I just picked up a brand new, unfired 1954, Russian SKS. First two digits of the serial number are "AK".
Mint bore, grease and oil everywhere. The trigger (hammer actually) displays negative lift, I'll be working on the sear tomorrow.
I've ordered RCBS dies, Privi brass and Sierra 125 boolits.
Next on the list is a Timberline laminate stock, picatinny dust cover and a shock buffer.

Picatinny dust cover is not a great mount. Tech-Sights makes a bolt on peep.


Saw this on Canadian website: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com...Picatinny-Scope-rail

Torque, there is something satisfying about the SKS that I can't quite put my finger on. Lots of potential to tweak them for accuracy.
Much prefer the SKS to the AK.

Seems like a shame to Bubba a mint SKS. Not likely to see many more.

Grizz

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Torque, there is something satisfying about the SKS that I can't quite put my finger on. Lots of potential to tweak them for accuracy.
Much prefer the SKS to the AK.

thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:
Seems like a shame to Bubba a mint SKS. Not likely to see many more.

Grizz

I agree. The upgrades will be replacement parts and the original parts in storage.

Simonov was a great gunsmith on the level of Browning. His great merit - the gas outlet at the top. And SKS is a masterpiece, the way he took part in the 2nd world war. Kalashnikov moved it from the first place for one simple reason - it is produced by more modern technology using forming. It is cheaper. And only. In all other respects, SKS above the AK.

quote:

Originally posted by vashper:
Simonov was a great gunsmith on the level of Browning. His great merit - the gas outlet at the top. And SKS is a masterpiece, the way he took part in the 2nd world war. Kalashnikov moved it from the first place for one simple reason - it is produced by more modern technology using forming. It is cheaper. And only. In all other respects, SKS above the AK.

Think it's tough to equal Browning, some of his designs have been in service for over a hundred years and are still in production. Browning was a very prolific and versatile designer as well , everything from pistols and shotguns to heavy machine guns.

Grizz

This stock is enroute. The upgrades are going to be epic!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Torque, there is something satisfying about the SKS that I can't quite put my finger on. Lots of potential to tweak them for accuracy.
Much prefer the SKS to the AK.

me too!

My favorite is the Yugoslavian 59/66. The gas cutoff feature is very nice when you are using handloads. Turns the SKS into a bolt action, saving your nice, spendy Lapua brass.
Torque, you chose a sweet stock.
Seems like the two areas for SKS accuracy improvement beyond handloading are a trigger job, and controlling the tension between the barrel and the gas port and piston tube.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
My favorite is the Yugoslavian 59/66. The gas cutoff feature is very nice when you are using handloads. Turns the SKS into a bolt action, saving your nice, spendy Lapua brass.
Torque, you chose a sweet stock.
Seems like the two areas for SKS accuracy improvement beyond handloading are a trigger job, and controlling the tension between the barrel and the gas port and piston tube.

This guy is really good! He does a great and safe job on the SKS.

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:

quote:

Originally posted by vashper:
Simonov was a great gunsmith on the level of Browning.

Think it's tough to equal Browning,

Grizz

Of course, it's not about to surpass that of Browning; but Simonov were revolutionary technical solutions. It is much less known, because his situation was different, he didn't work on the market but for the state. So of his more than hundred designs are known to the public only three. His rifle AVS-36 was the first self-loading rifle adopted as a mass army gun (in production since 1934), and Simonov in 1941 for 1 month designed a self-loading anti-tank rifle PTRS in caliber 14.5 mm - and it is fighting somewhere still. And many experts put Simonov much higher Kalashnikov and Tokarev.
I actually only to the fact that SKS is an excellent design, better than the AK. Although my hunting Vepr 308 caliber is based on the AK

Vashper, I like the fact the SKS uses mostly milled parts. It just feels solid.
Torque, thank you for that link. Nice vid.

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:

quote:

Originally posted by vashper:
Simonov was a great gunsmith on the level of Browning. His great merit - the gas outlet at the top. And SKS is a masterpiece, the way he took part in the 2nd world war. Kalashnikov moved it from the first place for one simple reason - it is produced by more modern technology using forming. It is cheaper. And only. In all other respects, SKS above the AK.

Think it's tough to equal Browning, some of his designs have been in service for over a hundred years and are still in production. Browning was a very prolific and versatile designer as well , everything from pistols and shotguns to heavy machine guns.

Grizz

I agree, SOME of Browning's haven't been improved upon in a century of serious concerted attempts to do so...

quote:

milled

Yes, milled. Therefore SKS even excessively powerful design. It is said that someone in USA even made it under 458 caliber (I do not know what he was doing with the automatic).

Torque: Where did you find your TimberSmith stock? How do you like it?

At an outlet in Vancouver. It is great! Very comfortable. The pad makes it less likely to slip. I also ordered a recoil buffer. Just got it today.

Sure love to see a photo. I just ordered a Chinese Type 56 fixer upper from J&G Sales. The stocks are the roughest parts on these. I went with the Chinese because they seem to have a very good reputation for accuracy.

I shall do that. Probably not until Monday. I tore it down, moved on to other projects and have to peen the rivet on the gas piston tube. Tomorrow, that 4 letter word commences, work.

There is a pin on either side of the gas tube guard, it lets the upper mate nicely with the lower.

That looks sweet, Torque. Eager to hear a range report. I have ordered the receiver rear sight from Tech Sights for my SKS.

http://www.tech-sights.com/sks.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
That looks sweet, Torque. Eager to hear a range report. I have ordered the receiver rear sight from Tech Sights for my SKS.

http://www.tech-sights.com/sks.htm

Nice! I'm waiting for my brass, I don't want to pollute it with corrosive ammo. The recoil buffer fit nicely. Now, when I take it apart the spring goes with the dust cover.
Are you enhancing the trigger?

Cheers
Bruce

Bruce, I may do a Youtube trigger job, but the one on mine is the best factory trigger I have had on an SKS, perhaps burnished with hard use.

I will definitely replace the stock firing pin with this spring-loaded pin from Murray. I've only had one slam fire with an SKS, but it gave me religion on this safety improvement and gives one peace of mind when using handloads with regular rifle primers.

http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

Thanks Bill I'll have to give one a go my build as well.

Up here, I came across an unusual SKS. Chrome plated with a gold plated trigger/guard.

They'll see you coming a mile off with that one!

Those SKS's are cool. Really like that Timberline stock. I have a couple of just regular Chinese rifles, they are fun and inexpensive to shoot, with better accuracy than I expected. Softer shooting than my AK. I have the Tech Sight on one of them and it works pretty well but it's a little bit of a pain to remove and reinstall every time I shoot the gun. I buy the ammunition in bulk and I don't trust any of the major suppliers no matter how much they swear it's noncorrosive. I sent both my trigger groups to Tom Prince, kivaari.com. He did a great job with them.
I'm gonna have to take a closer look at a Timberline stock. Happy shooting fellas.

MMM: I hear nothing but good things about the kivaari trigger job.

Yes, I feel that mine were well worth it.

I'm such a gunwhore! My SKS is up for sale. I found a very fine gentleman, in Canada, that does color case hardening.
He does Ralf Martini's CCH work. I'd say that is a stellar reference.
Sell the SKS project and get a true dream rifle.

Torque, you are a man after my own heart. We have a Biebs in Canada!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Torque, you are a man after my own heart. We have a Biebs in Canada!

I need to win the lottery!

Well if I win, I'll divide, Scout's honor.

Watch for slamfires with normal primers.

Friend has a nice hole in his deck from that.