Author Topic: Chineese SKS (Read 725 times)

Norseman112 · « **on:** March 13, 2006, 06:38:21 AM »

I bought a Chineese SKS model 56. I striped it down and cleaned it. I was hesitant of this purchase because it was made in chinna. I have to say I was quite surprised how well it was made. Anyone here have one?, how do you like it? how accurate is it ect ect. Oh yeah what brand of ammo do you use? Thanks for your help.

John

1911crazy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2006, 09:12:02 AM »

A Chinese Norinco SKS is one of the best sks's out there. The people at norinco put some of there best quality into making these. They did get better as they got more experience at it. When i cleaned my first chinese norinco sks of all the cosmoline it was in I thought can this thing really shoot? Were used to seeing tight fitting parts and all the parts having a nice finish too. The chinese sks isn't the prettiest rifle in the safe but she sure can shoot good this rifle just won't quit. If your looking for good accuracy from it try to find some of the orginal chinese norinco ammo and benchrest it. You will be surprised at what she can do at 100yds. I shoot russian barnaul, russian wolf and chinese norinco ammo and the sks has to problem eating any of it. The Chinese norinco sks has a chrome lined barrel and chamber too. This is a fun plinker just like your very first 22lr rifle was. Enjoy...

Btw; Make sure you take the firing pin out of the bolt to clean all the cosmoline out of it otherwise slam-fires can occur with a stuck firing pin. It may feel free after soaking it but if the crude is left in there it can freeze the firing pin at anytime. Besafe clean it right. Clean the gas tube and gas port in the gas port housing on the barrel free and clean of all cosmoline too. If any is left inside it, it can melt and stick the gas piston when it gets hot.

Norseman112 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2006, 01:57:40 PM »

Thank you D Man. I took everything down and cleaned it. I did the gas tube. I will go over it again. I did eveything I could find on the net as far as taking it a part (video at surplus rifle) . However I did not take the bolt apart and the firing pin out, but I will research that tonite. Do I need to take the trigger assembly apart? I just took it out and did some break free on her. This one I bought has a choate stock and lyman sites on it. I got to talk to the previous owner today and he said I willl find this rifle to be very accurate just as stated. He wished he could keep it, but is getting an ar-15. I will take a pic of it and post it tonight. Thanks again for your help.

John

Norseman112 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2006, 02:12:46 PM »

Here she is.

Oldtimer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2006, 03:02:06 AM »

My Chinese SKS shoots quite well, as well as I could hope with open sights and old eyes. The trigger is a bit gritty, but it is controllable. The rifle does not have any great desire for a particular ammo. I have only shot the standard bullet weights, and have not tried the 154 grainers.
The rifle is a typical Russian military design. Simonov copied and scaled down a 14.5mm. anti-tank weapon, so it is very overbuilt. Though it does not have the niceties we expect of sporting weapons, it is a rifle that will fire clean or dirty, using whatever ammo is available, whether dirty, corroded, or badly made. These are matters of military necessity. Canada used the Ross in WWI, and the soldiers got rid of it as soon as they could, even stealing SMLE's from English troops. Rosses were great for accuracy, had a fit and finish that would make any gunmaker proud, but it took very little to tie them up, and the loose old Smelly was one of the best battle rifles ever made.
If you look at the SKS and worry about its lack of looks and finish, remember Townsend Whelen's advice: the only interesting rifle is an accurate rifle.

1911crazy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2006, 05:55:01 AM »

I think the problem many have with the sks is they think its not a quality gun nor an accurate one too, them the word "Chinese" is a problem too so they tend to stay away from getting one.

The next problem is its accuracy some of the owners of sks's tend to just blast away with them. Even i did for many years we would blast empty soda cans or we were happy to pepper a 20" circle on a target at 100yds. Recently i picked up a used sks from a local gun shop and took it to the local range. While we were waiting to put out or targets i deceided to blast some small rocks on the berm at 100yds just to see how it shoots. Aiming dead on i hit every small rock or spot i aimed at. We finally got our targets out and i handed my sks to my son who benchrested it and i told him to aim dead on because most of the military rifles we shoot are 2" to 4" high at 100yds. So the kid aimed dead on and shot some 1 1/2" groups with it with the orginal iron sites. Using chinese norinco ammo. I know my scoped chinese sks will shoot under 1" groups at 100yds too. Before I would laugh when i seen a sniper sks but now I know its possible because they are that accurate. I don't think any person who likes guns should be without an sks. Its like when we were young with our very first 22lr popping soda cans. Now that were a little older we need something bigger to shoot.(bigger bang). The only other thing i can say is after having some fun with your very first sks you may want to get another one or start to collect the others too like get a Russian, a Romanian, an Albanian and the two Yugo's M59 & M59/66. I'm not sure if we will see any more new sks's imported here like the Korean or the East German sks's.

I have heard of the 154gr Wolf Soft Point ammo is very accurate too from others who are shooting 1/2" to 3/4" groups with it.

On the other hand the down side is I just heard a "rumor" that i hope isn't true that the 7,62x39 ammo is going to sell for $200 a case soon. I have been waiting for the market to get flooded again and I was hoping to see the $59/1,000rds again like it was after the last shortage when it was over. After the ban was lifted on china i was hoping to see the norinco ammo imported again but another ban was put back on china for selling missle parts to iran. I wish the whole world could get along so we could enjoy the surplups and shooting them with affordable ammo again too. Most of the supply of the surplus ammo has been running low and its been a roller coaster ride on the amount imported too. The idea and attraction of buying military surplus rifles is using the cheap/affordable surplus ammo to keep the cost of shooting down too. Like i said before i'm very surprised an ammo seller on the net yet hasn't capitolized on the imported ammo from the former yugoslavia yet like stocking the Prvi-Partizan, Sellier & Bellot, Igman and the FNM at affordable prices the demand is there and there is profits in volumne too. I see prices of this ammo range from $8 to $9 a box and as high as $12 a box too. Any new ammo thats either $10 and under gets my attention and if its reloadable thats a big plus too. Its pretty bad we can get even a supply of the new wolf gold ammo too most places that have it are out of stock. It looks like its reversed sometimes i can get the surplus ammo but i can't get the new affordable ammo in the same caliber go figure?

myarmor · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2006, 12:03:48 PM »

Thats a very nice Norinco John, clean too

. I heard the rumors as well about the price influx of 7.62 ammo. I hope it's not true. Still it's cheap and great for practice, especially off hand work. SKS's are a lot of fun, just keep em clean and safe.
-Aaron

Norseman112 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2006, 04:01:08 PM »

While I was on the road today I stoped at Gander Mountain and Cabelas and they had no Ammo of any kind.

I also stoped by last saturday at a local sporting goods store and he had two 1000 rd cases of wolf 123gr SP, but said they were spoken for. So out of frustration I stoped to see the local guy again today and asked him if he got anymore in. He said "no but that other guy didn't stop in and pick his up" so he ask me if I wanted a case? I said sure :grin: Cost me $147.00, but I got some ammo anyway.

John

myarmor · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:27:05 PM »

If you shopped around you could have found it a little cheaper, BUT you wouldn't have it in hand as you speak

So I wouldn't fret about it. Wolf ammo is well suited for it's most popular used intent. If later you find some brassed cased, then all the better, but with a 7.62x39 why be picky with a rifle that isn't? Plinking and training seem to be the best use for this ammo in my book, though in a pinch it would suffice for hunting. They do make a great "truck gun" as I am sure you can attest to on the farm, it could prove to be very handy.
Even though the SKS was designed as a war utensil, it's still a versitle and capable rifle. While not a bench shooter by any means, it will still get with in very good killing radius for deer and like animals. Plus it's counted as among the most durable rifles ever produced. I like the fact that I can take a rifle that was originally designed for a completely different purpose, and use it effectively for my own needs. And did I mention it's a crazy fun rifle? :-D

Plink · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2006, 12:59:55 PM »

D Man, I agree that an SKS can be very accurate. I think most of the accuracy problems comes from the crappy ammo we shoot. The gun has a few problems of it's own like a nasty trigger, terrible sights, and the stock puts pressure on the barrel. I've tinkered with SKS's for a very long time now and have accurized more of them than I can count.

For accuracy, the first thing I do is remove the bayonet. It vibrates on firing and shakes the barrel. I do a trigger job on them, bed the action into the stock, and using a good solid mount like the Choate, I mount a scope or use Mojo rear sights and KNS fronts.

My latest project is free floating the barrels by mounting the front of the action to the crossbar with screws tapped into the bottom of the receiver. Then I remove the front metal unit that connects the barrel to the front of the stock. The gun is held in the stock by the bedding and screws and there's no pressure on the barrel.

If the SKS itself is a good one (some are better than others), and with the right ammo, they can shoot amazingly well. I plan to take the accurizing even farther as I have the time. I'd like to see what they're truly capable of.

jeager106 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2006, 05:48:24 PM »

My Cabelas order of 1000 rnds of Wolf 122 h.p. came today at a cost of 124 bucks.
I well remember the 60 buck a thousand days but I think they are behind us now.
Still at 13 to 15 cents a shot it ain't bad.

1911crazy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2006, 03:59:38 AM »

I have two chinese norinco that we shoot often and both are in untouched orginal condition. Both of these are very accurate using chinese norinco ammo that i purchased in the late 80's.

The last time i purchased 7,62x39 ammo it was $59/1,000rds my point is you have to buy it when its cheap and when its available too.

The only scopemount i like is the russian mosin type mount on the sks its rock solid. There is one for the PKM you can use with a little reworking/welding it costs only $19.