guest? I'm having a hard time finding clubs in the GTA that are actually accepting new members. (Preferably an outdoor range)
 
sksmagwriting.jpg
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there is a pic of the mag. Its a bit hard to make out and I got the dates wrong. But it was used in the 70's
 
SniperInTheMaking said:
Congrats! Sounds like you got a good deal. I see you're also from Toronto. May I ask what range/club you were able to join so soon after getting your PAL? Or are you visiting a range as a guest? I'm having a hard time finding clubs in the GTA that are actually accepting new members. (Preferably an outdoor range)
Click to expand...

I havent found a GTA club. I did find silverdale gun club which is near Grimsby. No real issues joining there at all.
 
ronjonjd said:
I havent found a GTA club. I did find silverdale gun club which is near Grimsby. No real issues joining there at all.
Click to expand...

Ah OK thanks. I'd love to join Silverdale but it's a bit of a trek. The search continues.. I'm considering starting a thread asking about open clubs in the GTA but I'm sure it's been asked several times before. I'll try to search function first.
 
You'll need to do more research with all the mods you wish to perform. Also, hit the Red Rifles forum for more info on the SKS.
Some things to consider;


- The new gas tube will likely need filing to fit. Then it needs to be test fired to ensure proper cycling.

- 1949 & 1950 SKS' have the spring firing pin. Never saw a 1951 that had one.

- Numbers matching SKS' aren't worth more money. They are more desirable though. Time will tell value wise.

- The ATI stock may need bedding done to it so the rifle fits tight inside. Sometimes ATI stocks allow too much play in the rifle's fit causing accuracy problems.

- The Tapco 20/5 round mag will also likely need filing at the duck bill to allow a proper feeding height for the mag lips. It may also need filing to allow the bolt hold open to function properly. You will also need to file the back of the mag lips to be able to use stripper clips with the Tapco mag.

- The receiver cover scop/rail mounts are generally terrible. Some require drilling and tapping of the original receiver, and other ones that are dust cover replacements require some serious filing to sit flat and stable on the receiver. Then they end up not holding zero anyways after all that work.

- The rail on the gas tube is also unreliable. The recoil impact messes with any dot or scope mounted there.


Although these rifles have an abundant amount of accessories avail on the market, they are not all compatible out of the box. Mainly because SKS's can vary a lot between each rifle example. Some accessories you can figure out at home, some need range time to reveal their worth.
 
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Action cover scope mount does not work. But what does work well is a rear peep sight. I made one from a Lee Enfield L sight. Cut slot in the cover and then brazed it in place. Works perfectly.

peepsights4.jpg


You can see that I have solved the loose action cover issue by replacing the take down pin with a 1/4" x 20 bolt. The receiver holes and the cover hole have been tapped. The bolt holds the cover solid.

I recently shot a CQB match with an 858 using a red dot mounted on the rear sight base. The rear sight was removed and a Weaver mounted in its place. I think the base costs about $30. This worked perfectly and I shot a real good score. First time I tried a red dot. A similar Weaver base is made for the SKS. A red dot there is solid and effective. However, if you do this you have to cut the square notch at the rear of the ejection port so the brass ejects to the side, and nut up and forward, bashing a front-mounted red dot. I learned that the hard way.

Before squaring up the rear of the ejection port:
IMG_0042.jpg


And after a bit of work with a Dremel and a file:
IMG_00442.jpg



The SKS in basic stock trim is a fun and effective rifle. I recently shot mine (with the peep sight) in a CQB match. I reloaded using stripper clips. Not as fast as a mag change, but I did manage to get all my shots off in time. If you are in the GTA, you should come up to Camp Borden and join in the fun.

This is what it looks like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBZUqemUKr4
 
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