Looking to Buy my first Centerfire - SKS

[withoutink]

Im looking at buying my first centerfire rifle. I like the look of the SKS a lot, and I like the fact that it shares the same ammo as the AK-47 (which I will be buying down the road). I have my eye on a Paratrooper model, I like the shorter barrel.

I have read, it is best to keep the SKS pretty much stock. Except for replacing the free-floating firing pin.

Any issues I need to worry about with the SKS?
Best place to purchase the Paratrooper version?
Any other recommendations?

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I've never shot a para model so can't say.
if you can find one the early Chinese made in the Russki factory overseen by Russki technicians are shooters. a nephew has one I lucked into a couple years back I sold him. wish I'd kept it and got him the Norinco the seller had also.
the Chinese is a shooter after I cleaned up the trigger and tightened things up, did a re-crown and bore polish. a small 4X glass on it has it right at m.o.a. with good ammo (Lapua, Sako, Privi etc.)
a man sized target @ 200yds is in deep kim-shueey if he's got any sort of a rest to steady on.

 

[Clockwerk]

I own one of those with the detachable magazine mod from the factory. I like that its light weight but also does kick a little bit more than the standard SKS but its really not a issue. I changed my stock and put a piece of glass on it as well as a muzzle break just to ad a bit more weight.

 

[Jarrettrocksvt]

SKS nice, Saiga=nicer

Man if i were you, I'd look for a saiga 7.62. They run 4-500 (a little more exp than a sks), but they're made in russia by IZHMASH. It comes in a hunting configuration (much like a sks), but are easily changed to a handle config. Then you have a real AK. just my 2cents.
JR

 

[SoulLessGinger]

Great guns.

Don't care for the Yugo's much as the grenade attachment screws up the gun's aesthetics.

Mine is a Romanian (basically a Russian made in Romania) and it is pretty good, but my buddy's Chinese is in better shape (still not as pretty as mine, though) and is a good bit more accurate. We've found it damn near impossible to miss cinder blocks at 100yd with it.

If I were getting an SKS right now, I'd be looking hard to find a solid Chinese/Norinco. You won't have the most tacticool gun out there, but you'll have a damn nice rifle.

 

[stanmo]

I got a Yugo from SOG a couple months ago which is pretty much a brand new gun. I didn't like the grenade launcher at first but it grew on me. This thing has been flawless through a couple hundred rounds and more accurate than I am. For a first rifle (whatever national origin) I would say it is a fine choice

 

[stubbicatt]

OP. Why do you wish to replace the firing pin?

I have owned the Chinese and the Russian SKS, and I still own the Russian. I don't shoot it too often as it is much more involved to get it clean to my satisfaction than is a simple 22 bolt rifle, but it is a real nice firearm. They are a whole lotta fun to shoot, that's for sure.

 

[451 Detonics]

OP. Why do you wish to replace the firing pin?

The replacements incorporate a firing pin springs which greatly reduces the chance of a slam fire.

 

[ball3006]

I have shot many...

SKS over the years and I have never had a slam fire with them. Only the early Russian SKS had a spring on the firing pin but the Russians did away with it when they found out there was no slam fire problem. Military ammo tends to have hard primers to reduce any slam fire problems.

I did have a Yugo SKS go auto on me. I was shooting Silver Bear ammo when the firing pin pierced the primer and a piece of primer metal jammed the firing pin forward resulting in a quickly emptied mag. I no longer shoot that brand of ammo....chris3

 

[wnycollector]

I have read, it is best to keep the SKS pretty much stock. Except for replacing the free-floating firing pin.

I own two Norinco SKS' (Paratrooper and a standard 20" model). The Paratrooper is stock and is a decent shooter. The 20" model however has a set of Tech-sights and is a shooter. I can pick off 10 clay pigeons with a full mag at 120 yards. I personally would opt for a 20" model and add a Tech sight. The only other thing you need is a 1000 rounds of ammo to practice with.

 

[Average Joe]

No need to replace the firing pin, just keep it clean and free and you will have no problems. I own 3 SKS rifles and have no issues with slam fires.

 

[okiewita40]

I would stick with the standard 20" model. The 4" less of barrel is not that much of a weight savings. Check out the sks boards. Some guys like the originals some like them bubba'd. your gun your choice.

 

[benEzra]

SKS over the years and I have never had a slam fire with them. Only the early Russian SKS had a spring on the firing pin but the Russians did away with it when they found out there was no slam fire problem. Military ammo tends to have hard primers to reduce any slam fire problems.

The problem is that both the firing pin and the firing pin hole are tapered, so that if a little corrosion, a little crud, and/or tolerance stacking allow the firing pin to become frozen in the forward position, then you have a situation in which forward motion of the bolt will set off even a proper milspec primer. Such problems are very rare, but they are serious if they occur. The gun was originally designed for a sprung firing pin, which was omitted only for cost/production reasons, so retrofitting a sprung pin is actually more faithful to Simonov's design than the unsprung pins are.

I do like the idea of a 16" barrel, as the SKS is a rather long rifle with the standard length barrel.

 

[nathan]

Just soak the bolt in mineral spirits or gasoline for 24 hrs. Make sure it rattles afterwards. Shoot and shoot safely in the tenth ring.

 

[Ignition Override]

Bulk Russian x39 ammo prices are back to where they were a few months before the '08 presidential election.

With today's fuel prices it might be best to buy a serious chunk of ammo as soon as it's affordable.
It won't be as affordable when the dollar loses even more value. For a new type gun, I have the ammo shipped to the house before the rifle is acquired.

 

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keep in mind the 922 compliance. if you start changing or replacing things it loses its curo status. I have a norince with the tapco stock kit tapco mags and gas pistion. do a search and you will find what you need to replace to make it compliant