Question on Russian SKS Front Sight Number Stamps

[The Kurgan]

According to a website I found:

"The accuracy of an SKS was checked by firing 3 rounds at a target and if it obtained sniper quality it was marked on the front of the front sight base with the number 1, with #2 and #3 as accuracy decreased."

I know this topic has been discussed before a few times, but after sifting through all the threads, there is little informative discussion.

The only counter-argument that I found that seems to have some validity was that the number represents the positioning of the front sight from the factory to achieve a minimum standard of accuracy.

Anybody with some factual knowledge on the subject, please share.

Thank you kindly.

 

[Jwirecom109]

The SKS is reasonably accurate but will never be a sniper grade rifle.

 

[The Kurgan]

The SKS is reasonably accurate but will never be a sniper grade rifle.

Both of my SKS's shoot up to 3 inch groupings with iron sights at 100 yards. To me, that IS sniper quality from a semi-automatic. They both have "1" on the front sights.

I am looking at another SKS with a "2" on the front sight, and hope to achieve similar results at the range.

Back to the original question...

 

[murat]

That was Russian arsenal marking for the accuracy level, 1 highest 3 lowest.
I read this in book which I think was very good. Plus there was documentary on Russian TV, You can find it on youtube that talked only about SKS history, design, production and it also mentioned the numbers

 

[Woodbeef]

From what Westrifle said,it's the condition of the barrel after test firing.

 

[fiddler]

Between my shooting buddies and myself, we own and shoot 16 or 18 different Russian SKS. We've discussed this and having all sorts of different and some un-recognizable markings, we feel there is no truth to this. Some #1 markings are good, some are not. Some #3 are better than 1 & 2. The top two shooters that we have are a 3 and an un-known marking. I own a #1 which is the most UN-accurate of all four that I own.


We did not shoot these all the same day, but all with the same case of ammo and all with a proper 3 point rest. I personally conclude this numbering system to be invalid. Maybe I should have shot 50 guns??

 

[The Kurgan]

From what Westrifle said,it's the condition of the barrel after test firing.

Do you mean accuracy when you say condition?

 

[The Kurgan]

Between my shooting buddies and myself, we own and shoot 16 or 18 different Russian SKS. We've discussed this and having all sorts of different and some un-recognizable markings, we feel there is no truth to this. Some #1 markings are good, some are not. Some #3 are better than 1 & 2. The top two shooters that we have are a 3 and an un-known marking. I own a #1 which is the most UN-accurate of all four that I own.


We did not shoot these all the same day, but all with the same case of ammo and all with a proper 3 point rest. I personally conclude this numbering system to be invalid. Maybe I should have shot 50 guns??

Have some of the SKS's that shoot poorly been dropped in aftermarket stocks and/or receive other tweeks that take them away from stock configuration? I am intriqued and somewhat convinced of your findings.

 

[Woodbeef]

Do you mean accuracy when you say condition?

No it has nothing to do with accuracy

 

[The Kurgan]

No it has nothing to do with accuracy

Please explain barrel condition.

 

[fiddler]

Have some of the SKS's that shoot poorly been dropped in aftermarket stocks and/or receive other tweeks that take them away from stock configuration? I am intriqued and somewhat convinced of your findings.

Its not like we're scientists, or purposely tried to prove or disprove anything other than to see which ones shoot the best in the same shooting conditions. One of the boys bought up this topic of an "accuracy" stamp, since we saved the targets it was easy to go back and compare the rifles. There was no commonality to the best shooting rifles in relation to the stamp on the front sight.

The stamp may or may not mean anything, but from what I've seen it has nothing to do with shooting accuracy. The best shooter we have is a #3 stamp 53 Tula referb , and a 50 Tula referb with lots of black paint and an unidentifiable marking on the front.

 

[jjbkozack]

my well used (and abused) cheapie with a #3 shoots better than a #1 unissued another shooter had at the range, so this has to be false as far as im concerned
but by the rear sight theres a #5 while this other rifle had a #9
this other shooter brought the accuracy stamp up in a conversation so we tried it out as there were three sks's shooting at the time, his was consistently keeping a grouping of 12" (reason it was unissued?) while both mine and the other one (dont remember rear # but the front was also a 3) were accurate enough to hit a clay 4/5 rounds at 100y
now ive got a scope and have been bringing up the accuracy of the sks as much as i can in fiddling with it, its still shooting about the same