Black Blade
3rd July 2010, 10:07 PM
Samozaryadniy Karabin sistemi Simonova (SKS)
The Soviets rather quickly phased the SKS carbine out of first-line service, replacing it with the AK-47, but it remained in second-line service for decades afterwards. It remains a ceremonial arm today. It was widely exported and produced by the former Eastern Bloc nations, as well as China, where it was designated the "Type 56", East Germany as the "Karabiner S" and in North Korea as the "Type 63". It is today popular on the civilian surplus market in many countries. The SKS was one of the first weapons chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 round later used in the AK-47 and RPK.
Contrary to popular belief, the SKS is a carbine and not a modern assault rifle, because it does not meet all the criteria for such a weapon. The basic design lacks both selective fire capability, and a detachable magazine. Some selective-fire variants were produced in the PRC, and many SKS's have been modified in various ways to accept detachable magazines; however, the basic design of the SKS is semi-automatic and fixed-magazine in nature.
The SKS is popular on the civilian surplus market, especially in the United States and Canada. Because of their historic and novel nature, Russian and European SKS rifles are classified by the BATF as "Curio & Relic" items under US law, allowing them to be sold with features that might otherwise be restricted. Chinese manufactured rifles, even the rare early "Sino-Soviet" examples, are not so classified.
I test fired some SKS carbines. It was overcast, 65F and windy (about 20 mph westerly winds). One Chinese SKS with a wood stock and a scope mounted on the reciever cover. Also one Chinese with a polymer stock and a Russian with a polymer stock.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS2a.jpg
The Chinese SKS is a recent acquisition and my first time on the range with this weapon. I pre-loaded seven duck-bill magazines with 123 gr. Barnaul rounds.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS-Target1a.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS-Target2a.jpg
One round seems to have missed to the left.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS-Target3a.jpg
At 100 yards the shots initially hit a little left of center. After adjusting the scope the shots hit just right of center but all within the kill zone.
I also took some time to plink with a couple of the other SKSs earlier this afternoon on the short range.
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/86c2628199aad2b21c935095a8e29758c726ba80.pjpg
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/eb616f12a123193e9e1828f996628a14210a7c03.pjpg
I do need to use a little "Loctite" on the Red Dot mounts but otherwise they're nice little shooters. Another problem with these aftermarket conversions is that you really need three arms to swap out mags quickly. All in all they are fun guns to shoot. I bought and sold several of these over the years but I'm down to maybe four now and may have to keep an eye out for any strays looking for a home. It depends on whether I find any at a good price but they aren't getting any cheaper and the Chinese and Russians are no longer imported (thanks a lot Bill Clinton you asshole). There are a few Yugoslavs around and available from time to time.
- Black Blade
The Soviets rather quickly phased the SKS carbine out of first-line service, replacing it with the AK-47, but it remained in second-line service for decades afterwards. It remains a ceremonial arm today. It was widely exported and produced by the former Eastern Bloc nations, as well as China, where it was designated the "Type 56", East Germany as the "Karabiner S" and in North Korea as the "Type 63". It is today popular on the civilian surplus market in many countries. The SKS was one of the first weapons chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 round later used in the AK-47 and RPK.
Contrary to popular belief, the SKS is a carbine and not a modern assault rifle, because it does not meet all the criteria for such a weapon. The basic design lacks both selective fire capability, and a detachable magazine. Some selective-fire variants were produced in the PRC, and many SKS's have been modified in various ways to accept detachable magazines; however, the basic design of the SKS is semi-automatic and fixed-magazine in nature.
The SKS is popular on the civilian surplus market, especially in the United States and Canada. Because of their historic and novel nature, Russian and European SKS rifles are classified by the BATF as "Curio & Relic" items under US law, allowing them to be sold with features that might otherwise be restricted. Chinese manufactured rifles, even the rare early "Sino-Soviet" examples, are not so classified.
I test fired some SKS carbines. It was overcast, 65F and windy (about 20 mph westerly winds). One Chinese SKS with a wood stock and a scope mounted on the reciever cover. Also one Chinese with a polymer stock and a Russian with a polymer stock.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS2a.jpg
The Chinese SKS is a recent acquisition and my first time on the range with this weapon. I pre-loaded seven duck-bill magazines with 123 gr. Barnaul rounds.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS-Target1a.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS-Target2a.jpg
One round seems to have missed to the left.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/SKS-Target3a.jpg
At 100 yards the shots initially hit a little left of center. After adjusting the scope the shots hit just right of center but all within the kill zone.
I also took some time to plink with a couple of the other SKSs earlier this afternoon on the short range.
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/86c2628199aad2b21c935095a8e29758c726ba80.pjpg
http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/eb616f12a123193e9e1828f996628a14210a7c03.pjpg
I do need to use a little "Loctite" on the Red Dot mounts but otherwise they're nice little shooters. Another problem with these aftermarket conversions is that you really need three arms to swap out mags quickly. All in all they are fun guns to shoot. I bought and sold several of these over the years but I'm down to maybe four now and may have to keep an eye out for any strays looking for a home. It depends on whether I find any at a good price but they aren't getting any cheaper and the Chinese and Russians are no longer imported (thanks a lot Bill Clinton you asshole). There are a few Yugoslavs around and available from time to time.
- Black Blade