TAPCO Paratrooper Project

[doc540]

Since I sold the AR, I'm doing this Paratrooper Zombie/SHTF/Hurricane perimeter defense thing for not much money.

"Unfired" SKS Paratrooper
TAPCO Fusion stock and 20rnd mag's
Metal handguard
Kivarri trigger job
Compact vert grip
Side Rail

MicroDot red dot sight should be in by the end of the month. I'll mount it using the Scout Scope mount that replaces the rear sight. Then on the side rail I'll add a laser sight with grip switch pad.

Fun project so far

 

[Walkalong]

I like it.

 

[AK kind of guy]

nice looking rifle

 

[bang_bang]

Looks awesome. You know, I've got this ugly paratrooper sitting around here with a god-awful folding stock on it. I think what my next project is going to be.

 

[mljdeckard]

show me when it's done. I did the same thing, but with a Tech-Sight rear, and no rail in the front under the stock. I'm curious, because the way you mount that optic might be better. But now, I want the BUIS anyway.

 

[John Parker]

I had an AK that I put a rail and pistol grip up front on and didn't like it because it made the rifle too muzzle-heavy and the grip had to be so far forward for mag changes. Is this not as bad with the SKS?

 

[doc540]

They do tend to be muzzle heavy, too.

I'm trying to stay as light and simple as possible with this one.

 

[mljdeckard]

It's heavy, mine more than the one shown, because it's a full-size Yugo, and I left on the bayonet and grenade sight. They soak up more recoil. I also added the muzzle brake with the compliance kit. It balances better if you can slide the stock halfway in, move the weight to the rear a little.

 

[DMK]

Looks good!

MicroDot red dot sight should be in by the end of the month. I'll mount it using the Scout Scope mount that replaces the rear sight.

I have never found those type of mounts work well. They set the optic too high. In order to get a cheek weld, you then need to had some kind of riser pad on the stock.

I ended up putting a windage adjustable Techsights rear sight on mine and a Williams Firesight on the front. It works fine for a playtoy, just burning up ammo at the range.

 

[John Parker]

It's a fine looking setup, Doc!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Nice set up.

 

[doc540]

"I have never found those type of mounts work well."

You might be thinking of one back over the receiver cover.

This one works well and replaces the rear iron sight:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2005/sksscoutscopemnt/index.asp

 

[Walkalong]

I have a Scout Mount on my AK. Works very well.

 

[rangerruck]

Does it use typical ak mags, or the gayest mags ever invented, sks mags with a half boomerang thingy hanging off the front?

 

[Domino]

I have a Paratrooper in a very similar configuration as yours. I opted for Tech Sights instead of a scope and I have been very happy with results. 4-6" at 100 yards with Russian ball ammunition is extremely easy to achieve and that is all the accuracy I need out of that sort of gun.

 

[doc540]

Wish I had eyesight good enough to use irons.

And, yes, it takes the "gay" duckbill mag's. That's middleschool lingo, isn't it?

 

[mljdeckard]

They're awkward, but on the other hand, they're the only conversion mag for the SKS that actually works.

 

[PAPACHUCK]

Doc540, I have an identical Paratrooper set-up, same stock, same VFG, but I added a muzzle break and that really helps keep the muzzle down. Mine, though, is a real "beater". Just what I wanted. It is a great shooting gun, and the Tapco mags work great.

 

[Domino]

+1, those TAPCO mags work great and they are the only way to go if you want more firepower for an SKS.

 

[DMK]

"I have never found those type of mounts work well."

You might be thinking of one back over the receiver cover.

This one works well and replaces the rear iron sight:

No I was talking about the one that attaches to the rear sight mount, like you posted. They are stable, no problems there. However, I have found them to sit too high above the bore.

Think about it. Look at the pic of the SKS at the top of this thread. Look at where the stock line is, in relation to the line across the sights. The stock is designed to give you a cheek weld that puts your eye at the right spot for the iron sights. Then you attach a mount on top of the sight mount and add an optic on top of that. You need to look through the middle of the optic, which is now a good inch and a half too high. A good cheek weld is now impossible.

 

[doc540]

not impossible



That's just one of many raised cheek pieces on the market.

 

[DMK]

That is one fix for the problem.

 

[rangerruck]

... oh sure, proly middleschool, but man, I really do hate those mags with a
passion. I mean they actually piss me off , to look at them, and I don't even know why. plus there has to be times when those front pieces, can hang up on something, or just generally be a pain in the AQ#ss.

 

[doc540]

latest update: Scout Scope Mount and raised cheek rest

Very easy to install if you follow the instructions.









Hope this helps anyone else considering a few mod's.

I ordered an inexpensive (-$100 Micro Dot) sight today just to see how things work with the Scout mount. My supplier won't be getting his in for at least another month, so I'll go with this one in the meantime.

Probably should go ahead and get the laser to see how that rail position works.

 

[doc540]

Latest Update:

Added the Micro Red Dot today, but haven't been to the range to sight it in.

Not too high, almost co-witnesses with the front sight. Looks like the dot will eventually rest right above the sight hoop. Raised cheek rest piece works perfectly so far.

Doesn't weigh squat so that helps with the already front-heavy situation.

Laser's next. (Before ya'll start harping about tac-crap this and tac-crap that...my eyesight is such that I cannot use the irons. I had a laser on the AR, and it worked like a charm for my lowlight purposes.)