SKS

[sarge83]

I have several sks's. Norinco, Yugo and Romanian. The Romanian appears the be the best made of the bunch and has increased in value.

As stated earlier, stick with the normal magazine and stripper clips. I have one bubbed up Norinco that I bought that way and the mag. that came with it works and the Tapco plastic mags work, but the aggravation in changing them quickly makes them inefficient to deal with.

I have paid as little as $120 for an unissued yugo and as much as $269 for an unissued yugo, and bought the norinco's for $150 a piece. The last one I saw on the shelf was a yugo for $299 and I passed on that price.

 

[Storm]

You most likely will buy another one.

You can bet on it! This one is actually my third. I just wish that I still had the other two!

If prices get back down to around $120 to $160 I'll grab a few more, but at $299 for my 1959 Norinco I'll hold for now.

(1959 Norinco Factory 26 all matching serial number, sans magazine. I have a Yugo 10 round fixed mag on order until I can find a Chinese mag)

 

[bill larry]

Guys, don't be thick!

Prices of the SKS WILL NEVER GO DOWN BELOW WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT.

By the way...even given the current prices what could you possibly buy that would compare? Bueller? Anyone?

Answer? There is nothing on the market that compares for less than 600 dollars.

I would take any SKS over any WASR AK any day.

 

[Storm]

Prices of the SKS WILL NEVER GO DOWN BELOW WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT.

I don't necessarily agree with that. Around here they have already gone down. Don't forget, some of us paid $60 and less for an SKS back in the 80's, so paying $400 plus really sticks in our craw. Having one, I don't see the harm in waiting to see if prices go down even more, especially since there are a bazillion of them out there.

I agree that overall there is nothing on the market that compares for less than $600 assuming that Saigas are going for $600 plus. I've even seen the price of Saigas come down locally and lots of red slashes on old prices on AR15's replaced by new lower prices. Oddly enough the prices on AK's seems to be remaining high. I predict that we will again see the SKS well under $200.

On another note, if you have an SKS with a cleaning rod and without a bayonet there is an easy fix to stop the cleaning rod from rattling or falling out. I bought 1/2" rubber flat washers (and another one size smaller) that pressure fit on the cleaning rod perfectly. They can be slid but will not move on their own. One half inch washer fits snug up onto the back of the bayonet lug. Another washer, the smaller one, has the top scooped out with a Dremel (not opening up the center hole) so that it fits onto the contour of the lower gas block ring. The other half inch washer has the top scooped out (not opening up the center hole) and fits snug up against the contour where the rod exits the rifle. The rod is as snug as a bug in a rug. Whether those washers will melt from a hot barrel remains to be seen.

 

[ccsniper]

i just have a few things to say about the sks,
AWESOME
AWESOME
AWESOME
AWESOME
i really love the sks. ive got an ak, had a few actually. got rid of all of em except the one. ive got a few sks, never will sell them.

 

[mljdeckard]

Inflation because of Obama panic will come down. Inflation due to limited supply won't. There is a limited number of them, and when they have all been imported, that's it.

I bought a Yugo from a friend for $100, and added the Tapco compliance kit. I did need a gunsmith's help to get the ferrule off of the heat shield installed on the new piece, and put it in a barrel vise to get off the grenade launcher to replace it with the muzzle brake. I also put on the tech sight. WOW. I let my AK friends shoot it, and they are all jealous, they want one now.

What I had heard before turned out to be true. The Tapco 20 rounders work fine. Now if I could just bulk up on ammo again....

 

[theotherwaldo]

My Romanian SKS is a good utility infielder. I plan no changes. It's good as it is.

 

[NC-Mike]

Ammo 7.62 x 39

This company is accepting backorders for what looks like a decent price.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=217522

WX2-67116 Wolf® 7.62x39 mm 122 Gr. FMJ 1,000 rds.

$227.47

Was $399.97

Club Price $216.10

Club membership seems like a good deal. I went for it and they keep sending you coupons every time you order. I have 3,000 rounds but I think I'm going to bite on this cause God knows when we will see sane pricing again but it does seem as if 7.62 x 39 is starting to reappear.

A ship must have come in recently so make up your own mind.

With a ten dollar coupon and my club price, that's 1,000 rounds for 206.00 Pretty darn good in today's market. Everyone else seems to have prices over 300.00

 

[Storm]

Inflation because of Obama panic will come down. Inflation due to limited supply won't. There is a limited number of them, and when they have all been imported, that's it.

I don't think that supply will be an issue for a long, long time to come, even though the supply has fluctuated greatly over the years. The SKS is one of the most prolific rifles in the US. And while the Yugos will eventually run out (if they haven't already) the SKS will never be in short supply thanks to the great/huge number of them already here.

Below is a photo of the flat washer fix for a rattling cleaning rod.

 

[mljdeckard]

Won't those washers melt if you crank off 100 rds?

 

[Storm]

I'll let you know! The rear one is least likely to as it is not directly in contact with the barrel. The front one is also not likely to as it is not in direct contact with the barrel itself. The smaller one in the middle is most at risk. It is probably the one that I can do without. If there are any issues I might replace any that melt with a more stout material. Rubber washers were a cheap first step.

I know, I could just remove the cleaning rod, but I like it better with.

Of course, a bayonet would solve the problem.

As to cranking off 100 rounds, those days are pretty much gone, for now.

 

[Storm]

Just a note, by re-installing the blade bayonet (removing it might have been a violation of the law...go figure) most of the rattle of the cleaning rod is gone. One thing is for certain is that the bayonet secures the rod enough so that it won't fall out while shooting. Using the rear flat washer removes all rattle, but I think that I will remove it. A little rattle with an SKS is par for the course.

 

[Kivaari]

sks trigger

As to negative creep, (the hammer actually moving forward before the break), it isn't necessarily a problem that will cause firing with some jostling or dropping. I have tested my rifle and there is no issue despite negative creep being present. Still, a good thing to check by cocking the gun and dropping it on its butt or smacking.

How much better could you shoot if the trigger broke 4-4 1/2 # with very little creep, yet safe at the same time?

 

[Storm]

How much better could you shoot if the trigger broke 4-4 1/2 # with very little creep, yet safe at the same time?

That's very true, but I have always been happy with the accuracy of the SKS as-is, for what I have used it for, and that is plinking. For greater accuracy I have other rifles in that caliber. Of course, if upon firing it I'm not happy with the rifle as-is, I will not hesitate to send the trigger group your way. I suspect that is going to happen one way or the other I guess what I was saying is that it is not absolutely necessary in all cases. Is it the A Plan?....heck yeah. BTW, I have been to your site and I find your price for the trigger work to be quite/very reasonable.

Bill Larry's comments got me thinking. As it turns out the inbound Yugos have ended, or at least that's what I read on the sksboards. And, while prices may go down, Larry might just as well be right on point that they won't. So, I went over today and put a 1958 Norinco on layaway to go with my 1959. I couldn't resist as that's the year that I was born. And, a bird in the hand... It's Bubba'd in a folding stock but the action looks sweet (but yet may be another one for Kivaari's magic). I'll return this one to it's original configuration.

Does anyone know if there are fit issues if the wood stock that I end up with isn't Chinese? And, do Chinese stocks vary as to the position of the crossbolt?

[Note: just read that you have to be careful with the crossbolt location as it varies.]

 

[NC-Mike]

How much better could you shoot if the trigger broke 4-4 1/2 # with very little creep, yet safe at the same time?

Welcome to the forum.

Your reputation precedes you.

 

[maskedman504]

Join Date: 11-17-05
Location: McKinney TX
Posts: 18

Join Date: 03-11-07
Posts: 756

Welcome to the forum.

Your reputation precedes you.

 

[NC-Mike]

Kivaari

New Member


To you...

 

[Storm]

Kivaari, quick question. With working on so many SKS triggers have you noticed any one nationality SKS trigger to be better or worse than others, or, more benefitted by your trigger work. Thanks for any insights.

 

[maskedman504]

Last night, I was motivated by this.

I have my SKS apart because I am sending the trigger group off to Kivaari. My first experience was with my Dad's never fired NIB Russian. I got to put the first rounds through it and I was really impressed. I bought a Yugo (my first ever rifle) and I love it, although I am a little disappointed with the weight and front-heaviness of the rifle. I took some pen. oil and a screw driver to the bayonet screw today and voila- 8.3 oz off the front end of the gun- that's right, the bayonet weighs over half a pound, sticking off the end of your gun. Five minute job, including walking to the garage, letting the oil soak and making a sandwich. Highly recommended.

Please people, don't chop the lugs off! You can reattach the bayo whenever you want.

 

[Storm]

Please people, don't chop the lugs off! You can reattach the bayo whenever you want.

I think many of those bayonet lugs were chopped off by the manufacturer due to an Executive Order issued by George Bush, Sr. that outlawed the importation of the SKS with bayonet. I looked at one well priced SKS yesterday and it was immediately rejected as that lug had been cut off.

But yes, that bayonet does add weight. I sort of like it For me putting weight out towards the muzzle isn't all bad. I have also heard some intepretations of the law that it's illegal to remove a bayonet, and that once it's removed it's illegal to put it back on. Some of the bizarre requirements seem to be specific to Norincos.

The problem with removing the bayonet is that with the bayonet gone the cleaning rod is free to rattle in a big way and fall out of the rifle when shooting. That's what led to my flat washer fix. My bayonet went back on. Of course, the really easy fix is to just remove the cleaning rod and no bayonet is required to secure it. Obviously as I have no specific need for a bayonet, I just like the look of one.

 

[Kivaari]

sks trigger

Storm

I cannot say that one country produced better trigger groups than another. It's really condition; which may mean parts needed. It's also how much "material" is given for tuning the engagement; which may mean a new hammer and/or sear. Some are more "cobbled" than others. The stamped Chinese tune well also.

Yugos are the toughest to do as they have a slightly different hammer design. Some...oh...20-30% of them will need a new sear to get the best results as they are least forgiving with their "full skirted hammer".

 

[Storm]

Thanks Kivaari. You will be working on my two Norincos some time soon. I didn't spend a lot of time with the trigger on the one that I just put on layaway (and hope to ahve in a few days), but knowing how these triggers can be I'm betting it will need work.

Smoother and safer makes a heck of a lot of sense.

I've also made some sense out of the different Chinese stocks and have found a good thread dealing with the issue http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=55066.0 Even if I end up with the wrong Chinese stock I will be able to trim the crossbolt just a bit to make things fit.

 

[maskedman504]

Well, I understand your sentiments Storm; the Yugo already has the grenade launcher all the way out there (barrel is longer) and the grenade sight. The bayonet, being easiest to remove without permanently modifying the rifle, is gonna take some time off-duty!

 

[Storm]

Hey Maskedman, my Norinco is pretty doggone clean out at the working end. It was all of that grenade stuff on my old Yugo that kinda turned me off, but now that I don't have the Yugo I want one again. Go figure.

Last night as I enjoyed a good cigar out on my deck I contemplated my SKS, really getting a feel for it again. Handling it over a few hours really gave me an appreciation for what a really good rifle that it is. It's actually a perfect size, something that I really appreciate with my two Mauser K98's and 24/47.

I really look forward to getting my Bubba'd 1958 Norinco out of layaway and returning it to as close to factory as possible. That's nothing against a Bubba, I did one once myself with my old Yugo (photo shown below, with a shudder). Wish I had that one back to put back "right".

 

[maskedman504]

I work in spurts-

When I got the rifle, I stripped the stock, baked out the cosmoline, stained it and applied many coats of boiled linseed oil...

Now, several months later, I am getting the trigger reworked, I have removed the bayonet; next up is a advance tech rear peep. I was wondering about shimming the stock? Any suggestions to be had? There is some definite play side-to-side and front-to-back. I want to get a Chinese 20 round magazine for it as well.