SKS Ammo selection

MolonLabe

MolonLabe

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First off, I hope that I'm posting this in the right section. Forgive me if it's wrong.

I have an 1953 Russian SKS that I bought years ago and have never shot it. I've taken her apart and have cleaned all the cosmoline off. ( wife got pissed at me for putting the stock in the dishwasher.. oops )

Everything is all back together and now I'm looking into shooting her. ( the gun not my wife )

My question is what ammo to use to achieve the most accuracy with an SKS as possible. I've researched online that the SKS has a twist rate of 1:9ish and that the SKS preferres to be feed Surplus ammo for their harder primers to avoid any slam fires.
From what I understand is that Surplus ammo is not accurate and most of what's available can't be used at the range I go to. (No steel ball allowed ). I'm also thinking that the twist rate of the sks makes the bullet unstable in flight, perhaps a heavier projectile would cure that?

Also, I'm wondering if I use a heavier slower bullet would that make the bullet more stable and get more accuracy?

I've narrowed it down to these chooses, and I'm looking for feedback on them or info on any other ammo that would achieve better groupings than the regular surplus.

Barnaul 123gr FMJ

Sellier & Bellot Surplus Corrosive Ammo - 127Gr, FMJ


I know that the SKS is not known for accuracy. But, it's something that I would like to tinker with. Any data with what groupings you got with what ammo, or any pointers would be great. I'm a total noob at this so please feel free to school me.

Thanks everyone :)
 
It's an SKS. The accuracy potential of the rifle is not worth the time and effort of thinking about barrel twist or bullet weight. Find the cheapest non-corrosive you can and try it.
 
I'm having luck with 157grn cast bullets. But you would have to get into casting and reloading

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Hard primers and slamfires have nothing to do with each other if the rifle is in operating condition.

Your firing pin should rattle freely in the bolt, if not , clean it til it does.

Do the same safety test on your trigger mechanism that you would normally do on EVERY semi-automatic firearm. THe same trigger test as in your firearm course.


As for ammo, since your rifle has a chrome barrel, it shouldn't matter what ammo you are using. Your rifle has shot thousands of rounds of corrosive ammo before you got it, and look what wonderful condition it came to you in?

Try as much ammo as you want of different makes, but I doubt you would see much of a difference. Even my best and most accurate homeloads in X39 does not make much of a difference, other than the SKS chews the crap out of my good quality brass. THe most accurate commercial loads I've purchased are the PRVI soft points ( fired in a cz527).
 
Great post! A nice mix of blasphemy (not having shot the SKS, stock in dishwasher) and humour. I think you are going to be happiest reloading.
But you have to take at least 100 rounds of surplus to the range and fire it all off in a couple of minutes, to get the full SKS experience.:d
 
@Yomamma .. 157gr eh?!? Perhaps I will look at reloading in the future. After all it is a hobby for me.

@Philhut .. thanks for your input. Will take note.

@ Fiddler .. great advice thank you. From what I've been told and what I can see is that the SKS has never been fired. There's no refurbishing stamps or markings on her. And I've asked my gun shop if it's normal that the trigger has a lot of creep in it. They said it's cause it's never been fired. And that it will get smoother the more I shoot it. How true is that? I don't know. I'm going to recheck my trigger again and firing pin before I shoot it; and of course one cartridge at a time for the first few shots.

@ R N .. yup blasphemy. I shouldn't If done what YouTube told me, lesson learned.. hence my post here CGN

@ the whole9yards. .. ok I will look int the Hornady SST as well. Thanks.
 
Oh yes Johnnyc.. thank you too.

Does the non- corrosive ammo make that much of a difference in accuracy? Just wondering...
I always thoroughly clean and lube my firearms after my trips to the range.
 
Has nothing to do with being corrosive ammo. Corrosive is generally military grade ammo, emphasis on quantity not quality. Any modern, non military, made stuff is made to tighter specs
 
yomomma said:
Has nothing to do with being corrosive ammo. Corrosive is generally military grade ammo, emphasis on quantity not quality. Any modern, non military, made stuff is made to tighter specs
Click to expand...

Not doubting you, but I have wondered about this. For years after the US military went to non-corrosive priming, military match ammo was still corrosive-primed. I always thought they did it for a more positive, quicker ignition.
 
Corrosive primers are more reliable and good for long term storage. Does not have much to do with accuracy. Most imported Milsurp is adequate for its intended purpose. Generally most quality civilian ammo is more accurate.
 
Don't worry about shooting corrosive ammo, just clean the gun properly with hot water afterwards. Enjoy.
 
MolonLabe said:
@Yomamma .. 157gr eh?!? Perhaps I will look at reloading in the future. After all it is a hobby for me.

@Philhut .. thanks for your input. Will take note.

@ Fiddler .. great advice thank you. From what I've been told and what I can see is that the SKS has never been fired. There's no refurbishing stamps or markings on her. And I've asked my gun shop if it's normal that the trigger has a lot of creep in it. They said it's cause it's never been fired. And that it will get smoother the more I shoot it. How true is that? I don't know. I'm going to recheck my trigger again and firing pin before I shoot it; and of course one cartridge at a time for the first few shots.

@ R N .. yup blasphemy. I shouldn't If done what YouTube told me, lesson learned.. hence my post here CGN

@ the whole9yards. .. ok I will look int the Hornady SST as well. Thanks.
Click to expand...


Trigger/Safety test for ANY semi-auto Rifle ( takes 15 seconds)


1. unload rifle

2. #### bolt with safety on, then pull trigger. Nothing should happen.

3. take safety off and pull trigger. Should dry fire.

4. Pull and hold trigger, and fully #### bolt with other hand, then release trigger, should only hear slight click but hammer stays up. pull trigger again to hear dry fire. ( if you have a problem with this step, your trigger sear is not engaging and the hammer is hitting the firing pin. THis is a defect/malfunction do not use the rifle until fixed)
 
TheWhole9Yards said:
Most accurate off the shelf x39 I've shot is hornady SST, I was able to shoot MOA all day with my AR. Surplus will depend on the batch.
Click to expand...

Does this shoot to more or less the same point of aim as the surplus corrosive stuff?

The reason I ask is that I am considering using a round or two this ammo to check zero after reinstalling the dust cover mounted scope after cleaning.

I sight in with corrosive ammo then after the range session disassemble and clean (including removing the dust cover). But to check zero, if I use corrosive, I have to clean again etc etc.

If I use a few rounds the "clean" stuff to check zero I can just run a patch through the bore and put the (now sighted in) rifle in the safe until the next range session. I don't like storing rifles that I an not sure are are sighted in.
 
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The SKS is not an inherently accurate weapon beyond 50 yards. Unless you are rich, feed it with good old russian corrosive ammo and clean it with boiling hot water or windex to wash out the salts.
Chinese ammo is ok but kind of dirty.
I think the SKS is a poor man's AR - just look at all the accessories out there!
My '51 is somewhat prone to slamfires but that's due to it being "new" unrefurbished. The firing pin polishing cured 90% of the issues, just need to spend a little bit of time on the bolt internals.
 
Thank you fiddler! As far as I remember steps 1,2,3 is ok I'm going to recheck 4 when I get home.

@BR427 - accessories suck for the sks. I did the mistake and bought a Barska Muzzle break for it ... a total waste of money!

@saskminer - 50 yards is not much. And no I'm not rich. Hahaha
 
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