SKS 18.6" barrel chop, worth it?

[Reaper of the apocalypse]

Been thinking of remove the bayonet lug, and moving the front sight back after chopping the barrel to 18.6" and recrowning.

Is the time and effort worth it? How much in weight loss & handling is really gained?

 

[Gmwebs]

 

[Reaper of the apocalypse]

Relax, I've got a mint 1949 Russian SKS that I'm not gonna touch.
This one is gonna be my Sporter, just trying to cut weight & improve handling.

 

[JasonGTA]

Relax, I've got a mint 1949 Russian SKS that I'm not gonna touch.
This one is gonna be my Sporter, just trying to cut weight & improve handling.

Thats what bubba said about the Lee Enfield

 

[Rebel Rouser]

Newly manufactured Molot SKS.

 

[Murray 3-D]

Not much to be gained.... People do it more for aesthetics. I chopped the bayo lug off my main SKS, don't regret it. Left the barrel at 20" cus I love the look of the longer barrel. That's just my personal preference.

 

[theglove213]

Meh... chopped a beater down just for the heck of it and had my smith reuse the front sight vs getting a paratrooper sight. It does make the rifle point a little quicker but when the dust settles it doesnt gain much more and its still an SKS...

 

[afrobob]

+ 1

 

[Butcherbill]

Thats what bubba said about the Lee Enfield

Yeah but I love hunting with my sported no.4, would I chop an enfield up? No, is there benefits to be gained from hunting with a sported rifle? Sure is!

 

[Fisselig]

If you have a garbage muzzle end that's shot out (i.e. you can insert an x39 bullet nose-first and go all the way down into the barrel until the case stops it - I'd do it. If it's still reasonably tight, it may not be worth the trouble.
However, if you want to do it to learn something (like learning how to chop, thread or re-crown a barrel by yourself), by all means, go for it. I did it to my Mosin (you hear that? that's the sound of purists shrieking) and i'm very happy that I did.
I'll probably go the route that Murray did and remove the bayo lug, and I might chop the barrel and recrown it as well in the future.

It's your damn gun. Do what you want!
But for the love of god, don't ruin the real collectors like Finnish Mosins or Yugo SKSs or something.

 

[TheCyaba]

What this ^^^^ guy said I did it to my 54 tula cut the barrel and moved the front sight right back to the gas block and I dont regret it.

 

[JVFriday13th]

What this ^^^^ guy said I did it to my 54 tula cut the barrel and moved the front sight right back to the gas block and I dont regret it.

Did you have to step down the outer diameter of the barrel?

 

[zuke]

Go with a folding stock. That'll make the OAL shorter

 

[Gnome75]

Don't mess with the rifle. Its fine the way it is

really wish there was an SKS version of this meme

 

[GunsNotPuns]

You could probably use this in half the threads in Red Rifles.

 

[handofzeus]

I assume the missing length of barrel won't be enough to affect the duration of time needed to cycle the action properly? I guess if there is a short-stroking issue you could always change the gas port opening. I always wanted to put a needle valve on mine for the hell of it. Need to get a beater I suppose.

 

[Boris Badinov]

Newly manufactured Molot SKS.

Molot doesn't manufacture new SKS carbines. They do commercial re-furbs and modifcation of existing guns.

 

[legi0n]

go ahead and chop it

 

[louthepou]

Here's one I shortened last year. cut the front sight and bayo lug block, reinstalled the front sight. Then threaded the barrel and installed a muzzle brake. That way the overall length stays decent even wth a brake.

Disclaimer! No original, number-matching, non-issued, 1949 SKS was hurt in the process! (buggered-up parts were put together to produce this fine specimen).

 

[TheCyaba]

Did you have to step down the outer diameter of the barrel?

I should have but i did something different and went true bubba with a hacksaw and a welder