Chinese SKS Review

35 Whelen said:

One year later, to the day, the SKS proved its worth. This ol' boy was just a smidge under 110 yds.
35W

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I would have clicked the like button........but you removed your bayonet.

35 Whelen said:

but it wasn't coated in Cosmoline, it was coated in GREASE! And not just coated, the stuff was everywhere including the bore.

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Noe, that's 100% ComBlok cosmoline. Resembles grease, but is sticky rather than lubricating (this is from retaining the wax found in crude oil).
The stuff is persistent, and there may still be some lurking as it gets in everywhere, then invents places to go.

There's a carbine scabbard that fits the sks, and might be just the thing for that yellow Ford.

35 Whelen said:

My understanding is that Cosmoline solidifies over time when exposed to air. I've cleaned such substance from a few Enfields and it's a red film after it solidifies. But I suppose the ComBlok people can call their preservative whatever they wish.

35W

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Cosmoline IS a grease and isn't ComBlpk either.
We Americans were using it before communism was even a theory.

I don’t use mine for defense. I like mine for plinking and just fun at the range. It’s accurate enough, trigger sucks, and it is clunky. Buts it’s got a nice paint job and it’s all mine. Removing cosmoline is all part of the fun.

Thanks for the one year to the day update. That is very cool, and here I've been meaning to get one of my two "shooter" SKS's to the range. Will put up a large NRA High Power target at 200 yards, and play with the elevation. They are on a 21 x 21 inch piece of paper and the scoring rings span a total of 12 inches across. I admit to never shooting an SKS further than 100 yards so it should be interesting. The Norinco SKS I picked up in 1992 has a trigger that averages 4 lbs., 12 oz. on a Lyman digital trigger gauge but doesn't feel that bad. They're lots of fun, besides being handy, rugged, and seem to last darn near forever. Guy I grew up with saw a few in Vietnam that were practically smoothbores from the amount of rounds they must have fired. They may not be tackdrivers but it seems to be a sound design that has stood the test of time. An interesting rifle for sure.

My old $75 SKS is the only commie gun I have. I like to take it out and bang steel with that old rattle trap with iron sights from time to time just to keep myself honest.

I love my SKS. Very fun to shoot, and a very practical design for everyday civilian use. And I mean, 10 rounds of 7.62x39 is going to ruin anyone’s day on the receiving end, so it’s not like they’re incapable in an emergency, either.

Phydeaux642 said:

I wish I wouldn't have sold the Norinco I had, but there isn't any way I'm paying the money they are bringing these days. I paid $295 for the one I had and that really hurt at the time. Yours looks like a great shooter.

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I still have my Norinco. Paid $100 for it years ago! love it!

JCooperfan1911 said:

They make 20 rounders that work well.

As for defensive shooting, no modern army on earth fields an SKS anymore. Countless issue AKs.

Wonder why?

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with drones missiles artillery attack copters tanks jets and soon robots all bombing troops I dont think what rifle you have matters that much anymore meaning the SKS aint that bad. here is one factory converted to use AK mags made by norinco.

CapnMac said:

Noe, that's 100% ComBlok cosmoline. Resembles grease, but is sticky rather than lubricating (this is from retaining the wax found in crude oil).
The stuff is persistent, and there may still be some lurking as it gets in everywhere, then invents places to go.

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The safety tip is to make sure the firing pin channel is free from grease and dirt. SKS's have a nasty tendency to slam fire if that's not done.

The original Russian models had the firing pin spring loaded, which prevented that. But then they stopped adding the spring, and when all the satellite states started making them, they did it without the spring.

There is a gunsmith, https://murraysguns.com/sks-firing-pins/ who specializes in SKS's who has a kit to prevent this with a different firing pin, spring, and installation instructions.

35 Whelen said:

One year later, to the day, the SKS proved its worth. This ol' boy was just a smidge under 110 yds.

View attachment 1105106 View attachment 1105107 View attachment 1105108

35W

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That's a nice boar. Good thing it didn't know 7.62x39 can't kill things.
I have a Norinco that's fitted with a monte Carlo fiberglass stock. It doesn't shoot as well as my brother's Russian one. But It's fun.

Having never shot an SKS before this thread inspired me to have dad dig his out as I had never shot one but have always kinda wanted one.
i really enjoyed shooting it, just at 100yds but I was getting about a 4” group and was able to hit the 8” steel plate with ease. I may have to buy one of those thinner front sight posts as that would be my biggest complaint about it. The trigger while super long and creepy broke pretty clean. I wish there were still barrels of them for $99. Seem a bit pricey now but honestly, what other NON AR BASED semi auto 762x39 rifles are available at that price point ? None that I’m aware of, closest would be a mini 30 at about 2x the price.

Barbaroja said:

Having never shot an SKS before this thread inspired me to have dad dig his out as I had never shot one but have always kinda wanted one.
i really enjoyed shooting it, just at 100yds but I was getting about a 4” group and was able to hit the 8” steel plate with ease. I may have to buy one of those thinner front sight posts as that would be my biggest complaint about it. The trigger while super long and creepy broke pretty clean. I wish there were still barrels of them for $99. Seem a bit pricey now but honestly, what other NON AR BASED semi auto 762x39 rifles are available at that price point ? None that I’m aware of, closest would be a mini 30 at about 2x the price.

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you can file each side of your front site to where you want it. I never understood why mostly everybody shoots the steel ammo instead of some reloads for the SKS

robin banks said:

you can file each side of your front site to where you want it. I never understood why mostly everybody shoots the steel ammo instead of some reloads for the SKS

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Because steel case was cheaper then just the bullet if reloading, there are other factors like all us stuff is sammi spec and the guns chambers are not.

robin banks said:

you can file each side of your front site to where you want it. I never understood why mostly everybody shoots the steel ammo instead of some reloads for the SKS

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I would feel sorry for anyone who reloads for an SKS if my old Norinco is any type of normal. It literally throws brass a solid 10 to 15 yards away. Nice high arc that smacks a roof with enough authority to get attention and dent the case mouth nearly closed at a covered firing line. Makes minis look like minor-leaguers.

troy fairweather said:

Because steel case was cheaper then just the bullet if reloading, there are other factors like all us stuff is sammi spec and the guns chambers are not.

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I understand all that and do it with the 3 SKS's and an AK I got. what I mean is guys saying how inaccurate they are without at least trying reloads. I have and it cut groups in half with just the first powder tried.

illinoisburt said:

I would feel sorry for anyone who reloads for an SKS if my old Norinco is any type of normal. It literally throws brass a solid 10 to 15 yards away. Nice high arc that smacks a roof with enough authority to get attention and dent the case mouth nearly closed at a covered firing line. Makes minis look like minor-leaguers.

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lol yes the 3 I have does that also but I usually have a guy spot the first 2 then put a small tarp there

robin banks said:

I understand all that and do it with the 3 SKS's and an AK I got. what I mean is guys saying how inaccurate they are without at least trying reloads. I have and it cut groups in half with just the first powder tried.

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Or at least just trying another brand of ammo. A lot of what was floating around when that big bulk of SKS's were coming in, was often hit or miss. The actual surplus issue stuff wasnt bad, but things like Wolf could be all over the place, even from lot to lot. I had a Russian Tula that was a great shooter if fed decent ammo.

robin banks said:

lol yes the 3 I have does that also but I usually have a guy spot the first 2 then put a small tarp there

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LOL. Thats just part of shooting autos. If you think they are bad, you should shoot HK's or M1 Carbines.

The way I often shoot, tarps wont work, as they dont follow you around. Walking a double 90* grid in the general areas you were shooting has always worked best for me. Of course, the brass gods have to get their due too.

trackskippy said:

Or at least just trying another brand of ammo. A lot of what was floating around when that big bulk of SKS's were coming in, was often hit or miss. The actual surplus issue stuff wasnt bad, but things like Wolf could be all over the place, even from lot to lot. I had a Russian Tula that was a great shooter if fed decent ammo.


LOL. Thats just part of shooting autos. If you think they are bad, you should shoot HK's or M1 Carbines.

The way I often shoot, tarps wont work, as they dont follow you around. Walking a double 90* grid in the general areas you were shooting has always worked best for me. Of course, the brass gods have to get their due too.

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what I would due if components are ever accessible is to just fire 5 rds of maybe 3 powders pick the best one then write that down for future reference then just shoot the steel stuff

I love my SKS. It was my first patriot rifle& still serves as a backup in that role. So much fun to shoot.