SKS upgrades: Hical peep sight, and Tapco magazine.

delboybc

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
41   0   0
Location
Delta BC
Hi All

I just wanted to show some pics of some SKS upgrades I had done.

My eyes have been getting worse with age and was having difficulty with the stock sights so I decided to try the peep sight offered by Hi-Cal, makes a difference for me as only need to focus on the front post and I can get a better field of view. I do have a peep sight on a lever action and is nice to have the rear aperture closer to the eye but I have found the sks one which is mounted in the same place as the sks standard rear sight to be fine.

I also tried out some of the Tapco mags as well. Initially I had a few troubles with fail to feed but after doing a bit of sanding on the magazine they are working fine.

I have debated about putting a different stock on the sks but have come to really like the laminate stock and didn’t want to do any upgrades that would require any drilling.

I was really impressed with the customer service I got at Hi-cal, I was in the shop when it opened on Saturday and they installed the sight, fitted the magazines and did some trigger work while I waited. Went straight to the bush and spent the afternoon shooting. Sights and trigger work makes a nice difference. I was also impressed with Dave’s SKS knowledge and how he showed me the work he was doing on the trigger and magazines. Helped me understand how things should be functioning on the SKS platform and saved me a lot of time with the magazines final fitting as I knew what was needed.

Del

036_zpsshtxqnjd.jpg


021_zpsu36xnpej.jpg


023_zpsgmwckjvb.jpg


030_zpsbcfzhyjs.jpg
 
Is that peep sight set at 100 yards or is it adjustable?

In the 2nd picture you will see a small screw at the front of the sight, this will adjust the elevation. Dave recommended leaving it as low as it would go and doing your adjusting at the front post. This would allow a better field of view and profile as rear sight and front post would be lower. Reminded me of the L1A1 in the military were we did the elevation adjustments via the front sight post.
 
For the trigger work did he work with the existing sear or did he replace it with a new sear, and file/stone it for proper engagement? I would like to know, because I sent him an email with that very question, but he did not get back to me.
 
For the trigger work did he work with the existing sear or did he replace it with a new sear, and file/stone it for proper engagement? I would like to know, because I sent him an email with that very question, but he did not get back to me.

We use factory sears, cut for neutral engagement, everything stoned & smoothed out. Our trigger jobs turn out nice & smooth! Sorry for you not getting our reply, sometimes they go to spam....
 
I dig those sights ! Any videos or range reports ! Seems like the best peep sight upgrade on the market ! Looks sturdy and durable ! Ready for action !
 
I got to try my new Hi-Cal peep sight out on Saturday. I put it on a 56/57 Tula. Great, fast target acquisition compared to the leaf sight. Also, very nice in low light/bad contrast days when the front blade disappears into that original rear leaf sight. Or disappears into the background.

The sight picture is quite different though. The set screw on the unit is not zeroed at anything close to 100 yards. I found my zero was more like 160 yards. And I couldn't lower it anymore than completely down. So I was shooting high until I got used to it and did lower hold overs to get on target. I may raise the front sight, but I haven't decided.

But, it is a cool idea. And Koo-Do's to Hi-Cal for having it made. While I like the original leaf rear sight, there are times when the lighting is far from ideal. That's when the peep sight really shines. I would recommend one.
 
Last edited:
I got to try my new Hi-Cal peep sight out on Saturday. I put it on a 56/57 Tula. Great, fast target acquisition compared to the leaf sight. Also, very nice in low light/bad contrast days when the front blade disappears into that original rear leaf sight. Or disappears into the background.

The sight picture is quite different though. The set screw on the unit is not zeroed at anything close to 100 yards. I found my zero was more like 160 yards. And I couldn't lower it anymore than completely down. So I was shooting high until I got used to it and did lower hold overs to get on target. I may raise the front sight, but I haven't decided.

But, it is a cool idea. And Koo-Do's to Hi-Cal for having it made. While I like the original leaf rear sight, there are times when the lighting is far from ideal. That's when the peep sight really shines. I would recommend one.

Thanks for the report/comparison! Just need to get one now. I am guessing the install was no big deal as nothing was said about it.
4x4junkie
 
For me, the install was like pulling fingernails out. I watched all the videos. How hard could it be...? It took me two and a half hours, I totally wrecked the original leaf sight, I swore, I #####ed. You get the idea.

On my rifle the notch that the pins need to follow, had a very sharp edge. So the pins on the leaf sight had a very difficult time riding the channel. Combine that with the spring pressure that you need to over come, and you have the ingredients for a nasty struggle.

Buy hey, installing the new sight once I had the old one out....only took two seconds. You tube videos....easy my a$$!
 
Some rear sights have a pin you need to remove first, drift it out before you try to remove the sight. You need a fine punch, or thin the SKS toolkit punch. If all else fails, i will drill the end of the pin from the LH side, then drift it. I have done over 100 of them....


 
Back
Top Bottom