sks tapco gas tube mount

For some, there's a bit of play with Tapco gas tube w/ handguard, though mine doesn't. That being said, I don't think an optic mounted onto the handguard would reliably retain zero.
 
How well does this gas tube mount work for optics? http://www.fabsports.ca/STOCK/sks/TAP-SKS6601.html
I want to mount a 1x red dot. I don't want a way too tall receiver mount or a get in the way rear iron sight replacement mount.

Sorry to say, but it does not mount optics well. First, it's mounting on the gas tube, and it's not mounting to the receiver. It's guaranteed to move.

Second, you're mounting it on a plastic rail, which is not metal, therefore it's softer, pliable to an extent, and will bend under recoil.

You have two choices for the SKS to hold zero.

1. NC Star or similar receiver cover - get one with the claws that screw into the receiver. This will hold zero, but the bad news is as soon as you shoot corrosive ammo through your SKS, you have to remove it to clean it. Zero is lost.

2. Choate or similar receiver mount - you have to drill out, tap and screw this into your receiver. If you plan to keep your SKS, hunt with it, and mount a decent scope on it, this is what you want to have. (before doing this, find a Russian SKS that shoots real nice, then go to town) The only problem is once you drill out your receiver, it's "perceived" value drops a bit. This will do NOTHING to the performance to the gun, and I have owned a few SKS's that have had holes in the receiver that still sold near what I paid for them. You can put 50 holes in your receiver and it will still fire fine.

3. Scout SKS mount - this goes on your rear sight. I have their sight on my CZ 858. It's awesome, but expensive. And you can use it as a traditional rear sight if you want to un-mount your optic.
 
After I installed the Tapco stock I ground off those stupid mounting brakets. They were getting in the way of the irons and they are useless for mounting anything because they are plastic and mounted over the hottest part of the weapon.

Tapco has a love affair with plastic. I'd gladly pay extra for a stock that came with metal re-inforcements.
 
They are just there to add a "feature" to sell the part. They are for show IMHO.

The actual handguard/tube has no issues.
 
Sorry to say, but it does not mount optics well. First, it's mounting on the gas tube, and it's not mounting to the receiver. It's guaranteed to move.

Second, you're mounting it on a plastic rail, which is not metal, therefore it's softer, pliable to an extent, and will bend under recoil.

You have two choices for the SKS to hold zero.

1. NC Star or similar receiver cover - get one with the claws that screw into the receiver. This will hold zero, but the bad news is as soon as you shoot corrosive ammo through your SKS, you have to remove it to clean it. Zero is lost.

2. Choate or similar receiver mount - you have to drill out, tap and screw this into your receiver. If you plan to keep your SKS, hunt with it, and mount a decent scope on it, this is what you want to have. (before doing this, find a Russian SKS that shoots real nice, then go to town) The only problem is once you drill out your receiver, it's "perceived" value drops a bit. This will do NOTHING to the performance to the gun, and I have owned a few SKS's that have had holes in the receiver that still sold near what I paid for them. You can put 50 holes in your receiver and it will still fire fine.

3. Scout SKS mount - this goes on your rear sight. I have their sight on my CZ 858. It's awesome, but expensive. And you can use it as a traditional rear sight if you want to un-mount your optic.

I just had a look at the Scout site and their rear sight scope mount looks like a winner. They have it listed for $59.85. Do we have any dealers up here that carry the mounts?
 
Been wondering this for a while... About the scout mount, it looks like it replaces the leaf sight, so if I get this I have no Iron sights for when the optics fail? or does it still work, but only graduated for 100m?


Tapco does, or did, sell a hand guard without the weaver rail.

Does anyone know if they sell OD replacement handguard (without the gas tube)? I can only find black ones.
 
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Also what about installing a buffer in the receiver cover, or do the receiver cover mounts primarily lose their zeroes once you strip the weapon for cleaning?
 
receiver cover mounts are crap. Plain and simple.

The scout mount replaces your iron sight with a new one built into the mount. So when you forget to turn that red dot off you have some sort of back up.
 
For some, there's a bit of play with Tapco gas tube w/ handguard, though mine doesn't. That being said, I don't think an optic mounted onto the handguard would reliably retain zero.
i just mounted a red dot on mine and it seems to be holding zero just fine as well
as long as the hand guard is not moving around your good
 
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