SKS and accuracy

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.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...vitsvift-1.jpg

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

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Originally Posted by 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

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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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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Originally Posted by cipherk98

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

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

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.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

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

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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.

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Originally Posted by cipherk98

an AK esque mag with a duckbill

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Those seemed to give trouble and not be as handy as you'd think.

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Originally Posted by cipherk98

I didn't realize D models were also sold there at one point.

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Yes, we had our share. They're all dried up now. Not really available anywhere. The mags are all blocked to five rounds anyway as well as the SKS internal mags so it doesn't matter now. Our SKS cost way more than $250 CDN...

IIRC Our D cost around $350.00 7 years ago.

They're pretty scarce now days...

Accuracy is a relative concept depending on one's needs. The SKS does well enough in the shoot and scoot scenario, but obviously lacks range or precision for barely exposed targets. As a 100 yard or less whitetail rifle it and its round does well enough....but it wouldn't be my first choice for that role. I've had a tad too many tracking jobs of 40 yards or less through our local wild rose and greenbrier thickets not to want something that will knock a deer down where it stands.....hence my use of 45-70. As for the typical import ammo, while it often receives the blame, frankly it is better than most people have been led to believe. I have a CZ 527 that shows me that from a solid rest even Tula is capable of groups slightly over 1 inch....and the CZ is no bench rest rifle. The SKS is a fun rifle to shoot at the range, but I put it in the same realm as the M1 carbine....a lot of fun, but not my first choice for any serious work.

From dim, dark memories from "the GOOD old days" in Oz:

Most "surplus / "relic" SKS carbines, regardless of origin, seem to have a rather "casual" relationship between stock and metalwork.

This does NOT help grouping , one little bit, with ANY ammo.

Having previously worked on a LOT of m-14 / M-1A rifles, I had a close look at this bedding "issue".

The "final solution", to borrow a rather suspect phrase, was to take a bunch of leaves from the AMTU M-14 book and apply them to a few "representative" SKS variants. Hell, they were cheap enough to use as "lab rats".

So, as per the M-14, it is pretty much impossible to apply "upwards" pressure to the barrel to damp out nasty vibrations, so, "downwards" pressure it was.

Out with the "Decvon" pack and some wood-carving tools.

the trick was too "build up an area of "solid bedding at the FRONT of the action , BUT the ultimate objective was to use the wooden stock as a big "spring" to pull the rear of the action DOWN and likewise the front, via the "band" at the front of the top handguard.

Just , as our Irish cousins say, "t' be sure, t' be sure!", a bit of "creative engineering" saw the fitting of a "reinforcing plate", inlet into the stock, above the firing mech. Through this was run a a decent, counter-sunk high-tensile, hex-drive screw , upwards, into the rear of the receiver. This applied MUCH more positive "pull-down" than the normal "barbed", spring plunger. The "cool" part of this meant that you could remove the firing mech for cleaning whilst not interfering with the bedding of the barreled action. I had previously used this system on a couple of "re-worked" M-1A's to good advantage.

This process could be applied to both the "normal" SKS and the versions with the "AK" style mags .

For added stiffness in the rather cheesy Chinese stocks, Carbon-Fibre "tape" could be bonded to the wood, internally, after a bit of basic work with a router, from the front to the rear, with a good polyester or epoxy resin. STIFF as a block of 4 x 2, once the resin cured, and with nothing to show on the outside.

Ditching the bayonet was also a good move.

A lot of work for a "farm gun"? Yep, but the results, especially with good Yugoslav ball or "hunting" handloads, were worth it.

These things are BRUTAL on scopes. Mine destroyed a "basic" Tasco" in short order and ended its days, MANY thousands of rounds later, with a Leupold "compact" 2-7 variable. A LOT of feral pigs met their end via this little carbine.

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Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz

Most "surplus / "relic" SKS carbines, regardless of origin, seem to have a rather "casual" relationship between stock and metalwork.

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THAT'S an understatement...

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Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz

These things are BRUTAL on scopes.

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And don't really have a good way to mount them either. I stuck with iron sights.

As for a scope mounting system:

A good start is a simple section of 2" x 2" mild-steel angle, bolted to the left-hand side of the receiver / body.

The top area is trimmed to a width to ensure ejection clearance. (More on that issue later). Then a "rail" or pads of your choosing are obtained.

The "vertical" part of the angle is set to clear the woodwork and then goes for drilling and counter-sinking. At least THREE, preferably four, holes need to be drilled for the attachment of the "mount" The steel in some of these little beauties is often "tough"; but not glass -hard like a P-14 body. You will need good, SHARP taps and a good cutting fluid. Thread spec is your choice. This may be determined by what sort of grade 6 or better CS cap-screws you can obtain. The truly hard-core will also whack in a couple of high-grade tapered pins to stop the mount "floating" on the screws.

That sounds like a lot of fiddling around on a "cheap" rifle, but it works. One final consideration is the ejection angle. A "shooting buddy" did a similar job and was somewhat distraught at the effect of ejected STEEL cases striking the objective bell of his scope. His solution was to weld an "extension shield" onto the front of the angle-steel mount.

Or, you can skip all of that and just fit one of those very lightweight "red-dot" reflex sight to the standard rear-sight base with a suitable "interface".

If you are bouncing about in the farm 4WD, culling feral pigs, thousands of dollars worth of exotic AR or similar, is just being excessively "Gucci". A 124gn SP from a $400 rig kills them just as dead.

A removable cheek-piece, a la the No4T style, also helps with the ergonomics of the set-up.

Experimental "gun-plumbing", on the cheap.

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Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz

That sounds like a lot of fiddling

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I'm afraid I do see it as a lot, but I'd leave the sights as is. Most around here just thunder the ammo through and fine accuracy doesn't seem to matter much. Two guys will take a case of ammo to the range and go through all of it...in an hour.

We own two of them, I have had five through the years and have nothing but praise for the SKS. As long as a shooter that is new to the SKS realizes and accepts the fact these are not sniper rifles but only shoot "minute of man" as they were designed to do then you will not be disappointed. They are a very robust & dependable design...almost indestructible. Just be sure to keep the firing pin channel very clean.

I brought my unaltered Russian here to Colorado with me. I picked up a companion bolt action, a CZ 527, a beautifully made firearm. I got a deal on some Yugo brass cased, corrosively primed, ammo and have a K of Tula steel cased to shoot up when I get a chance.

I also have a Russian refurb and two Yugo 59/66's at home in WA state. I pigged out on a few cases of Wolf ammo for my stockpile up there.

I agree, while not varmint rifles they are none the less fun to shoot.

The wife and I have had five SKS carbines through the years, now she has a Chinese model and I have a Russian (1953 Tula) and both shoot very well. We also have two AR15s, in the same caliber as the SKS...it simplifies logistics!

I can only echo what others have said, the SKS is not a "sniper rifle" nor a long range shooter however it does great for what it was designed to do. It's almost indestructible and very reliable. If one accepts it on those terms he/she will never be disappointed.

I get 6-8 inch groups at 100 yards with my Russian, that's using Wolf black box and Barnaul Mil-Spec....not bad for a 64 yr old carbine!

Finally got out with my SKS. When I got back to the line with my target the guy next to me asked what gauge I was shooting. Nice pattern for a 12 gauge, but a little disappointing for a rifle. I am not the greatest shot, but I know I'm not that bad. Still, I had fun, and that is the whole object for me.
B

Talking to a good friend a couple days ago. Canadian and did a tour with the US Army in Vietnam.

We talk frequently about politics, guns, women, guns, reloading, guns and anything else including guns. Brought up the SKS and he told me he has one, I never knew that and it is a Vietnam bring back and now have to talk him out of it.

It came from one of his buddies who brought it back, told him to get the original owner to swear a affidavit with a notary asap, it is worth a good buck with the history attached.

A few years ago i put on Tech-sights SKS Products | Tech Sights and i am very happy with them, much easier to see!:D