SKS Accuracy

Trigger job.

In answer to the OP: off hand at 100 yds i can keep an sks shooting generally within an 8 inch circle. About the same as with a regular hunting rifle. With a rest, i expect and generally get around 4 inch 5 shots groups at 100 with surplus ammo.

I find if you invest in front and rear aftermarket sights that usually improves shooting it drastically. It's a $200 rifle
 
5rnds = 2-3" 3rnds = 1.5-2.5" @100yrds with decent .30cent ammo, 3-9x scope bolted to the receiver, no bayo, no bayo lug, 4 lb trigger job and off a bench rest.

I havent tried expensive ammo yet, im still building up an collection of it so I can do a really throughout accuracy video this summer. Plus i need to figure out a way to properly bed my Archangel stock.
 
If you can find a batch of the Chinese non-corrossive stuff that Canada Ammo has/had, it shoots quite well out of the Savage Axis I re-barreled last year using a heavy savage .308 barrel, re-chambered to 7.62 x 39mm. 1" groups are the norm with that combo. Shoots a little larger groups about 1.5" out of the a fore mentioned SKSUNOV
 
Before becoming a totally oppressed nation, I had the privilege of owning/shooting(off range) an AK-47.
Both the SKS and the AK-47 seemed to have about the same accuracy potential. Hence being supplied with over-cap. clips.:rolleyes:
 
My Chinese with receiver mount and scope 3-4inch 5 shot bench rest groups at 100yards with Norc silver box ammo. My best was 2.5 inch with Hornady SST, I wouldn't think twice about taking a deer out to 100 to maybe at most 150 yards with this rifle and SST ammo.
 
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This is what I get out of mine after shimming the action and scoping it with a MagWedge rail and 1.5-6x scope.

The Dominion hollowpoint ammo fires the same as most surplus, with the advantage of being non-corrosive and "hunt legal" in Glorious Socialist Republic of Albertastan, so i can punk coyotes on the cheap (wouldn't use it for deer). This was off a shooting bench and with sandbags.

sks_v_m85_test1.jpg


Both targets had a "coffee twitch" flyer. On the whole, I'd give the M85 a 1.5" rating with surplus/cheap commercial, and the SKS a 3.5" rating with surplus/cheap commercial, but that's after putting some work into it.

With Hornady SST rounds, both rifles tighten up a bit. So close to 1" as doesn't count for the M85, about 2&1/4" for the SKS.

Keep in mind, that's a scoped SKS, with a shimmed action. Out of the box, I would add 1-2" for the same rifle.
 
Does anyone reload for the rifle. I bought 3 SKS rifles in December, some shoot better than the others with corrosive.

I do reload for mine and actually have a half decent load worked up using cast checked bullets. Meant to have it out at the range this weekend but my VZ needed to be sighted back in after messing around with some different loads. Haven't loaded x39 in a while but do have some of my cast loads left that I'll duplicate this week so I'll have some extra to shoot next weekend. Rounds are in an ammo pouch with tag listing load details and marked "good load" so they gotta be good.
 
If you can find a batch of the Chinese non-corrossive stuff that Canada Ammo has/had, it shoots quite well out of the Savage Axis I re-barreled last year using a heavy savage .308 barrel, re-chambered to 7.62 x 39mm. 1" groups are the norm with that combo. Shoots a little larger groups about 1.5" out of the a fore mentioned SKSUNOV

do you have a picture or link to this "SKSUNOV" ? im interested to see it !
 
I have a nice unissued sks with an honest 200 rounds through it.....it has a decent trigger. ..but still groups about 3.5 inches
...my 7.62x39 bush Ranger can manage just over two inches
 
I shoot only once in a while one of the dozen SKS i own, never calculate for group size...
The only thing i really noticed is that the 4 Chinese SKS Factory 306 Brand new military bought at Marstar, do shoot better than all the others...
No explainations, they just seem to be tighter and better shooters... JP.
 
What I have found is that there is very little consistency from gun to gun. I have many of them, and have shot many of them. Most are 5" guns. I do however have one that does 3" easily even with the original sights. It was my most accurate one, so I did the trigger as well, and its excellent now. I'd say its a smooth, crisp 3lbs or so. I have no doubt I could do 2" groups with a scope.
 
I have a few. The best for accuracy is a really beat up 1953 refurb. The worst are two pristine 1954's.

With a scope 2-3" groups are typical with the best of mine. I basically gave up on accuracy because I couldn't be bothered to find a scope mount that would maintain zero between range sessions and would allow cleaning. Maybe I will revisit the effort one day.
 
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