Just got my 1st Yugo SKS: What accessories/mods should I buy?

[silverlance]

After my AR15 got stolen, I was sad for a long time =(

But finally I decided to replace it with another trusty battle rifle - and surprise! my GF bought me a milsurp New Century Yugo SKS for my birthday. =)

I haven't even gotten it yet - 10 day waiting period in CA and all - but I'm very very excited. I'm totally new to SKSes though - I spent 8 years mastering the AR, but now I'll have to learn something new - CA AWB isn't going to be repealed anytime soon, anyway.

I've tried to search the forums but there are too many SKS entries, and I'm hoping some of you SKS die-hards would enlighten me - what accessories / mods should I buy?

Notes:

1. I have about $200 to spend, max. any more than that would be silly imho.

2. the sks is currently Yugo, wood stock, grenade laucher, bayonet, round knob bolt, threaded barrel with compensator attached. I don't know much else about it.

....

I've ordered a mil sling, us army book on the sks, and a cleaning kit which comes with a zytel forearm piece (dunno what to do with that yet).

I'm also worried about how I'm going to be able to clean all that cosmoline off.. any tips would be helpful.

kev

 

[thereisnospoon]

Uh,

I don't really own an SKS, but I would suggest the $200.00 be spent on AMMO, then shoot the crap out of it until you know it will work for every time you need it.

Then save a bunch of money and trick it out later...

Just my $0.03

 

[1911user]

I would use the money for a few dozen stripper clips, lots of ammo and a sight adjustment tool (both windage and elevation) for the front sight. The rifle is probably in it's best configuration to shoot as is. It doesn't need unreliable extended or removable mags, lights, flash suppressors, bipods, scopes, etc. The folding stocks available are low quality and not even close to legal for your rifle; just pass them by.

Clean it up really good and get all of the cosmoline out of the tiny spaces (especially the gas system). Don't forget to relube it. Spend some time shooting a case or 2 of ammo through it. After that, you'll know if it needs any "improvements". Have fun.

 

[dolanp]

I agree with the other posters. It is what it is and most modifications only take away from the rifle instead of add to it. However if you like peep sights the Tech Sights are a worthwhile modification. If you want to scope it I wouldn't waste money on anything expensive since the rifle is not incredibly accurate. Just get a cheapie red dot or scope. Personally I wouldn't scope it though.

 

[blackhawk2000]

Congrats on your new gun.

Cosmo is an evil thing :banghead: Boiling water for the trigger group, and other small pieces, and non chlorinated brake cleaner for the rest of the metal. Put the wood in a black garbage bag, and let it sit in the sun to sweat out the cosmo. That's what works best for me.

Buy some stripper clips, and ammo with the $200. The Tech Sight is supposed to be pretty good from what I've heard. The stockers are pretty crappy as far as I'm concerned. I'm not really sure if you can legally add anything though to a yugo, because of it's C&R status. A bunch of legal mumbo jumbo.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

1. Ammo
2. Stripper clips (get good with them)
3. Tech sights
4. If you're feeling spendy down the line, I kind of enjoy the synthetic ramline stock for the SKS. I would consider this a very distant 4th.

Shoot until it feels like a third arm growing out of your shoulder, buy another thousand rounds and repeat.

 

[DMK]

I agree with all the posts here. SKS seem to be accessory magnets and rarely do the accessories improve them in any way (with the possible exception of the Tech Sight, which is a quality product and good upgrade to the horrible sights that the Russians put on their guns, but does make it harder to field strip).

Whatever you do, don't waste your money on aftermarket magazines.

This is the voice of experience. I have 13 SKS and I've been there done that. After I tried accessorizing my first, a cheap gunsmith special Yugo, I've kept all the rest as completely original as possible.

 

[cracked butt]

buy a case of this stuff- includes strippers http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_7_62x39.html


After shipping and handling, You'll have enough to buy a good quality coated cleaning rod for the rifle.

I don't know about sight upgrades, I find the sights plenty good enough as is, but a trigger job will probably improve the shootability of the rifle more than anything. The trigger on mine is very heavy, but I can feel the hammer movement just before the sear releases, so I know exactly how its going to break everytime, so even the trigger is workable for me, but different rifles may vary in this aspect.

 

[jame]

I use Mojo sights, and a Firesight front, and it cost me around $50. A WHOLE bunch 'O stripper clips can be aquired for $10-20. I put a Choate Sporter stock in mine, as i found the length of pull too short, and my original stock was toast, anyway. That was $50. DO NOT put on one of those Drugonov stocks! On the SKS, they're clumsy, heavy, and IMHO, ugly as hell. Look at Choate or Butler Creek for stocks, if you choose to replace.

 

[jkswiss]

Do you guys know of any place that sells new Yugo 59/66 wooden stocks?
I have a ATI monte carlo stock on it and I really don't like it. Its heavy and awkward. The wood stock it came with is now lost somewhere.

 

[Skofnung]

+1 on cracked butt's comment.

 

[browningguy]

For cleaning the cosmoline off the stock I had very good success with oven cleaner. I sprayed, set it in the sun for about 30 minutes, wiped down, sprayed and let sit for a couple of hours, wiped down again. Then did it one more time and let it sit all day in the sun, never had any cosmo come out since.

 

[silverlance]

awesome help!

thanks very much! i kind of felt the same way - i don't really "trick out" guns with the exception of night sights.

I've heard lots of stuff about tech sights before - but I've also heard that they cost as much as the gun and to me that is kinda silly. I figure that if it was good enough for the notable snipers of eastern europe and russia then it's good enough for me. the sights may suck but them again so will i for at least 2000 rounds.

should i get the windage and broken shell extractor tools? folks keep trying to sell them to me.

 

[silverlance]

oh!

Should I buy the suggested (thanks!) Yugo milsurp CORROSIVE brass case 70s manufacture berdan primed ammo? I'll do my best to clean it right afterwards, and it comes with a free can and stripper clips at 138/case 1.1k (aimpoint) 129/case 1.1k (outdoor marksman).

or should i buy wolf non corrosive polymer steel case berdan primed at 110/case of 1k

 

[Rexrider]

or should i buy wolf non corrosive polymer steel case berdan primed at 110/case of 1k

Personally, I would stick to non-corrosive ammo. It's just not worth shooting corrosive in this day and age, IMHO.

The Wolf ammo you mentioned will work just fine in the yugo. By some stripper clips and load 'em up.

 

[dolanp]

I've heard lots of stuff about tech sights before - but I've also heard that they cost as much as the gun and to me that is kinda silly

Not sure how much you paid for your Yugo but the original TS100 Tech Sights are $45.

 

[goalie]

I just got a Yugo SKS myself. It fed Wolf ammo just fine, and was minute-of-pie-plate at 100 yards from the bench after I adjusted the elevation. I plan on leaving mine as-is, since it appears to work well that way.

My vote is for stripper clips and ammo.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

IMHO, too many SKSes are over-accessorized. All I'd get would be:

1. A case of ammo. Wolf runs fine in my Norinco and Yugo SKSes.
2. A pile of stripper clips.
3. Cleaning kit if you don't have one.
4. You might want a bandoleer or belt pouches to carry ammo.

Shoot the snot out of it and see how it works. Then, maybe put on a Techsight or Mojo sight.

 

[Rob1035]

like others have said, shoot it enough stock to get a feel for it, then decide on mods.

 

[clange]

Please dont put a bunch of crap on it.

I agree with everyone else, the only thing I'd add to a SKS would be a tech sight.

 

[Cacique500]

Buy ammo and stripper clips.

I'd also try to avoid the corrosive yugo ammo - wolf will work just fine in your SKS for thousands and thousands of rounds. The problem with the corrosive ammo in an SKS is that you have to make sure you clean out the gas system really well which can be a PITA.

Enjoy your new toy!

(I though California banned the grenade launcher on an SKS? )