Sks

[Hornblaster]

Anyone using SKS anymore to hunt with? And can someone steer me in the right direction of a quality bipod for one.

[ben hunting]

yeah i still use one, when it's raining all day. when someone want's to borrow a deer gun it's the one they get. can't help with a bipod. and someone will have to say it's a bad choice for deer, just go to my pics and you'll see a neck shot on a buck. it did plenty of damage.

[2speed]

I love the one I have , me and my son killed 3 deer with it this year...

[PickSix]

Mine has been good too. I kill deer with it every year....killed a 7 pt. Buck a few weeks ago during rifle season.

[reivertom]

Saying an SKS is a poor choice for deer is the same as saying that a 30/30 Winchester is a poor choice for deer. One hundred years of dead deer say otherwize.

[Hoosier5]

With the right ammo, the SKS is a fine Deer Rifle.

[duckslayer870]

Not a thing wrong with a SKS if the right ammo is used. and If you can refrain from pulling the trigger all ten times. With a little fixed four power scope they are pretty good, I have never seen one with what you would call a good trigger, most of them pull like crap, but look at what they are made for. Cabelas or brownells has bipods for them. I also believe that some one sells a sporterized stock for then giving them a better hunting rifle feel. Also, most of them are not noted for great accuracy. good luck finding your bipod

[Hoosier5]

I customized my SKS several years ago. First, I got rid of the "extra" hardware on the rifle, like lugs and the Bayonet. Then Ordered a Laminated wood stock from Midway, and then replaced the 10 shot magazine with a 5 shot magazine. I also replaced the rear sight with one of Williams SKS peep sights. The SKS shoots better now than ever!

[WSM Man]

I posted this yesterday with links, but it's missing today, so I'll just say:

You can get bipods, stocks, and all kind of accessories at Center Fire Systems or Parts4SKS online.

SKS"s are fine Deer Rifles with proper ammo.

[rock802]

try www.sksboards.com and www.surplusrifelforum.com there is a lot of info on there.

[lawmanbville353]

The bayonet works well as a monopod-seriously!!!

[ky_hunter72]

I see were everyone keeps saying that you need the right ammo to be a good deer rifle, what ammo would that be? My son just got one given to him by his grandfather and I know nothing about them.

[WSM Man]

There is alot of 7.62x39 surplus NATO/ARMY ammunition out there, and some boxed manufactured ammo too such as Wolf ammo. It is FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) and cannot be used legally for hunting. That is probably what most are refering to, it was what I was refering to.

You can buy ammunition for hunting at Wal-Mart or most any gun store that is not FMJ, Remington, Federal and others make ammunition for the 7.62x39 which is acceptable.

The really cheap 7.62x39 ammo is usually FMJ, ok to plink with, but not hunt.

[reivertom]

There used to be deals on the HP cheap stuff. I got some years ago for $79.00 per 1000. I don't know if it is any good for hunting large game, but it has to be better than the FMJ. Any input on the HP?

[Manzanita]

Wolf does make HP and SP ammo. Usually it's about the same price as the FMJ. Others I've seen include Brown Bear and Silver Bear. There are more but the price starts going up. It's all cheaper than the Rem/Win stuff, though.

One thing about the Remington or Winchester: Supposedly this ammo has softer primers than the milsurp types. The SKS uses a floating firing pin and I've read in several places some cautions about using ammo with relatively soft primers. That said, I've shot that ammo in an SKS without any problem. Just be aware and remember the Four Rules.

About the floating firing pin: Make extra sure the bolt is really clean. Shake the bolt and make sure you hear the firing pin rattling back and forth and it doesn't stick. If your bolt is sticky you could end up with a magazine emptying full auto as soon as you let the bolt go on a live round.

And... you should make sure your SKS has "positive sear engagement". Explanation here (http://www.yooperj.com/SKS-25.htm). Mine had a "negative" sear when I got it. Some careful work with files and superfine sandpaper cured it.

Oh, and for cryin' out loud, don't mount a scope on the receiver dust cover. They ain't no good.

[mrdux]

Wolf makes a 152 grain soft point round in 7.62x39. It won't feed as well thru the large capacity mags as the FMJ but works fine thru the 10 round box mag. It would work best for hunting ammo.

[Hoosier5]

I see were everyone keeps saying that you need the right ammo to be a good deer rifle, what ammo would that be? My son just got one given to him by his grandfather and I know nothing about them.

Buy "good ammo" you want to use non-corrosive shells with the right bullet type. The Russian H.P. & Soft Point ammo, has steel bullets covered by a thin layer of copper. Personally I use Brass cases and reload using better quality bullets like Hornady's 123 grain SP .310" bullets made for the SKS.

[Lost_in_the_woods]

watch out on your ammo at wal mart. i bought some only to find that it was really fmj. think it says metal cased but from what i have gathered that is the same thing

[ky_hunter72]

Thanks for all the tips guys. What about cleaning the packing "grease/oil" that they are boxed in, what's good for getting all that stuff off.

[Manzanita]

That lovely stuff is cosmoline. Just do a Google search on cosmoline removal.

I've cleaned it off three guns now. The first one was an SKS. The stock was badly dented and the finish was coming off so I gave it the dishwasher treatment... pots and pans setting... and refinished it with Tung Oil. Scrubbed the metal parts with a brush and solvent.

The second one involved complete disassembly of a Mosin Nagant M91/30, tedious application of a heat lamp to the stock with lots of cleaning of the cosmo at it leached to the surface, and scrubbing of the metal parts.

The third one was much easier. It was a Swedish Mauser that was covered in it. You'd think it was clean and after a hot day at the range your clothes would be stained with the stuff that came to the surface of the stock. I put the stock in a black trash bag and left it out in direct sunlight all day... maybe a few days, and thoroughly cleaned it. Followed that with some Watco restorer and it was good.

For the metal parts: Once completely disassembled, I either soaked or poured boiling water repeatedly over the parts until they were completely cleaned. Immediately followed that with a good soaking in CLP Breakfree. Wiped the parts off, reassembled, and it's like brand new.

For an SKS, you'll want to disassemble the bolt and make sure you clean it good. I believe some good bolt disassembly/reassembly instructions will be found on www.surplusrifle.com (http://www.surplusrifle.com). It's very important not to reassemble the bolt with the firing pin inserted upside down. Very important.

[Tom Threetoes]

Where are you guys finding the Wolf ammo? Everyplace I've looked is out of stock! The only thing I can find is the corrosive stuff. Tom

[Hoosier5]

Where are you guys finding the Wolf ammo? Everyplace I've looked is out of stock! The only thing I can find is the corrosive stuff. Tom

If you live near Evansville; you might find some good 7.62 X 39 m/m ammo at Rajo's on West Franklin St.

[Kcoyboy]

Dont know why would want a bipod for deer? They are fun for blasting off a table at a shooting club other than that useless. The SKS is the poor mans AK. But it shoots better than an AK!! Most stock skss look like s___!! but they shoot good under adverse conditions as they were meant for in the jungles of Vietnam. FMJ bullets are useless and illegal for deer get soft tip ammo. I reload and 30 cal bullets shoot pretty good even though the sks is 311 diameter. Ive got 37 round clips which are a blast period for target shooting! I hear its a great deer rifle with the right loads and if you reload can make some really good ones!! I have 2 SKs rifles and love both. Almost wore out my Paratrooper 16 inch have 5000 rounds thru it. It still shoots good. Oh yea most trigger pulls are bad period and long. Had a guy work on mine and its about 3lbs and great! Good luck as they will probably ban them too. I hear a lot of cops have been killed by them. Good luck!! KC

[Kcoyboy]

I will positively disagree with the gentleman that said dont use a scope on a receiver dust cover. Some are good and tight some are not. If you can pull back and forth and it moves its a bad mount. Mine is a Polytech mount with external screws and its tight period !! Obviously you are limited on scopes! they have to be compact period! I got an old Leupold on mine 2 to 7 compact. Good luck its a good rifle period!!

[Kcoyboy]

Cosmo is easily removed by using a lot of wd40!! An air hose also helps with the removal . Spray generously then blow off with compressed air hose. It really works!!