Surplus SKS and metallurgy

I have read somewhere that iron or steel will eventually revert back to its original form, which is iron oxide/rust. So we prevent or slow down this natural process by blueing, plating, painting or other coating process.

I also learned a long time ago, and I may remember correctly or wrongly, steel alloys whether in original or tempered state, are stonger than non-alloyed steels because of their molecular structure. Sooner or later, this molecular structure will deteriorate (I don't know the technical term) and the steel or steel alloy will return to its weak original state. Another reason I ask is that older or antique firearms should always be inspected by a qualified smith before being fired, to check for mechanical integrity; so age matters.

So my question is, is this theory correct?

And if so, how long before the steel of an SKS built in the 1950s deteriorates (if it in fact will deteriorate in the molecular level), before it gets so bad the rifle cannot be shot at all. (in approximate number of years)

Should I even be concerned about this phenomenon, if real?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

You should see what earth would do to buildings and the rest when human are all gone. Check out Discovery Channel.:popCorn:

In theory it will happened if you do not take care of your gun ( or any metal for that matter).
If you store your gun in dry area and oil it up it will be fine for you grandsons to shoot. Do not forget to clean your gun after range trip I am not talking tomorrow RIGHT AWAY!

Now something new for you to know, rifle from WW2 are being found in the forests at the present day. Clean it up an the will fire, but they will not be accurate for obvious reasons.

I am not saying refurbish SKS or any others rifles are bad but do not expect them to be accurate.
If you want "fireworks rifles" go ahead. Quality and price always goes hand in hand. New BMW are not $13 999 right, so why would you expect Russian or Yugoslavian or East German SKS be cheaper?
Supply and Demand.
Quality versus Quantity

FYI
A lot of people write on the internet that SKS are not accurate I disagree.
I read that one of CGN regular won the competition somewhere in ON or Quebec with his SKS. Good for him.

Not accurate SKS are only the one that has not been taking care of.
Like I said if you do not take care of your car(take it to mechanic or simply change fluids), would you take it across Canada.
Some of us will I guess:)

I think this thread started to remind all of us "How great of a deal we can get for $350".
This rider person already had a conversation 5 month ago about how great Lever and how they are best deal ever. At the different web site in USA.
SO it is an example how you can save on advertisement. Now only one question comes to my head- If you save on advertisement what else do you save on?
;)
 
sergey96 said:
I think this thread started to remind all of us "How great of a deal we can get for $350".

This rider person already had a conversation 5 month ago about how great Lever and how they are best deal ever.

At the different web site in USA.
SO it is an example how you can save on advertisement.

Now only one question comes to my head- If you save on advertisement what else do you save on?;)
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I have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. My CGN handle is easyrider604. I am a person just like all the other members. I do not appreciate being referred to as "rider person". Rude and crude, IMO.

If anybody else on this forum has a problem with my sharing the fact that there is a source of affordable SKS/ammo combos, please let me know. You are the only one I hear who sounds like he is complaining. What gives????

FYI, I have helped people buy their SKSs from Lever, and have thank you messages from them. I have no business connection with Lever Arms. I do not receive any benefit from Lever Arms. I do not expect any. I simply want to help other shooters enjoy our sport with the least expense. What is wrong with that?

Isn't helping one another, especially we in the shooting community, what CGN is all about? What is wrong about helping other people? Pray tell.
 
Easyrider604 Relax,
Read again his post, may be you would get it. All we are arguing on all the topics that it is not the best quality. We do not know who you are and how you might or might not be connected to Lever Arms. For all I care you should run and get more sks from Lever Arms. When you come to the range and someone has better looking/accuracy Russian SKS ask them where they got it. All sergey tried to say all the cars look the same from outside but when you get inside or drive it on the road you can see which one is better by comparing. As much as I don't like free advertising from non CGN dealers I am not here to police them. I am a supporting dealer and I am proud to say that my contribution pays for some cost of this website. Levers doesn't so he can offer his rifles for less. What I bring is different quality than Lever arms and this is another reason why I sell mine slightly higher. I pay extra money to bring quality product to you CGN users and to many stores in Canada. If you want something that was used and abused go to them. Like I said before in many other posts my opinion about lever is still the same.

easyrider604 said:
I have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. My CGN handle is easyrider604. I am a person just like all the other members. I do not appreciate being referred to as "rider person". Rude and crude, IMO.

If anybody else on this forum has a problem with my sharing the fact that there is a source of affordable SKS/ammo combos, please let me know. You are the only one I hear who sounds like he is complaining. What gives????

FYI, I have helped people buy their SKSs from Lever, and have thank you messages from them. I have no business connection with Lever Arms. I do not receive any benefit from Lever Arms. I do not expect any. I simply want to help other shooters enjoy our sport with the least expense. What is wrong with that?

Isn't helping one another, especially we in the shooting community, what CGN is all about? What is wrong about helping other people? Pray tell.
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I am not aware that properly stored steel alloys simply deteriorate on their own over time.

Any substance to what this guy says? First time I've ever heard of it.
 
1851display.jpg



Here's an original Colt 1851 Navy (... almost 160 years old) and it gets shot regularly still. In fact it was built better than 90% of the 'modern' firearms in my collection. There are much older guns than this still being used. I think your SKS has a few generations of life left in her.
 
There may be some truth in what you have heard.
The steel in the barrel is prone to suffer structure changes if overheated often. Military guns are prone to this especially full-autos. But then again, the military has lots of spare barrels and on top of that, they're not designed to last forever.
Steel grains increase in size at high temperatures and alloy metals and/or carbon precipitates as intergranular carbide which weakens the structure. Frequent violent stress leads to fracture. But I would say barrel burst is way less frequent than barrel wear.
 
What is going to happen when Lever Arms stops bringing Russian SKS rifles. Would your opinion change? I am bringing quality product and I go an extra mile to do so. You have an opinion about us, then good for you. I have opinion about Lever Arms. That opinion is definitely different then yours. I only bring Russian SKS rifles, if I could make 130 on case of ammo then I would lower my prices at the moment my only business is SKS rifles and I am handpicking those for all of my customers. I have never had a complaint about the quality and I brought over 4000 SKS to Canada. Ask yourself a question why I did not have a single complaint. Could it be because of the quality? People choose me for a reason and that reason is. Quality not painted SKS , handpicked and checked by professional before those shipped to Canada. Lever is trying to compete with me by reducing their pricing and I compete with quality.

bjs7293 said:
Like I said before in previous posts that have disappeared, my opinion of westrifle is still the same. If people in the Vancouver area are paying more than $200.00 for a SKS, they are paying to much.
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bjs7293 said:
Like I said before in previous posts that have disappeared, my opinion of westrifle is still the same. If people in the Vancouver area are paying more than $200.00 for a SKS, they are paying to much.
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I paid more than $300 for my unissued 1953 russian, sooo nice and clean,its like a dream and i dont think i have paid too much for that quality. If you want quality you must pay the prize. I'm looking foward to do business with Westrifle, their sks are very very nice. I dont want to bring down anyones but i prefer buying somewhere i can get what i want even if the cost is higher, but its me.....
 
arachn'auquébec said:
Steel will oxidate, but a well preserved steel piece wil never be deteriorated just by ''aging''. A lot of parameters can deteriorate it, like temperature and oxygen, but time alone won't change a thing.

Steel, by nature, is an alloy of iron and carbon. Steel alloyed with other elements such as chrome, molybdenum, silicon etc etc... Won't necessarily be stronger than simple, carbon steel. Characteristics will be changed, but it's all a matter of comprimise.


Ex1: ''Stainless'' steel is a steel alloyed with at least 13% Chromium(if I remember correctly). It isn't ''stronger'' than carbon steel, but the advantages over it in some applications are obvious.

Ex2: Some steels are alloyed with sulfur. Sulfur is essentially a contaminant in steel, weakening it. But sometimes it reduces production cost, since a weaker steel is easier on the machinery.

Well preserved stainless steel, carbon steel, O1, A2 etc etc. will retain their molecular structure as long as they are well preserved.


Quote: Kernalvax
I shoot the hell out of a 1908 swede mauser, a 1950's sks should be the same as if it was made yesterday

Quote: Satain
These rifles will out live us and our children if properly taken care of. Last October I took a sibe by side shotgun to the range and blew 4 boxes of 00 buck threw it andit worked like a charm. This SxS was made in the late 1800's. Just clean properly and get ready for our next gong shoot easyrider604! Cuz spring is right around the conner.

Quote: Neitarms
Here's an original Colt 1851 Navy (... almost 160 years old) and it gets shot regularly still. In fact it was built better than 90% of the 'modern' firearms in my collection. There are much older guns than this still being used. I think your SKS has a few generations of life left in her.
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Quote: legi0n
There may be some truth in what you have heard.
The steel in the barrel is prone to suffer structure changes if overheated often. Military guns are prone to this especially full-autos. But then again, the military has lots of spare barrels and on top of that, they're not designed to last forever.
Steel grains increase in size at high temperatures and alloy metals and/or carbon precipitates as intergranular carbide which weakens the structure. Frequent violent stress leads to fracture. But I would say barrel burst is way less frequent than barrel wear.

End quotes

Thank you for your above replies. They gave me the explanations or examples I need to hear. I'd appreciate more replies like the foregoing, preferably with technical explanations on why or why not metal weakens with age or use. I am not asking about metal deterioration due to rust.

I want to thank all the other posters as well for your replies.
 
Lever has some decent ones if you don't mind poking around and looking. I bought a painted one but don't recommend it because it was a pain getting the paint off the bolt and bolt carrier. The funny thing is the paint came off the rest of the gun easily, its now sporting its original blue with no rust spots.
 
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