[Norton]

I think the new SKS is ready for it's "shakedown cruise". I've stripped the cosmoline meticulously from all surfaces with special attention paid to the bolt/firing pin and the barrel.

I disassembled and reassembled the gun according to the books that I bought as well as the info at surplusrifle.com.

The MD THR shoot on the 19th is coming up quickly but I'd like to get it out before then.

As this is my first rifle (I only have several handguns) and it IS a surplus rifle......what should I take into consideration (aside from the general rules of firearm handling) as I get ready to shoot this thing the first time?

The firing pin appears to move freely in the bolt and the trigger mechanism appears to function properly. What else is there:confused:

What do you all do the first time that you shoot a surplus firearm?

[No4Mk1]

Follow this link:

http://pub176.ezboard.com/fcurioandrelicfirearmsforumfrm40.showMessage?topicID=1.topic

It will lead you to a very good post that gives a good shakedown for new milsurp rifles. Pretty much covers you from soup to nuts. This is the procedure I use. Sounds like you have already done much of this, so you are off to a good start.

One thing I'm not sure he mentions is if you have dummy rounds to check function before getting to the range. If you don't have dummy rounds, don't load or chamber anything until you are on the range with the muzzle pointed downrange. (I know that probably sounds ludicrously obvious to some, but it bears repeating over, and over, and over, and over....)

Because these are notorious for slamfires, be sure you have a good grip on her when you chamber a round. If you are mildly paraniod you may also want to consider chambering a single round the first few times you do so to ensure that a single slamfire doesn't turn into multiple slamfires.... Also, when charging most SKS rifles, you let the bolt fly home and not ride it. It is tempting to slide that bolt handle forward, but trust me, just let her rip....

The last thing I can think of that applies to just about every milsurp rifle is this, start on the short range, i.e. 50yds or less. Preferably less. The sites on these can be dramatically out of whack and you don't want to be so far off that you can't even get on paper.... I have personally seen guys work for an hour on the 100yd line and never get on paper, when 5 minutes on the 25yd line would have fixed them right up. But some guys are just to macho to take a long gun down to the pistol range I guess....... (Besides, it's fun to see all the pistol guys lean back from their stalls and look down the line to see where that WHOOOOM came from... :evil: )

Good luck, and have fun!!!! An SKS is a fantastic choice for a first rifle. You will have a ball.

[Mike Irwin]

The first couple of times I'd load it with just two rounds, just in case something is messed up with the mechanism.

That way if it tries to double or go full auto on you you're not trying to control a gun that has a full magazine.

[cslinger]

What everybody else said. Load up 2 rounds and then 4 and then work up to 10. Make sure that firing pin moves freely, like you can hear it move just by shaking the bolt.

Also like everybody else said let the bolt ride home with authority don't ride it down with your hand.

When you clean it make sure you don't leave any residue of cleaning stuff in the gas tube. I use brake cleaner because it evaporates pretty cleanly and works well.

Really that is about the only caveat to the SKS. They are so overbuilt for what they are it's not even funny.

I sent your brother a PM with a bunch of SKS info but I think you pretty much have it down.

Chris

[cslinger]

I am sure you will mostly shoot Wolf or Silver Bear or Barnaul basically the Russian new production stuff and all of this is fine.

Be careful with old production 7.62x39 and stuff that just comes on strippers, old Chinese surplus and generally any ammo that you are not 100% sure is non-corrosive.

Corrosive ammo is no big deal but you have to clean your gun with either an ammonia mixture/windex or just hot hot water with dish detergent IMMEDIATELY after you get back from shooting. Corrosive ammo can start rusting a bore or breech within a day and in some cases hours. If you come home and clean using the above techniques and then clean as normal you will be fine.

There is really no reason you should use corrosive ammo in an SKS since new production stuff is cheap and plentiful but it is something to keep in mind in case you come across an ammo deal that is TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.

The corrosive ammo goes for all surpus guns.

Chris

[BamBam-31]

EXCELLENT advice about loading up one, two, then four rounds at first, before you load up a full ten.

If you're shooting Wolf, don't be discouraged if the groups aren't spectacular. Try some American Eagle. Groups well in my Yugo (about 3" @ 100yds).

Trigger pull is pretty crappy, too. One of the worst. Fourteen-stage trigger or thereabouts. Wolffe springs help (along with a little polishing of the sear), but you might get a few light strikes on hard Russian primers. But that's all later.

[DougB]

I know it sounds (and certainly looks) pretty strange, but when I shoot old surplus rifles for the first time, I usually hold them at arms length with a big wood post between my head and torso and the rifle's action (arms outstretched on either side of the post). I pull the trigger with my thumb. Obviously this doesn't make for much aiming, but I don't do it unless the range is pretty well deserted, so I don't worry too much about hitting the wrong target. It's probably way over-cautious, but it's also quick and easy to do, and it beats getting chunks of metal embedded in my face if there is some undected flaw or weakness in the old action. Am I the only one who does this? I can't remember where I got the idea - maybe I read it on TFL. It's also interesting to see how recoil feels in this position (really moves your arms, but hasn't come close to making me lose my grip on the rifle).

Doug

[Mike Irwin]

I use the "tied to a tire" trick, Doug.

Never had one grenade one me, but why risk it?

I didn't do that with my SKS, though. I figured it was new enough, and proven enough, that it wouldn't be necessary.

[BamBam-31]

"Tied to a tire?"

You mean you tie the rifle to an old car tire, then set it off via tactical boot lace or paracord?

[Mike Irwin]

BamBam,

That's correct.