SKS folding stocks... am I missing something?

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MyRoad

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I have moved and had other life things going on, and haven't done much shooting or been on the boards for months -- so maybe something has happened recently that I don't know about. (?!)

The bottom line is that I can't find a folding stock for an SKS anywhere. The closest thing is a RAM-Lite (as a side note, I've never been very impressed with their quality) -- and its their folder permanently pinned open! What's the deal?

I can still get a folder for a Mini-14, so I know folding stocks have not become illegal in the last few months. If I'm just looking in the wrong places and someone can direct me to a Choate or Butler Creek folder for an SKS, I'd appreciate it.

Many thanks --
 
Thanks, I may have jumped the gun, so to speak. I always start with Midway, then Brownell's, then Natchezz... when I'm looking for something online. None of them carry them (but do carry folders for Mini-14's, which is why I was confused). After posting I Googled it and came across a few. The Choate is expensive! But I've found their products to be a good quality in the past. Thanks again for the quick feedback. :)
 
My old SKS had a Choate folding stock (I think) and was OK. There was a little play in it when locked in the straight position, but was generally pretty good.
 
My old SKS had a Choate folding stock (I think) and was OK. There was a little play in it when locked in the straight position, but was generally pretty good.
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My Mini-14 has the Choate folder, and there's a little play in it too. On the other hand, its made out of metal and not plastic, and feels solid and like it'll last a lifetime, so I'm happy with it. One gunsmith I talked to said that he can adjust the play out of them, so while I'm not willing to spend the money right now to have that worked on, its nice to know it can be done.
 
Be careful that if you install a folding stock on an SKS, you must change enough other parts to meet the 18 USC 922(r) parts count rule, or else you commit a felony.

SKS parts and accessories: http://www.tapco.com/catalog.aspx?id=75

Tapco sells the U.S. made parts needed to comply with 18 USC 922(r). You're probably looking at around $100 in parts, but I'm not sure.
 
Be careful that if you install a folding stock on an SKS, you must change enough other parts to meet the 18 USC 922(r) parts count rule, or else you commit a felony.
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I used to be much more tuned into all this stuff, and that's probably why I didn't buy a folder for my SKS in the past. Thanks for the heads-up, I totally forgot about all this parts nonsense.

On the Tapco website I did not see an assembled parts "kit" or package that would cover me. Is there a parts list or something?

This whole thing is really stupid. I wish I had gotten this post/reminder last night before I ordered the folder, considering the PITA this is looking like, I'll probably just send it back.
 
Thanks for that site, its the best attempt at explaining this insanity that I've seen yet.

Here's a question though: My SKS does not have a bayonet or bayonet lug, a flash suppressor, or a detachable magazine -- does the "two or less of these items" rule still apply? In other words, since the folding stock/pistol grip would be the only two "objectionable" traits from the "bad" list, could I put a folding stock on this particular rifle?

Or am I mixing up my laws here, and the "can only have two of these items" is separate from the "you can't recreate a banned gun" law? What I'm having some difficulty differentiating is which laws were part of the AWB that sunsetted, and which ones are part of the separate still existing 922(r) law.

From what I've read, it appears that if I can justify that it has a "sporting purpose" than it can be legal to put a folding stock on an SKS as long as it does not have a detachable magazine. Since mine has a 4x scope on it and is suitable for hunting, and since even folded the overall length would be greater than 26", I think it could be legal... but I could be wrong.

Are there things besides folding stocks that can't be done to an SKS? I've heard that you can't cut barrels shorter than 16" or have an overall length of under 26".
 
The 922(r) rules still apply. Those features you mention are more along the lines of an AWB compliance than 922(r). A folding stock would be "non-sporting", so you need to make the parts count work, regardless of whether you have a bayonet lug, flash suppressor, etc.

The only thing that matters for compliance is where each part of the gun was made, not necessarily what is on it.
 
Thanks for clarifying for me... I suppose its pointless to ask, but any idea why they came up with this 10 parts law? What was the "logic" behind it? I found the parts list and some are just nuts and bolts. It seems irrelevant.
 
Whatever you decide on for your SKS DON'T BUY a ATI Ultra-light folding stock for your rifle, I bought one and put it on an SKS that I used to have and it was really very poorly made and I wasted the $30 something dollars I spent on it.

The plastic looked cheap (even more so than usual for plastic), the folding stock wobbled and messed up the sight picture, the grip felt awful and buying it and then getting rid of it was just a completely bad experience. If you were tempted to buy it due to its low cost, don't.

I'm doing you a really big favor by telling you this and saving you a couple of freakouts.
 
www.sksman.com has both the ATI and the Choate folding stocks, as well as the Tapco T6 style. They also carry a full selection of the application 922r compliance parts (don't blame us about the law- it's absolutely asinine, but it's OFFICAL, LEGAL asininity, so we have to follow it).
 
Whatever you decide on for your SKS DON'T BUY a ATI Ultra-light folding stock for your rifle, I bought one and put it on an SKS that I used to have and it was really very poorly made and I wasted the $30 something dollars I spent on it.
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I'd have to disagree, although I just got mine. It fitted tight as can be expected from a non-bedded stock and the locking action is positive and damned tight. There's -maybe- two or three millimeters of play between the stock parts and the finish is pretty much standard for black textured plastic.

However, it will ruin my accuracy as I love the way it looks/handles without the stock, so I'm loath to unfold it :)
 
However, it will ruin my accuracy as I love the way it looks/handles without the stock, so I'm loath to unfold it
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Enjoy your folder, and my hats off to you! I canceled the order for mine, having decided that the time and money to replace 10 parts in order to keep the gun legal was just too much trouble.

Its really ironic, because I own an AR and an AK, so I have my "black rifles" covered. This SKS is one that I was setting up as a utility rifle, maybe for brush hunting. I had all of the "military" stuff taken off -- the grenade launcher, the bayonet (and lug). I haven't converted it to detachable magazines, I haven't added rails or a bipod. I did put on a synthetic stock, had a scope mount drilled and tapped and put on a simple 4x scope. Oh, and I had a trigger job done to it, if you can believe that (HUGE improvement, btw). Then it occurred to me that it could be really convenient if this gun would fold, and I could make it a bit more compact while in transit.

For all the hours I've spend thinking about the TEOTWAWKI (or whatever that is), this project was truly for "sporting purposes", and this is the one I get derailed on. Oh well. Folders are for "evil-doers", thank goodness the government saved me from that convenience.
 
Well, I had already fulfilled my 922r needs to put it in the Tapco stock, so the folder didn't make much difference.....

Except for making me want to do a 16.5" barrel, no FSB, red-dot/laser only version :)
 
What makes an SKS more of a pig than a Winchester M1894?

I like SKS's (my wife has a beautiful 1952 Tula); they're good rifles.
 
Funny, I always thought the SKS was functionally attractive, even after I started cutting on mine I thought it looked good.

Of course, maybe I prefer something functional with good value for money than paying out the a** for the latest M4gery or some $2000 safe queen because some stroker in G&A said I had to. Horses for courses I guess.
 
I don't think anyone could even begin to explain the logic behind this law.
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I can. They banned what they thought they could without riling up gunowners too much. If they could have just banned importation outright, they would have, but they settled for this mess.

Mike
 
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