[MolleMan]

I have a chinese sks and replaced my stock with a tapco tactical stock and I had a guy at the gun store put it on for me and he said in order to replace the upper forarm i would have to saw it off. I want to keep it together the way it came off in case i want to go back original. so is their any other way to remove the upper forearm?

[jimmyraythomason]

If you mean the hand guard it will not be necessary to saw it off! The pin may have to be ground some to allow it to be removed but no sawing needed.

[stubbicatt]

I think you can find a replacement gas tube/upper handguard. They aren't terribly expensive either I don't think. I think Tickbite Supply has them. Tapco has them too for like $40

[jimmyraythomason]

Why would you want to replace the gas tube? Just remove it from the rifle,grind down the brad on the pin. Tap the pin out,slide the hand guard off the gas tube,slide the new one on reinstall the pin and put it back on the rifle. Place the original hand guard in a safe place until you want to put it back on.

[General Tso]

I just did one. It's a PITA. I tried to re-use the old one but I messed it up. I bought a tapco gas tube for $50. Then you have to sand/grind the angle quite a bit to get it to fit. I was much more difficult than I thought it would be. I actually ruined the first tapco tube so I had to buy another. PM me if you have any questions about filing it.

[General Disarray]

I couldn't get that f-ing pin out on mine. I used a Dremel on it to free up the pin from the crimp that it had, but no matter how much I ground I couldn't get the pin free. So, thinking outside the box I switched gears. I grabbed a can of Textured Rustoleum and sprayed the wooden hand guard; it was practically a perfect match. The Texture line from Rustoleum has a matte finish that leaves a rough texture which is almost exactly like the Tapco stock. I also did this on my Saiga rifle to the barrel and it was a great fix for that too.

[wideym]

The upper handguard (the one on the gas tube) is meant to be turned in either direction while the gas tube itself is held stationary. No cutting, grinding, or any other foolishness, just turn it 180 degrees and it will come right out.

[jimmyraythomason]

The upper handguard (the one on the gas tube) is meant to be turned in either direction while the gas tube itself is held stationary. No cutting, grinding, or any other foolishness, just turn it 180 degrees and it will come right out. What are you talking about? The pin/rivet must be removed before the handguard can come off of the gas tube. Grinding or drilling is the only way to remove it.

[JTH]

Sounds as if the OP was talking about an AK front hand gaurd. Unless you have a reasonable workbench, the pin on the SKS is a PITA, we allll know what sometimes looks like an easy job turn into a PITA!
JT

[jimmyraythomason]

the pin on the SKS is a PITA, Yes,my first one was very difficult but every one after that (when I quit trying to take short cuts) was pretty easy.

[MolleMan]

its the upper part of the forearm i'm talking about and the kit comes with the part but its just the problem of removing the old wooden one. the man at the gun store said it was pressure fitted hence the reason for sawing it off.

[MolleMan]

this is a bad pic but hope it helps

[briansmithwins]

its the upper part of the forearm i'm talking about and the kit comes with the part but its just the problem of removing the old wooden one. the man at the gun store said it was pressure fitted hence the reason for sawing it off.

Upper handguards on AKs twist out, the SKS one require more work.

The front upper handguard retainer is part of the gas tube. The rear retainer is is retained by a flush rivet that goes crossways thru it and the gas tube.

You'll need to grind out the rivet head and punch out that rivet to change handguards. Sawing off the handguard would be useless because you'd still have no way to get the new handguard in.

BSW

It's a pain but well worth it.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/briansmithwins/IMG_1143.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/briansmithwins/IMG_1146.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/briansmithwins/IMG_1144.jpg

[Bentonville]

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php
When I have a real problem with my various SKS rifles, I usually go to the above forum. I had some problems with negative engagement on a trigger group and also a couple of other problems in the past. There's good advice here too but it doesn't hurt to get as much advice as possible. Good luck.

[mljdeckard]

I hammered on mine and it wouldn't move. I thought about dremeling it off, but I didn't want to be that guy who goes to the gunsmith after doing dremel damage. I took it in, he knew exactly what to do, had the new one on in 15 minutes.

I just ordered the rail pieces for the underside and I'm drilling holes to mount them.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=453341

[MolleMan]

went to my local gunsmith and had them punch out the pin but i figured out had to remove the handgaurd after about 2 hours staring at it lol. they installed a roll pin back that way i can sway them out if i want.

[Jeff H]

Not sure what all the fuss is about with removing the pins. Sounds to me like some of you don't know the pins are one sided and can only be removed one direction. A few taps with a brass punch is all it took to pop mine out. I had the handguard changed in 10 minutes or less.

[jimmyraythomason]

Sounds to me like some of you don't know the pins are one sided and can only be removed one direction. Well,Jeff since all of that is wrong I wonder if you know how the rivet is put in. It isn't one sided and is bradded on BOTH sides. It MUST be ground or drilled THERE IS NO other way.

[Jeff H]

Well,Jeff since all of that is wrong I wonder if you know how the rivet is put in. It isn't one sided and is bradded on BOTH sides. It MUST be ground or drilled THERE IS NO other way.

Wrong. Its a rivet. It has a head on one end and is peened on the other. It should only be removed one way.

Instructions from ATI:
STEP 4
Inspection of Gas Tube Assembly will reveal a small rivet running crosswise through the rear handguard sheet metal cover. Rivet may be difficult to see. Rivet has two ends, the head and the shaft. Be sure to punch out from shaft end. Remove this rivet by using a 1/16" punch or the punch provided in your cleaning kit. Eye protection is a must!


http://www.galatiinternational.com/Installation/ATSKS0200.html

[jimmyraythomason]

Its a rivet. It has a head on one end and is peened on the other. It should only be removed one way.
The rivet cannot be repeened after it has been removed so either the head or the brad has to be ground off. Either ways works equally well. It can be removed from either side.

[mljdeckard]

Nope. Mine was peened on both sides. The gunsmith had to grind it.

[Krazy]

Dude check out this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KDe9nFkGxc
that should give you a little insight on how to do it yourself

[ScratchnDent]

Pretty good instructions a little ways down this page.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/atistock/index.asp

Mine didn't require any grinding, but it did take a solid bench and a big hammer, it was tight!!