major sks make-over project questions

[silverlance]

hi everybody, just hoping some of the many resident sks experts will help me out on this. i currently own a very long very heavy yugo sks. i love it but i would like to make it a bit more efficient, and... ok, i confess, i just want to dress it up.

1: Will the Red Star reciever cover replacement mount allow use of iron sights (I want as low profile as possible, don't care about using iron sights)? Will the Red Star mount work with my Yugo sks? Will I need to file anything down? Should I order a replacement reciever cover pin as well?

2: I want to buy the Yugo black composite handguard and gas tube assembly (i've been told that removing the handguard is VERY hard). Which stock should I buy to go with my yugo sks? Will I suffer from weight distribution problems after installing a light stock?

3: That NcStar baynet lug bipod looks really neat! Would that be a good idea for my Yugo? Will it be very difficult to remove or install?

If you think these will all work out, I will be ordering tonight. i promise to post detailed pics of the entire process!

 

[jkswiss]

Theres supposedly a pin to punch out to remove the handguard. Its suppose to be real small. So small in fact, that I cannot see mine. Also expect to have to replace the pin. What i ended up doing is just buying a whole gas tube assembly that came with a black handguard.
I got an ATI Monte Carlo Stock on my Chinese SKS, and I honestly think its heavier than the wooden one. I can't really see where one would lighten up the Yugo sks, aside from removing the bayonette. Removing the grenade laucher makes the SKS butt ugly. Hrm..
Alls I'm going to say is that I learned my lesson on Bubbafying a SKS on my Norinco. I've since ordered an unissued Yugo 59/66 SKS, and kept it bone stock, and intend to keep it that way..except I ordered Tech Sights but thats it!!

 

[railroader]

As for receiver mounts, most people have seem to have problems with them getting loose and not holding zero. I also have a choate dragunov stock and it is definately heavier than the wood stock on my chinese paratrooper. You can go here for info and pictures for ideas on what you want to do. http://www.sksboards.com/ Mark

 

[silverlance]

well i talked to sksman

www.sksman.com

and heres the decision:

1. YES on low-profile reciever cover mount. if it doesn't fit, i can always toss it and go back to good ol reciver cover.

2. YES on large-aperture, 1.5x or no-magnifcation, red dot sight. length should be no more than 3.5". hopefully, brass won't bounce off of the glass... i'm buying this primarily because i don't know how to install better iron sights.

3. NO on new fiberglass stock. you guys are right about bubbifying.

 

[jkswiss]

I'm just passing along what I hear, and what I hear is that its not a very good idea to scope an SKS. The accuracy of the SKS does not justify the need for a scope. It will never be a tack driver. Depending on the type of scope, the zero is going to drift every time you dissassemble your gun for cleaning. Word on the street is people have to mess around with these things for themselves to finally get around to the conclusion that the SKS is best the way it is. I'm not one of those purests and have no problem w. anything you do to your gun. I remember being jumped on the sks forum for suggesting modifying my sks. I know that I don't like my bubba'd Norinco nemore though. Just try not to do ne permenant changes to your gun so you can revert to stock configuration when the modifying bug has passed

 

[rust collector]

My Chinese SKS wears a cheap red dot on a receiver cover mount, and it is easier to for my old eyes to use than the standard irons. I may break down and put a tech sight on it, and I plan to add a new gas tube or I'll fill and paint the wood that's on the current tube. The butt spacer also makes the red composite jungle stock more comfortable to use. Although some feel that only accurate rifles are interesting (Townsend Whelen?) I can work within the limitations of the platform and still tune my technique. The trigger is probably the biggest issue, but may smooth out with wear (I hope) or, with a little investment, an experienced gunsmith or fellow named Kivaari can sweeten it up.

That's part of the fun with mil-surps. Keep the old parts and if a mod doesn't work, undo it. It is a fun gun, and I like to introduce young people to centerfire rifles with it. The low frequency report and low recoil provide low-impact thrills, and ammo is still relatively inexpensive. As with most other guns, the more trigger time you get, the more you peg the fun and skill meters.