SKS-any other caliber?

Interesting question...

..though I'd never thought of that. As a question, though--why would they be converted to a different calibre? They did what they were designed to, and then the AK superseded them for all intents an purposes, so I would assume more thought was put into the frontline AKs rather than updating a failsafe workhorse. Just a thought.

I would love an SKS in .223 or 6.5/6.8. Might just be the perfect rifle in 6.5/6.8.

Lately I've been dreaming of an SKS in 7.62x54R. Sweetness pure and simple.

Then again I would have all of my rifles in 54R if I could.

In college, I half toyed with the idea of getting my hands on SKS plans and getting the engineering department's help in figuring out what it would take to make one in .308/7.62x51. I suppose that is my dream rifle, simplicity meets durability meets power.

Then I realized just how massive an undertaking it would be for a rifle that few other people would want, especially with the price tag it would command being newly manufactured. So I went with a Saiga .308 instead.

Nice to dream, though.

Barrett

On the Falfiles I once saw a pic of an SKS converted to .223 by a 'smith called Meeper, who specializes in caliber changes for FALs. Try tracking him down.

Find the SKS grandpappy - the PTRD, (or is it the PTRS?), anti-tank riflem with the same basic action, in 14.5mm.

^ Ahhh yes my dream rifle. And the SVT-40 is close as close to a 54R SKS as you'll get I think.

Well, the .308 and 7.62x54 are way too big for the SKS, unfortunately...

However, the easiest conversion would be 5.45x39mm, as AntiBubba mentioned. New barrel, probably some tweaking of the gas system, but should feed pretty much the same as the 7.62Comm, right?

Problem is, 5.45x39mm hasn't exactly taken America by storm, as cool as the round sounds.

Also the 5.45x39mm would negate most of the hunting usages of the SKS, as it's most likely illegal to use .21 caliber rifles on pig and deer in much of the U.S., and presumably even a 5.45mm SKS wouldn't quite be up to long-range varminting.

So, a 5.45mm SKS would do no good for hunters, not appeal to the average Bubba who just wants to shoot cans for cheap, etc. So, it would basically be a delight for us gun geeks and nobody else.

Now, if the Serbs want to start making and exporting SKS Cowboy Companion/Paratrooper variants in 5.45mm, I'd buy one for $150, but that's about it. Fun to think about though.

6.5 Grendel would be a perfect fit. Too bad about the licensing problem. Here's Norincos 5.56mm SKS. http://www.norincosports.cn/detail_product_English.jsp?productid=92&cssid=1

If we're gonna go on about strange calibers, I want a 9mm AK clone. Perhaps a 9x18 ak?