SKS introduced in 1946?

gerardjohnson

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Our club is having a military shoot this weekend for military rifles in use prior to 1946. I found one article that states the SKS was first introduced in 1946 in the USSR. Can anyone confirm or repute this date?
 
Yep. It was. You think if it didn't come befor the AK in 1947 the Sov's would have bothered with it?
 
What's REALLY weird about the sequence is that the Soviets adopted the ammo (7.62x39 M43) before they even had a firearm chambered for the round.
 
From simonov.net:

Field trials proved the weapon and, in 1944 a pre-production run of the SKS45 went to the Byelorussian front for battlefield trials. After some small 'tweaking,' it was officially adopted and designated the ''7.62 Samozaryadnyi Karabin Sisyemi Simonova Obrazets 1945g (7.62 Simonov System Selfloading Cabine Model 1945)-- shortened to SKS45-- and chosen as the ideal replacement for the SVT40.

I've found this info in a couple of places. SKS's are in for your shoot it seems. ;)
 
Unless they exclude it which is their prerogative.

We consider the SKS to be post WWII for our shoots (and a Norinco version would be a replica, not even a milsurp). Some have argued that the FN-49 was in design before 1946 and should be included as well - except that we exclude it. It all comes down to the organizers who can allow or disallow whatever they want - they have their reasons which some might not like, but anytime you have anything but an "open" shoot whether it be 22 rimfire, handguns, milsurp WWII and earlier, no mods, etc., etc. you leave people out.

We always offer guns for lend (with the borrower providing the ammo). If the SKS option doesn't work out for you, that is a possible option.
 
During our annual battle of the bulge mil shoot in December, we have allowed the SKS. I had one guy try the FN 49 stuff on me as well, but our rules state: a firearm of a type used on the battlefield during WW2.
The SKS does well in the match, and qualifies as the carbine for the short range stuff, yet still performs well for the 300 yard shots. Plus ammo is cheap and plentiful. How many other WWII milsurps can make that claim.
I don't like the SKS myself, but its hard not to admire an inexpensive rifle that performs so well.
 
The shoot regulations state:"Standard issue, non-restricted, center fire military rifles in use prior to 1946 will be allowed. No sniper rifles, target rifles, or scopes will be permitted." We do allow sporterized rifles as long as they still have the original barrels and wood ( the stock can be altered or the barrel shortened). The question now is, would the SKS be considered "standard issue".
 
SKS entered serial production in 1949. First prototype was built in 1941 then redesigned to use the M43 cartridge by 1944.

The staggering cost of re-equipping the Red Army on the heels of WWII certainly contributed to it's adoption later than it's designation date.
 
doesn't the M43 stand for 1943?

as a side note the PTRS is just a super huge SKS that was designed and built in just 20 days. i believe that was 1945. not sure though on the date.
 
P0WERWAGON said:
doesn't the M43 stand for 1943?

as a side note the PTRS is just a super huge SKS that was designed and built in just 20 days. i believe that was 1945. not sure though on the date.

Both the PTRS and sinlge shot PTRD carry the model year designation 41

http://www.antitank.co.uk/russian1.htm

And I was just Googling and found this for the first time!

http://www.ptrd.org/
 
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