SKS left side charging handle

JVFriday13th

JVFriday13th

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Has anyone done this?
I've seen seen some less than detailed write ups and I'm definitely going to mill and thread the carrier and THEN weld it. If anyone has some experience to add that would be cool.

I'll post something if and when I'm successful.
 
I've seen people copy the Albanian look with right and left handed charging handles, though the actual method of adding the material to the left side varies. Most people just weld a stub of metal directly onto the carrier and shape it, you could try and thread something into the carrier, but it seems like more work than it's worth without some serious machinery. The biggest issue will be making sure that you either keep the hardness intact, or that you properly re-treat the carrier after you're done.

Personally the only experience I have is experimenting with taking one rusty carrier, carefully taking the charging handle off, and grafting it onto the left hand side of another with a MIG welder. Obviously I never installed this into a rifle because I destroyed the properties of the steel with the MIG, but with a TIG and some careful use of thermal compound, I imagine that it could be pulled off without ruining the piece.
 
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I've heard some horror stories of welds failing and handles rocketing into faces so I figured threading it is the way to go. I was hoping to get away with some minor welding using gmaw ( I've never run a tig ) and take it slow so as to not heat the carrier up to much. I've got a spare so it can't go too horribly wrong I suppose.
 
There are several videos on YouTube as well as a thread on CGN by a gentleman that converted an Sks for a friend that had difficulties using a right side handle.
 
Right on, thanks for the links.

I'm thinking I either locate the new handle at the extreme top left next to the stripper guides and don't mess with the receiver cover, or I put the new handle exactly opposite the stocker and notch the receiver cover to accommodate. What do you think?
 
JVFriday13th said:
Right on, thanks for the links.

I'm thinking I either locate the new handle at the extreme top left next to the stripper guides and don't mess with the receiver cover, or I put the new handle exactly opposite the stocker and notch the receiver cover to accommodate. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Depends on looks really, if you want to use your factory knob on the left hand side, i'd keep it in the same location and notch the cover. If you're going for the Albanian look, I'd just mount it high and forward.
 
If it was me I would not modify the receiver but that's my opinion. Look forward to see how yours turns out.

Edit: How about high and on an angle ala CZ 858.
 
JVFriday13th said:
Right on, thanks for the links.

I'm thinking I either locate the new handle at the extreme top left next to the stripper guides and don't mess with the receiver cover, or I put the new handle exactly opposite the stocker and notch the receiver cover to accommodate. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Folks with AR's like to add ambi kits to their guns...maybe make yours an ambi SKS.
 
grumpyguy said:
If it was me I would not modify the receiver but that's my opinion. Look forward to see how yours turns out.

Edit: How about high and on an angle ala CZ 858.
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be the receiver, just the cover. My receiver is already modded for pistol mags anyways, which is one of the reasons for going lefty-carrier to be able to do mag changes and bolt drops with the left hand and not have to break the pistol grip hand.

Who knows, it could end up being on a bit of an angle if that ends up being the most feasible place to plunge a machine tool and tap threads. We'll see. It's all just conceptual at this point but top of my list for next mods.
 
JVFriday13th said:
Right on, thanks for the links.

I'm thinking I either locate the new handle at the extreme top left next to the stripper guides and don't mess with the receiver cover, or I put the new handle exactly opposite the stocker and notch the receiver cover to accommodate. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I did two with the handle opposite to the origjnal location and modified the receiver covers. Two weeks ago i met a fellow at the range who welded the handle as far forward as he could, seemed to work perfectly as well...
 
Now I'm second guessing the machining and threading...
I wonder if welding is good enough. How have yours been holding up and how many rounds through the rifle with the lefties?
 
I did Albanian style several years using a cheap
mig 110v welders, you can see the weld line.

jh8PEz7.jpg
 
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