New member looking to improve my SKS

fishmeister · Oct 19, 2011

Hello, I'm new here "60 years old and retired" and was wondering what this site is all about. I'm thinking of upgrading my SKS with a synthetic stock, better trigger, sights, and a larger magazine. Mine has a 5 shot fixed clip, a short wood stock, a very long, heavy trigger and is missing the cleaning rod and bayonet. It's made for a smaller person than me and I'm only 5'10". I was also wondering if there was any way to change FMJ military ammunition into something more practicle? Please excuse my bad spelling as my wife and editer isn't awake to proof read and correct it for me. I'd appreciate it if there was anyone here willing to share information with me about the SKS. Thanks, Fishmeister

eganx · Oct 19, 2011

If you want an improved trigger get ahold of Kivarri......he does great work. Did the trigger in my norinco and could't be happier. He has his own sub forum if you want to ask him any questions......Kivaari's Triggers

SKS triggers, improve the safety of the SKS carbines

trainsktg · Oct 19, 2011

Is greater than a 5-round magazine legal in Canada? You might want to check on that before you put a larger one in.

A good improvement for the iron sights is a Tech-Sights TS-1 or TS-2. The peep sight is a blessing for our older eyes. http://www.tech-sights.com/

Keith

civilian75 · Oct 19, 2011

Please, explain "change FMJ military ammunition into something more practical". Do you mean, hunting ammunition? Something like this:
Ammunition To Go : 20rds - 7.62X39 Corbon Hunter 150gr JSP Ammo [HT762X39150/20] - $29.95

coop44 · Oct 19, 2011

whoa there, before you toss a bunch of cash at your sks, consider a few things.

you will be altering a pretty cool old rifle

could that cash be spent more wisely, on say, another gun?

even with custom ammo, the round is actually only suitable for deer sized game at relatively close ranges. (much like a 30-30)

civilian75 · Oct 19, 2011

coop44 said:
whoa there, before you toss a bunch of cash at your sks, consider a few things.

you will be altering a pretty cool old rifle

could that cash be spent more wisely, on say, another gun?

even with custom ammo, the round is actually only suitable for deer sized game at relatively close ranges. (much like a 30-30)

There is no danger of messing up a collectible. Notice OP said stock short wood stock, integral mag modified (God only knows to what extent) to accept 5 rounds, missing the bayonet and rod. Very possibly all mods can be undone with original parts. And what if deer is all he wants to hunt?

civilian75 · Oct 19, 2011

After trying several solutions on my Yugo SKS, I find the Scope Mount SKS Steel Blue to be the most solid, reliable and you won't lose your zero when you remove the dust cover. The only drawback is you have to drill holes to the receiver.

Scope selection is limited, but there are enough to choose from. They must be very short or else you may either get "scope eye" or ejected cases will hit the front bell, or both. There is a NcStar case deflector but that in my opinion is going too far.

One final warning about the trigger job involving Wolff springs. The hammer spring will give you the occasional misfire with most steel cased Russian (Tiger, Wolf, Tula, etc) ammo. Primers are hard to prevent slam fires. Weak primer strikes may also hurt your accuracy. My Yugo was shooting about 4 MOA with Russian steel case ammo until I put back the original spring. Now it is about 2-3 MOA. I guess you will be ok with brass cased hunting ammo.

trainsktg · Oct 19, 2011

Regarding the "rifle was made for someone smaller than me" comment...maybe not. Try and shoot it with a more hunched forward, more squared off stance, with both shoulders perpendicular to the direction of fire. Many folks try to shoot these rifles with a more typical one shoulder forward, one shoulder behind stance and yes it would then seem too short. I stand several inches taller than you and i have no problems shooting any short carbine like an AK or SKS when I use this stance. try it and see if it works for you too.

Keith