Rebarrel an SKS?

Isuzu · 09-29-2009, 04:43 AM

How feasible would it be to rebarrel an SKS to 5.56X39 or 9X39? Just out of curiosity, not like I'd desecrate a fine piece of Communist machinery....oh, crap...now I'm not going to be able to sleep.....

Dragunov · 09-29-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isuzu

How feasible would it be to rebarrel an SKS to 5.56X39 or 9X39? Just out of curiosity, not like I'd desecrate a fine piece of Communist machinery....oh, crap...now I'm not going to be able to sleep.....

Uhh..... Well.... You mus mean 5.45X39. My question would be "why?".
Never heard of 9X39. It would have the ballistics of a rock.

If you want to re-barrel an SKS the most logical choice (Which I myself am considering) would be 6.5 Grendel. No need to change a magazine as Grendel is 6.5X39. ten rounds will fit in a standard SKS mag.
Chamber will either need sleeved or reamed a little and not alot else.
6.5 has better range and ballistics than a 7.62X39. However the 7.62X39 is THE ideal caliber for the SKS and unless you have several and are willing to take the risk in converting one, You're better off with the 7.62X39 chambering.

jmp8927 · 09-29-2009, 09:07 PM

5.45x39 would be very interesting indeed, but pricey. You'd have to have a special barrel made just for that. Plus it's REALLY annoying to try and remove everything from a SKS barrel.

I didn't know the 6.5 Grendal was a x39. That means it's right smack dab between the 5.45 and 7.62.

Isuzu · 09-30-2009, 12:52 AM

Yep, I meant the 5.45, and I believe the 9X39 was/is intended for suppressed use as a sniper. How different ballistically is the Grendel from the 6.8 SPC? And to everything else, it seems like this would end up like all my other ideas, in the stack of "when I win the lottery" ideas. Oh, well. Thanks.

jmp8927 · 09-30-2009, 11:00 AM

It might work. I'm not sure. The mag well would have to be modified quite a bit. According to specs, the 6.8 is about 1mm longer over all than the 5.56x45. I just now tried feeding 5.56x45 into my SKS and they're scraping both ends of the mag well and not really working. They also aren't stacking right as the casings are significantly different shaped. The 6.5 is 0.1mm longer than the 5.56 so you might even have to do some modding of the mag well with that, but not as much. I think the 6.5 is the best choice in this case. However, it would cost an arm, a leg, and your firstborn to shoot the thing.

gandog56 · 10-04-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmp8927

I just now tried feeding 5.56x45 into my SKS and they're scraping both ends of the mag well and not really working. They also aren't stacking right as the casings are significantly different shaped. The 6.5 is 0.1mm longer than the 5.56 so you might even have to do some modding of the mag well with that, but not as much. I think the 6.5 is the best choice in this case. However, it would cost an arm, a leg, and your firstborn to shoot the thing.

I wonder if only a different shaped follower would be needed? You could always shorten the OAL a littler bit with a set of dies.

jmp8927 · 10-04-2009, 09:39 PM

^For a 6.5 I think the same follower will work. With a 5.56 or 6.8, a different shape would be best. Length could be changed by pressing the bullet into the shell a mm or two, but the mag opening can be changed fairly easily and if a person is doing that much to it, changing the mag opening shouldn't be much of an issue. btw wouldn't pressing the bullet down farther increase chamber pressure?

Timmy · 10-04-2009, 09:44 PM

I think rebarreling one to 35x39 would be cool. I was a once semi-popular wildcat which was just a 7.62x39 necked up to .35.

EDIT: first pic on far right is the 35x39
second pic is 9x39

09-29-2009, 04:43 AM	#1
Isuzu Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 56	Rebarrel an SKS? How feasible would it be to rebarrel an SKS to 5.56X39 or 9X39? Just out of curiosity, not like I'd desecrate a fine piece of Communist machinery....oh, crap...now I'm not going to be able to sleep.....

09-29-2009, 09:07 PM	#3
jmp8927 Hermit Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 2,805	5.45x39 would be very interesting indeed, but pricey. You'd have to have a special barrel made just for that. Plus it's REALLY annoying to try and remove everything from a SKS barrel. I didn't know the 6.5 Grendal was a x39. That means it's right smack dab between the 5.45 and 7.62. __________________ Fear not, for I am with you; Be not discouraged, for I am your God.

09-30-2009, 11:00 AM	#5
jmp8927 Hermit Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 2,805	It might work. I'm not sure. The mag well would have to be modified quite a bit. According to specs, the 6.8 is about 1mm longer over all than the 5.56x45. I just now tried feeding 5.56x45 into my SKS and they're scraping both ends of the mag well and not really working. They also aren't stacking right as the casings are significantly different shaped. The 6.5 is 0.1mm longer than the 5.56 so you might even have to do some modding of the mag well with that, but not as much. I think the 6.5 is the best choice in this case. However, it would cost an arm, a leg, and your firstborn to shoot the thing. __________________ Fear not, for I am with you; Be not discouraged, for I am your God.

10-04-2009, 09:39 PM	#7
jmp8927 Hermit Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Walterboro, SC Posts: 2,805	^For a 6.5 I think the same follower will work. With a 5.56 or 6.8, a different shape would be best. Length could be changed by pressing the bullet into the shell a mm or two, but the mag opening can be changed fairly easily and if a person is doing that much to it, changing the mag opening shouldn't be much of an issue. btw wouldn't pressing the bullet down farther increase chamber pressure? __________________ Fear not, for I am with you; Be not discouraged, for I am your God.

10-04-2009, 09:44 PM	#8
Timmy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Poulsbo, Washington, USA Posts: 201	I think rebarreling one to 35x39 would be cool. I was a once semi-popular wildcat which was just a 7.62x39 necked up to .35. EDIT: first pic on far right is the 35x39 second pic is 9x39 Attached Thumbnails __________________ Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together Last edited by Timmy; 10-04-2009 at 09:50 PM.

09-30-2009, 12:52 AM	#4
Isuzu Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 56	Yep, I meant the 5.45, and I believe the 9X39 was/is intended for suppressed use as a sniper. How different ballistically is the Grendel from the 6.8 SPC? And to everything else, it seems like this would end up like all my other ideas, in the stack of "when I win the lottery" ideas. Oh, well. Thanks.