OVERVIEW:  This is a place to talk at length about our SKS, firearms, or the gun industry as a whole.  

These are simply opinions, yours and mine.   Do you disagree with something here?  Do you know a better way of expressing the point?  If so, write your own article and send it on.   If it's entertaining, informative, or just plain well written, there's a good chance it will wind up here.

SCOPE MOUNT SURPRISE

(8/1/00 Dave)

It's a well known fact that the slightest movement, even the movement of the shooter's heartbeat transferring to the weapon, can mean crucial inches downrange.   So it's just common sense that a scope mount must have absolutely no movement or slop to ensure a tiny shift in the crosshair isn't turning a dead on bullseye into a hit in the 7 ring.   It's generally believed the only way to ensure the utmost accuracy in an SKS is to attach a scope mount to the receiver.    Mounting to the receiver means no possible slop, and I'm a strong believer in eliminating all the weapon's points of error when it comes to accuracy.   That way, there's nobody to blame for large groups than myself.

However, recent experimentation is evolving my way of looking at the scope mount issue.   Submitted for your approval.   The absolute, most insanely accurate mount for the dollar:  the glue on scope mount.   Establish an inherent accuracy for dollar spent ratio and this mount wins without question, hands down.   Sure, I can analyze cost ratios all day, but if the winner can't hit the mark, what good is it?  Well the proof is in the pudding:

PHOTO:  Group #1 was fired at 75 yds.   The receiver cover was

removed, reattached then group #2 was fired at 75 yds.

It's approx a 1. 25 MOA difference center to center. . .

This group was sent to me by MKAYMAN.   You see, I recently mailed him a glue on mount to experiment with.   He wanted an extremely low profile scope mount, and the glue on is about as low as you can get.   The actual horizontal centerline of the rail lies right along the top of the receiver cover.   Here's the real kicker.   Once the $3. 00 glue on is mounted, it looks just like a $65. 00 DC Engineering scope mount minus the stabilizing flanges.   If you can't justify the expense of a DC Engineering scope mount that guarantees less than 1 MOA of variance between cleanings, the above photo should prove other receiver cover mounts aren't really that bad.   

But it's not just MKAYMAN that has made a believer out of me.   It's the groups I've been getting with the DC Engineering mount I got for my Romanian.   I saw a good deal for one on eBay a little while back and jumped all over it.   I'm telling you, it just beats the SNOT out of the Leapers and the Norinco mounts I had on my Chinese a few years back. . .   

Zeroing a receiver cover mount is about as easy as any other.   The real question lies in how well the rifle retains the zero after the mount is removed for cleaning.   A lot of good it would do a person to spend the day before the hunt zeroing a SKS, cleaning it that night so it's in tip-top shape for the morning, then missing (or worse, getting a gut-shot) when the crosshair lies directly over the deer's heart.   There's no way any hunter worth his salt is going to let that happen.   A hunter owes it to himself, and he owes it to the prey.

So the real question boils down to this.   What kind of shooter are you?  Are you a hunter?  A target marksman?  Or do you just like send lead downrange?  For hunters with the confidence taking deer at over 200 yards away, it's obvious you're not using an SKS, so this doesn't apply to you.   For everyone else, is 1 MOA going to make THAT big a difference?  If you shoot as tightly as MKAYMAN and aim for the heart, you'll bag your deer with grace.   1 MOA be damned.   If you shoot Wolf ammo, you're already 1 MOA+ off anyway, so the scope mount isn't going to make that big a difference.   Target marksmen and perfectionists will still prefer the stability of a rock solid receiver mount, and there's nothing wrong with that.   If one has the money to burn, the glue on mount is not the ticket anyway.

One more issue to think about.   What kind of SKS do you own?  Is a rare Russian Honor Guard SKS or an old Romanian beater?  Do all the numbers match on your flawless Chinese SKS?  It would be an absolute shame to start drilling into the side of a pristine 50 year old Simonov.   They're not making any more of them you know. . .   What we have is what we have until they're all gone.   If I spend my hard earned money on a rifle, it's damn well going to get used.   So why hot-rod an unfired rifle when a used, already modified SKS exists out there?  Why not put one of the various dust cover scope mounts on your SKS?  Glue on mounts could be easily affixed to a spare receiver cover purchased from SARCO INC.  for $14. 95 or $5. 00 on eBay.   The process is completely painless, reversible, and the results are not too shabby.

SATIRICAL ADVERTISMENT #1:

(7/29/00 Dave)

Nothing says "implied threat" more than walking through the streets in your paramilitary uniform carrying an assault style rifle.   And no group has mastered the art of the implied threat as effectively as the New Black Panthers.   So what rifle is the weapon of choice for the Panthers?  Why, it's the SKS of course!  Sure, the KKK had their shotguns and ropes, but that's so yesterday in the fast paced world of armed protest.   Today's militant civil rights dissent won't be caught dead walking the streets without their SKS properly accessorized with a big, fat 30 round USA Magazine.   March on, Brothers!  Someday we'll all be free!

The Simonov Carbine, get yours today!

(You might need it!)

Normalization of Trade with China 

(5/27/00 Dave)

Well, it look as if they're going to pass it this June.   Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China.   Note the word permanent.   PNTR is mainly a struggle between big business and organized labor.   U. S.  labor can't compete with Chinese slave labor and expect to feed families, so they're predicting major job losses stateside.   For big business, there's not simply cheap labor to cash in on, but you just can't pass on an untapped market of 1 billion people just dying to drink Coca Cola while wearing their Levi's and Nike's.   Furthermore, there are the human rights issues that are hard to overlook in the midst of all this money making.   No matter how you look at it, and everybody has their politics, it doesn't get any stranger than this.   Politically, PNTR is a collaboration between Bill Clinton and the Republican party.   How's that for strange bedfellows?  The Democrats are split, half blindly following their leader, others following their ideals, everyone looking to sell their vote to Bill for political favors.

So, politics aside, what can this possibly mean to us as U. S.  SKS enthusiasts?  Recently within the last year or so we were able to import Simonovs from Romania.   This proves the U. S.  is still open to the prospect of more foreign semiautomatic weapons entering the country.   Granted, most Romanians were old and worn, but they got in legally, nonetheless.   From what I understand, the only thing that was keeping Chinese SKS's out of the country was the trade restrictions levied against China for human rights violations.   With PNTR, the import roadblock is gone and cheap SKS's are eligible to enter the country once again!  This may be the first time in history Bill Clinton helped the gun industry.

Since importation of SKS's was banned, the price of this carbine spiked from $60-70 to $250-300 and up!  Most of us are KICKING ourselves to this day that we didn't have the foresight enough to snap up 10 or so for quick and easy money six months later.   The gun dealers have gotten a taste of blood, so the price of SKS's will never drop to the price they were.   Even if they could still import them for $48 per rifle, there is no way in hell they'll sell for any less than the Romanians are selling for today (approx $130).   We're still out there contently buying those used Chinese at $230+ from dealers, so they'll never drop the price no matter how cheaply they get them.

Through the recent discovery of the Romanian SKS, another rifle has been added to the C&R list.   This demonstrates the willingness of Uncle Sam to open doors to future importation of our favorite carbine.   There is very little if any physical difference between a Romainan SKS and the Chinese version.   The only real difference between them is the point of export and any restrictions that port is bound by.   Although logic and gun legislation have little in common, I can see no reason why the Secretary of the Treasury would still consider the Chinese Military Type 56 Carbines as non C&R eligible after permanent NORMAL trade relations goes into effect.  

If PNTR does allow for the importation of Chinese SKS's, our only hope in getting an inexpensive SKS is to cut out the middle men.   NOW is the time to get your C&R license if you don't have it already.   Buying from the importer directly with a C&R eliminates both gun show markup, and FFL fees.   Just one SKS purchase, and your C&R has paid for it's self.

More On Gun Laws

(This has no direct correlation to Simonov's, just me venting. . . )

(4/17/00 Dave)

We are all aware of the controversy regarding gun control laws and constitutionality.   I don't think many people, including gun control advocates, argue with the fact that they are unconstitutional.   They know this, but they allow it to happen because they feel it's necessary and in the best interest of the country.  

There was recently a 'million mom march' on Washington DC in support of gun control.   I guess the gun control moms get to march and be heard while the rest of us go to work and try to support our families.   I also suppose the main reason gun owners haven't marched and protested for their rights is because generally, we're non-confrontational people.   The more I think about that statement, the more it weight it carries.   Most of us just want to live our lives and be happy.   

Who WANTS to fight?  People carry concealed weapons to minimize any aggression inflicted upon them.   I've never heard of a hunter chasing down healthy deer and pummeling them to death with their bare hands.   We all know, you don't take the shot unless you are confident you'll hit where you are aiming and the deer will be dispatched.   This minimizes or eliminates any undue suffering unto the quarry.   It seems the only people interested in beating things to death, such as dead horses, are the liberals.

Although this philosophy is admirable and noble, non-confrontation is going to be the ruin of shooting sports.   And do you think it's going to end with shooting sports?  The second amendment isn't the only American ideal under attack.   Remember "innocent until proven guilty"?  Do you know that doesn't apply regarding gun law?  The accused party is responsible for providing the burden if proof if INNOCENCE.   This is about as un-American of a practice as it can get.   Our rights are slowly eroding away beneath us.   Do you remember in the seventies how the oil pundits would project depletion of the worlds reserves before a certain date?  I wonder what that day is for the depletion of our rights as Americans.

Are you familiar with the concept of gateway drugs?  The theory is that if a child starts smoking cigarettes, it opens the door to marijuana.   Marijuana leads to cocaine.   Cocaine leads to harder drugs like heroin and crack.    Gun control laws is the gateway legislation to the revocation of our rights as Americans, mark my words.   Will America still be America in the time of our grandchildren?

Damage Control

(4/7/00 Dave)

    I read an article online the other day that got my blood boiling.   Do people not realize that there's a fire burning out there?  This fire is burning us right out of our second amendment rights and some of us "gun owners" are throwing fuel on the fire.   Rights that we as Americans have possessed for hundreds of years, eroded right before our eyes and where's the million gun owner march?  People historically fight to gain certain liberties, and here we are almost helping those who think they know better take our liberties away.   Here's the article I'm referring to from Gambit Weekly:

John Cassisa and Kevin Barrios of Slidell, both 28, attended the show to look at assault weapons and stopped to check out a selection of SKS semi-auto rifles, which dealer Dick Angelles was selling with scopes for $285.  Cassisa, who already owns an AR-15, said he wanted to buy an SKS before any new laws go on the books and before prices start going up.  "I'm 100 percent for background checks, but I'm against other regulations," Cassisa says.  "I don't think the government needs to know who owns what guns. " 

Barrios already owns an SKS he has outfitted with a 30-round clip and a scope.  He uses the gun for target shooting at ranges and trips to the woods.  "You can shoot down a tree with one of these things," says Barrios.  "It's a pretty nasty weapon. "

Angelles, who has run a gun shop in Breaux Bridge for 15 years, says people make too much fuss about assault weapons.  "As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as an `assault weapon,'" he says.  "It's a term like `Saturday night special' that politicians use.  We sell the SKS as a hunting rifle.  It's a good gun -- it shoots straight, it's accurate, it doesn't jam. "

Now, it's not the background check or the government intrusion that gets me, it's the 'nasty weapon that can shoot down a tree' comment.   Exactly what was Barrios trying to prove by saying that to a reporter?  If  someone who's riding the fence on this issue read that, you just pushed them to the side of gun control.   Say that to someone who's already on the side of gun control and you just handed them something to club us over the head with.   Apparently, the gun dealer, Mr.  Angelles, had his head on straight and realized what Barrios just said.   

Mr.  Angelles did his best at what I like to call damage control.   Basically, damage control is commonly referred to as spin.   He downplayed the terms 'assault weapon' and 'Saturday night special' which has a nasty connotations and called the SKS a 'hunting rifle', a 'good' gun.   The media tarnishes the image of firearms every day by crafting rhetoric that inspires fear.   Calling an SKS a 'nasty weapon that can shoot down a tree' is going to make a military rifle enthusiast rub his hands with glee, yet to the rest of the population now subconsciously demonizes it.   That almost sounds supernatural, shooting down a tree.   Mr.  Angelles calls the rifle a 'hunting' rifle.   A wise choice.   Gun control advocates claim they don't want to take rifles away from hunters, just guns away from criminals.   Do you see the spin?  The same weapon in the hands of a hunter is a rifle while in the hands of a criminal is a 'gun', an 'assault weapon'.   It's all in the rhetoric.   'Hunting' inspires images of refined Englishmen on fine steeds chasing down fox.   The minutemen used 'rifles' to gain independence.   Killers use 'guns' to kill people.   It's all about damage control.

The word 'gun' is so cliche and negative that it really doesn't necessarily mean a firearm anymore.   There are squirt guns, soldering guns, heat guns, glue guns, etc. . .   It's so negative that 'gun control advocates' incorporate it into their very name.   They're giving the illusion that they're controlling something evil.   Therefore, if you are pro-gun, you're all for something evil.   I'm not pro-gun, I'm pro-liberty.   How's that for damage control?  If we're all pro-liberty, we're all patriots.   Who's not pro-liberty?  

I'm not trying to sacrifice our right to free speech to save our second amendment rights, but let's start saying the same things in a more positive way.   That at the very least.   Feeling more pro-active?  (See how I said 'pro-active' as opposed to 'militant'?  Damage control, baby!)  Find someone who is for gun control because they don't know any better and let them learn for themselves the pleasure of shooting sports.   Ease into this; like cattle you don't want to startle them.   Casually bring shooting up in conversation.   "What did I do last weekend?  I went to the rifle range amongst other things.   Say, have you ever been to a range?"  Avoid negativity.   You have a life, you do many great things, target practice is just one of them.   A rifle range sounds much more palatable than a shooting range and 'I went shooting' isn't very positive at this point in history.   Start by teaching them firearm safety in a place they feel comfortable before they even see the range.   Once you're sure that they are fairly comfortable around the weapon, it's time for the range.   Jumping right into the range may be too extreme for someone predisposed to fear firearms.   Once you're there it's your responsibility to make sure they are comfortable.   Avoid ranges where people are likely to mow down targets or brandish their weapon.   And most importantly, offer them GOOD hearing protection, don't shove a buck's worth of foam in their ears and expect them to be happy with their shooting experience.   Although shooting glasses aren't always necessary, they boost confidence.   After that, give them a few rounds of ammunition, a few more pointers and plenty of encouragement.   This is all about them, so don't show off or disappear for any length of time.   Make the first trip out brief.   Try not to preach about the merit of firearms, try to let them ask you questions and learn for themselves.   I promise you that if you do this right, they're going to ask you to take them back.   Mark my words.   

SIDE NOTE:  One of the favorite things I used to on an occasional dates is to bring her to a range.   Just once, as a novelty experience.   Most of the women I wound up with were for gun control.   Not only does this convert them, it's original, exciting, and guaranteed something they've never done on a date before.   Nothing is more sexy than seeing the object of your affection confidently eject a clip from a pistol, slap a fresh one in, and plug away at a target.   NOT recommended for first dates or after arguments.   Big smile!

Above:  An original Russian vs.  a SKS modified with the "Hunter's Pak" from Bushmaster Firearms

Should I modify my SKS?

(3/20/00  Dave)

    To modify or to preserve, that is the question.

    It seems there are two schools of military gun collectors.  There are those who see these weapons as historically significant links to the past, and those who see them as merely another stick that goes bang.  Some of us think the idea of drilling scope mounts into the side of a fine Russian SKS as a crime, while others see it as the only way of assuring a constant zero every time we go to the range.  

    I tend to ride the fence on this issue.  I think the gun owner needs to weigh several factors before too much thought is put into altering a rifle.  Ask yourself:

    Quantity-  How many of these rifles exist? Let's say you just picked up an SKS from some estate sale.  It's got a green Monte Carlo stock, green parkerized barrel, and you got it on the cheap for $75. 00.  That's pretty much the only reason you picked it up, because it was green, cheap and would make a great camp rifle if only it had a scope.  After all, it's not like it's a Marlin or Remmington.  That's Why you're here, to find out which mount is the best of the bunch.  Well, before you start throwing it in the back of your truck, dismantling it, or losing parts, please do your homework.  I'm not saying I'm an expert and know all the facts, but I do know that a while back an importer decided to "dress up" some rifles in order to squeeze out a few more bucks for them.  I don't know how well it worked for them, but collectors sure pay a premium for those rifles today.  I've only seen two ever and I've never seen one sell for less than $375.  I have yet to see a picture of one on the net.  You could literally buy two Romanian SKS's (that would make for fine camp rifles) for what you could get for that one "cheap" SKS.  Better yet, trade it in for an SKS that's already tricked out just the way you like it.  Now everyone's happy.

    Ok, that was an easy one.  Let's grey the lines a bit.  Let's say you have a Russian SKS in outstanding condition, but you're tempted to drill mounting holes in the side of it to mount a scope.  Was it's production in the millions? Are you CONFIDENT you can do the job cleanly, with NO mistakes? Go for it.  Let the collectors whine, you just made yourself a damn fine rifle to be proud of.  There are 999,999 other rifles they can throw into their gun safe, they should leave your's alone.  

    Quality- Ok, lets say you do have one of the more rarely seen SKS's.  What kind of shape is it in?  Is the wood dinged and pitted? If so, it's of no use to a collector, why not replace it with a fine Choate stock.  How much of the bluing is intact? Again, if you're looking pretty shabby in this department, let the collector have his idealism, you do what you want with the rifle, and love it.  However, if you own a pristine example of craftsmanship, perhaps you should consiter getting another SKS to knock around and cherish the one you have in the privacy of your own home.  If economics is an issue, maybe you can trade your rare with a collector or dealer for one with the modifications you've desired in the first place for a fraction of the expense.

    Ability- I've seen some modifications done to rifles that I wouldn't wish on the worst example of a Romanian beater.  I saw one at a gun store with the barrel shortened.  That was too nice.  The barrel was hacked off.  There were saw marks everywhere, and IT WASN'T EVEN STRAIGHT! No wonder the poor bastard sold it, I bet it doesn't even hit paper at 50 yards anymore! I'll see what I can do to get a picture of it up here.

    Make sure you have the talent and the tools to do the job right before you even waste your money buying the parts.  Want to shorten your barrel? Do you know someone who can grind a new crown? Want to drill the receiver? Do you have access to a drill press, levels, or a incredibly steady hand?  I bet nothing is worse than over drilling or wallowing out a hole before you even get a chance to tap it. . .

    Never underestimate the buying power of someone with a hole in their collection.  I'm not suggesting ANYONE take advantage of a situation, God forbid it's any of us in that position, but know this.  You can pretty much get what you want so long as you stay within the bounds of reason.  In the past, I've walked away from Gun Show Dealers, never to return because they knew exactly what they had and they were slimy enough to gouge so deeply it hurt just looking at the price tag.

    Lastly, no matter what you decide to do, appreciate your SKS.  Whether that means preserving it in some glass case somewhere in a bank vault or taking it to the range for it's weekly feeding.   Whatever you decide, be at peace with your decision before you make it. 

Mount A Scope On A SKS?

(By - Dave)

Ever wonder why there's just no good solution to the scope mounting problem with SKS's?  Well, that's because the SKS was never designed with scopes in mind.  This rifle was made to be mass produced quickly and inexpensively for millions of uneducated, unwashed foot soldiers whose only real choice in life is fight or die.   Hence, we now have an extremely durable, medium range, simple to operate rifle with fewer than average parts and no really good place to mount a scope.  Thank goodness for us that the clever ones out there are able to figure out ways to work around this obstacle.   And that's exactly what SKS scope mounts are.   Workarounds.   When mounting a scope on an SKS, there are two main issues to overcome.   Where to mount it and what to do about ammunition.   

Receiver cover mounts are mounts replacements for the stock receiver cover.   They *ALWAYS* require filing to fit your particular make of rifle.   Why they didn't eliminate work by making them to fit the larger specification and file for the smaller is beyond me.   If you're going to try this for yourself, do so slowly and carefully.   Even the most careful filing causes scratches on some visible surface.   File them down to the point where you can barely, barely fit the retaining pin in and then take it to the range.   Ten shots down the road, your cover will loosen up to a serviceable level.   My first attempt at this I filed it to a nice snug fit where the retaining pin was relatively effortless to remove.   A half hour into shooting I could watch my scope wiggle with every shot.   Again, over filing is the easiest thing in the world to do if you aren't aware of this.   All of the receiver cover replacement solutions are notorious for the slight wiggley jiggly's that purists insist ruins accuracy.   I've heard of some people claim they know how to file them to perfection, but who really knows.   Leapers and DC Engineering have tried to overcome this problem by hugging the outside of the receiver with tangs or flanges.   The Leapers mount has eight moving parts that adjust to fit your rifle.   It just seems to me this solution was doomed from the drawing board.   No amount of Lok-Tite can keep the set screws from moving.   Anyone have access to a tack welder?  The DC Engineering mount has flanges that hang down with rubber gaskets to compensate for tolerance inconsistencies rifle to rifle.   This seems to be the best choice for cover replacement scope mounts.   If this mount moves, it going to be a slight forward backward movement and I don't think that can hurt anything.   

The alternative to a cover mount is a bolt on receiver mount.   These always require drilling into the thin side walls of the receiver which purists insist ruins the rifle's value.   I've never tried to mount one of these, but I can see two potential problems in the process already.   First, you want to make sure you can line up the holes just right.   The scope's sighting plane needs to be parallel to the barrel's.   Sure, that's why the scopes are adjustable, but could you imagine the horror of drilling crooked holes for an unusable scope?  The second problem is in the drilling process itself.   Make sure you drill these holes exactly 90 degrees from the side of the receiver and don't vary from that path the whole way in.   If you start at one angle, see it 's wrong and straighten it up before you hit the finish line, you stand the chance of wallowing out a fresh hole before it's even tapped.   A drill press is probably a good idea for this job.   

Finally, if these issues don't bother you, the scope's position over the ejection port will.   If the scope is too long, you will no longer be able to use a stripper clip to load your rifle.   At that point, you're only alternatives are to load each bullet one by one or get a detachable magazine.   Ok, so you have decided how you're going to feed you're rifle, now you have to figure out what to do about the spent casings.   As you fire each shot, the nearly vertical ejection slams casings into the bottom of the scope.   Purist or not, this without a doubt ruins scopes.   Is the answer a brass deflectors?  Perhaps, but remember the loading channel is blocked rendering the speedy stripper clips useless.   There are some benefits to using brass deflectors, however.   First, you can, to a degree, direct where you want spent brass to go.   This keeps the brass from hitting the man in the next firing position at open air ranges, and facilitates quicker recovery for reloaders.

Someone who deeply appreciates a SKS in it's natural form will never put a scope on his piece.   Those who actually shoot their rifles, like me, will mount some sort of scope almost every chance they get.   It's my opinion that there is no truly bad mounting system, just ones that may not be right for you.   I know guys who can outshoot me every time with their el cheapo Chinese cover mount.   Is it a bad idea to install a $40. 00 Chinese scope and mount if you only shoot your rifle two or three times a year and it makes you happy to have a scope on your rifle when you do?  Absolutely not.   Is it a good idea to buy a top of the line mounting system and tactical scope when you really shouldn't afford it?  Probably not.   Whatever you decide, be at peace with your decision before you make it.

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