Heat-sensitive SKS

[Smokey Joe]

Took Comrade Princess Anastasia to the range today. She is a new-issue Yugo 59/66 SKS--Yes I know she's Yugoslavian but she has a Russian soul. So far she is bone stock except for a peep sight replacing her military rear sight, and I stoned her sear some (needs some more but the improvement to the trigger is noticeable.)

The peep helped A LOT in accurate shooting. Had made up a series of loads, all the same .3115" diam 150 grain Hornady bullets (Hdy calls 'em .312 but they're not), CCI #34 primers, and an increase of 0.3 grains of AA1680 in each of 10 steps.

Some of the loads showed promise; most of them made 8" or smaller groups--the best were kind of a 4-5" group with 3 outer flyers--but Ye Gods how Temperature Sensitive!!! If I let her cool for 1 minute between shots she liked that, and the group stayed together moreso. The closer together in time the shots were, the worse she grouped.

Unfortunately I only figured this out for the last 2 loads of the series, so now I get to do the whole load series over again, but waiting 1 min. or more between shots.

Temp at the range was in the 60's F, sunny and breezy.

The only rifle I ever shot that was this finicky about cooling was a pencil-barrelled .243Win.

Anybody noticed similar, and/or have suggestions?

 

[Limeyfellow]

That seems rather odd. Never had that happen to me before and it tends to maintain a 3-4moa firing far more rapidly.

 

[cracked butt]

Don't know if it will help or not, but its one thing that can be eliminated, did you remove or extend the bayonet so that it doesn't bear against the stock?

 

[Smokey Joe]

Well, it's something to try.

Cracked Butt--Not to make a pun or anything, but we'll give that a shot.

I had the bayo folded up the whole time.