SKS Accuracy
- Thread starter satyr
- Start date
TacticalVirus
Regular
- Location
- Ottawa, Ontario
The main reason that the SKS is inaccurate at "long" ranges has a fair bit to do with the design of the firearm. Loose tolerances, a heavy BCG, the way the piston interacts with the BCG, etc.
Stock M14s aren't all that accurate either, they generally need a fair bit of post-factory work to qualify for something like DM roles.
Stock M14s aren't all that accurate either, they generally need a fair bit of post-factory work to qualify for something like DM roles.
Gosh golly gee...My wife and I get 2" at 100 yards with milsurp, and about 1.5" to 1" at 100 yards with modern commercial. Now we just shoot at the 300 yard gong at our range with open sights. Our 13 year old daughter is starting to do the same.
Methinks a lot of the accuracy issues with these rifles is the person pulling the trigger... It's a long creepy trigger, and one has to learn by experience and practice as where it lets off. Also it's fun for pointing out who in your shooting group has developed a flinch.
As for the rifle, can they be tweaked?
Yes, to start with work on the barrel harmonics, if it has a bayonet fold it out as the point of impact with the iron sights were set to this configuration.
Remove any barrel/bayonet lug attached bi pods, and don't use them.
If you have a receiver cover scope mount...put it in the recycling bin, and go back to the original set up or attach a proper side mount scope.
Add a buttpad that will allow for a proper length of pull...unless of course your build is that of someone from Asia, or you wear a Vintage Russian battle coat to the range.
Use better ammo.
And finally practice, practice, practice.
Deltasilver
Regular
- Location
- Right behind you...
This past summer a buddy and I brought home a crate (case?) of Russians from Milarm in Edmonton. I wasn't involved in the ordering process but my buddy had done some haggling and the result was ten rifles; two laminate stock, two hardwood "collector grade" and six "shooters". I recall that at least two(?) had the mag limiters welded on the spring instead of the bottom of the mag.
Long story short we planned to test the laminates and shooters and keep the best two for ourselves.
They were all over the place. At least one wasn't even on the paper (later fixed a jammed rear sight). Surprisingly the two best groups were "shooter" grade - the one I kept is a '52 Tula with an obvious stock repair and the cheesy painted bolt. Shot 4 groups around 2.5". After a good cleaning and a windage adjustment it did tighten up.
Good enough that I would take it hunting. With Milsurp I still get the odd flier. Mebbe that's me tho.
I'll go with Calum - A decent side mount scope and commercial ammo would most likely make a world of difference - but as long as I can get my shells by the case I won't be going to the range with $20.00 boxes of 7.62x39 =)
Long story short we planned to test the laminates and shooters and keep the best two for ourselves.
They were all over the place. At least one wasn't even on the paper (later fixed a jammed rear sight). Surprisingly the two best groups were "shooter" grade - the one I kept is a '52 Tula with an obvious stock repair and the cheesy painted bolt. Shot 4 groups around 2.5". After a good cleaning and a windage adjustment it did tighten up.
Good enough that I would take it hunting. With Milsurp I still get the odd flier. Mebbe that's me tho.
I'll go with Calum - A decent side mount scope and commercial ammo would most likely make a world of difference - but as long as I can get my shells by the case I won't be going to the range with $20.00 boxes of 7.62x39 =)
Define inaccurate. My son hit the metallic shilouette pig at 300m, the ram at 500m and the buffalo (6' X 4') at 850m while test firing his new SKS. Dang near crapped my pants at the spotting scope! I won't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
Thanks for the replies i wasn't saying anything bad about the SKS btw. i just picked one up and haven't had it out yet i'm just going by what people seem to believe that they are not a very accurate gun. I just wanted some info on what causes this and its nice to see that some people get some good groupings with them because that's what i'm hoping for, i think half the people saying how inaccurate they are probably have never even used one.
Agreed, I am able to get 3 inch groups at 100 metres with mine after playing with the sights. Can hit the the steel plate at 200 metres 3 out of 5 if I really try. I have it shooting accurate enough for the Bush and for fun. This is all on Surplus ammo as I have 4 crates and will keep me shooting for a while.
why ar'nt sks's overly accurate? probably because the action is a tilt in place style action (AKA tilt and lock) as opposed to a rotating bolt assembly like you would see in a m14, which means in theory the rotating bolt works almost like a gas operated bolt action. the sks has less moving parts which means.... well less moving parts. the rotating bolt means well....... a rotating bolt? see where im going with this.....
I would like to ask the people that are getting the 2-3 inch groups at a 100 m with open sites and surplus ammo on a consitant basis. Are you aiming at the bull and are the groups in the bull or are the groups on the target somewhere with 2-3 inch groups?????
Gosh golly gee...My wife and I get 2" at 100 yards with milsurp, and about 1.5" to 1" at 100 yards with modern commercial. Now we just shoot at the 300 yard gong at our range with open sights. Our 13 year old daughter is starting to do the same.
Methinks a lot of the accuracy issues with these rifles is the person pulling the trigger... It's a long creepy trigger, and one has to learn by experience and practice as where it lets off. Also it's fun for pointing out who in your shooting group has developed a flinch.
As for the rifle, can they be tweaked?
Yes, to start with work on the barrel harmonics, if it has a bayonet fold it out as the point of impact with the iron sights were set to this configuration.
Remove any barrel/bayonet lug attached bi pods, and don't use them.
If you have a receiver cover scope mount...put it in the recycling bin, and go back to the original set up or attach a proper side mount scope.
Add a buttpad that will allow for a proper length of pull...unless of course your build is that of someone from Asia, or you wear a Vintage Russian battle coat to the range.
Use better ammo.
And finally practice, practice, practice.
More info, please.
Maybe you can take a video and show how it's done, cause I don't have a clue.
.
I've got one of the earlier chicom military SKS's and it shoots great. Knock the pigs over about every second shot at rosebud (500m), would knock more over but often the hit is not enough to push the pig over.
