New SKS Front Sight Question

[.45&TKD]

I drove up to J&G Sales and picked up an M59 Yugo SKS (w/o GL); picked out the best of 3, in what I would consider to be very good condition, nice wood and bluing.

But when I got home, I noticed that the front sight has been adjusted way to the right side. See pictures.

Is it common for the sight to need to be adjusted way to one side like this on an SKS?

Is it indicative of an accuracy problem with the rifle? J&G has a 30 day return policy. Should I bring it back?

I did not notice if the other 2 rifles had the same issue. Even if it is accurate the way that the sights are now, does having the post in the lower "crescent" of the sight hood dramatically effect the ability to make a quick sight picture?

I like the rifle. I guess I just want reassurance before I clean it and shoot it and get to attached to it. I already have the sight adjustment tool.

 

[Badger Arms]

Almost looks like your front sight block is canted as well. No, it's not common on the SKS's that I've seen. I've seen many recent-production AK's that are that way though. It's one of two things, poor quality control or some previous damage or ding which wrenched the front sight off. Tell me, is there an index mark on the front sight? Can you see a line staked on the front of the sight block to indicate factory zero? There should be a corresponding mark on the round part of the sight as well right in the same spot. If not, your sight has been canted after it left the factory and then adjusted to compensate.

 

[.45&TKD]

index mark on the front sight

Attached is a better picture of the index mark in the indentation of the front sight block. With a magnifying glass I think I can barely see a less obvious mark on the lower ridged portion of the sight post (or not). Should the mark on the sight itself be more obvious? Is that mark painted or scratched?

There is no obvious damage and the front sight block does not appear to be canted (to me). The only oddity is the extreme adjustment of the sight itself.

If I am going to return this, I should do it while they still have others in stock.

 

[.45&TKD]

index mark on the front sight

Picture attached.

 

[railroader]

I would clean it enough to shoot a few rounds to see where it hits. If that sight is adjusted to point of impact the way it is and it bothers you I would suggest you take it back. Mark

 

[.45&TKD]

if it bothers you I would suggest you take it back

railroader:
Would it bother you? Or another reasonable person?

This one was actually in slightly better condition than the other two I looked at.

 

[.45&TKD]

Anyone else have an opinion?

 

[railroader]

45&TKD, actually I have a chinese sks that had the sight adjusted to the right but not as bad as yours and it did bother me. The sight assembly was slightly canted so the sight had to be adjusted pretty far to the right. I removed the sight assembly and put it back on straight and redrilled the pin holes so the sight is pretty much centered. You could do the same. I would think you could take a small chisel and raise a burr on the barrel(to help hold the sight assembly from turning), use some locktite then slide the sight assembly back on straight and redrill the pin holes. Another option is you could get a peep sight that is windage adjustable. Your front sight could then be centered but your rear sight would be off to the side a bit. Mark

 

[rbernie]

Would it bother you? Or another reasonable person?

Eh - it's a SKS, not a Dakota.

I guess that I get SKS's to specifically have a rifle that I can bang around a bit - the proverbial 'truck gun'. Given that, I don't really mind it having a few idiosyncracies so long as it works well. If it groups well with decent ammo (UMC FMJ seems to be a very consistent round in most SKS's, for example), I'd live with it.

 

[Prof]

I have a Chinese SKS and its front sight is WAY further to the right than yours! But, it hits dead on everything I aim at so I leave it alone. As one poster said, though, if it will bother you, take it back and exchange it.

 

[Murphster]

The second SKS I owned (a Russian) had the same problem. It would shoot to point of aim if the front sight was cranked allll the way to one side. Wouldn't have bothered me if I was in a war or issued it in the military but it looked goofy (the polite term for what I thought it looked like.) Somebody else can have the goofy guns. I sold it. On the other two Russians and one Yugo I've owned, the sights were fine.

 

[Blackcloud6]

The front sight was designed for this. These rifles were spit out of the factory; made for mass protection and combat accuracy. If it hits where it is supposed to, then it is fine.

I have a Maadi MISR (AK clone, similar front fight) that has the front post canted left a bit and the sight nocked the other direction and it is very accurate.

If it bothers you, put it out of your mind and shoot it. You'll get used to it.

 

[DMK]

If the front sight does not look canted from vertical when sighting down the rifle, it's possible that the sight was just knocked out of center.

I wonder if J&G's return policy would be voided if you fired it. If not, I'd take it to the range, sight it in and try a box of ammo thought it. Either, it's going to sight back to center and all will be well, it's going to sight to one side and you won't mind, or it will sight to one side, you'll hate that and then can take it back for a replacement.

 

[.45&TKD]

Thanks for the help and opinions guys!

I just took it back to J&G (without shooting it) and returned it for one in comparable condition and with a centered front sight.

It only cost me 4 hours of driving, but hey, now I have piece of mind.

Thanks again. I always seem to learn something new from this site.

 

[railroader]

I'm glad it worked out for you. It was worth the 4 hour drive. Mark