Need advice for SKS modification

[fistful]

Hello all, and thank you for playing.

Recently, a friend gave me a Norinco SKS with Advanced Tech. sporter stock and spike bayonet. I had planned on getting an SKS one day, and always thought the folding bayonet was the coolest part of that gun. When I got the thing home, however, I realized that it was unduly heavy for a carbine, especially with that stock. I could go lighter with some funny-looking pistolgrip or thumbhole stock, but I'd rather put a wooden, sporter stock on it. I have removed the bayonet, but the bayo mount has to go, as well - it's a big hook hanging down there. No, I don't want a bipod.

What I'd like to do is lop off the barrel in front of the bayo mount. Where can I find a front sight of the appropriate height? Also, it must work with the receiver sight from Law27: http://www.tech-sights.com/ Is it possible or desirable to mount a front sight on the gas tube? Who has wooden (issue or aftermarket) SKS stocks?

Thanks.

 

[Bullet]

For a stock try this link -

http://www.globaltrades.com/

 

[benEzra]

There is an SKS forum somewhere on the 'net (I don't remember where it is) that might have more info on the barrel shortening/front sight mod. Make sure you don't go below 16" barrel length or you'll be in deep trouble with the BATFE...

Also ask around and see whether the gas port needs to be enlarged for reliable function with the shorter barrel (since the shorter barrel shortens the duration of the pressure pulse the gas port sees after the bullet goes by).

 

[GlocksRock]

www.ak-47.net has an SKS discussion forum, I believe www.ar15.com has one too. Also try http://www.simonov.net/

 

[rbernie]

http://www.sksboards.com/forum/

 

[fistful]

Thanks.

 

[mack69]

RE:

Fist...also check out surplus rifle site....great info there too.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/

 

[mikey_mick]

sks conversion to .223 ?

Speaking of sks conversions... does anybody know if it's possible to convert a sks to .223 ?

 

[doubleg]

my advice? get rid of the bayonet. I have seen one of those things come loose during shooting and slice up someones hand.

 

[MCgunner]

If you cut the barrel off, you're going to have to crown it, it's important. Don't do that, just cut off the bayonet lug and leave the stock front sight on it. That's what I did, then cold blued the stump. You're right, too, that thing caught every piece of friggin' brush I passed until I cut it off. The way I set it up, it's a nice little semi-auto brush rifle.

My stock is polymer camo from Choate. http://www.choatemachinetool.com/ I don't think they offer the camo anymore, but they make really nice stocks. The gun is still heavy, though, no way around that. The barrel is thick, military, and it is just heavy. The one below is $60. What I don't like about most sporter stocks is the cheek pad they all have and I shoot left handed. So, the Choate made sense to me, besides, I fell for the camo version.

Also, I like the flush fit 5 round magazine I put on mine for hunting, doesn't get in the way. When carrying the gun one handed, that 10 round magazine was right at the balance point, much better with the five rounder.

BTW, check your e-m for my response on the scope mount.

 

[mikey_mick]

new sks barrel

does anybody know of a manufacturer who will makes new replacement barrels for the sks? The barrel on mine has crappy rifling and I was wondering if I could get a 5.45x39 barrel instead of a 7.62x39 with the same dimensions as a stock barrel.

 

[rockstar.esq]

I've never heard of replacement SKS barrels. My guess is that with the rifles selling for $150.00, there isn't much market for an SKS part that'd cost a minimum $100.00! As for rechambering it into .223, No it's a totally different pressure curve which would doubtlessly require different springs, bolt dimensions, and lockwork camming relationships. Again, there's no market for such modifications when the guns are selling for 1/2-1/3 the price of a standard American hunting rifle!

 

[dstorm1911]

Numrich has Chinese threaded barrels (military) they will not fit anything but a Norinco...

The chinese sell a .223 version, but ya can't import any Chinese weapons into the USA anymore (since 1994) but they are readily available if ya live in Canada as well as most other countries but here...

That being said I've been converting a type M from 7.62x39 to .223 the barrel is easy, Ya simply get a barrel blank and turn it down to the SKS profile, I've got an entire weapons importer/ manufactures shop to work with myself, the rifle I'm converting was damaged back when Omega Weapons was still importing them (he has about EVERYTHING for an SKS except barrels they all got used up along time ago, he has crates of brand new bolts, carriers etc.. everything but the barrel) so when I found this broken Type M (the barrel is bent, stock busted) I decide to rebuild the otherwise new rifle as Don, the owner of Omega likes the .223 (I don't like the round) I found a barrel blank, turned it down then pressed it in, that was the easy part now the hard part is redesigning the magwell (On a type M they are part of the trigger gaurd) I'm milling out a whole new trigger gaurd so as to save the original one...

The issue is that the .223 is 45 mm long versus the 39 mm for the 7.62 round, Instead of AK mags I'm designing this one to use M16 mags as they are easier to come by than the Chicom 223 AK mags. The new magwell was easy enough but getting the longer cartridge to feed has been an issue.... I've wanted to avoid cutting the reciever but its looking like I'm going to have to before it will feed reliably........


But yea its doable, ya either need ALOTA $$$ Or access to a machine shop geared towards weapons manufacture....... if its setup for building machine guns thats an even bigger plus

 

[aaronrkelly]

doubleg said:

my advice? get rid of the bayonet. I have seen one of those things come loose during shooting and slice up someones hand.

Huh? How does an SKS bayonet "slice up somebodys hand"? They are unsharpened (both blades and spikes).

Do tell....

 

[mr..plow]

I think the speaking of the bayonet made a mistake..They dont sharpen the barrel but Ive handled a few bayonets and found quite a few that had been sharpened by the soilder it was issued to..