SKS gap between forward barrel band and stock

[natedog]

There's a small gap between the forward barrel band of my SKS and the stock. I'm wondering if I could get these parts to fit together better by sanding off some material in the stock where the rear receiver lug is would improve accuracy. Or, should I just not screw with it?

 

[Lonestar.45]

You can definitely sand it to get it to fit better. That's strange the way it fits, is it a replacement stock or something? It ought to fit better than that from the factory.

I'd sand it and make it fit better, being careful not to take too much off to make it loose. You can take wood off, but you can't put it back on. I'm not sure if it will affect your accuracy any. My guess is no it wouldnt, I think most SKS's are not accurate enough for something like wood fit to really make a big difference. I could be wrong. Sand it and find out! If nothing else, it'll look better.

 

[mainmech48]

Nate, if it ain't broke....

Seriously, the critical fit is back where the receiver fits into the stock. If you're looking for added stability, that's the place to go. There has to be some tolerance at the end of the forearm to give you room to pivot the whole schmegege back into place.

Diddling with it won't get you an iota of 'improvement' in anything but personal aesthetics, and could be counter-productive by introducing some new 'slop' somewhere else.

FWIW, even 'glass bedding" isn't likely to get you anything to speak of in the way of added accuracy on an SKS. As long as there are parts that move during firing attached to the barrel, fine accuracy is gonna be real hard to get. See the article on the Krebs Custom AK varient in the current issue of "Guns" for realistic best group expectations and explanation.

The thing that the SKS and the AK designs have in common (besides caliber) is that there is a significant mass which has attachment points in direct contact with the barrel in-motion during the firing cycle. This is gonna affect the vibration harmonics of the barrel. If the barrel reacts differently to every shot, your potential for fine accuracy is greatly limited.

Accept it for what it is: an inexpensive, rugged, dependable carbine with all of the practical accuracy that it needs to perform its designed task of delivering torso hits to 300 M. Close enough for government work, and likely the best that most folks could deliver with about any carbine.