Unpacking An SKS

the spank

the spank

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The SKS I ordered from Cabelas arrived monday and I finally got around to opening the package this evening. I have a couple questions before I strip and clean the rifle to get it ready to use.

First: What is the trick to closing the action? There is a lever at the rear left on the receiver. Does that need to be lifted up for the action to release forward?

Second: There is a small lever on the left side of the front sight that appears to be the lock for the piston rod. Should it be slid down fully until it clicks in place before firing?

Third: Is the only way to load the rifle via the 3 stripper clips by top loading through the groove in the bolt?

Fourth: Is the provided cleaning kit able to be stored in the stock and accessed through the hole in the buttplate?

Last: What is the small silver canister with two screw on tops that came with the rifle? Is that some kind of oil container? It was wrapped in brown paper and covered in grease/cosmoline about 1/16" thick. Looks like a mini flask, lol.

Oh and the rifle is stamped 1950r on top of the receiver. It was advertised as Russian mfg. It has a laminate stock and the piston rod handle is matching laminate as well. I would assume it is best to remove the stock completely to strip the gun of the cosmoline? Any advice on products to use to clean the bore?
 
Hey. Answers:

1) You can close the action by dropping/opening the magazine cover. This releases the bolt hold open.

2) Yes, all the way down so the gastube/piston inside doesn't go out of alignment and cause a failure of some kind.

3) Not the only way to load the rifle (magazines work too) but the most common method.

4) Yes, cleaning kit can be stored in the buttstock.

5) One of the cylinders is cleaner and another is oil. You're better off using modern products,
and not some 50+ year old congealed goop.
 
Welcome to the wacky world of "red rifles".

The SKS is not my "cup of tea" but my son has one and he says it's tons of fun.

You will learn a lot from this forum. Please note that we expect to see pictures of your new purchase ASAP.

Cheers !!
 
zippy_the_wonder_chimp said:
Hey. Answers:

1) You can close the action by dropping/opening the magazine cover. This releases the bolt hold open.

2) Yes, all the way down so the gastube/piston inside doesn't go out of alignment and cause a failure of some kind.

3) Not the only way to load the rifle (magazines work too) but the most common method.

4) Yes, cleaning kit can be stored in the buttstock.

5) One of the cylinders is cleaner and another is oil. You're better off using modern products,
and not some 50+ year old congealed goop.
Click to expand...

just to add to this a little

1: you can also just pull back the action and let it go and it will close. it dose on mine anyway.

3: the quick way is the strip. but you can feed in one round at a time. just see where a round goes with cliper strip, and then just push one it by hand there. NOTe i do recommend if at home doing this with dumby rounds. Also you can load it by poping open the magazine and putting the rounds in there then closing the magazine. youtube that one for details
 
Welcome to the RED side :). The sticky on SKS cleaning / breakdown is great. I watched a bunch of youtube videos as well. Good luck and have fun!
 
Rifter said:
Only if there are rounds in the mag, otherwise the bolt hold open will still hold the bolt open.
Click to expand...

Right. The follower needs to drop to release the BHO. So the empty mag needs to be opened so that the bolt can be pulled back, dropping the BHO.
 
The first SKS I ever saw was at a gunsmith friends shop many years ago. It had a 30 rd. mag you loaded and just popped into place like any other detatchable mag. Someone had also converted it to full auto. It was a fun and interesting test fire I got to try that day before it was being converted back to semi-auto. I assume there is a way to turn these guns into detatchable mag systems?
 
the spank said:
Someone had also converted it to full auto.
Click to expand...

The Chinese developed a full auto SKS, the Type 63. It was a failure because the SKS is over-gassed, which is fine for a semi-auto but causes a full auto to beat itself apart.

the spank said:
I assume there is a way to turn these guns into detatchable mag systems?
Click to expand...

Aftermarket magazines that replace the fixed box magazine with a detachable magazine, such as Tapco and Baur, are available.
 
You push the mag follower down with you finger to let the bolt go forward.

The type 63 is half AK really.
tumblr_mmfzg9B18Q1r1g0h2o1_500_zps53504656.jpg
 
Also watch out that the second piston doesn't fly across the room when you attempt to remove it. It's under pressure so stop/guide the end of it out with your finger tip.
 
EL34/6L6 said:
Also watch out that the second piston doesn't fly across the room when you attempt to remove it. It's under pressure so stop/guide the end of it out with your finger tip.
Click to expand...

This happened to me my first time, found the piston right away but that damn spring bounced down the hallway and it took me a hour to find it because my cat pounced on it and hid it on me...... lol
 
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