SKS first timer here

Amarksman · 03-17-2008, 06:38 PM

First of all, i want to say what a great forum this is! I have picked up so many ideas and so much info here, I can barely sleep at night!

Anyways, I just picked up my first Russian SKS. It came with a 20 and 30 round magazine. The original 10round is on the gun still. The guy I bought it from said he never put them on, because they didnt fit into the stock. He said I could file the wood to make it fit. Has anyone done this, or am I headed in the wrong direction? I am thinking if I want high capacity, I should probably get something else, but having the mags makes me want to be able to use them. Could they just be bad mags? Hope someone here knows.

Sean

PONTIACDM · 03-17-2008, 06:46 PM

A lot of sks after market mags are like that. The odds are they will jam. The best ones I have seen are new and made by Tapco. I personally have 20 and 30 round mags for mine but I don't use them. I keep my sks in factory condition. If I were you I wouldn't sand on the stock to make it fit. Russians are supposed to be the best . Therefore they bring the most money from what I've seen. I would buy a synthetic stock to put on it to use your mags. That way you can keep all the original stuff in good condition and put it back on if you ever want to sell it. That way you can still get top dollar out of it. Hope this helps.

squirrelbaster · 03-17-2008, 06:48 PM

some fileing is often needed to get hicap mags into an sks stock, however i personaly dont think its worth it, i like the original fixxed mag, i think you on the right track when you said to go with somthing else if you want hi-cap. i tryed several tapco hi cap mags on mine and they seem to couse jamming so i put the original back and have had zero probs since. however if you do decide to do the fileing remember to go slow! just take a bit off at a time, you can always take off more wood but its a lot harder to put the wood back!

marion57 · 03-17-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PONTIACDM

A lot of sks after market mags are like that. The odds are they will jam. The best ones I have seen are new and made by Tapco. I personally have 20 and 30 round mags for mine but I don't use them. I keep my sks in factory condition. If I were you I wouldn't sand on the stock to make it fit. Russians are supposed to be the best . Therefore they bring the most money from what I've seen. I would buy a synthetic stock to put on it to use your mags. That way you can keep all the original stuff in good condition and put it back on if you ever want to sell it. That way you can still get top dollar out of it. Hope this helps.

welcome to G&G and I cant add anything to what the two gentlemen have told you..+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrelbaster

some fileing is often needed to get hicap mags into an sks stock, however i personaly dont think its worth it, i like the original fixxed mag, i think you on the right track when you said to go with somthing else if you want hi-cap. i tryed several tapco hi cap mags on mine and they seem to couse jamming so i put the original back and have had zero probs since. however if you do decide to do the fileing remember to go slow! just take a bit off at a time, you can always take off more wood but its a lot harder to put the wood back!

mosineer · 03-17-2008, 07:37 PM

Yep, welcome to G&G!! Glad you found us and hope you enjoy the forums. I concur with all of the above. If you just have to try the Hi-Caps, get you one of the after market stocks and do not mess up the original. Good folks and good info here...Enjoy!!

*****************************************************
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing

Sins-of-Mosin · 03-17-2008, 08:07 PM

I remember when I got my SKS, it was just drenched in that cosmo stuff. I'm wondering if yours came that way or was it pretty clean? The SKS is a great, solid made, rifle. I didn't bother with other mags, I just got stripper clips and just slide more rounds in pretty quick. Besides, I think its pretty slick to see 10-20 clips full of ammo sitting in a nice order on your shooting bench.

Amarksman · 03-17-2008, 08:08 PM

Thanks for your responses! I like the idea of using the different stock rather than modifying the original. It was mentioned that the Russian expects a higher price tag. What would be a cheaper way to go? What are the differences of the different origins? I was thinking maybe I would just buy another to modify (different stock, ect.) that was cheaper. I really like one I have, and have been toying with the idea of maybe starting a collection. I really like how versatile of a gun it is.

Amarksman · 03-17-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sins-of-Mosin

I remember when I got my SKS, it was just drenched in that cosmo stuff. I'm wondering if yours came that way or was it pretty clean? The SKS is a great, solid made, rifle. I didn't bother with other mags, I just got stripper clips and just slide more rounds in pretty quick. Besides, I think its pretty slick to see 10-20 clips full of ammo sitting in a nice order on your shooting bench.

I havent seen any comsoline, But I bought it from a friend. It seems to be pretty clean. I do agree with you on the stripper clips! This was a package deal for me that included 20 stripper clips, about 300 rounds, scope, bipod, and ammo can. I paid $250 for everything, whiched seemed like a good deal, and he ended up throwing in an M44, padded hard case, and about 50 or so rounds for it, all for an extra $100. What a great way for me to make my entry in to the world of these great rifles!

firebird45331 · 03-17-2008, 09:53 PM

I have a russian sks. The stock was in farely good shape. I'm not one to have a gun and not shoot it so I ordered a folding stock. I use a tapco 20 round mag and it works perfectly. Here's a pic

kygunsmith · 03-17-2008, 10:58 PM

AMark, Relax and remove the bolt/carrier. Then turn the SKS over and pull the maglatch and note how the mag fastens at the front pivot and the latch. Tapco's will usually fit right in. Note or even pencil where you see inteference w the new one. Then chisel,sand, dremel the wood carefully out of the way.The Russian SKS is a fantastic weapon and probably the best at what it was designed for. But, 10 shots and a break to reload will keep shooting long after SKS's w 20-30 shots will overheat the action and erode their barrel, or burn up!

SwedeSteve · 03-17-2008, 11:22 PM

Sound advice given! Don't screw up that Russian, please! I saw a mint Russia today for close to $400! If you want hi-cap, look for a Chinese that was built to take a 30 rd mag!

firebird45331 · 03-18-2008, 05:48 AM

just because it has a hi cap mag means you have to empty it all at once.

texnmidwest · 03-18-2008, 07:37 AM

So, what is the point of a 30 rd mag if you ain't gonna sling da lead???

jmp8927 · 03-18-2008, 08:29 AM

I only shoot rapidly every once in a while. It just costs too much to do it a lot. Anyway, I only have high cap mags as mine didn't come with the original 10rd. The metal mags are more likely to give you problems. I recommend you buy Tapco 20rds if you're getting aftermarket mags. They are wider, so they probably won't fit in the wooden stock. If you want to spend a little more money, buy the Tapco T6 telescoping stock. It's very nice. You can see my set up in my avatar. It works GREAT.

criminalpoet · 03-20-2008, 07:27 PM

Well, the hi-cap duckbill mags can work to a certain point lol. The best thing to do would be to take your SKS down to a gunstore with a competent gunsmith on duty, buy your mag and have the gunsmith custom cut it right then and there for you. If you do not, it is going to be a pain in the arzz to put in and and even bigger pain in the arzz in the feeding catagory. But, even when you do have a 30 round mag cut to fit your exact gun you can only load it with 20-25 rounds before it changes the pitch of the bullet and will not feed properly.

If you love SKS's but want high capacity capabilities then you need to get one of these:

This is the Norinco pre ban (89 pre ban not to be confused with the M version) D-type SKS. This weapon was litterally made to use actual AK-47 magazines from the manufacturer. The one in the pic is 1 of mine and happens to be in prestine unfired condition still in the original cosmolin. From what I know, these riffles were only in production for around 7 months before the Regan administration did away with them during their pre ban. Im told that there are only 5000-7000 out there in the U.S and that not all of them are in the condition of mine. Some go caught up in customs and the bayonets were removed and other odds and ends were stripped off as well.

Look at the mag well:

03-17-2008, 06:38 PM	#1
Amarksman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: behind you Posts: 137	SKS first timer here First of all, i want to say what a great forum this is! I have picked up so many ideas and so much info here, I can barely sleep at night! Anyways, I just picked up my first Russian SKS. It came with a 20 and 30 round magazine. The original 10round is on the gun still. The guy I bought it from said he never put them on, because they didnt fit into the stock. He said I could file the wood to make it fit. Has anyone done this, or am I headed in the wrong direction? I am thinking if I want high capacity, I should probably get something else, but having the mags makes me want to be able to use them. Could they just be bad mags? Hope someone here knows. Sean

03-17-2008, 06:46 PM	#2
PONTIACDM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: OHIO Posts: 618	A lot of sks after market mags are like that. The odds are they will jam. The best ones I have seen are new and made by Tapco. I personally have 20 and 30 round mags for mine but I don't use them. I keep my sks in factory condition. If I were you I wouldn't sand on the stock to make it fit. Russians are supposed to be the best . Therefore they bring the most money from what I've seen. I would buy a synthetic stock to put on it to use your mags. That way you can keep all the original stuff in good condition and put it back on if you ever want to sell it. That way you can still get top dollar out of it. Hope this helps. Last edited by PONTIACDM; 03-17-2008 at 06:54 PM.

03-17-2008, 08:08 PM	#7
Amarksman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: behind you Posts: 137	another question Thanks for your responses! I like the idea of using the different stock rather than modifying the original. It was mentioned that the Russian expects a higher price tag. What would be a cheaper way to go? What are the differences of the different origins? I was thinking maybe I would just buy another to modify (different stock, ect.) that was cheaper. I really like one I have, and have been toying with the idea of maybe starting a collection. I really like how versatile of a gun it is.

03-17-2008, 11:22 PM	#11
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,347 Images: 1	Sound advice given! Don't screw up that Russian, please! I saw a mint Russia today for close to $400! If you want hi-cap, look for a Chinese that was built to take a 30 rd mag! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-18-2008, 07:37 AM	#13
texnmidwest Listen to yur Inner Hippo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 3,439	So, what is the point of a 30 rd mag if you ain't gonna sling da lead??? __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-17-2008, 06:48 PM	#3
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,266	some fileing is often needed to get hicap mags into an sks stock, however i personaly dont think its worth it, i like the original fixxed mag, i think you on the right track when you said to go with somthing else if you want hi-cap. i tryed several tapco hi cap mags on mine and they seem to couse jamming so i put the original back and have had zero probs since. however if you do decide to do the fileing remember to go slow! just take a bit off at a time, you can always take off more wood but its a lot harder to put the wood back!

03-17-2008, 07:37 PM	#5
mosineer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 1,299	Yep, welcome to G&G!! Glad you found us and hope you enjoy the forums. I concur with all of the above. If you just have to try the Hi-Caps, get you one of the after market stocks and do not mess up the original. Good folks and good info here...Enjoy!! *************************************************** All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing**

03-17-2008, 08:07 PM	#6
Sins-of-Mosin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: IL Posts: 194 Blog Entries: 3	I remember when I got my SKS, it was just drenched in that cosmo stuff. I'm wondering if yours came that way or was it pretty clean? The SKS is a great, solid made, rifle. I didn't bother with other mags, I just got stripper clips and just slide more rounds in pretty quick. Besides, I think its pretty slick to see 10-20 clips full of ammo sitting in a nice order on your shooting bench.

03-17-2008, 09:53 PM	#9
firebird45331 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 84	I have a russian sks. The stock was in farely good shape. I'm not one to have a gun and not shoot it so I ordered a folding stock. I use a tapco 20 round mag and it works perfectly. Here's a pic

03-17-2008, 10:58 PM	#10
kygunsmith Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 144	AMark, Relax and remove the bolt/carrier. Then turn the SKS over and pull the maglatch and note how the mag fastens at the front pivot and the latch. Tapco's will usually fit right in. Note or even pencil where you see inteference w the new one. Then chisel,sand, dremel the wood carefully out of the way.The Russian SKS is a fantastic weapon and probably the best at what it was designed for. But, 10 shots and a break to reload will keep shooting long after SKS's w 20-30 shots will overheat the action and erode their barrel, or burn up!

03-18-2008, 05:48 AM	#12
firebird45331 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 84	just because it has a hi cap mag means you have to empty it all at once.

03-18-2008, 08:29 AM	#14
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,141 Images: 17	I only shoot rapidly every once in a while. It just costs too much to do it a lot. Anyway, I only have high cap mags as mine didn't come with the original 10rd. The metal mags are more likely to give you problems. I recommend you buy Tapco 20rds if you're getting aftermarket mags. They are wider, so they probably won't fit in the wooden stock. If you want to spend a little more money, buy the Tapco T6 telescoping stock. It's very nice. You can see my set up in my avatar. It works GREAT. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-20-2008, 07:27 PM	#15
criminalpoet Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 11	Well, the hi-cap duckbill mags can work to a certain point lol. The best thing to do would be to take your SKS down to a gunstore with a competent gunsmith on duty, buy your mag and have the gunsmith custom cut it right then and there for you. If you do not, it is going to be a pain in the arzz to put in and and even bigger pain in the arzz in the feeding catagory. But, even when you do have a 30 round mag cut to fit your exact gun you can only load it with 20-25 rounds before it changes the pitch of the bullet and will not feed properly. If you love SKS's but want high capacity capabilities then you need to get one of these: This is the Norinco pre ban (89 pre ban not to be confused with the M version) D-type SKS. This weapon was litterally made to use actual AK-47 magazines from the manufacturer. The one in the pic is 1 of mine and happens to be in prestine unfired condition still in the original cosmolin. From what I know, these riffles were only in production for around 7 months before the Regan administration did away with them during their pre ban. Im told that there are only 5000-7000 out there in the U.S and that not all of them are in the condition of mine. Some go caught up in customs and the bayonets were removed and other odds and ends were stripped off as well. Look at the mag well: