SKS barrel shortening???

J

jepree

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Curious as to weather or not you can cut an SKS factory barrel to 18.6" yourself or do you need a gunsmith to make the firearm legal at the shortened length? I know for shotguns its a no-no to shorten/modify the barrel without a gunsmith but does this hold true to rifle barrels as well? Ive seen a some for sale here and there and was just wondering how they went about it. Oh and all this for me would just be for aesthetics as i am not a purest.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
I had shorten one back in the day to 18.6", and removed the bayo lug. Was great fun in a folding choate stock, but I ended up turning into a purist and regretting it. Ended up selling it recently, and buying another stock tula sks.

PM me if you want pictures to give you an idea, I'm sure I can find some.

Cheers.
 
TurboTapin said:
I had shorten one back in the day to 18.6", and removed the bayo lug. Was great fun in a folding choate stock, but I ended up turning into a purist and regretting it. Ended up selling it recently, and buying another stock tula sks.

PM me if you want pictures to give you an idea, I'm sure I can find some.

Cheers.
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How did it cycle? I allways though that the presure might not stay high long enough to be 100% reliable.
 
Mine is at 16 1/2in (U.S.) and it cycles as it should. At 18.6 no worries, I think
they are a little over gassed to start with.
 
gunsmith isn't supposed to "cut" below 18.5" ether now if he is making a NEW bbl that's different. but exisiting shotgun bbl or any other gun for that matter can be cut by anyone aslong as its not below 18.5'
 
Mongo62 said:
cut a few back to 18.5 and had no issues.

just a question, why do you think only a gunsmith can shorten a shotgun bbl? as long as you don't go under 18.5 anyone can do it
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Not sure. I think for some reason i thought you werent allowed to modify barrels regardless of length unless a licensed gunsmith did the work.
 
Mongo62 said:
gunsmith isn't supposed to "cut" below 18.5" ether now if he is making a NEW bbl that's different. but exisiting shotgun bbl or any other gun for that matter can be cut by anyone aslong as its not below 18.5'
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Actually its 457mm which is 17.99". But you are right, makes no difference who cuts it so long as it stays above 457mm. A semiauto becomes restricted under 470mm and anything cut below 457 becomes prohibited. But of course you can install a new manufactured barrel at any length without becoming prohib lol. Under 470 for semi's is still restricted and anything under 660mm oal is restricted as well. All work can be done by anyone except for any verifying if required for classification changes. How convenient the grey area has more surface area than the black and white put together. The firearms act is a trap, not a rule book. Needs a full overhaul IMO but thats another thread in itself.
 
Also meant to add, shortening the SKS to 18.6" does not affect cycling at all. The SKS is very overgassed for reliability in adverse conditions and doesn't care if 1.5" of barrel falls off. It still cycles aggressively. Accuracy is not effected provided the shortened bbl gets an acceptable crown. Mine shot 3-4" in stock form and after shortening, crowning, setting the front sight back and bedding in to a Russian arctic birch stock.
 
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