So my Uncle gave me his never been fired SKS. This gun is in immaculate condition. Wood stock, bayonet, long distance sights etc.

I have no idea how to use this weapon. Before I take it to the range or ranch I need some serious reading material. Does anyone know some good links for new SKS owners?

I'm having extreme difficulty on figuring out how to release the bayonet. Any inputs?

Also, I release an extended range sight at the barrel and I don't know how to put it back in place.

And WTF is the metal button on the upper, on top, near the barrel, used for?

Thanks for your input and tell your Uncles to buy American.

http://www.victorinc.com/SKS-FAQ.html

and

http://www.sksboards.com/

That button is for the grenade launcher and sight flip up.

Just read all that stuff and it will all become clear.

on the bayonet, pull the handle towards the blade to release the catch and it should just swing out.

So now I understand that it is a "pre-ban". Am I going to get in trouble with the ATF if I take it to the gun range? What if I order accessories, such as a new stock and barrel?

There are 2 bans that are commonly confused. There is the "assault weapons" ban that has expired and thus is not relevant. And then there is the 922r ban that is still active and predate the Clinton assault weapons ban.

If your SKS has an extended sight on the front, it sounds like you have a Yugo SKS and it is not pre-922r ban. It is imported as a C&R gun, which means that you are not allowed to change anything on it for non-original parts (unless you change enough parts to make it a "US built rifle).

IF you change nothing on the SKS and use it in it's original configuration, then you are good to go.

IF you want to change out the stock for an aftermarket, then you would have to change out several other parts to make it compliant.

www.surplusrifle.com

Click on the SKS link.

Don't change anything on it; just shoot it. Most of the aftermarket parts and accessories are crap, and it is rare to get an aftermarket part that works correctly 100% of the time. Specifically, I am talking about the top cover scope mounts and, especially, the detachable and extended mags. They were designed to be used as a 10 round rifle, not an Ak-wannabe.

[This message has been edited by Log (edited 10/15/2010 12:32p).]

I've had great success with the tapco replacement stock and 20 round mags. However, if you remove the bayonet, you then have to start replacing parts to stay compliant.

I thought that law only applied to them before import. I'm pretty sure you can do whatever the hell you want to it as long as you don't turn it into an SBR or if you live in Kali.

All you need for that thing are some stripper clips and tons of ammo.

As soon as you start making changes to the gun, it is no longer a C&R. I've been told that it even includes the removal of the bayonet as a way to break the rule.

Chalk that up as another stupid gun law that needs to be repealed.

If you hate the bayonet and grenade launch/sight, don't mess around with taking them off. Sell it and buy a Russian/ Chinese etc one without those features.

I don't want to sell it because I've inherited it from my Uncle. My Dad gives me a hard time if I ask to use his rife....

I read that if I do remove the bayonet then it makes it a new gun, into a banned arm.

If I buy US parts and replace the soviet era parts with the US then it become a US arm and I can do whatever I please with it.

Or I can keep my mouth shut and not take it to gun ranges and do what I please...

How about you just leave it as-is and go shoot it. That way you won't have to worry about about a.) running afoul of convoluted firearms laws and b.) ruining what value it has by bubba'ing it.

alright log, you win.

agree with Log, I love my Yugo, and it is a great shooter. If you haven't taken it to the range, then make sure the botton on the front is well oiled as if it is stuck in the upright position it will not be a semi-auto and you will have to pull back the action every time you fire. Otherwise if it moves freely, just lock it in the down position and then forget about it. You will enjoy shooting this, and from what I understand don't even mess with trying to get a larger cap magazine as they work with some models(chinese), but sometimes reauire some extra fitting for other models.

Best advice...buy plenty of ammo and enjoy the heck out of it!!...then buy an AK and enjoy that with the same caliber.

This thread is worthless without abiding by Rule #1.

PICS!

+1 on shooting it first in it's current configuration to see if you like it first. Using stripper clips is plenty fast for reloading. Too many people want to start changing things before they even know if they dislike something to begin with.

If you do decide to modify it anyway, the law is actually pretty easy to follow (stupid law, but plenty easy to follow). I have a stock SKS and a bubba'd one (original stock was cracked, so I got it for next to nothing and bubba'd it). They are both fun to shoot. The tapco 20 round mags have functioned flawlessly in mine.

The law states that you have to swap enough foreign parts for USA made parts to make it legal. A gun can have no more than 10 imported parts. An SKS has either 14 or 15 parts, depending on country of origin, according to the ATF.
1. Receiver
2. Barrel
3. Bolt
4. Bolt carrier
5. Gas piston
6. Trigger housing
7. Trigger
8. Hammer
9. Sear
10. Disconnector (see below)
11. Stock
12. Handguard
13. Magazine body
14. Follower
15. Muzzle Attachment (Yugo SKS only)

A replacement stock will replace the stock and hand guard for 2 parts and a tapco magazine will replace the magazine body and follower for 2 more. If you have a chinese/russian/anything but a Yugo, you are good to go. If you have a Yugo, you would have to replace 1 more part, such as swapping the grenade launcher attachment for a USA made flash hider, or replacing the Gas piston for a USA made one.

You have to replace parts to make it compliant, not add parts.

If you indeed have a Yugo SKS, you should know that they are considered the Best-of-the-Best of SKS's. Anything you do to it will destroy its overall, and collector value.

Yes, collector value. They are not the most widely imported and they hold their value very well and will continue to appreciate.

Know that when you are shooting, anyone that knows anything about SKS's will immediately be aware that you have an excellent condition Yugo SKS.

Also be aware that the bore is likely not chromed...so only shoot new, or verified non-corresive ammo.

Oh, and rule #1 must be obeyed!

It's a Yugo.

I can tell because of the grenade launcher sights, the wood stain, and the "muzzle break".

I would really still like to replace the stock. I understand I'll lose value, but I really want a scope, tactical light, and laser on this thing.

I have no idea how to upload pictures. I'm still a newb to TexAgs.

Pics are easy. Just open a account with any of a number of free online photohosting sights like Photobucket. Upload the pic there, and then paste the link into your post.

Its your rifle, and God knows I have done a lot of stuff I wanted to (and sometimes wished later I hadnt) do to rifles I have owned...but just dont do anything you cant undo. No sanding or grinding!

Have fun with it! But keep in mind that if you like the rifle, you will one day value it more in its original condition. And go buy an AK...all that stuff you want to do will work a lot better on an AK.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Puryear Playboy +1

+2

noob

Got this from him a few days ago.

how get your a$$ to south texas and come help me shoot these things!

def. my rifle...

new question: is 7.62x39 accurate and deadly for a 200 lb hog from 100yards away?

Putting the after market stock on it will not hurt anything because you can always put the old stock back on if you are careful with the top gas tube hand guard. There is a pin that holds the old wood on. You might just get an after market gas tube and keep the other one seperate.

I've got my original stock in the safe. I got mine for $100(pre obama) because it had a broken safety so I could slay hogs with it. I don't care if it is bubba'd. The tapco stock allowed me to shorten and lighten up the gun. I highly doubt I'd ever resell the gun anyway. The magazines work fine with it, but I never bothered with other manufacture's magazines due to the horrible reputation.

PPlayboy is right about cleaning the thing though. You should do so after each use to ensure the crappy russian ammo doesn't ruin the gun.

7.26x39 is fine out to 100 yards. The SKS is fine to kill hogs at 100 as well, but you are not going to win any marksmanship awards with it, and mounting a scope is mostly useless unless you drill/tap a mount on the side of the receiver. The kind that mount on top of the cover will undoubtedly fail to hold 0. If you plan to go iron sites you will need the adjustment tool.

[This message has been edited by Signel (edited 10/20/2010 12:35p).]

Scopes on SKS's are sort of counter productive unless you drill the reciever. Dont do that. What you can do though is mount a red-dot. A wandering zero wont make that much difference with a red-dot at 100 yards and you can still kill stuff in the dark with it.

7.62 is good to 200 easy. I kill pigs at 300 with my RPK's. You just have to hit them, and hit them again.

You might as well enjoy another aspect of owning a Yugo and the Grenade Launching Spigot... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdhmSK-9QiY&feature=related

You can use most any NATO practice grenade. There is a guy on Ebay in Europe who sells actual Yugo practice grenades too. Make sure you use blanks!

The flip up grenade sight on your rifle shuts off the gas system, and is the rear sight for launching RG's. Look on the back...distance is marked in meters, one side for anti-tank rounds, the other anti-personnel rounds. Put the frontsight in the notch and on the target.

With some practice you can hit a hay bale at 200 yards.