SKS accuracy?...any tips on improving it?

BongoBob

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Hi guys,

I'm a long time shooter, and really enjoy my milsurps ect....iron sights are the way I shoot most of them. I just took my Norinco SKS D out for the first time in a very long while. It functions just fine, but accuracy is pretty bad. I know it's not my shooting that's the problem here, and I know the SKS is never going to be a 1 moa rifle...I'm just wondering what tips any of you may have for tightening up the groups from my SKS...I love tinkering with my other rifles...it's time to give my SKS some attention.

Thanks,
Greg
 
Yugo SKSs (I had 2) were both capable of 4-5 MOA at 300m on a sunny day, reliable 2-3 MOA at 100m with Czech surplus. Remington SP ammo had different point of impact but group was good 1.5" at 100. That's with irons. The only modification was the lighter set of trigger springs.

I don't think that SKS is inaccurate by design, but some manufacturers made them less tight.

I have a feeling that reloading can help, 123 gr SP Hornady will be the first on my list.

I didn't clean my russian ones yet... ;)

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I just sighted mine in at 30 yards. It will cloverleaf at that distance with Iron sights, so it should be fairly good out to a 100.
 
I just sighted mine in at 30 yards. It will cloverleaf at that distance with Iron sights, so it should be fairly good out to a 100.

Mine will do that too, but at 100 yards I'm lucky to get 10" groups!
Someone started a thread while back about glass bedding the SKS, I suppose that might help, but in all honesty I think it's a 75 yard rifle. If you can get good groups at 300 yards with it, you're a much better shot than I and my hats off to you.
The bottom line is that they aren't Garands, M14s or even VZs.
 
Since the SKS was not designed for precision and more as a battle rifle (repeated shots over a short distance) you will not expect pinpoint accuracy with a military rifle with military ammunition from the era the SKS came from. Not being a handloader I have talked to lots of them locally that say the right bullet weight and powder load will improve accuracy with any rifle, the SKS included.

Remember that the SKS was designed to kill humans. Call a spade a spade the Russians didn't create the SKS to shoot 4 legged animals or shoot steel targets at the range. The rifle was designed in the 1940's/1950's with technology nowhere near even the design of semi auto's 20 years later, designed for semi-auto rapid repeated fire and not aimed/timed shots, designed for rugged piss poor environments (Europe/Asia rain, snow, mud, corrosion, heat, etc.), designed around a cartridge that was small and could be carried in massive quantity in surplus on a soldier's belt/shoulders (because the designers knew this rifle was going to throw a lot of steel), and finally was designed to be CHEAP and PLENTIFUL. None of these factors contribute to an overall accurate rifle. It was designed to hit a 6-8 inch "center mass" object (ie. humans) out to 100 yards.

If you're getting 3-4 inch groups with surplus ammo out to 100 yards standing with irons for an SKS that's very good and you're a very good shot. If you're getting under 2 inch groupings sitting with a gun rest with surplus ammo for an SKS that's REALLY GOOD you're an AMAZING shot! The only problem with both those examples is since surplus is not consistent, you may not get the same result over and over again. Come hunting season with a well made handload or S&B ammo you're going to bag that deer no problem out to 100 yards with your SKS.

Simple things like CLEANING an SKS (which not a lot of people do) and not putting on a plastic tactical or folding stock on it (leaving the wooden one on it came with) will make a big difference for accuracy. A lot of people say the Chinese ones shoot less accurately than the Russian ones. I guess that is up for debate. I will say "yes" the Russians ones do shoot more accurately because a copy of an original design doesn't always perform as well however I have some Chinese SKS's that shoot amazingly well when they are cleaned and the stocks are put tight to the receiver.

If you want an SKS for hunting or accuracy shooting and want to make a "project" out of making this happen, you will have to build one specifically designed for that purpose. Call it your pseudo "match" rifle or hunting SKS rifle. I would pick a Russian one, leave the wooden stock on it, buy one of those receiver covers with the receiver screw claws because once you put it on you're not taking it off, or better yet spend a little more money and buy the one that screws into the receiver itself (totally permanent), put on a really good scope, and only use non-corrosive handloads or commercial ammo with a consistent bullet weight and powder load. With the scope properly mounted and sighted in shooting only one kind of bullet and powder weight will guarantee amazing accuracy over great distances.

Or save your money and time and buy an M14 with a scope mount and scope.
 
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The Tech sights have the reputation of group tightening.

Like any rifle, ammunition makes a world of a difference too. Milsurp or Nork ammo is going to produce uninspiring groupings. Carefully produced handloads with higher grade bullets and powder would definitely show what the SKS is really capable of in its basic configuration.
 
Close your eyes and hope for the best. This rifle is a nice "toy" and is for playing not for accurate bench shooting. Cudos to guys with nice shooters. Mine was a p.o.s. and is soon to be replaced by a CZ-858. For twice the price you get twice the rifle. I really like the 7.62x39 round and an sks is a good starter rifle. Tons of fun and not knocking guys that shoot them. The russian ones look great.
 
Trigger work usually gives good improvements, and better sights.

Check out surplusrifles.com for some examples and testing of what can be done.
 
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