Russian SKS

**BlackgunCO** · November 26, 2012, 18:06

Just picked up a matching #s (stock forced matched but from same arsenal and 1 yr off). Was wonderint what ammo these things like the best? Any issues to watch out for? What is the best web site for info about these? It is dated 1951, has 2 letters and then 4 digit serials. Has import stamp from some company in Sac, CA that I never heard of before. Traded a nice FAL parts gun on Imbel and got $450 to boot. Think I did OK on the deal. Anyway a nice addition to my collection.

Aeroscout · November 26, 2012, 19:49

If its like any other SKS I have ever experienced....it should happily devour anything you throw at it, steel...brass...whatever...and happily ask for more.

The best mags are the original 10 rounders, never had a jam with mine...followed by the original chinese 20 round fixed (don't know if the Russians had OEM 20 rounders) they can be sometimes flaky (and now hard to find) but I have found loading them with only 17 rounds to be trouble free.......anything else (detachable Tapco variety) IMO you are asking for trouble. Some people use them with no problems, but I have found them to be more trouble than they are worth, I would rather have reliablility, YMMV. Couple of bando's loaded up with 10 round stipper clips and you are ready to rock and roll.

Russians are the most desirable (milled parts, threaded barrels) and run in the $400-500 range, but Classic arms is having a pretty good C&R deal on original Chinese SKS right now, close as you can get to a Russian and half the price...(well maybe not after you have to replace the stock, but a good deal none the less)

http://www.classicfirearms.com/c-r-eligible/chicomsks

Don't really know of any sites dealing with them as there is not much to know IMO....feed it and love it and it should be bullet proof...what else do you need to know?

PS....Check out Tech-sights....Just like AK's the original sights kind of suck.

gunnut1 · December 01, 2012, 21:07

I have shot just about all of the different 7.62x39 ammo that we can get here in the States through my Russian and it all feeds and goes bang.
I have not shot any American commercial 7.62x39 though.

The best 7.62X39? Hands down, Yugoslavian. I wish I had several cases of it. If it matters to you, there is a sort of a down side. It is highly corrosive. I love the stuff an I have shot a lot of it. It is very accurate. The interesting things is, my Yugo SKS rifles out shoot my Russian using the ammo designed for them. You just have to clean your gun after each range session and do a better than normal job at cleaning. If you don't like cleaning your guns, then stick with Tulammo or American commercial 7.62x39. It is non corrosive.

G3isMe · December 01, 2012, 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackgunCO

...What is the best web site for info about these? .......

Check out this board. I don't really know much about and I am not a member but I found it a year or two ago when I was looking up info about my Albanian SKSs. There is a lot of information on this site for all of the SKS rifles by country... Enjoy!

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php

.

Andy2205 · December 02, 2012, 08:21

The SKS should run on just about any ammo. The thing is to keep it from running on it's own.

If you have not already done so, strip the bolt and give it a very through cleaning. The SKS uses a tapered firing pin without a return spring. The pin has been known to stick forward in the bolt and cause the rifle to run on when it is loaded and the bolt is released.

There is a mod for the rifle that includes adding a spring, you can read up on it here: http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

Here's a good how to to strip and reassemble the SKS: http://surplusrifle.com/sks/index.asp

There are several people doing the mod for the firing pin. There is an individual that does a mod for the trigger group that is very highly spoken of. http://www.kivaari.com/

When I take my SKS to the range (mine has no mods) I take the bolt out and shake it. If I can hear the firing pin rattle, I don;t give it any other thought. Just keep the bolt clean.

I don't have anything to do with or any interest in, any of the sites I've listed.

Also found this buried in my bookmarks: http://bsclem.8m.com/triggersafety.html

mpnv · December 02, 2012, 11:49

In my opinion the Russian for fit and finish is above all others compared to the Chinese and Yugo's I have owned.
+100 on what Andy said about the firing pins. Unless you find a very early Russian this will apply to all of them.

**C-ya** · December 24, 2012, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by G3isMe

Check out this board. I don't really know much about and I am not a member but I found it a year or two ago when I was looking up info about my Albanian SKSs. There is a lot of information on this site for all of the SKS rifles by country... Enjoy!

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php

I've been a member at SKS Boards since 1998 when I bought my first SKS, a Romanian. Good info and good people.

**xtremerange** · December 24, 2012, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackgunCO

Just picked up a matching #s (stock forced matched but from same arsenal and 1 yr off). Was wonderint what ammo these things like the best? Any issues to watch out for? What is the best web site for info about these? It is dated 1951, has 2 letters and then 4 digit serials. Has import stamp from some company in Sac, CA that I never heard of before. Traded a nice FAL parts gun on Imbel and got $450 to boot. Think I did OK on the deal. Anyway a nice addition to my collection.

Is it marked NHM, New Helvetia or Old Sac Armory? (The company in CA that is?)

**BlackgunCO** · December 24, 2012, 16:16

NHM

**xtremerange** · December 25, 2012, 08:36

That is New Helvetia Marketing. (I think the M stands for Marketing). Bascially run out of the back of a gun store called Old Sacramento Armory,

They brought in a few lots of unusual items in mid size quantities. They were also the outfit that sold off the Galil Sporter receivers that Mossberg had to dump in the 1990s.

TideWater 41009 · December 26, 2012, 09:37

What are the Russian SKS's going for these days? I have a nice re-arsenaled one with a laminated stock that I want to sell.

Thanks.

**BlackgunCO** · December 26, 2012, 15:38

Seems like the average price has been $400-500. They haven't jumped up like the ARs and stuff.

G3isMe · December 26, 2012, 19:05

I have one I bought several years ago. It came with a detachable 30 round magazine. Did any of these come with these mags from the factory or did some bubba take off the original ten rounder and toss it? If so I must say it looks like it was as well done job in fitting it into the stock, etc...

mutter · December 26, 2012, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by G3isMe

I have one I bought several years ago. It came with a detachable 30 round magazine. Did any of these come with these mags from the factory or did some bubba take off the original ten rounder and toss it? If so I must say it looks like it was as well done job in fitting it into the stock, etc...

Aftermarket mag.

J MOSBY · December 27, 2012, 12:37

G3, is yours Chinese? Some of those were manufactured to accept the AK mags, the Model D, the Sporter Carbine, the Thumbhole Carbine and possibly some of the "Para" models. I don't think any Russian ones were.

wester · December 29, 2012, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by J MOSBY

G3, is yours Chinese? Some of those were manufactured to accept the AK mags, the Model D, the Sporter Carbine, the Thumbhole Carbine and possibly some of the "Para" models. I don't think any Russian ones were.

Norinco model D and model M accept standard ak mags, all others have fixed mags. Expect to pay for them though, well over the price of a nice Russian these days.

G3isMe · December 29, 2012, 15:14

No, mine is Russian. Looks like I am going to have to find a box mag for it to put it back to original. The thing is though, it looks practically unfired. Did they rearsenal some of the Russians? I have 2 of them, and they both look brand new, including the bayonets.

.

TideWater 41009 · December 29, 2012, 16:08

Almost every Russian SKS found in the U.S. will have been re-arsenaled. There will be stamps on the rifle.

http://http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php

This link should answer every question you have. Scroll down to the "Russian" tab.

Brian in MN · December 29, 2012, 23:24

The bolt carriers should be in the white if original. Every rearsenal I have seen has had a carrier with some kind of finish on it.

gates · December 30, 2012, 02:13

SOL - it's on fineswines list - might as well get a gussied up M forgery to take to the dance.

G3isMe · December 30, 2012, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by gates

SOL - it's on fineswines list - might as well get a gussied up M forgery to take to the dance.

I heard that too. What a bunch of BS, I don't want to devolve this thread to that topic, but I will for the first time contact my congressmen and senators.

I looked at the SKS site. Yeah, they say that 95% of the Russians were rearsenaled. I only checked one of mine and it's a Tula 1952 and it has the the rearsenal mark [\] a cross hatch in a square. I haven't had a chance to look at my other one but I assume it was rearsenaled as it has a laminated stock too.

.

gates · January 10, 2013, 22:59

LOTS of K31 and similar tack drivers out there in the C&R world - the folks in CONgress can ban all the pistol gripped semi guns they want - there will be PLENTY of REAL "assault weapons" on the field to be picked up... if they push this too far... not a threat - FACT.

blackmatt · January 12, 2013, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by gates

LOTS of K31 and similar tack drivers out there in the C&R world - the folks in CONgress can ban all the pistol gripped semi guns they want - there will be PLENTY of REAL "assault weapons" on the field to be picked up... if they push this too far... not a threat - FACT.

I think you're right on the money. Assault rifles will be the sacrificial lamb, with their evil pistol grips that drive people to mayhem.

November 26, 2012, 18:06	#1
BlackgunCO Veteran Member Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 64915 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western Slope, CO Posts: 1,541	Russian SKS Just picked up a matching #s (stock forced matched but from same arsenal and 1 yr off). Was wonderint what ammo these things like the best? Any issues to watch out for? What is the best web site for info about these? It is dated 1951, has 2 letters and then 4 digit serials. Has import stamp from some company in Sac, CA that I never heard of before. Traded a nice FAL parts gun on Imbel and got $450 to boot. Think I did OK on the deal. Anyway a nice addition to my collection.

November 26, 2012, 19:49	#2
Aeroscout Unarmed and Unafraid Contributor FALaholic #: 67625 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Republic of TEXAS Posts: 752	AK Ammo If its like any other SKS I have ever experienced....it should happily devour anything you throw at it, steel...brass...whatever...and happily ask for more. The best mags are the original 10 rounders, never had a jam with mine...followed by the original chinese 20 round fixed (don't know if the Russians had OEM 20 rounders) they can be sometimes flaky (and now hard to find) but I have found loading them with only 17 rounds to be trouble free.......anything else (detachable Tapco variety) IMO you are asking for trouble. Some people use them with no problems, but I have found them to be more trouble than they are worth, I would rather have reliablility, YMMV. Couple of bando's loaded up with 10 round stipper clips and you are ready to rock and roll. Russians are the most desirable (milled parts, threaded barrels) and run in the $400-500 range, but Classic arms is having a pretty good C&R deal on original Chinese SKS right now, close as you can get to a Russian and half the price...(well maybe not after you have to replace the stock, but a good deal none the less) http://www.classicfirearms.com/c-r-eligible/chicomsks Don't really know of any sites dealing with them as there is not much to know IMO....feed it and love it and it should be bullet proof...what else do you need to know? PS....Check out Tech-sights....Just like AK's the original sights kind of suck. __________________ To ride, shoot straight, and speak the truth....

December 01, 2012, 21:07	#3
gunnut1 Moderator Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 1877 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: The great Republic of Texas USA!!!!! Posts: 10,425	I have shot just about all of the different 7.62x39 ammo that we can get here in the States through my Russian and it all feeds and goes bang. I have not shot any American commercial 7.62x39 though. The best 7.62X39? Hands down, Yugoslavian. I wish I had several cases of it. If it matters to you, there is a sort of a down side. It is highly corrosive. I love the stuff an I have shot a lot of it. It is very accurate. The interesting things is, my Yugo SKS rifles out shoot my Russian using the ammo designed for them. You just have to clean your gun after each range session and do a better than normal job at cleaning. If you don't like cleaning your guns, then stick with Tulammo or American commercial 7.62x39. It is non corrosive. __________________ Texas, it's a state of mind!!!! The human race is not the pinnacle of evolution. We are but one evolutionary out come.

December 02, 2012, 08:21	#5
Andy2205 Registered FALaholic #: 26110 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fl. Panhandle Posts: 130	The SKS should run on just about any ammo. The thing is to keep it from running on it's own. If you have not already done so, strip the bolt and give it a very through cleaning. The SKS uses a tapered firing pin without a return spring. The pin has been known to stick forward in the bolt and cause the rifle to run on when it is loaded and the bolt is released. There is a mod for the rifle that includes adding a spring, you can read up on it here: http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm Here's a good how to to strip and reassemble the SKS: http://surplusrifle.com/sks/index.asp There are several people doing the mod for the firing pin. There is an individual that does a mod for the trigger group that is very highly spoken of. http://www.kivaari.com/ When I take my SKS to the range (mine has no mods) I take the bolt out and shake it. If I can hear the firing pin rattle, I don;t give it any other thought. Just keep the bolt clean. I don't have anything to do with or any interest in, any of the sites I've listed. Also found this buried in my bookmarks: http://bsclem.8m.com/triggersafety.html __________________ " We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. " Last edited by Andy2205; December 02, 2012 at 08:28.

December 25, 2012, 08:36	#10
xtremerange Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 4305 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,339	That is New Helvetia Marketing. (I think the M stands for Marketing). Bascially run out of the back of a gun store called Old Sacramento Armory, They brought in a few lots of unusual items in mid size quantities. They were also the outfit that sold off the Galil Sporter receivers that Mossberg had to dump in the 1990s. __________________ --David

December 02, 2012, 11:49	#6
mpnv Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 64169 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Delaware Posts: 660	In my opinion the Russian for fit and finish is above all others compared to the Chinese and Yugo's I have owned. +100 on what Andy said about the firing pins. Unless you find a very early Russian this will apply to all of them.

December 24, 2012, 16:16	#9
BlackgunCO Veteran Member Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 64915 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western Slope, CO Posts: 1,541	NHM

December 26, 2012, 09:37	#11
TideWater 41009 Registered FALaholic #: 1789 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 1,364	What are the Russian SKS's going for these days? I have a nice re-arsenaled one with a laminated stock that I want to sell. Thanks.

December 26, 2012, 15:38	#12
BlackgunCO Veteran Member Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 64915 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western Slope, CO Posts: 1,541	Seems like the average price has been $400-500. They haven't jumped up like the ARs and stuff.

December 26, 2012, 19:05	#13
G3isMe Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 6530 Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,749	Factory 30 round Mag? I have one I bought several years ago. It came with a detachable 30 round magazine. Did any of these come with these mags from the factory or did some bubba take off the original ten rounder and toss it? If so I must say it looks like it was as well done job in fitting it into the stock, etc... __________________ "I believe that time wounds all heels" ----John Lennon

December 27, 2012, 12:37	#15
J MOSBY Registered FALaholic #: 2738 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA Posts: 1,162	G3, is yours Chinese? Some of those were manufactured to accept the AK mags, the Model D, the Sporter Carbine, the Thumbhole Carbine and possibly some of the "Para" models. I don't think any Russian ones were. __________________ If we loose freedom here Theres no place to escape to This is the last stand on earth Ronald Reagan

December 29, 2012, 15:14	#17
G3isMe Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 6530 Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,749	No, mine is Russian. Looks like I am going to have to find a box mag for it to put it back to original. The thing is though, it looks practically unfired. Did they rearsenal some of the Russians? I have 2 of them, and they both look brand new, including the bayonets. . __________________ "I believe that time wounds all heels" ----John Lennon

December 29, 2012, 16:08	#18
TideWater 41009 Registered FALaholic #: 1789 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 1,364	Almost every Russian SKS found in the U.S. will have been re-arsenaled. There will be stamps on the rifle. http://http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php This link should answer every question you have. Scroll down to the "Russian" tab.

December 29, 2012, 23:24	#19
Brian in MN Registered FALaholic #: 289 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,927	The bolt carriers should be in the white if original. Every rearsenal I have seen has had a carrier with some kind of finish on it. __________________ Kalashnikov: The most successful point and click interface in the world.

December 30, 2012, 02:13	#20
gates Registered FALaholic #: 129 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: phx az Posts: 10,312	SOL - it's on fineswines list - might as well get a gussied up M forgery to take to the dance.

January 10, 2013, 22:59	#22
gates Registered FALaholic #: 129 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: phx az Posts: 10,312	LOTS of K31 and similar tack drivers out there in the C&R world - the folks in CONgress can ban all the pistol gripped semi guns they want - there will be PLENTY of REAL "assault weapons" on the field to be picked up... if they push this too far... not a threat - FACT.

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