SKS Opinions

Mounting a scout scope on a Mosin-Nagant M44 isn't all that difficult.
This was done with a cheap eBay scout mount, using the pin that is IN THE RIFLE, not the screw and nut that comes with the mount. Take out the third leveling screw (towards the butt), it just complicates the deal. Get some blue loctite, appropriate scope and rings, and works a charm.

Over 100 rounds, well over, and no change in sight.

Not hard. I have a leupold 2.3x fixed, but I've read about an ?NC scope, variable, that folks have used successfully.

Gun and Game forums has a Mosin-Nagant subforum, with some really knowledgeable folks.

Good luck.


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Nice nagant man. I am gonna say if the sight didnt change after 2 rounds it aint movin. Those things kick like a mule!!! I like em though. Forward scope. Is it a pistol scope?
 
I guess with the bolt the way they are, thats the only way to mount one though, unless you change out the bolt, and stock?
 
bladefrienzy said:
With the D&C engineering magazines you don't have to mod anything, just take the factory mag out. With the Tapco's you only need their stock or shave a bit of wood off around the mag well , very little. Lottsa crappy mags, the plastic ones that came out a few years ago were awful, but with these 2, you're good to go. They are the only 2 mags you probably won't find anybody having trouble with. Keep in mind if you mod an SKS at all you need to do the full Americanized thing , I think it's 11 or 13 parts to keep it "legal" But you get almost all of these when you do the stock kit. Tapco's site did have a place that explained it all.
Click to expand...

Just missed this. Thanks Steve!
 
Leupold long eye relief rifle scope. 2.3x either 28 or 32, don't remember.

There's a guy....maybe eBay, or if not, check gun and game's Mosin-Nagant forum, who does the bolts. Might be a swap deal: you take out the innards and send the bolt body and he sends you one already cut and welded. Clean work. Also some folks buy a bent bolt, cut off the old one and weld the bent on. AND, there's some (sort of half-assed) kit to cut the straight bolt off and drill and screw a bent bolt on.

No stock change that I am aware of.

Also saw, coveted, but did not get, a ring that is welded on the safety to give you some purchase when you pull that damned safety back and over. :) eBay, also. Might be the same guy.

But...I shot three deer last year with this rifle and its original iron sights. So...optics were kind of ... dunno...superfluous? Just got the scope at a great price and figured I'd try it.

Have fun. Be safe.


Kis
enjoy every sandwich
 
With practice and dedication the SKS can be an effective long arm for when the SHTF. There are a few things that you can do to really increase the effectiveness of the SKS platform. It may not be the sexiest weapon out there but it is what you have.

I recommend that you look into a Tech Sights peep rear sight. This will allow you to get good hits fast with some practice. Aperture sights like the Tech Sights are superior in every way to leaf or partridge sights. They will also allow you to mount a red dot or scout scope in a mount from Scout Scopes. The Niko Monarch 2X EER scopes are a great value - I prefer them to the Burris and Leupold scout scopes that I have own on various rifles.

You will also want to practice with stripper clips because making the SKS effective is just as much "what you do" as it is "what you don't do" and you should never try to use detachable magazines on an SKS. They just don't work unless you have one of the rare SKS-Ms or SKS-Ds that take AK mags. So practice with stripper clips and avoid detachable mags.

Also, no mount any optics to the dust cover on the receiver. That is a common place to see optics on an SKS but I maintain that your optic should NEVER be mounted to something that you have to remove to clean your rifle. Your zero will shift every time you clean and it isn't a stable place to mount anything.

I would also recommend that you stay away from any folding stock that does not provide a decent cheekweld - which is pretty much all them. One day of drills with a poor cheekweld and you will wishing that you still had the original wood or synthetic stock on it. Also, adding a pistol grip (which folding stocks have) puts you in murky waters as far as compliance laws and US made parts counts and such - if you are concerned about such things (and you should be).

I do recommend that you figure out a way to mount a flashlight. I consider a good light to be an important part of any serious carbine.

Sadly the price of 7.62x39 is going up up up. I remember buying it for 69.99 per 1000 when I was 18. Now 10 years later $200 is a good price. If you are ammo shopping. I much prefer Golden Tiger to Wolf. I would suggest buying up enough ammo that you can train with it and still have a good store (at least 500-1000 rounds) left for a "rainy day".

Train train train! Ask gun shops in your area if there are any trainers in your area that can put on a decent carbine course (one that covers moving, marksmanship, cover, shooting positions, etc) not just static firing. You can also check out when the Appleseed Tour will be in your area. They offer amazing training at a great price. Depending on your location I may be able to help with some training resources.

Anyway... owning a SHTF worthy rifle is a big step towards self-sufficiency. It warms my heart to know you are thinking through these things and getting ready Jake!
 
Improving the trigger pull is a DIY kitchen-table project that involves replacing the sear block, putting in a lighter hammer spring, and hand-honing and polishing a few bits. It is a little tedious because you have to take apart the trigger assembly, but it doesn't require any special tools or skills. I used this article as my guide:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/wolffsksspring/index.asp

I bought a commercial Norinco years ago with plenty of ammo but never liked shooting it much because of the attrocious trigger pull so I started overhauling it last winter: completely cut off the bayonet lug; cleaned up the trigger assembly; the muzzle crown was a mess, had it repolished; installed a drop in recoil block; remounted it in an ATI synthetic monte-carlo stock, which is probably the heaviest of all choices, but I just like that look. I have a Tech Sight sitting here now waiting to be installed. If I have to bug out with only one rifle, this will be it.
 
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My cousin has one as his only rifle, I am certain it's just in case of a SHTF scenario. I am trying to get him to upgrade to a 400$ norinco m14 clone, but he's happy enough with the sks. He is in the north and there have been several issues with it jamming on him, but I suspect it's the lube in cold weather, not the gun.
 
I have a Russian, an Albanian, A Yugo M59, and a blade bayo Chinese. I like them all! Fun to shoot.

I have an M44 and an M38 Mosin too but the SKS get shot more.
 
Guys, please check out the Sks forums and stuff with info around the net. You are selling yourself short with factory mags. I keep seeing it mentioned here about problems with other than stock mags. There are 2 brands you can get that work flawlessly all the time. Those you heard about are gone now, some may pop up at gun shows etc. The Tapco mags and the D&C engineering work awesome. Myself and many others have put lots of rounds through these with no problems. I don't want anyone to miss out because of an old myth. Those old ones were awful . Find out some info on the new ones before you make up your mind on em.
 
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Im gonna buy me a tapco 20 rounder, and check it out. I just didnt want to mod it to take em.......If no mods, and they work like I hear they do, great! If not, im good with what I got. The monte carlo stock on mine has a good cheek weld. I still wanna get me some cool stuff for it that wont be legal soon if...well, you know.:rolleyes: Even if its just to store away.

I should say that this ones purpose is just a fun gun, that I know will work when I need it. I have access to a few m14s and ARs at my dads, along with various handguns, and shotguns. I have this SKS, my 870, soon a colt 1911(on layaway, 1 week till I pick it up:D) and a ruger 10/22 at my house.

I will be buying a FAL, AK, and an AR before february regardless of law changes.:thumbup:
 
Jake, I know with the Tapco stocks ya don't have to mod. I'm not sure which brand you have, so... But the mod to the wood stock is like 2 mm of wood removed. BTW, Thanks for giving it a shot. You should have no problems at all with the tapco. I would love a FAL!
 
Yeah The monte carlo stock on it wont get a mod, but I want one of the T6 stock compliance setups, they come with a mag. Cant wait to see how they work!!!

If flawless, Im gonna leave all the stuff on it, and buy me another to put back in the monte carlo stock..

Thanks bro.....My father is a retired sheriff, and loves his guns, as do I.
 
I hope to be getting a Tapco soon. When funds are better. I'll be using the tapco 20 rd. mags then. I wouldn't have this D&C if it wasn't gifted to me. In fact an old Ranger buddy gave it and the SKS Paratrooper to me when they came to camp out for a week with us. But anyway, the D&C mags are awesome, but like $90, but no mods to factory stock or rifle. Just take the factory 10 rd. out.
 
I have some of the old steel 30 rounders that bung up if they're loaded to capacity, but keeping 20 rounds in them keeps them happy and working without a single problem. The long 30 round mag body also works as an impromptu mono pod. They came with the gun when I traded an old Ruger .38 for my Chinese SKS. They're all American parts, just older spec.
 
I like the stock mag. You can get prone and stay low. I put a UTG scout mount on mine with a cheapo NCstar scout scope, and it shoots 2" at 100. I love this rifle. Bought it for 199.00, grabbed a few chest pouches, scouted it, and you can still use the irons and the bayonet.

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