SKS upgrade question...

[m590a1]

So, I was looking at a really nice Arsenal AK a while back. For $1,000. Already got a nice SKS ($250) and thought about those removeable 20-rd. mags they make for them. Does anybody have experience with these mags? Is the quick-change ability fast enough to essentially "convert" a semi-fixed mag SKS to a detacheable-mag AK??

Those ATI collapsible stocks for them are really cool, too

 

[Mainsail]

I have no experience whatsoever, but I have been around here enought to have heard the horror stories. If you want an AK, get an AK. The SKS is NOT an AK no matter what you do to it. Besides, the SKS is a beautiful old rifle. Let it be so.

 

[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

Tapco mags are good. Be cognizant of all applicable laws. Some say the tapco mags are not as easy to deal with as AK mags but in this carolina boy's opinion they are pretty close. Only 20 rnds tho as opposed to 30. A yugo SKS make s a very nice platform for the x39 round.

See sig.

 

[gandog56]

I tried one of those TAPCO 20 round detachables in my unmodified Yugo. It was a disaster. Feeding malfunction after malfunction. Luckily, I found a chump...I mean nice guy, that took it off my hands. (I did tell him why I was selling it)

 

[Shade00]

My experience has been just the opposite. 100% reliability with the Tapco detachable mags. Ran them in a Norinco SKS in a Tapco T6 stock. Great combo.

 

[Funderb]

depends on the rifle.

I have found that my norinco sks is fantastic, eats any ammo, and is plinkable beyond belief.

my buds yugo can't have anything with lacquer coat. It just don't work, as they say.

 

[elmerfudd]

Even if you get a good high cap mag, (my buddy likes the Tapco's), I find they're a pain in the butt to change.

I don't remember the exact details as it's been awhile, but I think I had to simultaneously hold the bolt to the rear and then press a tricky little release to remove the mag.

Now there are ways to fix this, but IMO, it's better to just accept the gun for what it is and buy an AK if you want an AK.

 

[Shade00]

The Tapco mags can only be inserted with the bolt open. So if you remove a mag and then close the bolt, you'll have to hold the bolt back while you insert the mag to get it in. It's not a big deal. Just leave the bolt open - it locks open on an empty mag anyway.

I'm not saying the SKS is anything more than it is, but like I said, my experience with the Tapco 20 rounders in my Norinco has been excellent.

That said, I recently decided to take the Norinco back to its original form. I bought the little beast probably 5 months ago with the stock in horrible shape, so I immediately ordered a Tapco T6. Had a lot of fun with that stock. Then I decided I might try taking the SKS out deer hunting - so I bought an ATI Monte Carlo, got a scope mount to go on the side rail that my Norinco already had, and mounted a Weaver K4 to it. Before I even took it out, I decided it was time to go back to basics - had a little fun refinishing the original junky stock - took a lighter to it and made some stripes. I've got a couple of replacement stocks on the way. But you know, I never even shot the SKS in its original form, so I'm going to give it a shot.

The moral of my story? There really is none. If you want to try a Tapco mag, they're fairly cheap - if it works, cool - if it doesn't, buy a bunch of stripper clips for the SKS and invest in an AK for detachable mags. I'm about to build a Romanian AK and waiting for my local store to get a Saiga for me.