[The_Armed_Therapist]

My wife got to shoot an AR15 for the first time yesterday. Unfortunately, we couldn't afford one at prices from 3 months ago, far less now. When asking her what about it she liked, she was purely describing the adjustable stock (she's fairly small, and was able to shorten it), the pistol grip, and the foregrip. So now, I'm thinking about replacing the stock on our SKS with one that includes those three features.

First of all, is this a good idea? Are there any common negative effects of doing this? Can this affect accuracy?

Secondly, who makes a good one? Anyone have experience with using a stock such as the one I described on their SKS? Recommendations?

Thanks!

[carbine85]

Probably the Tapco. It has the M4 type of stock for adjustment.

[Edarnold]

Had a Tapco conventional stock on an SKS years ago. It fit the action loosely, had to shim it to get a snug fit. It also added almost two pounds to the weight of the rifle, which really ruined the balance of the gun.

Maybe the new ones are better.

IMHO

[TurtlePhish]

An SKS with a "tactical" stock is gonna be heavy as hell compared to an AR carbine, with most of that weight forward.

Does she like shooting the SKS as is?

[Jackal]

SKS already has a short length of pull.... If you need it even shorter, cut it down and install a grind to fit recoil pad.

[hang fire]

IMO. nothing beats the OEM stock. I have tried a couple of the after market ones and they were pure crap.

[Texan Scott]

ATI makes a nice one.

[SlowFuse]

Sounds like you're looking for something like the Intrafuse from Tapco.

This is completely opposite direction but look at the timbersmith stocks. I have some of these on SKSs and AKs and won't buy any other aftermarket stock for these models.

[tahunua001]

off the top of my head tapco and ATI both make one. I just ordered the tapco T6 stock for mine but it's backordered to the 13th so should get there just in time for my birthday.

[The_Armed_Therapist]

She does relatively like shooting the SKS as it is. The issue is that I'm way more into rifles, whereas she is way more into handguns. She'll shoot pistols and revolvers all day, but has trouble maintaining interest in rifles. As such, I haven't been able to teach her too much about shooting them. When she loved shooting the AR that much, I figured this could be a good way to spike her interest.

So, it sounds like the downside is that the new stock will be heavier than the original stock, and a greater proportion of weight will shift towards the front? Also, edarnold mentioned it the possibility of a loose fit.

Hangfire, which stocks have you tried that were crap? In what ways were they so? I'm also having trouble finding what OEM is... Is that a company, a style, etc.?

Does anyone have anything bad to say about the ATI?

[tahunua001]

OEM is a new term for me as well but apparently stands for original equipment manufacturer. basically hangfire is saying that the original wood stocks are the best and everything else is pure crap. I have been told that many times about a lot of things that I have bought and I actually like most of it to great extent. I have found no suitable proof that these parts are junk per say. there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the type of stock used on what type of SKS from what country. as a whole it sounds as if the aftermarket support for SKS is poor but I wager that many are probably people putting a stock that was molded to fit a russian SKS on a Yugoslavian rifle. others would be a stock molded for a rifle without bayonet being placed on a rifle with the flip up bayonet still attached. there are a number of variables that just aren't given that need to be addressed before I am willing to waive them off as garbage.

[119er]

I have done a Tapco T-6 stock on a Yugo. I ground the bolt to be able to drop the magazine on a closed bolt, too. I have no complaints about the their stock or magazines. All of them worked well but I prefer the factory stocks. The length of pull is fairly short, but manageable.

A lot of SKS info here. Wade through the opinions and create your own!
http://www.sksboards.com/

Edit: If going with the Tapco, get the compliance kit and understand what CFR 922r states!

[qwestr1]

I bought the Tapco Intrafuse stock...It seems to be just fine, although I haven't fired the rifle yet with the new stock. There are gaps where I think there shouldn't be around the mag, but the overall feel is certainly serviceable.
I just couldn't get the top handguard to let go of the wood so I could use the Tapco plastic one.

My original intent was to put a scope on the thing (Norinco) so my older eyes will be able to see what I'm hitting. So I bought one of those replacement receiver covers with a weaver rail on it and filed it till it fit. Bought a compact scope with 9x42mm, and now I have to figure out which rings to get, because the Weaver quad type (Wal-Mart) are too wide for the compact scope body.

Then I realized that I could almost still use the iron sights, but not quite.
So I wanted to put a pair of offset sights at a 45 degree, but now I have nowhere to put the forward sights since the handguard rail is absent.

Now I'm hearing about this 922 thing that I vaguely understand from the Midway website - It says I must have 10 U.S. made parts? What if I'm using mostly original stuff and just adding things?

Now do I need to make sure everything I add is Made In USA?
Does this rule apply as soon as I change the first part or only if I do a lot of modification?

[qwestr1]

I have done a Tapco T-6 stock on a Yugo. I ground the bolt to be able to drop the magazine on a closed bolt, too. I have no complaints about the their stock or magazines. All of them worked well but I prefer the factory stocks. The length of pull is fairly short, but manageable.

A lot of SKS info here. Wade through the opinions and create your own!
http://www.sksboards.com/

Edit: If going with the Tapco, get the compliance kit and understand what CFR 922r states!
119er, How do you "grind the bolt" to do that?

I'd love to modify my SKS to basically be an accurate AK-47, with some kit so they can use the same mags. Is this still available?
Or is it only legal in Montana, so should I just get the Tapco SKS mags with the funny horn sticking out the front?

[tahunua001]

Qwestr,
the gaps around the mag are there to accommodate the larger capacity tapco magazines, without those the mag is too large to fit. the original magazines are smaller.

as for 922R as I understand it the requirement is 6 US made parts and if they are already in the country then they have already had the necessary modifications. saying that a part is 922R compliant jsut means that by replacing the original with it you are not risking falling below the requirement of 6 US made parts.

[119er]

It's been years since I did the mod and the rifle was traded for a factory one. I actually prefer the stripper clips myself. I hate loading mags w/ loose rounds.
Here are a few pics I took of an unmodified bolt. I drew some lines around the area of concern. These bottom flanges slide in underneath the magazine feed lips when the bolt is in battery, or anywhere over the magazine for that matter. This prevents the mag from being removed and topped off on a closed bolt. I removed material from that area with a bench grinder being careful not to remove too much at once or create excessive heat. IIRC it was nearly flush to the surface below it when looking at the face of the "flange" before the mag could be removed. Just push the bolt w/o carrier etc. into battery with a magazine in place and you will see what needs to be removed. I shot many rounds with that bolt with no problems. Look at the link I posted above for way more info. That's where I learned of it.

[119er]

Here is a basic explanation of the CFR 922r

http://www.tapco.com/section922r/

[TCBPATRIOT]

The one that came on it. Its wood cut a little bit off an put a recoil pad on it.

[qwestr1]

I'm still confused by the 922r even though I've read the TAPCO page.

I understand that they're looking for no more than 10 imported parts, and according to their list that means 7 US made parts for the SKS.

My Norinco had all original parts, so do I need to change 7 parts immediately or risk jail time? It does have an importer's name on the side "Made in China by Norinco Poly USA ATL GA"
I say they're all original because they are all serial numbered to the gun with an electropencil or stampings, including the gas tube, piston, and mag body among others.
I've swapped in that Tapco stock that has a pistol grip, so that's 2 parts (couldn't get the handguard free from the piston tube). I removed the bayonet (extra weight, + not planning to use it on paper targets or deer), and I'm planning to add a scope and use a different receiver cover (has screws on the sides to hold it steady) but none of these parts are listed in the 922R list.

Am I going to need to change the mag just to get the 3 points for the follower, body and floorplate? I suppose I could then change out the trigger or hammer or sear (whichever is cheapest) to get that last magic 7th part, but Holy Cow, I've had this thing for months, and the guy before me had it for years!

This just doesn't make sense.

[qwestr1]

It's been years since I did the mod and the rifle was traded for a factory one. I actually prefer the stripper clips myself. I hate loading mags w/ loose rounds.
Here are a few pics I took of an unmodified bolt. I drew some lines around the area of concern. These bottom flanges slide in underneath the magazine feed lips when the bolt is in battery, or anywhere over the magazine for that matter. This prevents the mag from being removed and topped off on a closed bolt. I removed material from that area with a bench grinder being careful not to remove too much at once or create excessive heat. IIRC it was nearly flush to the surface below it when looking at the face of the "flange" before the mag could be removed. Just push the bolt w/o carrier etc. into battery with a magazine in place and you will see what needs to be removed. I shot many rounds with that bolt with no problems. Look at the link I posted above for way more info. That's where I learned of it.
119er,
Thanks for that info and the excellent pictures. I'll try to stick with the stripper clips for now, unless I am compelled to change to a US made mag.
After all, I'm going to the trouble to get a compact scope that will fit behind the bolt, so I will try to use it the way it was intended.

If I did get one of the Tapco 20rnd mags, would I be able to leave it attached and load it with stripper clips?

[mljdeckard]

As stated above, watch 922r compliance.

I used the Tapco compliance kit on my Yugo, it is fun, I needed help with a few things, the pin to keep the hardware for the gas tube was stubborn, getting the old rear sight out for the Tech-sight was a three-hand job, and I had to use a barrel vise and wrench to twist off the grenade launcher. I cut off the bayonet lug to save weight, I keep a front-sight adjustment wrench and the tool for the rear sight in the SAW grip.

I had the pin break on the adjustable stock, Tapco sent me one for free. The Tapco 20 rounders work pretty well, with the occasional jam, I complained, and Tapco told me to sand the sprue off the followers and put some graphite lube on them, that improved them immensely. The newer Pro-mag 30 rounder works great too.

The thing I like most, is that even with the stock fully collapsed, I can get my face right in the rear sight (Tech-sight, that replaces the receiver cover pin,) and it won't hit me when I shoot. The Tech-sight and thinner front-sight post about double the accuracy. This is my across-the-handlebars/sagebrush gun.

[HJ857]

You have to be careful with Tapco, they indicate that some of their parts are compliance, but in reality they aren't.

The T-6 is listed as three parts, but it's only two. The stock and the handguard count, the pistol grip does not because it does not replace an existing part.

Tapco list the Op Rod as compliance but BATFE does not list the Op Rod as a "part", so it can't be "replaced".

The gas piston is compliance and the Tapco 20 magazine counts as two parts, but could be interpreted as three parts (magazine, follower and floor plate), but I recall that BATFE does not consider the SKS as having a floor plate, so you can't "replace" a non existent part. Personally, I wouldn't try to argue the point and just call it good at two parts.

Ben Murray sells trigger parts now, hammer, trigger and sear, which is three more parts and the trigger job will make a huge difference. You can do the replacement yourself but it's better to send the trigger group to Murray and let them do it.

[tahunua001]

pistol grips are listed on the 922R no no list so regardless of whether the SKS had one originally or not, the pistol grip is still US production where a chinese made pistol grip addition would still be a non compliant part.

[greenlion]

SKS + polymer stock = nose heavy, poorly balanced rifle.

[tahunua001]

SKS + polymer stock = nose heavy, poorly balanced rifle. this is the case for most light weight stocks thrown on a heavy weight rifle. there are ways of returning balance. dumping lead shot down the tube of the tapco stock until desirably weighted and then plugging the rest of the way with tissue paper is a common tactic for bolt action shooters and AR15 owners...I wonder why nobody has ever thought of doing this with SKS?

[Analogkid]

The Kerkmit Bullpup SKS Stock.

I Have one and LOVE it..
(this one's his)

http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz168/LKermit/DSCF0066.jpg

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Analogkid, that SKS is funky! LOL... I mean that in a very neutral way... not sure if I like it or not. I'm really wanting to put Tech Sights on this thing soon, so I'm not sure if the bullpup would fit that. How about I just run it past the wife? LOL

So, what are some negative effects of having a poorly balanced rifle? Probably a silly question, but I'm assuming every rifle I've ever shot has been balanced well.

Thanks for the help, guys.

[MaterDei]

I've got a Butler Creek on mine. Really like it. Fits great.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=76495&d=1208229754

[Mr_jonny]

The only problem with the stock is you have to take out a bolt out of the pistol grip if you have to your trigger

[tahunua001]

So, what are some negative effects of having a poorly balanced rifle? Probably a silly question, but I'm assuming every rifle I've ever shot has been balanced well.

generally it's just a matter of control, many match rifles with heavy bull barrels are poorly balanced and front heavy and the major side effect is that it is a little more ungainly to control, the muzzle will want to follow the pull of gravity more so it makes it a little wonky to carry in a sling with muzzle up(not a huge problem especially in a carbine) and it will fatigue your non firing arm faster to have the greater amount of weight on the front but it also makes the rifle much more stable while shooting from a resting position(IE prone, sitting, kneeling or off sandbags) generally the problems with a gun the size of an SKS are minimal and easily rectified buy doing something similar to what was described in my last post.

[Texan Scott]

The SKS is muzzle-heavy, no doubt. I keep a basic web sling on mine. I carry muzzle down, and don't completely remove my left arm when I shoulder the rifle. I just rotate the sling around to the back of my upper arm, just above the elbow. With the sling adjusted to the right length, it pulls tight when I shoulder the rifle and allows me to brace it with my left arm, supporting the forward end in a very stable firing hold. Someone here might actually be able to supply a picture or instruction diagram to illustrate.

Good luck, and I hope y'all find a solution that works for her.
- TS

[Davek1977]

The only problem with the stock is you have to take out a bolt out of the pistol grip if you have to your trigger

Huh? Without reference to what stock you are referring to, this post is useless. What stock? If I have to WHAT my trigger? huh?!?!?!

[Texan Scott]

The pistol grip stocks like the ATI have a pistol grip that is not molded to the stock, but slid into a recess and then secured with a set-screw or bolt. The grip has to be removed from the stock in order to access the release latch for the trigger housing. It's no big deal.

[mf-dif]

This must weigh 20-lbs. :D

If you do any of these stocks, it's smart to buy the pre-assembled gas tube and hand guard. Removing the gas tube from your original wood hand guard is a PITA.

http://www.natchezss.com/images/products/TVSTK66169DE.jpg

[HJ857]

pistol grips are listed on the 922R no no list so regardless of whether the SKS had one originally or not, the pistol grip is still US production where a chinese made pistol grip addition would still be a non compliant part.

So you're saying that the Tapco pistol grip is a compliance part?

[mljdeckard]

Post 34 is correct. I messed with getting the ferrule (the metal cap on the end of the wood piece of the gas tube) off and then on again, it doesn't cooperate. Mine still wiggles, and I mostly depend on the rotating take-down latch to hold it all together. I might still grab an assembled tube if I get around to it.

[mljdeckard]

double-tap

[stsimons]

I know you had requirements, but I would buy this: Timbersmith SKS Stock

http://www.timbersmithusa.com/products/images/uploads/TIM66100RBLACKLAM.jpg

Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-3gY6DmAio&feature=player_embedded) is a link to their video

[qwestr1]

Huh? Without reference to what stock you are referring to, this post is useless. What stock? If I have to WHAT my trigger? huh?!?!?!
I think Mr. Johnny is talking about the Tapco and ATI stocks.
I just learned on my own SKS that if I want to remove the trigger guard assembly I have to unbolt the pistol grip from the stock.

The Tapco has a recess behind the trigger guard, looks like with a little bit of filing I might be able to get that trigger housing out without needing a socket wrench.

Anyone know why they do it that way? Am I risking breaking my stock and grip if I remove that bit of plastic?

[mljdeckard]

I wouldn't do it. It's a 10mm socket with an extension. Look at it this way. It's an SKS. You don't have to keep it surgically clean anyway.

[qwestr1]

I know you had requirements, but I would buy this: Timbersmith SKS Stock

http://www.timbersmithusa.com/products/images/uploads/TIM66100RBLACKLAM.jpg

Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-3gY6DmAio&feature=player_embedded) is a link to their video
Simons,
If you're buying a wood stock to replace a wood stock (other than aesthetics), what is the gain?


mljdeckard,
You're right, of course. I'm just thinking of worst case scenarios and the weight of my bug-out bag. Perhaps I can get a 10MM screwdriver-handled socket and stow it in the stock along with the flat screwdriver for removing the scoped receiver cover and backup offset sights, and the allen wrench for removing the quad-rail handguard cover, and the other allen wrench for the scope rings, and the front sight adjustment key. Maybe the .30 cal bore snake will keep it all from rattling too much.
LOL

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I have another question... Is there any reason that one of the Tapco Intrafuse stocks would affect accuracy?

[FireInCairo]

I have an SKS on an ATI stock. It's got a bit of heft to it, but it's very sturdy and handles nicely.

I didn't mount it myself (bought it that way), but I hear they need a little bit of filing and work to fit it perfectly.

[stsimons]

The gain in replacing a cheap wood stock with a quality laminate one? Laminate is much more stable and far less prone to the elements than regular wood. A modern laminate stock is much more like a block of resin than a block of wood. Besides, that timbersmith stock looks about 1000% better than than the original or the plastic offerings, at least in my opinion.

[dmckean44]

Women in general do not like to shoot front heavy guns and like any extra weight to be in the rear instead. They also have longer necks than men and need a higher cheek rest. Also, look for a stock with a smaller grip.

[Carne Frio]

Have you checked out the bullpup from
http://sgworks.com ?
http://sgworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/sks-bullpup-stock-kit-crop-520x270.png

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I inadvertently brought up an old topic with a new topic. Perhaps I should have started a new thread. My NEW topic/question has to do with whether or not there is an affect on accuracy using the Intrafuse stock, good or bad.

[joeyabc123]

I have 2 sks and a mini 14 all with tapco stocks and they are fantastic also tapco makes the only magazine that works 100% on my sks. Try the bolt mod it's all over YouTube.

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Thanks, Joey! How much of a problem do you find it that the stock making the rifle "unbalanced?"

[FireInCairo]

I have 2 sks and a mini 14 all with tapco stocks and they are fantastic also tapco makes the only magazine that works 100% on my sks. Try the bolt mod it's all over YouTube.
There are steel "duckbill" magazines available that work well, too.

[ThusEver2Tyrants]

I have a yugo that I bought unissued and put a tapco on it. Its a heavy rifle...even without the tapco. I have a chinese sks that I put a nice cherry stock from a russian sks and I think its a little more handy than the yugo. Quicker shouldering and lighter.