Practical SKS Scope Mounting W/Rail

[jjohnson]

Hi, Gents!

I have a couple of SKS copies (a Yugo and a ChiCom 56) that I would like to scope mount since my eyes are as old as I am!

I was looking at solid and practical solutions - many of the mounts jiggle around on the receiver cover or bounce on the gas tube - or use a pistol scope mounted on a base that replaces the iron rear sight. I wanted a solid mount with a standard rifle scope - and was looking for help on that.

Kalinka Optics (www.kalinka.com) sells what look like good, solid rails that can be mounted on an SKS and was wondering if anybody had experience with those. I was looking for something like a Russian POSP style scope or something similar - 4 or 6 power, maybe, with illuminated reticle. The scope needs to be short and compact - being an SKS I see little point in putting a big target scope on there - so the Russian types make sense to me, especiallly since they seem to be reasonably priced and solid as Russian equipment seems to be. I also like the Russian style ranging reticle - and just hate the mil-dot systems, though an illuminated German 3-post would be worth a look. Having the detachable mount/scope combo makes sense to me. Anybody done this and been happy with it? I'd like to get some reasonable accuracy out of this without trying to make it something it's not. If I could get solid and reliable groups of under 4" at 100 yards, I'd figure that's good. Please let me know what you guys think. If there's a decent source out there to be had with better prices, let me know - Kalinka's just where I started. Your help is always appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[railroader]

http://www.riflestock.com/catalog_p...ductCode=22&ProductSubCodeID=160&NewProduct=0
I've heard good things about this mount. It is suppose to be rock solid and you don't have to remove it to clean your rifle. Mark

 

[Thylacine]

I like the B Square mount. It replaces the rear cover, so you do have to remove it to clean the rifle. part number BSS18569 http://www.thecountryshed.com/sks_mounts.htm

 

[grimjaw]

If you can find it, this is a decent mount. I managed to find one already mounted so I didn't have to do any modifications myself. It requires drilling and tapping the receiver. It will fit either the mount pictured or the PU type Mosin Nagant mount. The base adjustment screws were very soft metal and stripped too easily. If you don't have a short enough scope you can't use stripper clips to load and you risk damaging your scope, but you probably already knew that.

I don't think I'd modify another SKS to take a scope. I'd get something like a Saiga with a 20" barrel and a rail and scope that. Accuracy would be able the same and it would already be legal and set up for higher capacity magazines.

jmm

 

[scbair]

Grimjaw, is that mount you pictured the "side rail" as mounted on SKSs imported by (I think) Navy Arms about 10-12 years ago? My "Cowboy's Companion" carbine has that side rail, and I've been wondering how to find a mount that will fit it!

 

[grimjaw]

scbair, I am not sure. This thread on SKSBoards might be more informative.

http://www.sksboards.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10963

jmm

 

[dfaugh]

I have one of the receiver cover mounts on my SKS-M, and contrary to what I've read, it holds zero just fine. Not sure what brand, as I bought it that way. Since I've never disassemeled the gun (5000 rounds and counting!) I don't know how much that will affect the zero, but I'm sure it will. You do need a "short" scope, as otherwise it'll be over the ejection port and the empties are ejected VERY forcefully!

 

[mainmech48]

One of my SKSes wears a replacement cover mount/4X scope purchased from Keng's shortly after I got the rifle. This was back in the late '80s or early '90s. I fitted it myself using the detailed instructions furnished with it.

There is no "play" when in-place, and no appreciable change in zero when removed and reinstalled post cleaning. At least the groups remain centered relative to POA and both horizontal and vertical dispersion patterns stay consistent with previous experience. Whatever change that might be there is small enough to get lost in a 3" group, anyway.

It's stayed snug through an unknown (but large) number of rounds and cleaning cycles.

It was inexpensive and didn't require drilling and tapping for installation. This process can be problematic on some SKSes I'm told, as the receivers can be very hard. Extracting a broken tap or drill bit is neither easy nor fun.

The Russian-style side mounts like the one in the photo are nice. My only bitch is that they're awkward for me to use due to the Euro-style "head up" position. OMMV.

The EU and Chinese scopes generally furnished with such sets are usually servicable enough. Sturdy construction, middle-of-the-road optics, relatively coarse adjustments, but good values for the very low price. The fly in the soup for me is that eye relief tends to be both short and critical. The area where I get full FOV and best focus can take some squirming to acquire no matter what position I take.

FWIW, there are various spent case deflectors available to allow the use of larger, better quality scopes without beating them to death. As was mentioned, the use of "conventionally" sized scopes will interfere with loading from strippers, but IMO that concern is negligible in any reasonable civilian context.