SKS Scope and Mount Package deal

[GRB]

Has anyone purchased on of these package deals from Centerfire Systems, or do you know anything about it? See: http://www.centerfiresystems.com/pkg106.aspx It is basically an inexpensive, and I imagine cheap, scope along with a receiver cover/scope mount for an SKS. I am more intrigued by the mounting system than by the scope, and I plan to use it to mount a 1" tube red dot on my SKS. Any thoughts on this based on your experience?

All the best,
Glenn B

 

[Picard]

I'm thinking of picking this one up too. I'd also be interested in hearing what others may say about it.

 

[res45]

Take the money that your planning on spending on that outfit,throw it in the toilet and flush it,just like you normally would a piece of crap. Nine times out of ten thats what your going to get with those types of scopes and mounts. If you want a good mount either get a Scout mount which replaces the front sight or get a Choate drill and tap mount and use a decent rifles scope or red dot,or a TechSight rear sight and front pin. You will be much happier in the end.

Scout Mount
http://161.58.206.244/store/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=scoutscopes&Category_Code=skscope

Choate
http://www.combatstocks.com/SKS_Scope_Mount_by_Choate.cfm

TechSight
http://tech-sights.com/

 

[GRB]

I don't see the difference between the price of the Choate scope mount and the one from Centerfiresystems. They are both right around $34. If a big company can offer good quality in a scope mount for this much, then an off brand could offer the same or better quaility to about 1/2 to 3/4 the price from what I have seen. I am not saying it will be beter but there is a chance it will be made well.

As for the scope itself, probably junk, I'll agree on that. The scope is a come along to get you to purchase the package. Since the mount/scope package, at Centerfire Systems, was less expensive than just the mount at another site where I saw it, I figured why not go for the package deal, An el cheapo scope can be quite some fun mounted on a .22 rifle.

Since I have already tossed my money into the wind on this, I'll tell you if any value blows my way once I receive it.

All the best,
GB

 

[woad_yurt]

That cover is removable. I've owned 3 SKSs and the covers had a little play in them on 2 of them. How good of a zero can the thing keep when it's mounted on a removable piece? I've also seen folks post criticisms: "wouldn't stay zeroed...."

 

[sarge83]

I have one of the receiver mounts from them. Does not fit worked for hours to get it on the rifle. Finally tossed it in a box of junk.

 

[res45]

Just trying to be straight up about these types of mounts,since you have already bought one when you file the front tabs down try to keep them at the same angle as the receiver where it mates,also take a little bit of material off at a time you want that cover to fit as tight as possible. If there is any play in the receiver cover mount whatsoever it want hold zero,it may be off some each time you break it down and reinstall it to.

 

[akolleth]

What they are trying to say is that the scope cover mount is mostly a bad design.

With the looseness of the receiver cover there is a strong possibility of you POI changing with each shot. Under recoil the dust cover will shift slightly around (Its not locked down secure). You can see this yourself by just tryiong to shift the dust cover around while its attached to the SKS, its not difficult at all. You need a tight scope mount that will not shift during recoil to have repeatable results.

As far as the difference between them, the Choate design is roughly the same price, but requires you to drill and tap the receiver, which will result in a nice tight fit. No sloppiness, no shifting POI. But you have to D/T your receiver, which permantly alters the rifle.

 

[res45]

Choate mount on my YUGO,it sits up high enough you can still use the original sights for close up work if needed. And the dust cover is easily removed for cleaning.

 

[mainmech48]

Glen, IMO the major difference would be that the Choate needs to have several holes drilled and tapped to be useful. The price for that would run about $20-30 per hole around here.

Add that into the cost and it makes the real price a good deal more than $34. DIY-ing that job, even if you happen to have a decent drill press, is a lot riskier than it might look at first glance.

Many SKS receivers are very hard and it takes a good deal of skill and experience, plus no small amount of luck, to D&T several 8x48 or similar sized holes in one without breaking a tool off somewhere in the process. Fixing that without inflicting further damage is difficult at best and, depressingly often, virtually impossible.

The typical receiver cover mounts are DIY-able with some care and patience. The keys to how stable and acceptable the result is, IME, are in how the tolerances of the mount and your receiver match up and the quality of the fitting work.

Generally, the easiest to get the most stable and repeatable result from that I've worked with in the genre is the B-Square. You don't get the 'quick change-over back to issue configuration' option of the others, but they're built in a way that eliminates most all of the common fitting and zeroing shortcomings of the others.

Let's face it: No matter how much time and money you spend on optics and mounts you aren't going to make a 'precision' rifle out of an SKS. You can make it easier for you to shoot it to the limit of whatever your particular carbine's potential might be, but it isn't going to do anything to improve on that in real terms.

How much time, money and effort you're willing to spend in pursuit of that is an individual call. IMO, in practical terms spending twice the money on optics and a mounting system is very unlikely to make the investment cost-effective for the difference in actual performance.

Just my $0.02.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Run far away from that quickly. The only mounts that work are those that either tighten onto the receiver or are drilled and tapped.

Good examples of what will work and what won't.
Bad idea, note no method of securing to receiver.

Better, note it has two bolts on each side that fit it snug to receiver, a little loc-tite and it should be good to go. Remember that it must be rezeroed every time you take it off to clean it.

Best. Drill and tap.

 

[kenjs1]

+1 Res45. Techsites are the way to go.

 

[res45]

My smith did my drill and tap work for $25 even threw in the scallop work on the stock at no extra charge,he make all his money at gun shows selling antique rifles and shotguns. I have about $100 in my setup,is my SKS a precision rifle hardly but it shoot pretty good.

 

[buck00]

Take the money that your planning on spending on that outfit,throw it in the toilet and flush it,just like you normally would a piece of crap.

I am glad someone stepped up and set the record straight.

There are too many mall ninjas out there slapping half-ass scopes on Yugo SKS rifles, then bragging they have a "sniper rifle."

 

[walkenbear]

Hey Res45,
Can you still use striper clips to load the yugo with the choate scope mount?
If your scope is in the way could you use stripper clips with say a red dot type scope?

 

[AmishFury]

don't forget they also put those fugly plastic stocks on their SKS as well... plastic is a billion times more tacticool than wood

no way you could use stripper slips with that scope... hell from the angle of the photo looks like the mount itself could potentially get in the way

 

[res45]

Yes you can still use stripper clips with the Choate mount. The main thing is you have to use a scope that will give you clearance over the locked back bolt to do so. There aren't many good quality scopes that are compact enough to allow you to do that,the Weaver V3 1 x 3 x 20 works well. The particular scope I use want allow me to use strippers but that no big deal for me for the application I use the rifle for,I can negate that problem by switching to a Tapco mag if necessary but I have no need for that at this time.

The Red dot sights are not a problem using the Choate mount,bolt clearance and use of stripper clips is not a problem I may even go to a nice 2 1/2 MOA dot scope myself,the main thing you need to consider is the dot size on the sight. A 5 MOA dot most common is going to cover up a 5" circle at 100 Yds. 2 1/2 at 50 Yds. smaller is better there are quiet a few name brands that have dots that are 2 to 3 MOA in size and decent prices, but its also more expensive you just need to look at all the options,decide what type of mount,scope or dot sight bests fits you needs for your intended application and go with it.

I apologize if I have come off as an A hole in any way in this thread,it hasn't been the best day,I watched 4 of 38 of my best friends (ALL AMERICANS) get marched into HR this morning and loose there jobs some have only been there a number of years and some we just a year away from retirement,all the while the company continues to use Temp employees services which has been under constant investigation for hiring Illegal aliens but they all kept there jobs. I don't know who will be left by the time I get back to work tonight,I may not even have a job myself by 7 p.m. it's all about money.

 

[jrfoxx]

I had 2 scope/mount/cover combos from Leapers like that, and both fit my 2 SKS's nice and tight and had no issues at all. Held zero fine, and helped make them both easier to shoot more accurately. Only reason I got rid of them was because 1 SKS is a mint Russian 1954 Izzy and the other a Norinco SKS-M, so I wanted them in thier original states for collecion purposes.

Obviously, YMMV, as these arent the Leaper's I had, and most people have not been happy with this type of set-up.For $25 though, it's alwaays worth a try, IMHO. Not like thats a big loss if it stinks, and you can probly sell it on Ebay for the same $25 you spent easily.

 

[mnw42]

We tend to cringe when we see these dust cover mounts at the range. AKs, SKSs, and even the odd FAL show up from time to time. The vast majority of them don't fit tightly at all and as a result the shooter groups all over the place and often without knowing were the bullets are going! They just don't work well.

 

[Noxx]

I own the one pictured in the O.P.

It's not a piece of technical brilliance, however if a little care is taken in it's original fitting (I hand to sand off about 1/64 to fit it tightly), it serves well enough on a casual basis.

I'm happy with mine out to 200yds, which is a longball for me anyway, YMMV.

 

[chris in va]

I had one, tossed it soon after.

I'd much rather have the excellent TechSights.