Sights

Fedtia · 03-04-2008, 01:37 PM

OK, I know this statement might start some $^&#, but here goes!
Clearly, the SKS which I dearly love is no tack driver and putting a huge sniper style scope on my baby is not the best use of cash.
So...that said...anybody have an opinion on red dot and/or HOLO sights for the SKS? I will confess and say I love the L@@K of the HOLO sight (I spent $9.99 on a HOLO shape red dot sight made for airsoft guns to find out. It's REAL, but not gonna take the recoil) on my Tapco T6 stock. But while it looks cool, I hesitate to drop a C note plus on something that might be a waste of time. I would appreciate any advice you guys (and gals!) might have on this. Thanks!

P.S. Still working on the palm shelf! Stay tuned!

jmp8927 · 03-04-2008, 01:57 PM

My opinion is that the tapco gas tube cover isn't secure enough to mount optics on. No I don't have evidence to back that up; it's completely based on the fact that I can move my gas tube cover with my bare hands. I figure if I can do that, the recoil will certainly move it. It may work for a rough estimate of where the bullet will go, but I don't see how it could possibly be accurate every time. If I were to go with optics, I would have a side rail mounted.

Zephri · 03-04-2008, 02:08 PM

If you don't mind drilling and tapping your gun you could get one of these
MOLOT SKS Original Rail with Rivets - Kalinka Optics Warehouse®
I have one mounted on my sks and it's Very solid. It can take a variety of optics like the posp scopes and kobra red dots. you can also get one of these to mount any optic you want on it, and you can also remove the side mount (not the rail) to go back to iron sights if you want too.

Fedtia · 03-04-2008, 02:09 PM

I have to agree about the gas tube mount. I have a UTG 3rd Gen Tri-rail system/reciever cover (also from Tapco). Gives me 3 picatinny rails behind the ejection port area. A real scope saver if you have compact optics, by the way.

It seems very secure.
Thoughts??

jmp8927 · 03-04-2008, 03:22 PM

This one?

GlockMeister · 03-04-2008, 03:57 PM

You can go with the one above and along with it get an SKS recoil buffer. It still isn't the best, but it works. There are also different styles in the receiver cover mounts. I went with the Barska one, www.BARSKA.com
and the weaver rail is removable with a screw at each end. What I'm also going to try to do is to remove those screws and in between the bottom of the weaver rail and top of the receiver cover, where it mounts, to use a rubber washer on each end to help absorb some of the shock. If it doesn't help, then it doesn't help, I just take them out. But the way I figure it, it can't hurt anything to try...

jmp8927 · 03-04-2008, 04:46 PM

I have a tri rail like I pictured above and I suggest you forget it if you're considering it. You can't use your iron sights with it, and you lose zero every time you clean it. It may not be knocked off much, but taking it apart multiple times will ruin zero. Any scope mount attached to the receiver cover will be that way. That's why I suggest something that simply won't move: i.e. a side mount to the receiver itself. It's costly, but it's the only thing I've seen that I would put on my SKS if I were determined to go with a scope. You can get them with a picatinny rail on top rather than just rings, so you could still put a red dot or holosight.

GlockMeister · 03-04-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmp8927

I have a tri rail like I pictured above and I suggest you forget it if you're considering it. You can't use your iron sights with it, and you lose zero every time you clean it. It may not be knocked off much, but taking it apart multiple times will ruin zero. Any scope mount attached to the receiver cover will be that way. That's why I suggest something that simply won't move: i.e. a side mount to the receiver itself. It's costly, but it's the only thing I've seen that I would put on my SKS if I were determined to go with a scope. You can get them with a picatinny rail on top rather than just rings, so you could still put a red dot or holosight.

That's why I went with the Barska model. You can still use the irons with it.

ArkansasHunter · 03-04-2008, 05:42 PM

How much clearence is under the SKS receiver cover ? The reason I''m asking is, if there's room could you add some steel under the cover to beef up the cover.
What I mean is some kind of certain size of flat bar stock running from end to end of the cover (under the cover) thats drilled & tapped for the scope mount screws to go through, even though you might have to buy longer bolts to go though the extra steel thats beefing up the receiver cover. Would this work ?
Is this possible ?

Fedtia · 03-04-2008, 06:06 PM

I like that Barska mount GlockMeister. I bet the rubber washers may indeed absorb some of the shock. Like you said, it never hurts to try. That IS the one JMP. Throwing the zero off every time I take it apart may be a bit of a pain though! Didn't think about that. Hunter, I'm not sure if there is enough space under there or not. The curve would cost some space loss, but it is a good thought. It would probably work. Would the loss of zero still occur since you still remove the cover for cleaning? I'm thinking so. Still worth looking at.

C&RFan · 03-04-2008, 06:34 PM

Best way to mount a scope is on the rail, I have a reciever cover mount and I like it but I dont take my gun down all the way to clean it all the time because I lose zero.

jmp8927 · 03-04-2008, 06:38 PM

lol yeah I found out because I have a mount exactly like that. I should have spent $20 more and got the higher quality tri-mount that allows use if the irons. It's a cheap way for a scope. While it's in place, it's solid. But you have to kill zero to get it back off. Some people do well with the scout mount, but you'll have to buy a more solid gas tube to get it where it won't move. Another reason I don't like scout mount is it adds weight to the end of your rifle. The SKS is heavy enough as is without adding more to hold up on the end. A scope on the back actually sorta helps balance it somewhat...

C&RFan · 03-04-2008, 07:48 PM

Heres some pics of my Yugo

mitch_mckee · 03-04-2008, 07:52 PM

I don't like the mounts that go on the receiver covers.

C&RFan · 03-04-2008, 08:07 PM

Not a big fan of it either, Im going to tap the receiver eventually. Until then its accurate enough to kill Hogs and people if need be.

jmp8927 · 03-04-2008, 08:25 PM

Yeah it should be accurate enough to do what it's designed to do.

res45 · 03-17-2008, 10:09 AM

Choate mount rock solid. I tossed the Chinese scope in the photo,crosshairs were to fat and the lens were to concaved. I went with a Bushnell 3 x 9 x 32 groups shrank about half of what they were from the posted target to an inch or less.

Cyrano · 03-17-2008, 10:29 AM

Just don't get the cover with the single rail on top that comes with an NcStar scope and the see-through sight rings you can find on eBay and gunbroker.com. They come deliberately manufactured with the front 'arms' too long and requiring filing to fit your rifle. Take off even a fraction too much steel, you are in the deep stuff. I measured my standard receiver cover 3 ways to Sunday and filed and filed and filed and still ended up with an improper fit even though the measurements say it should be okay. Combination of bad designing and inexperience on my part, but it still stinks to spend money and not get the result you want.

Get the 3 rail with the setscrews that press on the sides of the receiver instead, because the ones I've seen require no filing. They just go on to replace the existing cover. My eyes are such I need a scope now. That NcStar Chinese scope is not bad, and the rings are great because you can still use the iron sights if you have a mind to without dismounting the scope. I find the loss of zero annoying but not fatal, and I don't mind re-zeroing. (Hey, it still goes bang, right?) I'm not after tack-driver accuracy, just something I can live with for fun shooting, but that's me.

03-04-2008, 01:37 PM	#1
Fedtia Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 17	Sights OK, I know this statement might start some $^&#, but here goes! Clearly, the SKS which I dearly love is no tack driver and putting a huge sniper style scope on my baby is not the best use of cash. So...that said...anybody have an opinion on red dot and/or HOLO sights for the SKS? I will confess and say I love the L@@K of the HOLO sight (I spent $9.99 on a HOLO shape red dot sight made for airsoft guns to find out. It's REAL, but not gonna take the recoil) on my Tapco T6 stock. But while it looks cool, I hesitate to drop a C note plus on something that might be a waste of time. I would appreciate any advice you guys (and gals!) might have on this. Thanks! P.S. Still working on the palm shelf! Stay tuned!

03-04-2008, 01:57 PM	#2
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,025	My opinion is that the tapco gas tube cover isn't secure enough to mount optics on. No I don't have evidence to back that up; it's completely based on the fact that I can move my gas tube cover with my bare hands. I figure if I can do that, the recoil will certainly move it. It may work for a rough estimate of where the bullet will go, but I don't see how it could possibly be accurate every time. If I were to go with optics, I would have a side rail mounted. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-04-2008, 02:08 PM	#3
Zephri Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN. "The city where nothing happens." Posts: 931	If you don't mind drilling and tapping your gun you could get one of these MOLOT SKS Original Rail with Rivets - Kalinka Optics Warehouse® I have one mounted on my sks and it's Very solid. It can take a variety of optics like the posp scopes and kobra red dots. you can also get one of these to mount any optic you want on it, and you can also remove the side mount (not the rail) to go back to iron sights if you want too. __________________ "All rifles need a sharp pointy object on the end!" http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/zephri/

03-04-2008, 03:22 PM	#5
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,025	This one? __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-04-2008, 03:57 PM	#6
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 4,273	You can go with the one above and along with it get an SKS recoil buffer. It still isn't the best, but it works. There are also different styles in the receiver cover mounts. I went with the Barska one, www.BARSKA.com and the weaver rail is removable with a screw at each end. What I'm also going to try to do is to remove those screws and in between the bottom of the weaver rail and top of the receiver cover, where it mounts, to use a rubber washer on each end to help absorb some of the shock. If it doesn't help, then it doesn't help, I just take them out. But the way I figure it, it can't hurt anything to try... __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

03-04-2008, 02:09 PM	#4
Fedtia Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 17	I have to agree about the gas tube mount. I have a UTG 3rd Gen Tri-rail system/reciever cover (also from Tapco). Gives me 3 picatinny rails behind the ejection port area. A real scope saver if you have compact optics, by the way. It seems very secure. Thoughts??

03-04-2008, 04:46 PM	#7
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,025	I have a tri rail like I pictured above and I suggest you forget it if you're considering it. You can't use your iron sights with it, and you lose zero every time you clean it. It may not be knocked off much, but taking it apart multiple times will ruin zero. Any scope mount attached to the receiver cover will be that way. That's why I suggest something that simply won't move: i.e. a side mount to the receiver itself. It's costly, but it's the only thing I've seen that I would put on my SKS if I were determined to go with a scope. You can get them with a picatinny rail on top rather than just rings, so you could still put a red dot or holosight. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-04-2008, 05:42 PM	#9
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,151	How much clearence is under the SKS receiver cover ? The reason I''m asking is, if there's room could you add some steel under the cover to beef up the cover. What I mean is some kind of certain size of flat bar stock running from end to end of the cover (under the cover) thats drilled & tapped for the scope mount screws to go through, even though you might have to buy longer bolts to go though the extra steel thats beefing up the receiver cover. Would this work ? Is this possible ?

03-04-2008, 06:06 PM	#10
Fedtia Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 17	I like that Barska mount GlockMeister. I bet the rubber washers may indeed absorb some of the shock. Like you said, it never hurts to try. That IS the one JMP. Throwing the zero off every time I take it apart may be a bit of a pain though! Didn't think about that. Hunter, I'm not sure if there is enough space under there or not. The curve would cost some space loss, but it is a good thought. It would probably work. Would the loss of zero still occur since you still remove the cover for cleaning? I'm thinking so. Still worth looking at.

03-04-2008, 06:34 PM	#11
C&RFan Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23	Best way to mount a scope is on the rail, I have a reciever cover mount and I like it but I dont take my gun down all the way to clean it all the time because I lose zero.

03-04-2008, 06:38 PM	#12
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,025	lol yeah I found out because I have a mount exactly like that. I should have spent $20 more and got the higher quality tri-mount that allows use if the irons. It's a cheap way for a scope. While it's in place, it's solid. But you have to kill zero to get it back off. Some people do well with the scout mount, but you'll have to buy a more solid gas tube to get it where it won't move. Another reason I don't like scout mount is it adds weight to the end of your rifle. The SKS is heavy enough as is without adding more to hold up on the end. A scope on the back actually sorta helps balance it somewhat... __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-04-2008, 07:48 PM	#13
C&RFan Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23	Heres some pics of my Yugo

03-04-2008, 07:52 PM	#14
mitch_mckee Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,086	I don't like the mounts that go on the receiver covers.

03-04-2008, 08:07 PM	#15
C&RFan Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23	Not a big fan of it either, Im going to tap the receiver eventually. Until then its accurate enough to kill Hogs and people if need be.

03-04-2008, 08:25 PM	#16
jmp8927 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 1,025	Yeah it should be accurate enough to do what it's designed to do. __________________ Doing the unexpected makes the unexpected the expected and thus the expected becomes the unexpected.

03-17-2008, 10:09 AM	#17
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 223	Choate mount rock solid. I tossed the Chinese scope in the photo,crosshairs were to fat and the lens were to concaved. I went with a Bushnell 3 x 9 x 32 groups shrank about half of what they were from the posted target to an inch or less. Last edited by res45; 03-17-2008 at 10:15 AM.

03-17-2008, 10:29 AM	#18
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 1,603	Just don't get the cover with the single rail on top that comes with an NcStar scope and the see-through sight rings you can find on eBay and gunbroker.com. They come deliberately manufactured with the front 'arms' too long and requiring filing to fit your rifle. Take off even a fraction too much steel, you are in the deep stuff. I measured my standard receiver cover 3 ways to Sunday and filed and filed and filed and still ended up with an improper fit even though the measurements say it should be okay. Combination of bad designing and inexperience on my part, but it still stinks to spend money and not get the result you want. Get the 3 rail with the setscrews that press on the sides of the receiver instead, because the ones I've seen require no filing. They just go on to replace the existing cover. My eyes are such I need a scope now. That NcStar Chinese scope is not bad, and the rings are great because you can still use the iron sights if you have a mind to without dismounting the scope. I find the loss of zero annoying but not fatal, and I don't mind re-zeroing. (Hey, it still goes bang, right?) I'm not after tack-driver accuracy, just something I can live with for fun shooting, but that's me.

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