SKS Accuracy Test

Where can I buy the "accurate new bolt action" ?

The SKS isn't an accurate rifle, and if you want to shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards I'd
suggest you buy an accurate new bolt action. The SKS is for playing around with at 50 yards...and short range zombie killing after the zombie apocalypse. :)
 
I'll have to post some results when I finally get back home and have a chance to do some shooting. 3 or 4 is the norm for me at 100, sometimes a little tighter, depending on the ammo and conditions.

You can do a few things here:

1. Remove the bayo and cleaning rod.

2. Take out the front sight, chuck it in a drill, and file it down to a narrower size. Re-Blue and reinstall.

3. Use appropriate targets. Pie plates and random objects are too vague. You need something that will match up with the sights at 100m to make aiming easier on the eyes.
 
Freehand? Or on bags / in rest?

I do all my SKS shooting freehand. Two hands, balancing...sometimes shooting targets while walking slowly along the "firing line ". Fun rifle.
 
No offense, but I think Ganderite is aware of what the rifle is all about.

The SKS isn't an accurate rifle, and if you want to shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards I'd
suggest you buy an accurate new bolt action. The SKS is for playing around with at 50 yards...and short range zombie killing after the zombie apocalypse. :)
 
I'll have to post some results when I finally get back home and have a chance to do some shooting. 3 or 4 is the norm for me at 100, sometimes a little tighter, depending on the ammo and conditions.

You can do a few things here:

1. Remove the bayo and cleaning rod.

2. Take out the front sight, chuck it in a drill, and file it down to a narrower size. Re-Blue and reinstall.

3. Use appropriate targets. Pie plates and random objects are too vague. You need something that will match up with the sights at 100m to make aiming easier on the eyes.


This definitely makes a difference. Its difficult to group well when your target hides behind the front sight post.
 
sticky this as a "my sks shoots 3 inches at 100 yards all day long".

That would be a great idea.

Given the sheer volume of SKS's out there, there's bound to be some gems in the wild. I'm trying to work up an "accurate" SKS, and the info on how to get there from here is a bit all over the place.
 
Many years ago when the Intraweb was still young, I stuck a scope on a $75 Chinese SKS and handloaded some ammo for it.

I loaded and fired it twice at 200 yards (10 shots) and got a 6 inch group. I figured that was good enough for what it was. Every shot would have killed a deer.
 
I find the USSR rifles are not as accuate as Yugo M59 or M59/66. USSR were usally a 5-6 in group at 100 and Yugo 3in withM59, and 2.5-3in with M59/66 using Czech surplus.
 
...it's funny but i never get tired of reading posts on SKS accuracy, even though my SKS performs about like yours...i have another that i put a few rounds through and it seems to perform a bit better...this winter with hand loads will tell...thanks for the post...:)
 
Imho if you want more accuracy, give the barrel a thorough cleaning before you try. Makes a big difference for me. It does take a while if i'm using wipe out though.
 
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Many years ago, while on the rifle range with a Russian SKS, we noticed the Silhouette range next to the long range (600 yard) rifle range had several 500 yard Sheep targets still standing on it. We moved over and sat at a bench for one of those "just for the hell of it" shooting sessions. It took a couple of rounds to set the sights, but once we found the range, we were both amazed at that the SKS would do. It not only got more than half the hits on those Rams, but it also knocked several down when it got a solid hit on them. The rounds that missed usually were elevation errors, being over or under the target. At the time we were using Chinese yellow box brass cased ammunition as that was all we could get.

What people seem to forget is that the SKS and other MILITARY rifles were designed for one purpose -- to shoot a MAN SIZED target that is VERTICAL. In reality, something that is about 18 inches wide and 36 inches high.
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there are some gems out there though... I have personally shot a 2.5" group with one. The stock was as bedded as you can get, all moving parts polished and very clean, trigger was lightened a bit and had a screw through the back of the trigger guard to eliminate over travel, the ammo was surplus... but was carefully weight sorted, the rifle was scoped with a 4x. I was very impressed with this particular rifle and shows that if you take the steps... it can be slightly less inaccurate. It was a blast to shoot like any other sks, wish I hadn't have gotten rid of it, likely never have one that accurate again.
 
there are some gems out there though... I have personally shot a 2.5" group with one. The stock was as bedded as you can get, all moving parts polished and very clean, trigger was lightened a bit and had a screw through the back of the trigger guard to eliminate over travel, the ammo was surplus... but was carefully weight sorted, the rifle was scoped with a 4x. I was very impressed with this particular rifle and shows that if you take the steps... it can be slightly less inaccurate. It was a blast to shoot like any other sks, wish I hadn't have gotten rid of it, likely never have one that accurate again.

^^^
 
We routinely test our product to ensure consistency and the rifle that always accompanies us is a Chinese SKS. Yesterday I could barely hit the 3.75" target at 200m with a scoped XCR and 15 rounds of Norinco .223. The SKS with irons took me only three to connect. It never ceases to amaze me how much better it can shoot than guns which cost more than 20 times its value (I realize Norinco .223 is not optimal, won't be using that anymore).
 
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What people seem to forget is that the SKS and other MILITARY rifles were designed for one purpose -- to shoot a MAN SIZED target that is VERTICAL. In reality, something that is about 18 inches wide and 36 inches high.
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The other thing that people forget (or never knew) is that Russian sks rifles were never designed for marksmanship. The Soviet military doctrine was that force comes by shear volume. Infantry personnel was moved in Divisions ( 1000+ men) and often 3, 4, or more Divisions at a time. The ranging of these rifles was not for accuracy but for volley fire, or to lay down cover fire. When a thousand plus guys dropped rounds at 700m, there was little left standing. It was more effective than machine gun fire at the time. I've seen and experienced the effect of company fire with the PPCLI, where we would routinely exercise fire control. I don't know if they do this anymore. I left the PPCLI in 92.

Having all that said, there are a few things that can improve individual fire. Narrowing the front sight is one of them. Its a very crude design, solid, but very crude. The Mosin is the same way, its difficult to make a 2 MOA group with a 10 MOA front sight.
 
The ranging of these rifles was not for accuracy but for volley fire, or to lay down cover fire. When a thousand plus guys dropped rounds at 700m, there was little left standing.

...volleying is extremely effective...and not much thought about today when everyone idolizes snipers at a mile...even a couple of SKS's at a couple hundred yards with full mags are a sight to behold!
 
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