SKS Carbine

[WALKERs210]

I never thought I'd want one of the carbine/paratrooper or what ever you would call this type rifle but I have one now. Today I finally had the chance to take it out back for a few shots thru it. Most times I will load up any gear I want on the gun buggy but today I just took the carbine and two 10rd clips for it, naturally when I got ready to shoot I had left most everything I needed at the house. Also instead of two 10rd clips I only had one loaded with 7.62 the other was 5.56, then my ear plugs were at the house also. Well not wanting to go all the way back and the return I decided to just use the 10 rds I had and let it go at that. BIG mistake, Never did I expect this little carbine to be as loud as it was. In fact after 3 shots my ears were ringing, did manage to get the last 7rd out and when I got to the house my ears were still ringing, but it didn't last. Will NOT make that mistake again. Other than that I really like the SKS Carbine and never expected it to be as good a shooter and fairly accurate to boot.

 

[tahunua001]

I have never found 7.62x39 to be any louder than 5.56. matter of fact everyone seems to cringe and whine and moan when I bring my ARs hunting but they never think twice when anyone brings a 7.62x39.

 

[ball3006]

I hate to tell you...

but an SKS is not chambered for 223. A SKS is a nice shooting rifle, no matter who made it......chris3

 

[WALKERs210]

I have never felt the 7.62 in either my SKS OR AK were that loud, it just seemed that this short barrel thing was very loud or maybe my body is on its last leg. The 5.56 was not for the SK but one that I picked up by mistake, the SK was imported by Nornico and over all it is one of the best that I have ever owned.

 

[Scooter22]

The "para" model has a 16" barrel and is louder than the standard model. You should here one under a covered shooting bench. You really want to make your ears bleed do the same with a M38 or M44 Mosin.

 

[stubbicatt]

I have noticed that the M1 Carbine and the SKS are inordinately loud for the amount of powder being shoved down the bore. Go figure?

 

[mljdeckard]

On my Yugo, I installed the included brake with the Tapco compliance kit, and it is surprisingly non-loud.

 

[aka108]

I owned 3 Russian SKS's, one Polish and the Norinco Carbine (paratrooper). Gave one Russian to my Son and sold the other 2 and the Polish built one. The Norinco was a better all around rifle than the others and easier to handle with the shorter barrel and no bayonet hanging on to it. I still have the Chinese Norinco. Also owned a group of Mosins, one of which was Chinese built. I was a better shooter than the others but was the most difficult to sell. The Chinese can make some very fine products when necessary, far better than the crap we see in every store today built to the buyers specifications.

 

[MCgunner]

I have both a 16" Paratrooper and a 20" rifle. While I've not fired the carbine without ear plugs, the muzzle flash is visibly more impressive. I can imagine it hurting the ears. I've only fired two shots out of my rifle in 20 years without ear plugs, both killed a deer. First one was with a scope at 80 yards, a doe. This year's was a 9 point on the run at about 30 yards with the issue sights. I can say the muzzle blast was mild, very mild. My real hunting rifle is usually a 20" barreled .308 Remington M7 stainless. It has more bark, so do my two black powder hunting rifles in 50 caliber.

Don't normally hunt with the SKS, but this year all my hunting ammo for my other rifles was in storage as we waited to close on the new place and I had some old handloads for the SKS. I've fired my 7mm Rem Mag, killed a half dozen deer with it, and never hurt my ears. Sure, it's a 24" barrel, but geez, it's packin' 69 grains of a very slow powder! If ya think the 16" carbine is bad, that thing can burn a deer to death inside 25 yards.

Worst one I own is a 12" Contender compensated "hunter barrel" in .30-30 Winchester. That thing lit me up first time I fired it out of a box blind. I carry muffs with me when I hunt with that damned thing.

But, bench or target shooting, I never forget the ear plugs. I even wear 'em with my .22s.

My main gripe with my SKS carbine is the GAWD AWFUL creepy trigger. That trigger is far less controllable than the DA on my revolvers and pistols!

 

[NHCraigT]

....The 5.56 was not for the SK but one that I picked up by mistake.....

FWIW - I knew that's what you meant in your OP.

 

[WALKERs210]

FWIW - I knew that's what you meant in your OP.

I had an idea that we were on same page, just put it out in case some new shooter might have thought the SKS could have been chambered in 5.56. When I go to the back of property to shoot most time I push my gun buggy with all the junk and whatever that I might need so don't have to walk back and forth. This time I just carried the SKS and a few rounds, I thought I had ear plugs in pocket but that's what happens when I THINK. I must say the carbine really surprised me as to how loud it was, I have a Winchester Mod 70 in 300WM that is not as loud as the SKS. It has the BOSS on the end which reduces the recoil so much that it is a pleasure to shoot. I have shot it with ear plugs because what I read was the BOSS will increase the noise but it was not as bad as I expected. The only other gun I have that is a pain in the ears is a cheap Heritage revolver that has cylinders for both 22 s/l/lr and one for 22mag. The 22mag is extremely loud and whats worse it how in accurate the pistol is, I do believe that you could weld the gun down solid and it would still throw rounds where ever it wanted to go, but it's fun to shoot.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I have noticed that the M1 Carbine and the SKS are inordinately loud for the amount of powder being shoved down the bore. Go figure?

Yup.

Of all my long arms, its my old ladies least favorite. Not because of weight, not recoil (huh?)...but percussion.

I usually say to her, "you think that's bad, try this M44!"

 

[VA27]

I have one of the little Norinco 'Tankers' (I call it that because the Chinese have lots of tanks. Paratroopers, not so many). Fixed mag and shortened bayonet. It's a fun little gun.

 

[WALKERs210]

Almost forgot about one little carbine that I bought way back around 96 or so. A French MAS 36 bolt (funky bolt also) my son now owns it and it is about as loud as any I ever owned.

 

[TreeDoc]

Except for hunting, I never shoot without hearing protection. But, I have also forgot my 'ears' before, so protection can get creative. Gum, wad of paper, bullets, fired cases, whittled down twigs. Gum works the best, but gross, at least it's my gum.

 

[krupparms]

I have 2 para model SKS carbines . They make great hunting guns & are tough as a tank. They also provide good H.D. weapons useing S.P.ammunition! I will be putting peep sights on both of them soon. These are good rifles &I plan to pass them on to my grandchildren!

 

[VA27]

Stopped by the LGS today and there was one on the rack. $495! But, if I didn't already have one I would have been tempted.

It was an older gun, fixed mag, factory cut-down (regular length gas system vs the half-inch shorter tube on the purpose-built guns) shortened bayonet, missing the cleaning rod.

 

[WALKERs210]

As a boy and young man here in North Central Alabama if you got a 100 yd shot it was measuring from top of hill to bottom and up the other side. I seen the 30-30 take more game than just about any type rifle available. Not saying the SKS either in full size or cutdown would be as accurate but I think the 7.62x39 is just about as good as any the choice of calibers in this range. Plus with the fixed mag of 10 rounds it meets requirements of hunting regulations. VA27 if I found another one in that price range I thing I would be tempted to bring it home also.

 

[MCgunner]

I had an idea that we were on same page, just put it out in case some new shooter might have thought the SKS could have been chambered in 5.56. When I go to the back of property to shoot most time I push my gun buggy with all the junk and whatever that I might need so don't have to walk back and forth. This time I just carried the SKS and a few rounds, I thought I had ear plugs in pocket but that's what happens when I THINK. I must say the carbine really surprised me as to how loud it was, I have a Winchester Mod 70 in 300WM that is not as loud as the SKS. It has the BOSS on the end which reduces the recoil so much that it is a pleasure to shoot. I have shot it with ear plugs because what I read was the BOSS will increase the noise but it was not as bad as I expected. The only other gun I have that is a pain in the ears is a cheap Heritage revolver that has cylinders for both 22 s/l/lr and one for 22mag. The 22mag is extremely loud and whats worse it how in accurate the pistol is, I do believe that you could weld the gun down solid and it would still throw rounds where ever it wanted to go, but it's fun to shoot.

Well, ear pain is objective, I guess. I'd venture that my 3" .357 magnum is louder than my .22 mag 2" NAA Black Widow, though, at least with ear plugs in there is quite a difference. I shot a hog once while walking my place with the .357 as I was carrying it concealed that day. OUCH! Well, if I had to shoot a BG with it, screw the ears... ...but it wasn't pleasant.

I don't have a rifle with a BOSS on it, but I do have this 8x57 Hakim battle rifle. I sat down at the bench one day at a range I was invited to. Guy's wife was in the seat next to me. The blast off that recoil compensator blew the ball cap off her head and sent her ducking to the ground. I wouldn't wanna fire that thing without ear protection, either. It has a longish barrel, but that don't help much with 8x57.

Anyway, the little Paratrooper IS quite a bit louder, I'm sure, than my 20" SKS. I KNOW for a fact, you can visibly SEE the muzzle flash on a sunny day at high noon. That 20" gun, though, isn't that bad, mild compared to my hunting rifles, but that 4 inches of barrel seems to make a dramatic difference, you're right.

 

[MCgunner]

I set my rifle up for night hunting hogs for a while. If I ever get night vision, I'll put the scope mount and case deflector back on it. Makes a danged fine hog destroyer.

You'll note the FIVE round mag. I like the mag not to stick out of the stock, is not a regulation in Texas.

 

[WALKERs210]

MCgunner, I like the 5rd in your SKS, my carbine/paratrooper/tanker shorter barrel now has the 10 rd in it, when I got it it had a 30rd mag which in my opinion just gets in the way. Also which stock is on the SKS you have pictured, I am trying to decide if I want to change stocks or not. What area of Tx you in, wife has a daughter in Grapevine/Irving area and she is trying to get us to move out there. Only other place I would ever think about moving to over Texas would be Montana.