sks accuracy?

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little buster

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I can't hit #### with my sks at 100 yards, I spent 3 hours at the range and I just could not not keep my shots on my standard printer paper target, is it possible my sks is a lemon or am i just a newb?

I moved to the 25yard range and my shots were scattered to the right of my point of aim....
 
In all fairness its a sks, My SKS at about 100 feet holds a 6-8 inch group at 100-200 yards I have to aim like 2 feet to the left and down a foot to hit paper lol. Also get the adjustment tool and get it moved over so you hit in the middle. Try to get used to it, After 8 months of shooting my first one I was pretty impressed what i could land on paper at a distance of 200 yards (patern was all over) 70% on paper tho
 
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An SKS is no precision rifle, but it usually shoots "minute of enemy soldier" out to 300m or so (e.g.: you should be able to hit a 12 x 12 inch square if you're prone/bench)...

Assuming you're zeroed scattered to the right suggests you are jerking the trigger... Extrapolating that from 25 to 100m and you probably have your answer.

If you're a noob you may want to find someone more experienced to give you tips. Two hours with a coach will do wonders!
 
I've owned 5 of them and my conclusion is that none of them are factory sighted in a little tinkering is almost always required. Front post sight adjustment tools are cheap and easy to find. Even easier to make if you are half handy and have the tools.
 
That sounds worse than it should.. I've been able to hit a 12" gong without fail with irons on my sks at 100 yards.

My scoped SKS-D can do 1.5-2 inch groups at 100 yards...

If everything is going right then make the proper adjustments
 
Likely not zeroed and very off. Grab a front post tool and get your POA in order.
Use a sling wrap technique for stability if you are standing and shooting too.
 
Probably needs to be sighted in. You can get SKS sight adjustment tools on the interwebz for under $20.

Mine will print 3" groups at 50 yards reliably but it shoots 6" high. I basically have to aim below the paper to get a bullseye at 100 yards... Its kinda silly.

If I can't borrow a sight adjustment tool from someone I will be buying one. Then its a matter of shimming or bedding it, doing a trigger job, and doing something to address the god-awful sights it has. Im thinking a skinnier front post and a Tech Sight rear sight... I dunno...
 
Some guys swear by filing out the rear sight a bit too, although narrowing the post may actually be more effective. I'm going to do that with one of mine. Typically I shoot 5 inch groups with the odd crazy flyer. Surplus ammo tends to really suck too for accuracy. But first things first.....get it sighted in.
 
little buster said:
I can't hit #### with my sks at 100 yards, I spent 3 hours at the range and I just could not not keep my shots on my standard printer paper target, is it possible my sks is a lemon or am i just a newb?

I moved to the 25yard range and my shots were scattered to the right of my point of aim....
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Are you a new shooter? sounds like hold and trigger control problems, really important to maintain the correct sight picture...at 25 yards my sks can make one hole if firing supported...the trigger on the sks is terrible, but can be managed to some extent...also check that the action is not loose in the stock, and that the bore is smooth and shiny....that being said, I HAVE heard of SKS's that don't shoot very well, but it's possible you're making little mistakes that get exaggerated down range...were you firing supported or off hand?

and as everyone else said, sight the damn thing in, but you'll need to tighten up your groups before you can move the group around ;)

Philthy1 said:
Some guys swear by filing out the rear sight a bit too, although narrowing the post may actually be more effective. I'm going to do that with one of mine. Typically I shoot 5 inch groups with the odd crazy flyer. Surplus ammo tends to really suck too for accuracy. But first things first.....get it sighted in.
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I've experienced the exact opposite...I shoot tighter groups with Czech surplus than I do with Hornady SST.
 
My '49 shot 5 to 5.5 inch groups at 100m.
My '50 shot 4 inch groups at 100m.
My '52 shot 4 to 5 inch groups at 100m.

Average is 5 MOA with Czech surplus or new Barnaul.

All were unaltered refurbs. My best group was 1.5 inches at 100m with my '52.
 
Take this for what its worth as im brand new shooter, first time shooting semi auto rifle ever was few weeks ago. Firing Czech surplus ammo.

Bought a 52 Tula from wholesale sports. Looks to be mostly original with gas tube/piston only force matched parts.

First outing shot 220 rounds, by the end of it I could hit a milk jug at 50 yards and a pop can at 25 most of the time. thought maybe sights were a little off.

Second outing brought the chain saw, carved a rest out of a large log and used it to test accuracy. I hammered 5 golf tees into stumps and rested tennis balls on them, ranging from 20-60 yards. And proceeded to shoot them as fast as I could acquire targets and hit all 5 in less than 7 seconds with 5 shots. I was stunned, it was then I realized my rifle was much more accurate than I was giving it credit for, and that I need to work on my offhand shooting.

After that I have faith that when I miss its me not the rifle.
 
Last time I really tried with an SKS I could ring a 10" gong at 200 yards with just about every shot offhand. Some of the few misses were probably me not dealing well with the gritty trigger.... I bought a sight adjustment tool after I got my first one, but I've never had to tweak any of my three side to side. Only screw with the elevation a little bit.
 
Rifter said:
Take this for what its worth as im brand new shooter, first time shooting semi auto rifle ever was few weeks ago. Firing Czech surplus ammo.

Bought a 52 Tula from wholesale sports. Looks to be mostly original with gas tube/piston only force matched parts.

First outing shot 220 rounds, by the end of it I could hit a milk jug at 50 yards and a pop can at 25 most of the time. thought maybe sights were a little off.

Second outing brought the chain saw, carved a rest out of a large log and used it to test accuracy. I hammered 5 golf tees into stumps and rested tennis balls on them, ranging from 20-60 yards. And proceeded to shoot them as fast as I could acquire targets and hit all 5 in less than 7 seconds with 5 shots. I was stunned, it was then I realized my rifle was much more accurate than I was giving it credit for, and that I need to work on my offhand shooting.

After that I have faith that when I miss its me not the rifle.
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If you can consistently hit a golfball at 50-60 yards then I think you got one of the good ones.

Now Im not saying the rest are bad, but mine sure wouldn't be able to hit a golfball at 60 yards with any repeatability especially with surplus ammo. Maybe with handloads, some shimming and a trigger job... 2-3" groups at 50yards is pretty standard for these. Me and a buddy had a hell of a time hitting tannerite at 100 yards with the SKSs - After a few misses I clipped the lid, which blew the top off and spilled it everywhere. I wasn't impressed.... lol

kennymo said:
Last time I really tried with an SKS I could ring a 10" gong at 200 yards with just about every shot offhand. Some of the few misses were probably me not dealing well with the gritty trigger.... I bought a sight adjustment tool after I got my first one, but I've never had to tweak any of my three side to side. Only screw with the elevation a little bit.
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10" gong at 200m would be a 5MOA rifle. Well within the realm of possibility.
 
10" gong at 200m would be a 5MOA rifle. Well within the realm of possibility.
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It's about all I really expect out of one of these. With a solid side mounted scope and a bench it should tighten up a little bit, but you can't expect too much out of these old girls. They weren't exactly built for sharpshooting, good enough for a man or deer at a reasonable range....they're still a solidly built, reliable hunk of iron, and a bargain at $200.
 
Did you keep your eyes open? Was the pointy end directed downrange? Did you hold the rifle with both hands? Was there a "bang" noise when you missed the target?

Tighten everything that could be loose. Start at 25m, adjust sights until shots strike point of aim. Enjoy.
 
Suther said:
If you can consistently hit a golfball at 50-60 yards then I think you got one of the good ones.
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Tennis ball, on a golf tee lol.

But I do think I got a good one, it truly seems to me that it had very few rounds through it prior to me getting it, looks like original barrel and its a clean barrel. Looks like someone shot a few corrosive rounds through it, cleaned the barrel but left the gas system dirty as its the only part that was replaced, all other #'s match.
 
sks 200 meters



sks 500 meters



I have own and shot many sks. Accuracy runs about 3 MOA for decent one to about 5 MOA. That you are missing a piece of typing paper at 100 yards means that either your sights are not calibrated or your doing something wrong. Practice dryfire.
 
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