SKS magazine mod

[USAF_Vet]

I've searched the old threads and couldn't find an answer.

My father in law has hinted about giving me his SKS. I'm not sure of the manufacturer, only know that he has had it since the early 70's. Last time I shot it, I didn't see any significan markings to help me pinpoint its origins, but then I wasn't really looking for them either.

If I do get this rifle, I'd like to make a few changes to it, i.e. detachable magazines and scope mount/ upgraded sights. The scope mount/ sights I'm pretty astute at, but my question is whether or not just any old SKS can be modded to accept aftermarket mags. I've seen SKS mags on Cheaper than Dirt, IIRC, but not sure if they would be something they would simply slap into place after removing the fixed mag. Also, I've heard mention of SKS rifles taking an AK-47 mag. I'm certain either of the magazines would require a modification to the rifle other than simply removing the fixed mag. Anyone care to point me in the right direction?

 

[Sam1911]

First off, make sure you understand 922(r) and how it applies to SKS rifles. (Lots of information here and elsewhere, now that the search function works!) Don't want to go committing any felonies.

Second, the SKS "duckbill" type mags are designed so that you disassemble the rifle, remove the factory magazine, and reassemble the rifle with no magazine. Then the duckbill mag will snap in and out using the rifle's mag box catch to retain it.

Third, these SKS mags are a picky thing. Some work ok, some don't. Few are highly reliable, and none are as reliable as the original design.

Forth, only SKS rifles designed to take AK mags can do so. Those are usually labeled SKS-M or SKS-D.

Fifth, if it's an original rifle imported back in the 70's, for heaven's sake leave it alone.

It's a great rifle as is, and doesn't need bolt-on crap to make it better. The original mags are a nice combination of reliable and decent capacity. The stripper clips used to charge them work very well and quickly with a little practice. A big detachable mag just screws with the handling characteristics.

SKS scope mounts are almost universally crap. Not worth the money to buy or the possible damage to the gun. The very best of them install the optic way too far up for a good cheek weld, and probably back too far for comfort as well. And those all require drilling and tapping the receiver, so once you've discovered why they suck, you have unsightly holes in your father-in-law's nice gun.

The best aftermarket sighting option is probably the Tech Sight version (http://www.tech-sights.com/sks.htm), if you have real trouble with the original irons.

Best of luck, and please post pictures if you can. It would be really cool to see what he has. Could be one of the valuable and rare variants that have been imported in more limited numbers over the years.

 

[RIATAC45]

I know its not what you want to hear or are asking for, but for the most part it is best to leave the sks like it is. I have went down the same road and it is not worth the headache.

Choate mfg. has the only scope mount that I have found to be worth the money. It requires the stock to be cut and the receiver be drilled and tapped, but it is very stable. The dust cover mounts will not be very stable and require rezeroing the score every time you clean it.

Changing to a removable mag will require you to change alot of parts to keep your sks compliant with the 922r laws. If I'm not mistaken it requires that the firearm in question have 9 our less foreign made parts, and it loses its c&r status. Most removable mags are not that reliable anyway, but from my experience the Tapco mags are the better one out there.

Feel free to pm me any more questions, as I can point you to websites that have the best prices.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Ah, I was wondering what the lagalities of alterations would be. Seems like keeping it as is might be the best after all. I don't mind using stripper clips, just prefer mags. Thanks for the replies, I think I'll file this project away as 'get a cheap Norinco and mod the hell outta that one and keep this one stock.'

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

If this is a Vietnam war bring back DO NOT MODIFY IT!

 

[shotgunjoel]

Fifth, if it's an original rifle imported back in the 70's, for heaven's sake leave it alone.

It's a great rifle as is, and doesn't need bolt-on crap to make it better.

If this is a Vietnam war bring back DO NOT MODIFY IT!

What they said. If you don't care about it's value, then sell it and buy a Norinco. You'll come out money ahead. If your rifle is a Vietnam bring-back, (or really anything non-Chinese) it's probably worth $500+ a Norinco can be had for ~$300. That will give you $200 instant money for "improvements."

 

[USAF_Vet]

It isn't a bringback, he bought it stateside a few years after he got home, I'm guessing early to mid 70's. Or at least thats what he tells me. If I do end up owning it, I will keep it stock. I'll just try to look for a newer/ cheaper one I can tinker with.

 

[zhyla]

As mentioned above, the detachable mags are not reliable. You'd be better off with an AK if you're looking for that style of ergonomics.

With a aftermarket 20-round fixed magazines that are available you should have reliable operation and twice the capacity, if that's your thing.

 

[Wood Man]

It isn't a bringback, he bought it stateside a few years after he got home, I'm guessing early to mid 70's. Or at least thats what he tells me. If I do end up owning it, I will keep it stock. I'll just try to look for a newer/ cheaper one I can tinker with.

Sounds like a good plan. If you do get it, it'll be worth more to you because it was his. Be a good one to hand down to your kids. Find a old shooter SKS and trick it out.

 

[Smoovbiscuit]

I had a norinco SKS that I put the tapco fusion stock on, and used their 20 rnd removable mags. I had only a couple jams out of around 2000 rounds of brown bear ammo. I highly regret selling that gun, and I highly recommend the tapco 20 rnd removable mags! from what I have read they seem to be the only reliable removable magazines.

 

[Jeff H]

Regarding 922r, the SKS has to be about the easiest one to keep in compliance out of any rifle out there. All you need is an aftermarket stock/handguard and a removable mag. They can all be bought from Tapco and the Tapco mags are some of the best. Removing the stock and fixed mag are both completely reversible and you can return the rifle to its stock condition in about 10 minutes.

SKS rifles only have 14 parts for 922r compliance. They are:
1. Receiver
2. Barrel
3. Bolt
4. Bolt carrier
5. Gas piston
6. Trigger housing
7. Trigger
8. Hammer
9. Sear
10. Disconnector
11. Stock
12. Handguard
13. Magazine body
14. Follower


Replacing the stock and handguard take care of two items and the removable mag takes care of the mag body and follower.

A detailed discussion about SKS 922r compliance and discussions with the ATF can be found here: http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=27678

I wouldn't mess with a scope mount, all the ones I have seen are crap.


On a side note, I can drop a stripper clip of rounds in a SKS quicker than I can remove and replace the Tapco mag. YMMV

 

[benEzra]

As far as cost goes, if you want a 7.62x39mm rifle that will take detachable magazines, you could pick up a Saiga, or you can spend $350 or so and get a Romanian AK, which will also mount (some) optics much easier than an SKS will. An early '70s SKS is a bit of a historical treasure, and if you modify it you might end up regretting it later.

 

[dspur15]

Sam1911 and everyone else were pretty much spot on with what they said. I can tell your from personal experience that I have a nice Norinco and I tried putting it in a stock and using magazines, scope mount, ect. and it was not worth it AT ALL I quickly returned it back to it's stock configuration.

However, with that said there are a couple things you can do to make your shooting much more enjoyable.

First off i'll second the recommendation for the Tech sights. They are a great investment and are easy to remove if you want to use the original sights. Plus they return to zero fairly well when you take them on and off http://www.tech-sights.com/sks.htm. They also improve accuracy with their aperture style sight (M1 Garand, M14, M16) and increased sight radius. Alternatively if you really want glass optics of some kind whether that's a red dot or a conventional scope you can't go wrong with the Scout Mount http://scoutscopes.com/sks-scope-mounts/ I bought one and was pretty satisfied with it but my SKS is just not capable of the accuracy for even needing a scope. I used a Bushnell Trophy 2-6x32mm long eye relief handgun scope. I think for an SKS it would be better to just use a red dot. With the scout mount it also requires no permanent modification but it is kind of a pain to get on and off unlike the tech sight.

Second as far as shootability I would recommend getting an extended butt pad. I use a 2" but if your a smaller person then a 1" would be fine and if your really small than your probably don't need one at all http://www.opticsplanet.net/leapers-combat-style-2-inch-sks-buttpad-w-ergonomic-design-rb-skbtp02a.html. Another thing that will improve accuracy is to put some card stock or plasticard or something of that nature under the reciever in between the stock. The SKS will clamp down and it will simulate a cheap and removable bedding job. Just be careful if your rapid firing because It could burn (i'd recommend something inflamable)

Lastly If you really want a detachable mag I'd recommend the Tapco 20 round. They have a decent repuation and honestly it's a 5 minute fix to swap the rifle back to the fixed mag with nothing more than the point of a bullet or something like that to depress the release behind the trigger guard.

My SKS current has the 2" UTG butt pad, the Tech Sights, and the paper bedding. Otherwise it's stock besides a sling and all the upgrades I put on can be removed in about 5 minutes and require no modification to the rifle. I would really recommend any non-permanent modifications that improve accuracy and comfort. This will just make the rifle more accurate and you more comfortable without lowering the resale value at all.

Hope that helps!

 

[14Xiamen]

Hi Folks,
I bought an SKS in near original form at a show. The stock mag has been removed to make room for a banana clip, the cleaning rod and bayonet are missing. I have a new TAPCO 20 rd mag that reliably jams on the third round, parking the end of the cartridge 1/8 off center next to the chamber hole. I've tried metal mags that won't even go in the slot. It shoots well...for two rounds, I like it and I'd like to know how to fix it. It is Chinese made (stamped Norinco, China CS1, ONT CA) serial #1618538, all numbers matching. As far as I can tell, except for the changes listed above, it it 100% stock. Please feel free to contact me directly, Skype: profwolford or by PM.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Sam1911]

14Xiamen,

When you say you've tried metal mags, what do you mean exactly?

Metal stock-type magazines cannot be installed with the trigger group in the gun.

Remove the trigger group, install the magazine (easiest with the mag in its 'open' position), and then re-install the trigger group, (then latch the magazine closed).

 

[nipprdog]

I'd like to make a few changes to it, i.e. detachable magazines and scope mount

The only reliable detachable mags is NONE.

The only reliable scope mount is the fixed, Choate mount.

https://secure.riflestock.com/catalog_page_detail.cfm?recordno=5&Product_CatalogID=3015&ProductNumber=18%2D08%2D02&ProductCode=1&ProductSubCodeID=231&NewProduct=0

 

[justin 561]

The only reliable scope mount is the fixed, Choate mount.

+1 on this comment, I personally know a few people with this. IF it IS a VN bring back then don't even try this mod. If it is a norinco or yugo I highly suggest the choate mount. Make sure you buy the #28 drill bit and 8-40 tap from midway or something else that carries it.

I don't know the exact rules on posting a link, but here is a tutorial the people I know used and it came out perfect without paying a gunsmith to do it.

Choate mount how to

 

[14Xiamen]

14Xiamen,

When you say you've tried metal mags, what do you mean exactly?

Metal stock-type magazines cannot be installed with the trigger group in the gun.

Remove the trigger group, install the magazine (easiest with the mag in its 'open' position), and then re-install the trigger group, (then latch the magazine closed).

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the reply. By magazine, I mean the original 5 or 10 rd magazine has been removed, (did not come with the rifle) rather a 30 rd TAPCO banana clip came with it. I regarded the 30 rd mag as excessive for hunting and bought a 20 rd TAPCO. Neither fit in the well and lock in place easily. Both jam on the third round. Thereafter, I bought two 20 rd metal magazines, (no name brand, that should have been a clue) neither of those fit either. Being totally new to SKS, my question is "Now what?"

 

[Sam1911]

Well there were some good 20 round metal magazines. I don't know if there were any that were "detachable" like the TAPCO mags vs. "fixed" like the factory original mags.

Here is the original style of 10-round magazine: http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=491080&catid=11966

Here is another original type mag, that holds 20: http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=229890&catid=11966

Either of those should fit and work. You've said that nothing you've tried "fit," but you haven't told me if you knew how to install them correctly.

They don't pop in and out of the rifle like the tapco "detachable" mags. You have to remove the trigger group, install the mag, and then reinstall the trigger group. They are fed with stripper clips through the top of the action -- the way God and Sergei Simonov intended.

Lots of good pictures and info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SKS

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

I don't mean to hijack, but Ive got a question too that is related.

I read a book by David Belavia called House to House, it was about combat in fallujah(s?). Belavia found and brought back (probably not to stateside) an SKS rifle with a drum-magazine installed. How do you think that was done, same way the trigger group magazine trick works? Would it be reliable? Seems like an interesting thing to do if I ever get one.

 

[Sam1911]

An SKS with a drum would most likely be an SKS-M or SKS-D (those take AK mags) with an AK drum mag installed.

 

[JR47]

I purchased a Chinese SKS when they first hit out shores. It uses a fixed 20 round magazine, similar to the one pictured from Numrich. It installs just like the factory 10 round mag.

Davidson's was the distributor, and they told my dealer that this 20 round mag was used by the rifles in service with the Chinese Police Units.

It still loads via stripper-clip(s). It's been reliable since day one.

 

[isc]

SKS drums:
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/drum-sks.aspx

Banana clips?

I found banana clips for several guns, but not for the SKS