HP or FMJ for Yugo SKS?

[Live Free Or Die]

AIM is selling 640 round tins of 7.62x39 Wolf ammo, in either HP or FMJ. The price for both is about the same. I'll be using the ammo for target practice at 100-200 yards. Any reason to prefer one over the other? Will FMJ generally feed better in a Yugo SKS?

Speaking of the SKS, I have a question about its operation after disassembling/reassembling mine for the first time. When there are no cartridges in the magazine and the bolt is pulled back, the bolt locks open. There's no way to close the bolt without pushing down into the magazine from the open action. Is that how it's supposed to work? I'm guessing that's the mechanism that causes the bolt to lock open after the last shot. The only odd part is that I would have expected there to be another way to close the bolt without sticking my fingers into the open action. Seems like a good way to smash one's fingers.

Also, do I need stripper clips when I shoot my SKS, K31, and Mosin M44?

Ok, no more questions for now.

 

[longhorngunman]

Either ammo is fine. Might go with the HP since some ranges won't allow FMJ rifle ammo. Wouldn't go hunting with the HP though, get some cheap soft point for that. And yes the bolt is suppossed to hold open on a empty mag, if it didn't your gun wouldn't work right. And if you didn't know there is a magazine dump latch on the underside. www.surplusrifle.com has a lot of basic info on the SKS.

 

[_N4Z_]

*

The hollow point on a Wolf 7.62x39 isn't much bigger than a pin hole. As a matter a fact, it's the smallest "opening" in a hollowpoint I've ever seen. Have read several places that they do not open up much at all.

I believe that statement more than likey is true.

Use either.

 

[MechAg94]

Either should work. Some say the HP is more accurate for paper shooting. You might pick up some FMJ or soft point for home defense if that is important.

You will find that sticking your fingers in there is common to some older rifles.

You don't need strippers to use those bolt rifles, but they make reloading faster.

 

[mainmech48]

Ditto on the ammo. Unless your range has a problem with FMJ, buy whatever's cheapest. IMO, the tiny HP was just added for import "points". I wouldn't use it on game; it'll perform just like FMJ, most likely.

The SKS is still a military design, even if it's obsolete. The bolt hold-open is normal and desirable: it lets the grunt know when he's empty and makes it easier to recharge. Normal drill is to insert a loaded stripper, push the rounds down into the mag, remove the empty clip, and retract/release the operating handle.

You don't really need 'em on any of those you mention. You can easily load single rounds. If you want, there are clips for all out there with the SKS and Mosin most common (cheapest) and K-31 less so.

To close the bolt on an empty weapon without inserting a finger, pull back on the magazine "dump" lever on the front of the trigger guard. The mag body and follower will swing down. The bolt hold-open will drop when you retract the bolt handle. You can either release it and let the bolt run forward or ride it closed.

 

[Live Free Or Die]

Thanks for the info fellas. You've answered all of my questions.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

IMO, the tiny HP was just added for import "points".

No such thing in Federal law, WRT to ammunition. Either it's legal, or it isn't. E.g., steel cored 7.62x39 is not legal to import because ATF regards it as AP handgun ammo. (Yes, handgun ammo.)