Newbie to SKS - Any Care, Maintenance and Advice Would be Greatly Appreciated
- Thread starter thegazelle
- Start date
Yes, I managed to take everything apart including the wood stock. No rust visible, which I guess is a good sign.
I only have a few observations from my takedown that were of note (at least for me).
1. That switch with the detent to take off the handguard...I am not able to move it occasionally without a flat head screwdriver. To move to the 10 o clock position was OK - first time I had to get a butter knife to slightly wedge the handguard loose - cosmoline or gunk... But when removing that piston thing under spring pressure and I had to move it past the detent to 1 or 3 oclock - needed a flathead screwdriver for that. Strangely, when I moved it back from 2 or 3 o'clock with the spring pushed down, back to 10 o'clock on the second detent, I was able to use my fingers. But then to move it back to the first detent to lock the handguard in place, I needed a flat head screwdriver.
2. The first time I put everything back together, I noticed that the magazine was a bit loose...because I didn't clip the hinge on properly...thankfully I didn't have to take the whole thing apart again, just remove the trigger group, the bolt assembly and then re-fit the magazine with the hinge catching properly before securing and snapping in the trigger group.
3. The trigger pack snapping in place requires a lot of strength - it helped when I used a block of wood on the other side to support it as I pushed the trigger pack down and forwards to snap it in place.
Other than that, and the previous difficulty getting the bolt apart with the retaining pin, the rest of it went rather smoothly...I took a good look and no rust on the receiver under the wood...I did give it a good cleaning and used some G96 on all metal surfaces.
All fair points and well taken. I know an old colleague who got an SKS for under $175 back in 2012...you are definitely right about retailers checking them, especially for new buyers who may not know what to look for. Curious why more recent imports would be considered more poor quality? Certainly I missed the boat on these years ago, but my interest back then was more .22s and shotguns - never really considered an SKS until this year. I remember though looking at LeBaron back in 2008 at one of these and I was pretty ignorant back then (not much has changed) in asking the gun shop guy "does this thing come with a warranty? Seems to be in fair condition". Guy was like "um, sir, these were from the 1950s..." I was like "oh..."
Also curious what was the issue with the Tenda one? Good to know what to look out for. I appreciate your feedback.
I ordered 5 Chinese from Tenda, I had to put a lot of work into them, 2 were in good condition, the rest not so, and 2 didn't fire due to rust issues in the hand guard piston area.
I put one in a Russian stock due to the Chinese stocks being very flimsy. It's an excellent shooter. The Chinese are better shooters from my experience, especially if you make sure the stock is tight. I don't bother with bedding, I just put it into a Russian stock but bedding is also an option for better accuracy.
The 3 not so good ones ended up in tapco stocks and were sold for a good price (for the buyers - but I only paid 320 each at the time, now dealers want over 500 for that junk), I checked them over and made sure they are good to go.
I know some people who bought Russian ones and it was the same mix of good and bad.
As mentioned, I had many SKS back in 2010 and the quality was just so much better for the most part, especially the Chinese but the Russian ones seem to come out of humid old warehouses as well.
I am still buying SKS, just bought another one this week and waiting for it's arrival.
I only buy on the EE on here, I just wait until a nice one for a good price pops up. I know enough to see from the pictures what I am getting into.
Agreed, I screwed up my bolt return spring by having it backwards on an outting (squiggly end goes in the bolt right? Lol.) I learn most of my lessons the hard way, glad it wasn't a scarce part. I've also got over a dozen SKS currently, it's my favorite NR platform tbh. I will certainly have them all sold before the ban hammer drops, don't you worry.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The supply of SKS rifles was terminated effectively in 2014 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The Chinese stopped making them decades ago and were likely just selling off inventory. Marstar's M305 stories over the years indicated that while there once were large stockpiles, the only demand was from foreign buyers. The companies had parts in bins but not everything. So they'd make up the missing parts to complete orders for shipping. The last batch had sintered MIM bolts which sheared off their lugs. Proof there were no more forged and machined bolts at the factory but just enough of the other parts. Remember how the stocks started out like varnished fence posts and got progressively better? Then they shipped with plastic stocks.
You know, it is interesting...
I have had this SKS for a little over 30 hours now. Never have I opened my safe so much to take out a new purchase and handle it.
It is weird because last month I got a Tikka T3X TAC A1 brand spanking new (which cost like 5-6 times the cost of this SKS which I am sure is overpriced, for those who paid $200 a number of years ago - unfortunately mine was not at that pricepoint) and aside from setting it up with muzzle brake and bipod and stuff, the Tikka stayed in the safe until I took it to the range. Pretty much the same for every new gun I have bought over the years.
With this SKS, I am enthralled with it. I have no idea why. The hardwood stock is a bit rough with "trench art", scratches, and such all over it (no damage though), but I have already disassembled and reassembled it three times. I have looked over all the fine detail of the serial numbers, the symbols, and the various features and especially the 1953 year. This is a very used 1953 gun that cost a fraction of my Tikka. Yet I can't put it down. Looks like this is all original all original matching serial numbers, no refurb (I did hours of research on how to tell a refurb), and I dunno, it's like there is character and history with this. Maybe it's unlike any other gun I have ever owned. I have sat and reflected on what the previous owner or owners did with the gun, how it was housed, what stories it has behind it. I am a sucker for history, so maybe that's the draw. I haven't even shot the thing yet, but have taken it down again to clean and reclean. Handling it, almost trying to understand what story this gun has to tell, as it appears to be quite well travelled. Wonder what the person(s) who scratched the letters or whatever on the stock were thinking.
I have to say, it's a pretty cool feeling compared to owning the latest in black tacticool guns, which I guess being mass produced are all essentially the same, and the only decision after was what optic and accessories to put on it.
I remember being in the gun store yesterday and just looking at the other historical / milsurp type guns and wondering what their story is too and their distinct uniqueness. Certainly I did not expect this reminiscing as a byproduct of owning an SKS. I can only imagine the pride of ownership gun collectors have in having truly historical pieces.
I have had this SKS for a little over 30 hours now. Never have I opened my safe so much to take out a new purchase and handle it.
It is weird because last month I got a Tikka T3X TAC A1 brand spanking new (which cost like 5-6 times the cost of this SKS which I am sure is overpriced, for those who paid $200 a number of years ago - unfortunately mine was not at that pricepoint) and aside from setting it up with muzzle brake and bipod and stuff, the Tikka stayed in the safe until I took it to the range. Pretty much the same for every new gun I have bought over the years.
With this SKS, I am enthralled with it. I have no idea why. The hardwood stock is a bit rough with "trench art", scratches, and such all over it (no damage though), but I have already disassembled and reassembled it three times. I have looked over all the fine detail of the serial numbers, the symbols, and the various features and especially the 1953 year. This is a very used 1953 gun that cost a fraction of my Tikka. Yet I can't put it down. Looks like this is all original all original matching serial numbers, no refurb (I did hours of research on how to tell a refurb), and I dunno, it's like there is character and history with this. Maybe it's unlike any other gun I have ever owned. I have sat and reflected on what the previous owner or owners did with the gun, how it was housed, what stories it has behind it. I am a sucker for history, so maybe that's the draw. I haven't even shot the thing yet, but have taken it down again to clean and reclean. Handling it, almost trying to understand what story this gun has to tell, as it appears to be quite well travelled. Wonder what the person(s) who scratched the letters or whatever on the stock were thinking.
I have to say, it's a pretty cool feeling compared to owning the latest in black tacticool guns, which I guess being mass produced are all essentially the same, and the only decision after was what optic and accessories to put on it.
I remember being in the gun store yesterday and just looking at the other historical / milsurp type guns and wondering what their story is too and their distinct uniqueness. Certainly I did not expect this reminiscing as a byproduct of owning an SKS. I can only imagine the pride of ownership gun collectors have in having truly historical pieces.
Gazelle, Hancock,
You guys got it right. The SKS is really an awesome rifle. Milled receiver (usually), easy to break down and clean, and damn, it just works. Not to mention that it handles nicely.
The simplicity and function adds up to something worth admiring. I hope your rifle is a good shooter. I found that Barnaul (sadly, since the supply will dry up) to shoot really well from the Russian SKS I had. I had added aperture sights to it, which I thought were a good upgrade. Yeah, they may say "Rifle is fine!"... but the aperture sights made it a little finer.
Though, as much as I liked it, I did sell mine recently. I never used it, always reaching for my Marlin rimfire (I may have a problem). This way at least, someone who will use and appreciate it gets to enjoy it.
Cheers,
Neil
You guys got it right. The SKS is really an awesome rifle. Milled receiver (usually), easy to break down and clean, and damn, it just works. Not to mention that it handles nicely.
The simplicity and function adds up to something worth admiring. I hope your rifle is a good shooter. I found that Barnaul (sadly, since the supply will dry up) to shoot really well from the Russian SKS I had. I had added aperture sights to it, which I thought were a good upgrade. Yeah, they may say "Rifle is fine!"... but the aperture sights made it a little finer.
Though, as much as I liked it, I did sell mine recently. I never used it, always reaching for my Marlin rimfire (I may have a problem). This way at least, someone who will use and appreciate it gets to enjoy it.
Cheers,
Neil
Do you guys know if you have ever or currently have an SKS where the handguard release lever switch is extremely stiff and hard to operate? I have never been able to move it by hand and only with a screwdriver (that slips periodically) can move it. Even when I have it on the second detent, the handguard doesn't just pull off. I need to wedge a butter knife under it and slowly move it up and then it comes off. When I put it back same thing - from top detent to bottom detent to lock it in place - I can't move that lever without the help of a screwdriver. With the handguard not on there, the lever moves nice and loose so something about that handguard which has tighter tolerances or what have you. I just see continuous use of the flat head screwdriver scratching the stock or marring the metal surface when it inevitably slips. Eventually I get that switch/lever moved down to lock it in place, but man, all the videos I see online - the operator uses normal hand strength to move that lever effortlessly.
Yes, a sign it hasn't been used much.
Make sure the handguard is all the way down, tight in the front to the receiver hole. If there is some burring at the end where that lever goes up and down, remove it very lightly so it becomes an even area, don't remove too much.
In regards to your scratched up stock which seems to bother you, here is a solution I have used a few times.
Take it off the receiver, the handguard you can just tape off. Sand it lightly to get the scratches out, wipe down the dust, then apply very thin coats of tung oil with a lint free cloth. It may take a few days, just wipe on the tung oil very thinly, maybe lightly sand after a few coats and re apply.
Some people sand the stocks down completely, I recommend against it, PITA and the result does not look better IMHO.
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Hey there thanks for the input. I can't believe how stiff that lever is. That said, on the gas tube end that goes towards the operator/receiver - there is definitely some scuffing or what not on the top of it where presumably, by operating the level, it catches the top of that tube and prevents the handguard from moving. I was going to file that down a bit, but will just use it for a bit and hope it gets more smoother, or maybe wears more. I did put some lube at the lever joint as well as that general area but that didn't do much.
As for the stock, it doesn't bother me - at least it shows me that the gun was used, or at least the stock is (if it was a refurb) - I think the wear on the stock gives the gun added character. I'd rather that than a pristine stock and wonder whether someone flipped it out recently for another one. My comment about scratching it is that I just don't want to put any more scratches and scuffs on it from me that could be prevented (ie. I don't have so much slippage of the flat head when I use it to pop up the handguard.
I am not going to sand down anything or do any cosmetic improvements. Gun came like this and when I showed my daughter today she said "I am sure there are untold stories behind this gun". As long as the stock is not damaged, which it is not, I am good with it - I just don't want to make it worse by my own damage trying to either flip the lever with a flat head screwdriver or lift up the handguard - it's definitely stuck a bit, which is probably some spacing intolerance between that guard that flips on top and keeps the handguard secure. I would suspect that maybe the stock was refurbed at some point because on the left hand side, where there is the matching serial number, it is very faint and from what I understand, there should be the arsenal symbol etched in there as well as the year. All the other metal pieces (receiver, bolt, bolt carrier, magazine, trigger group) all have the same serial number.
My daughter, being a history buff, was equally enthralled with the gun.
