New SKS project.

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LoonWulf

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I traded my AR, for this sks a couple weeks ago. The ARs just dont really flip my switch anymore, and Id never owned one of these, and always kinda wanted one. SKS also hold a bit of a premium here as they LOOK like hunting rifles, and alot of us had them, or knew folks that used them as we were growing up.
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This was just a regular Norinco, but someone in its past dropped it into a Timbersmith stock, and replaced a bunch of the guts with american made components. It ran mostly fine stock, tho it would bounce a shell back into the receiver where the bolt carrier could pinch it. It also shot pretty well, 2" at 50yds, which is as good as i can do with open sights.

Down sides?
Smooth, but very, very....very, long trigger pull @ about 5 lbs
It had about 1/4" of vertical play at the back when it was locked up.
So over gassed it would launch shells 20" into the air, AFTER banging them off the side of the receiver. Not what you want if you plan on reloading.
All the sticky out stuff on the barrel is just asking to get tangled in stuff while im hunting.
Couldnt put a magazine in, or remove one, while the bolt was forward.
I cant shoot open sights to save my life.

So, off to the work bench it went.
First I used a piece of carbon fiber arrow inserted into the spring hole in the bottom of the stock, to put tension on the trigger unit so when it was locked up the receiver was pulled snug into the stock (there was no lateral play in this one). I then bedded the reciever, and the rear of the trigger group into the stock. now to lock it up takes some force, but its rock solid.

The trigger only need to have the sear ground to reduce travel, that was done on my bench sander with constant wetting (pretty much the same way i sharpen knife blanks) I left all the angles the same, and polished the contact surfaces with 1500 grip paper backed by square stock. Pulls is now much shorter, tho i left plenty of take up to be safe, and very smooth.

Following some instructions online I started looking at the gas system and why shells would sometimes go flying straight up or even forward and left of my position. What i came up with was one, the systems way, way, over gassed, and two the shells WILL hit the side of the receiver on the way out.
To rectify the first issue, I found a guide to porting the gas tube to vent after sufficient energy is transferred to the gas piston.
Seemed simple enough. Three holes, two on the side .2 back from the front, and one on top .3 back.
So i went ahead with making the original holes. Ive now enlarged them to the max of what the guide recommended, and have made another hole behind the one on top, which was only suggested as a necessary on a few of the Chinese guns. Brass still goes about 15 feet, but not with nearly the gusto or height it did before.
Ive also noticed the recoil is smoother, and the firing cycle is a little less vicious. It sounds funny saying that about a semi that weighs 8lbs, but having fired that gun a watching only the bolt carrier, shell eject, thats the only way i can describe it lol.
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The second part of adjusting the ejection was changing the of the rear edge of the ejection port, by bringing the rear lower edge back to be even with the upper....or pretty close.
Theres no way to keep cases from smacking the edge of the port/receiver on the way out (unless you remove alot more material), but changing that angle makes them bounce forward and to the right, rather than straight up, or even left. If the ejection ledge was a bit farther forward, or the port was more open to the rear I dont think this would be a problem, but i get the feeling the gun was DESIGNED to function like it does. Unlike most other semis ive shot brass ends up forward of the firing line....mostly.
Were i not trying to save my brass id have probably only changed the angle of the port slightly to keep it from bouncing shells back into itself.
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The sticky out stuff on the barrel was easy, i just lopped it all of and rounded the corners. Its all attached to the front sight sleeve, and eventually im thinking ill pull it off and install a trueshot front sight .

To correct MY inability to shoot open sights, or even seen them adequately, I bought a williams click adjustable peep sight for a remington model 8 off ebay.
I know Techsights offers a very nice set of sights for the SKS, but i just dont like the way they look, and at nearly 100 bucks its more than i want to spend.
The williams is attached to the left side of the receiver by 2 6/32 screws, and while i cant take the top cover off with the sight installed, all i need to do is pull the slide part of the sight (which has nice marks so i can put it back easily enough), the base can stay attached.
In theory i could also still use this sight with some of the scope mounts available, IF they had a grove down the middle deep enough to be able to see the front sight thru them, im not sure if any do.
The other downside is i have to remove the rear sight blade, or run the front sight post way up and look over it. I went with just pulling the blade for now.
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Lastly I disliked the fact i couldnt pull or insert a magazine with the bolt locked forward. To remedy this I took some time with the belt sander and my dremel tool to remove material from the rails on the side of the bolt that lock into the magazine feed lips. I removed just enough so that the mags i have could be inserted, and removed without having to force them.
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I still have some parts to source or install, like a Wolff spring kit, and i want a flush mounted 5rnd magazine. Ive been looking at the Murrays sprung firing pins, and im considering installing one. Im also considering getting a lighter stock, and handguard. The Choate, for example is over a pound lighter than the Timbersmith.

All in all im already having a good time with this rifle. Its fun to shoot, fun to tinker with, and having used one before, it will make a decent short range hunter.

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Thanks, The sight are about 29.25" back to front, which is pretty significant, perhaps the one of the nice things about that long receiver. I really dig that stock also, while im considering adding a lighter one, that one is what the rifle will ware most of the time.
 
I think the SKS is a great rifle. They are a great woods rifle. My daughter harvested her first buck with mine. Then she claimed the dang thing and dad lost his SKS. My wonderful wife bought me a new one a couple of years later so I guess it all worked out fine. Yours is one of the prettiest SKS rifles I've seen. Keep us posted.
 
I think the SKS is a great rifle. They are a great woods rifle. My daughter harvested her first buck with mine. Then she claimed the dang thing and dad lost his SKS. My wonderful wife bought me a new one a couple of years later so I guess it all worked out fine. Yours is one of the prettiest SKS rifles I've seen. Keep us posted.
My daughters 2.5, but she's already eyeballing my guns lol. Every time one comes out she wants to look thru the scope or mess with the bolt. I'm sure at least one or two will wander off when she gets old enough. All part and parcel to getting kids into the sport lol
It was very nice of your wife to buy you a replacement, mine just claimed the new .243 I brought home lol

Back in high school, one of my buddies hunted with an sks we fixed up after it's original owner got mad at it and tossed it in the ocean. He killed tons of stuff with that gun, and as far as I know STILL uses it.

Also nice that Russian steel or even decent quality Wolf Gold ammo is so nice and cheap at this time.

Well, maybe not in HI. lol

I bought a couple different types of wolf, and one box of brass cased PPUs. the wolf was about 8 bucks a box the PPUs were 13. Thats a cheaper than even 556 fmjs, and about 5 bucks cheaper than expanding.

Honestly 1000rnds of the wolf hollow points for 360ish (if I remember correctly) is cheaper than I can reload. Flip side is hopefully my handloads perform better than the wolf stuff, tho I will probably shoot quite a bit of the cheap wolf.

Thanks for the compliments guys, I'll update how it shoots hopefully this weekend.

I was considering bedding the barrel into the stock since it touches in a bunch of places, dunno if that's a good idea tho.
 
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You know, I was terrified this was going to be some kind of Tapco nightmare, or worse.

This is a little more like it! Some people report better accuracy with the bayo lug removed since removing it can potentially improve barrel harmonics.
 
I picked up an SKS this last year. Did many of the same things to it. Although mine does not have a detachable mag. I also finished the metal with Alumihyde from Brownells. I did not bake it, but I placed it behind the heater for the winter. Its a keeper.
 
Very interesting and I love that rear sight. My only SKS modification is the replacement of the front sight post with one of those fiber optic type posts so old eyes can see it better. About 10 years ago I did some reloading for 7.62x39 . They are rough on brass but I got some handloads that were decent in case the ammo becomes too scarce or expensive. With all the selection and good pricing on x39 ammo nowadays I haven't reloaded any in years. Gun Parts Corp. had 5 round replacement mags available a few years ago but still show them as "out of stock" now. I had considered using an SKS as a woods rifle for deer with some handloads but that's not gonna happen for me without a 5 round magazine per the regulations. But that's OK as I've got several other choices for use in a rifle zone including a .30-30; which is pretty much comparable ballistics - wise to 7.62x39.
 
I did enough reloading for my sks to learn what works. You could buy a rubber dohickey that fit over the charging handle or I believe that a few people used shrink tubing on it to lessen brass dings.

The stock and alterations that you did look a lot more appealing than shellac peeling on the stock. The sights out to be more precise for you as well.
 
Looks like a great shooter. :cool:

Regarding the Wolff spring kit, the only time my SKS has ever experienced light strikes was with a Wolff reduced power hammer spring. Currently, my SKS only has the Wolff reduced power sear spring in it.
 
Gun Parts Corp. had 5 round replacement mags available a few years ago but still show them as "out of stock" now. I had considered using an SKS as a woods rifle for deer with some handloads but that's not gonna happen for me without a 5 round magazine per the regulations.
Years ago when I lived and hunted in NY, I emailed the DEC and asked if installing a wooden block in a 10 round SKS magazine, like a plug in a shotgun, would meet the standards of the law. They replied back that it would.

I fashioned a small wooden block that followed the contours of the mag and fit under the mag follower. The mag still functioned properly and reduced the capacity to the legal limit.

Might be worth a try to send such an email and get an answer in writing should the need ever arise to prove it's legit.
 
Years ago when I lived and hunted in NY, I emailed the DEC and asked if installing a wooden block in a 10 round SKS magazine, like a plug in a shotgun, would meet the standards of the law. They replied back that it would.

I fashioned a small wooden block that followed the contours of the mag and fit under the mag follower. The mag still functioned properly and reduced the capacity to the legal limit.

Might be worth a try to send such an email and get an answer in writing should the need ever arise to prove it's legit.
True, I placed a plastic block in the mag on mine to make it legal for deer hunting.
 
A tab welded to the bottom of the follower would work too, or just pinning the detachable mag to create a new "bottom" to the mag. Unless you're in love with the detachable mags a factory mag and some stripper clips makes these a pleasure to load. Let me know if you need a factory mag, I'm sure I still have one floating around somewhere...
 
I’ve had my SKS for over 30 years. My first one was a pined barrel Chinese, which I sold.
I set it up for hunting back in 1999. I bought a new dust cover with a rail mounted. The front legs of the cover were longer then needed so that it could be fitted to the rifle. I have it fitted so tight that a punch is needed to remove the takedown pin.
I added the recoil pad because the stock was a little too short. I refinished the stock with a BLO finish.
It shoots ok. The best I have ever been able to get is 2.5 to 3” group at 100 yds. with Winchester ammo.
My brother got one and we couldn’t hit paper at 50 yds with commercial hunting ammo. When we tried it at 25 yds it looked like we were shooting a shotgun. We tried surplus ammunition and it would shoot 3”at 50 yds.
The hunting ammo had thinner jackets and were being ripped apart by the rifeling.

Here are some pics I just took.
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My gas tube was vented at the factory. There’s another hole on the other side.
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I fitted a Chinese five round mag to it, even tho we don’t have a mag limit here.
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Looks like a great shooter. :cool:

Regarding the Wolff spring kit, the only time my SKS has ever experienced light strikes was with a Wolff reduced power hammer spring. Currently, my SKS only has the Wolff reduced power sear spring in it.
Thanks for the heads up.
I'm going to mostly be shooting handloads for any serious work, so the lighter hammer spring maybe fine for what I'm doing, but I'll definitely function check the gun with all ammo i might use after Installing it.

I’ve had my SKS for over 30 years. My first one was a pined barrel Chinese, which I sold.
I set it up for hunting back in 1999. I bought a new dust cover with a rail mounted. The front legs of the cover were longer then needed so that it could be fitted to the rifle. I have it fitted so tight that a punch is needed to remove the takedown pin.
I added the recoil pad because the stock was a little too short. I refinished the stock with a BLO finish.
It shoots ok. The best I have ever been able to get is 2.5 to 3” group at 100 yds. with Winchester ammo.
My brother got one and we couldn’t hit paper at 50 yds with commercial hunting ammo. When we tried it at 25 yds it looked like we were shooting a shotgun. We tried surplus ammunition and it would shoot 3”at 50 yds.
The hunting ammo had thinner jackets and were being ripped apart by the rifeling.

Here are some pics I just took.
View attachment 787662 View attachment 787663


My gas tube was vented at the factory. There’s another hole on the other side.
View attachment 787664

I fitted a Chinese five round mag to it, even tho we don’t have a mag limit here.
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Mine has those ports at the back of the gas tube as well, the ports I added are right at the front.
That flush fit 5rnd mag looks perfect!
I've got a 5rnd Magpul detachable on order (along with my spring kit) but it sticks out the bottom about as far as a factory 10.
Easiest way to make it hunting legal tho.


Got out for a while this am before it started storming. Target was at 50yds, and I was prone, monopoding off the magazine.

I shot one group, the very bottom, then adjusted up, and the other left, and shot the second.
Only having 20 rnds I walked the shots back to center then up. The load is a 123 nosler tipped fb, over 26.5gr of rl-7. My buddy suggested it, he uses it in his aks for pigs.

I fired the last two shots at the white sticker. Rounds would have hit right at the top of the post.

The same buddy who gave me the load.data also suggested a carefully point the tip of the front sight and paint it white, or some other bright color. I do need a finer front sight, so I may try that.


Even with all the ports my brass still got tossed 10-15ft. Probably open the 4th one up a bit more.
Next time I mess with one of these I'm making a plug for the gas block with a smaller hole so I can use a set screw as a restrictor.

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Now I have the itch to get mine out. It is an unissued ( or commercial) rifle. I've only put maybe 100 rounds through it and its still completely stock. I did buy a set of tech sights for it but haven't put them on yet.
 
I have a 5 rnd fix mag on one of my SKSs and have a Monte Carlo stock on it, think it is my poor man's Garand and I just bought 2 CMP Garands!
 
I'm a fan, that looks great. Normally not one for Bubba'd SKSs but since this one was already done I think the touches you added are great, just great. Should be a swell shooter. Only thing I'd do is swap the Tapco for a standard 10 round mag and run strippers. But of course that's just ME.
 
I have an SKS I got while I was in highschool. It has a stupid plastic stock on it. I love your stock and think the peep sight is cool.
I was in the process of making a load that will cycle with xtps and IMR4227. Accuracy is great, but I haven't worked up to cycling.
 
I looked up what the 5 rd fixed magazines are selling for. I was shocked to see them listed from $40 to $70.
Yeah, thats sorta whats been stopping me lol. Ive seen what looks like a detachable version for 20, that i might try....figure if it sucks it would be like buying to plate lunches, everythings more affordable when you think about it in plate lunch terms....

I'm a fan, that looks great. Normally not one for Bubba'd SKSs but since this one was already done I think the touches you added are great, just great. Should be a swell shooter. Only thing I'd do is swap the Tapco for a standard 10 round mag and run strippers. But of course that's just ME.
I try to avoid bubbahfying stuff if i can help it, tho ive done a few.......
The Nothing wrong with running stripper clips, i knew a couple guys who used them and fixed 20s. Id still have to block the 10 rounder to 5 to be 100% legal while hunting tho, so just having a separate set of hunting mags that i can pop in and out make life a little easier. Growing up on Molokai, that wasnt even a consideration......

That looks awesome! Congrats and keep posting photos.

Geno
Will do!

One thing i keep thinking of doing is recontouring the forend and belly of the timber smith to match the mags extention angle and going straight out to the nose cap...kinda like the original stocks, or some of the after markets. that would shave some weight as well as making the gun look a little leaner i think....BUT that stock is just so pretty i dont want to mess it up. Maybe ill just wait and buy a beater stock.
 
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