A buddy and I have ordered a couple Chinese SKS 7.62x39 semi automatics, for play toys, ya know. We can get them for $139 Canadian, even though they are on back-order and it maybe awhile before we see them. Anyone ever had one before? Are they as fun as they look?

These come with a five shot clip so we started to look around for larger clips, bingo, they make a 30 shot clip. As it turns out, our lovely Canadian government won't allow us to have anything more than a five shot clip, what a piss off. How much fun is a five shot clip going to be while out at gravel pit shooting the hell out off, well, what ever. Going to spend more time loading then shooting. Damn government regulations take the fun out of everything.....

Grant,

The SKS has a 10 round magazine. Unless you got a SKS-D which takes AK magazines the magazine is a built in not meant to be removed magazine kinda like the Lee-Enfield. They are pinned (ie riveted) after importation generally as far as I know to comply with the STUPID 5 round magazine limit for semi-automatic centerfire rifles. They were meant to use 10 round stripper clips to reload the rifles.

If you save this file and Unzip it its the US Army manual on the SKS rifle:

world.guns.ru/downloads/sks.zip

Dimitri

Thank you ever so much Dimitri. Riveted eh???? Hmmm........nothing that a drill bit won't make right again....

Grant,

Normally they are riveted, as long as its a "semi-permanent" modification that requires a tool to remove its legal so most magazines were simply as its called "pinned" (ie riveted) to 5 rounds. Another method is to braze a peice of round stock on the floor plate or follower to limit the magazine.

Dimitri

To answer yopur first question, I have owned several SKS rifles and they are a blast to shoot. They are not tack drivers but they were not meant to be. I have taken a lot of coyotes with SKS. I have a red dot scope on my current version for night hunting. The trigger really stinks though. I had mine reworked and it breaks at 4.5 pounds now instead of the 8-10 it was new.

A LOOOOONNNGGG time ago in Australia, the SKS are very popular.
They are indeed a great pig gun - nice compact to be used in the bush and definitely could take some abuse.

Dawgdad wrote:

They are not tack drivers but they were not meant to be.

I got a cheap SKS that my son liked to shoot. I decided that if he wanted to shoot, he might as well learn a little about reloading. I got him started and he reloaded a box of ammo that we took to the range. I decided to shoot a 5 shot 100 yard group to see how it did. How it did was, as I remember, less than 2 inches and I think more like 1.5 inches with iron sights.

The thing I don't like about that rifle is the fact that there is no windage adjustment so it groups to the right. The bullets, by the way, were cheap bulk 0.311 diameter Winchester bulk bullets I bought from Midway.

I have had a couple that shot that well with the norinco fmj but mostly it was 2-3" at 100yards. I would put a shim from a pop can aluminum between the rear of the reciever and the stock right above the trigger. This would put more pressure on the lock up and keep groups tighter. I like to use it in tight cover or at night where I do not expect a shot over 100 yards for coyote. I have a friend that hunts deer with one. I can see where it would be a great pig gun too.

The front sight is windage adjustable. If you drift the sight block to the left it will center it up for you. They make a little tool for this or you can use a punch and tap it with a hammer too.

Great guns to blast away ammo with, But they sure arent pretty. I know, I know, They were'nt meant to be.

I bought two of them - with the steel receivers and still have both. One of them shot as well as I expected from a $75 gun with groups of 1 1/2 to 2" at 100 yards with the iron sights. The other one was like shooting a shotgun. I took it apart and made a custom rifle out of it. I use it as a straight pull bolt action (did away with the gas system) in .357 maximum. It shoots groups of under an inch at a hundred yards. Not too bad for a project that no gunsmith would touch. It was too much work for what it is but I like shooting it and it is all mine, one of a kind.

Well, it looks as though it'll be awhile before we get our guns. The importers said to us that they'll be getting them sometime in 2008. That's as close a date they could give us. It's tough getting guns into Canada, at least when your doing it legally. We could have them in a week, or just in time for Christmas. We could get them from another supplier, but not at the good price and they don't have the big cases of ammo either. I guess we'll just have to wait patiently, well, wait anyway.

From what everyone is saying, I'm going to enjoy this gun just fine, looking forward to it getting here.

weve got an SKS in our gun locker and even tho we dont shoot it to often i have to honestly say that i love this rifle. true not very accurate after 100 yards or so but then again it wasnt supposed to be a tackdriver.
i believe a common believe about the SKS by hunters is that they underestimate this rifle. i compared the bullet to my .300 mag and it is pretty much the same size. the width is as far as i can see with the naked eye almost identical and length is a little less i believe. true it has less powder to back it up but then again .300 mag was designed for long range shooting and so it needs speed. that means i believe that the SKS has plenty of knock-down-power but not enough velocity to make it accurate after a certain point but dont u have to agree that up to 100 yards this rifle and bullet will/should do just fine?!!!

just my thought, u guys are the proffesionals feel free to correct me

Dan

Use some Mic's and you will discover they are indeed Larger.

Dan, after looking at serveral sites the 7.62x39 is about on a par with a 30/30. 123 grain bullet, 2300 FPS about the same as a 30/30 with 150 grain bullet. Probably a little flatter shooting than a 30/30, but I'd bet the 30/30 hits a bit harder.

The 30/30 Is more powerful than the Russian cartridge when used with spitzer bullets, and loaded to its full potential.
I just happen to think the Little Rusky is more fun!