SKS and accuracy

[enfield303t]

Took out one of our SKS rifles today. Have had this one for several years and a conservative amount of rounds it has shot would be 5,000. I think the round count thru this gun is higher as we have shot around 9,000 rounds total and our CZ858 hasn't fired 4,000 hopefully. All have been corrosive surplus and today's were Czech.

This is a 1951 rebuild, matched and of course it was FORCED matched like so many Russian rifles.

Today was to attempt to prove a point that for what it was designed to do it is more than adequate. I constantly see so many dis this rifle as inaccurate and literally a POS. I always disagree and have posted often that the one we shoot on a pretty regular basis is pretty decent considering its age and the crappy ammo.

This target was a new steel we purchased from Drummond at the Kamloops guns show a couple weeks ago and I thought to prove the SKS can do OK by using it for the test with the label still on it showing we didn't try this several times attempting to get the results we did.

The target was 198 yards from the muzzle and my son was the shooter. He was prone using a back pack as a rest and I was spotting for him. The results were very good IMO and he hit the target 9 out of 10 shots which is more than acceptable. There are 8 very obvious hits and if you look closely there is a graze on the top of the "right shoulder" and that is good enough for a hit for me.

The plate is AR500 steel and 12 X 20 inches so not really the full size of a man's chest.

I have told many people who complain they can't shoot the SKS with any degree of accuracy they really need to learn how to shoot. My old eyes took a try and hit it 3 out of 4 shots and the miss was my problem.

We also did a fair amount of shooting with a Norc 305 and Chicom surplus 7.62 X 51 and after somewhere around 35 rounds the 2 X 4 broke from all the energy it absorbed.

Seeing as we found a great spot in the mountains this reactive target will be a must for having a good day shooting with all sorts of firearms we use. Next trip out we will give it a go at 300 yards.

For the price, I think this one was around $200.00 and ammo under 20 cents a round it is a must own in my books.

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[Buntlineguy]

I just bought my first SKS last week. When I got it home I broke it down and gave it a good going over. There was no detectable wear anywhere. Very few, if any, rounds went through this baby. All matching numbers, 100% on finish. Can't wait to get it to the range. I hope this is as good as yours. Will be shooting Wolf ammo. I'll post results.
B

[enfield303t]

I just bought my first SKS last week. When I got it home I broke it down and gave it a good going over. There was no detectable wear anywhere. Very few, if any, rounds went through this baby. All matching numbers, 100% on finish. Can't wait to get it to the range. I hope this is as good as yours. Will be shooting Wolf ammo. I'll post results.
B

Enjoy your gun, clean it meticulously even if the Wolf ammo is non-corrosive as I don't trust any ammo from the Russians no matter what it says.

[Aragorn243]

For what it is designed for, the SKS is a fine rifle. It never was designed for long range shooting, neither is the AK47. They are short barrelled with an intermediate round. The short barrel reduces the length between the sights which can hurt inexperienced shooters and it and the round also limit the range of the rifle. You want a nice tight group at 200 yards, get a high power rifle.

I have a WASR 10 that I have a scope on that I'm very interested in seeing how it shoots. I shot it without the scope and it did fine, with the scope, should be a lot better. I shoot so infrequently that not sure when this will happen. Haven't even had a range membership for two years. Planning to reinstate that this year but the application is still sitting on my desk.

[cipherk98]

I don't think I've ever taken an SKS out to shoot and not had fun with it. Some may not be match accurate, but are accurate enough in situations where it needs to be.

[browningautorifle]

I had a few of these, starting out with a real Russian one back in the '80s when they weren't around. They're not meant for long range or match accuracy but there's nothing wrong with either their power or accuracy. If I could only have a Simonov carbine, although I'd rather it took the AK mags, I wouldn't feel underarmed. It'll go right through your second chance without problem. That's why plates are now standard...

[cipherk98]

There are AK mag versions floating about in the US with the proper receiver changes to take the mag and feed properly, most of them likely done by the factory when they were manufactured versus an importer conversion. They are quickly going up and price and becoming collector's pieces because they are both unusual and useful, they're certainly no longer the budget AK they were intended to be. I've looked at a few to add to the SKS roster but can't bring myself to spend AK money on one when the imported AKs from that time span are going up even faster.

[browningautorifle]

There are AK mag versions floating about in the US with the proper receiver changes

I'd mean the "D" model that took mags.

[enfield303t]

Prices here in Canada are up from when we got ours. IIRC they are in the $250.00 for a laminated stock model. Have a D, it is now a safe queen along with 3 others of which one is a matching and in very good condition.

The one we shoot will be the only shooter for the time being. Have no idea how many rounds must go down the pipe before it gives up the ghost. We clean in very well and think eventually the gas tube will be the first part to fail.

[cipherk98]

I'd mean the "D" model that took mags.

Should have clarified, meant the D models with the modified receivers to feed from the AK mags. I don't know of anyone modding the receivers nowadays... there have been attempts to use an AK esque mag with a duckbill in a quick release system which doesn't require receiver mods though. I didn't realize D models were also sold there at one point.

I think up in Canada at you price you can get them today they are an incredible value. Especially the Molot refurbs. I'd have a safe full at $250/pop.