Shortening an SKS Barrel

[jimmyraythomason]

Query; will shortening a 20'' Chinese SKS barrel by 3'' have any significant effect on the cycling of the action during firing?

 

[Limeyfellow]

Yes. When you do so, you need to adjust the valve opening to allow it to send enough gas back to cycle the system. One company, Midwest Ordnance, figured out how to do it and they sold the information back to China and then China brought out a bunch of sporter and the paratrooper SKS for the civilian market.

I imagine it can be done though with a little experimentation. Get say a dozen or so valves and drill the hole to different sizes until you figure out exactly what is needed.

 

[Limeyfellow]

oops, it posted twice.

 

[Oro]

I believe there is a US company that makes an adjustable gas valve, so you shouldn't have to fabricate your own. This is a common modification on the Yugo as theirs has an "on/off" switch because of the grenade launcher feature. I do not know if this part will drop right into a Chinese model, but it would be worth investigating. I cannot recall the manufacturer, but look at the sksboards or in any Yugo discussion.

 

[railroader]

I had a yugo 59/66 that I removed the grenade launcher then cut about an inch off the barrel to make it 20" overall and that didn't affect the function at all. I would think that would be like taking a few inches off the barrel. This what it came out like. Mark

 

[Crawfish141]

Looks nice. However, the grenade launcher doesn't seal around the bullet, it would be more like removing a break than a portion of the barrel. Because it doesn't seal it has less of an effect on function.

 

[mnrivrat]

It may work just fine as is. I did this to a SKS in 1988 cutting the barrel down to just over 16 inches to see if it would work. It fired without a hitch, and I sold the gun quickly at the next gun show I set up at as it was the only one like it at the time.

A second one I did however did not take kindly to the modification and adjustments to the gas system were needed. It can get tricky because you are not only playing with the volume of gas needed, but also the duration of the gas peak . By changing the length of the barrel beyond the gas port , both are effected.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The gas piston system used on an SKS isn't very picky about cycling even the weakest loads. I seriously doubt it would care about losing a couple three inches of bbl.

For what it's worth my 16" "Paratrooper" appears to use all STD SKS gas system parts

 

[AgentAdam]

A chinese should be fine but the yugos often have problems with there leaky gas valve even when new with factory length barrels but usually only when shooting the lower powered wolf stuff.. An over sized gas valve or the paper clip mod act as a metal o-ring and seals the gas valve better to the gas tube.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Here it is

Here is the Chinese after shortening. The detachable magazine is 10 rounds and can be loaded in place with stripper clips. I haven't installed the muzzle brake yet,not sure if I really want to.

 

[LemmyCaution]

Jimmy Ray, that is one fine looking piece of kit. Was it based on an SKSD?

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Thanks LemmyCaution. Not really based on any other SKS just using spare parts collected over the years. I shortened the barrel because the muzzle was damaged beyond repair. I kept the length at 18'' and added a tall front sight from a Parker Hale(height was perfect). I traded for the rifle with the current magazine but intend to install an original,even though I prefer the looks of the detachable. The scope mount is solid but the scope is a POS.(also came with the rifle). I haven't shot it yet for accuracy but for my purposes it only needs to be capable of minute of center mass.