Seriously looking at SKS

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I'm looking at getting an SKS but need some advice on how much effort it would be to attach a scope and also repair the poitential slam fire issue... Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm willing to put in some effort to get this done although probably not a ton of cash.

Thanks,
 
In most cases slamfire in an SKS is caused by having a bolt that is caked with ####e. It's free to fix that, by simply cleaning it out so the free floating firing pin is unobstructed.

ANd for a scope, I'd check out kalinkaoptics.com for the most appropriate looking SKS scope mounts, then throw a Russian military scope on it.
 
I have a Choate mount on mine. It needs to be drilled and tapped but is by far the best scope mount for an SKS. Bolts into the frame so it doesn't move at all. I can strip the rifle without touching the scope.
 
Could I drill and tap it myself or does this have to be done by a gunsmith? Are there any how to's with tips on the net for do it yerselfers?


Thanks,
 
I drilled and tapped it myself, I just made up a punch that centered the drill exactly. Hardest part of the whole process is finding the correct tap!
 
http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/index.asp

disassembling the bolt for cleaning is simple. Here's a good link for "how-to".
My first SKS was packed with crud in the bolt/ firing pin area. So long as the firing pin free-floats, you shouldn't have any slam fires. As far as a scope, go with a red dot which will not interfere with loading stripper clips. Personaly, I hate drilling beautiful rifles for mounts. Look into the "spring cover replacement" type mounts. Some will say they dont hold zero but there are good ones out there which fit nicely and you dont mess up the originality of your gun.
http://www.marstar.ca/ac-optics/mounts-semi.shtm
 
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Holleyman said:
I drilled and tapped it myself, I just made up a punch that centered the drill exactly. Hardest part of the whole process is finding the correct tap!
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And get yourself a titanium drill bit. Chinese steel is VERY hard. Use cutting oil. If you have a drill press you can do it yourself. The receiver cover mounts are not very good. Don't stay zero'd.
 
Cool thanks everyone... That pretty well clears things up for me... It's going to be my second gun. Currently I have a bolt 22 LR rifle but I'd like something else cheap to use with a bit more power and I think the SKS is gonna be it... Now all I have to do is talk the wife into it ;)
 
Now all I have to do is talk the wife into it
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It will cost less then a couple months of cable TV and coffe! Just tell her you are off Cable TV now and will be spending that budget on whatever you want.
 
Tell her you'll stop buying rifles with your fun money when she stops buying makeup, shoes and jewellery with hers. If that doesn't shut her up, it's time to rethink your choice of her as a wife. ;) Till death do us part is an awful long time to be treated like a child.
 
I would use a cobalt drill bit - they're extremely hard. Cutting oil is a must.

I have looked at a couple of different mounts, and the Russian military mounts offer secure attachment, but still let you tear the rifle down without having to remove the mount (not true for some other types). I believe some aftermarket stocks may require removal of material (plastic) to allow the mount to clear the stock.

Having scoped an SKS in the past, I have to say it turned out to be a fairly painless process, but also fairly pointless. The SKS is not a precision instrument, and you will generally not get nice, tight, groups at 100 yards when using a scope. Individual rifles may do better, so you may get lucky.

Still, the SKS is a fun gun to shoot, and I recommend putting one in your collection, scoped or otherwise.
 
emmab said:
Just tell her the rifle is for her. It worked with my wife, but after seven rifles, she's getting a little leary
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another benefit , you dont have to rack your brain to figure out what to get her for birthday, anniversary, valentine and xmas for the next two years. its a win win situation. :dancingbanana: :dancingbanana: :dancingbanana:
 
SKS was my first rifle and my first love. Get it, clean it, shoot it with iron sights, clean it. Repeat as necessary.
A crate of Czech ammo is about the same price as the gun and will certainly get you used to cleaning the rifle.
 
The guns a POS, but its a good plinker. When I get my AR-15 all together, and I shot the whole crate of Czech I am going to sell it for maybe 120 bucks. Sooner or later down the road I'll pick up a CZ858, something better than this SKS. Its not MY gun that I got that I am not happy with, its just the general gun. I am moving into the new(er) military rifles and the SKS won't cut it anymore.
 
scottie_ said:
The guns a POS, but its a good plinker. When I get my AR-15 all together, and I shot the whole crate of Czech I am going to sell it for maybe 120 bucks. Sooner or later down the road I'll pick up a CZ858, something better than this SKS. Its not MY gun that I got that I am not happy with, its just the general gun. I am moving into the new(er) military rifles and the SKS won't cut it anymore.
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you just took your new SKS to the range and you are already thinking of getting rid of it??? boy!! thats fast.

i just took my new CZ858 to the range along with my old SKS, and i must admit i had just as much fun with the new as with the old, it was nice that they shared the same ammo.
 
scottie_ said:
The guns a POS, but its a good plinker. When I get my AR-15 all together, and I shot the whole crate of Czech I am going to sell it for maybe 120 bucks. Sooner or later down the road I'll pick up a CZ858, something better than this SKS. Its not MY gun that I got that I am not happy with, its just the general gun. I am moving into the new(er) military rifles and the SKS won't cut it anymore.
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lackofguns_ds.jpg
 
curtton said:
you just took your new SKS to the range and you are already thinking of getting rid of it??? boy!! thats fast.

i just took my new CZ858 to the range along with my old SKS, and i must admit i had just as much fun with the new as with the old, it was nice that they shared the same ammo.
Click to expand...

I've taken it to the range 5 or 6 times so far. I've shot about 800 rounds through it and its a fun gun. The ammo is dirt cheap, but I am not getting the kind of performance and accuracy that I'd like. I can hit the paper at 100 yards no problem, and 50 yards I get some great groupings but I've been bitten by the restricted bug, and with only so much money and space to store my firearms I have to make some cutbacks. Anyways I'll probably keep it just because I can + its a good gun to keep around the house just in case. :D Maybe I'll move into a V58 when I get my ATT so I can have a shorterbarreled AK lookalike.

ilovepotatos, your a funny guy.
 
curtton said:
you just took your new SKS to the range and you are already thinking of getting rid of it??? boy!! thats fast.

i just took my new CZ858 to the range along with my old SKS, and i must admit i had just as much fun with the new as with the old, it was nice that they shared the same ammo.
Click to expand...

Well...I think I might finally get a chance this weekend to try my new SKS out that I got from you Curtton...cannot wait, plus Proutfoo fixed me up with a crate of ammo , so I am all set now :D
 
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