New Member from Winthrop Harbor, ILLINOIS with questions.

[MXZ_ SHINE]

Hi Everyone,
This is a really KOOL web site.  I have a couple questions about the SKS my wife bought me for Christmas.
1. Can you tell what year this gun is?  Looks like it has all matching #'s 
2. Should there be a cleaning rod above the barrel?  If so where would be the best place to get one?
3. What goes in the back hole of the stock?  And where would the best place to get one also?
4. Is this a good scope on it?
5. Would like to put a laser on it what is a good one for this gun?
6. Is there different grains for this gun? 
7. What is the best bullets to shoot in it?
8. Will mostly be used to hunt White Tail deer and range shooting.
9. Is there any info on this site how to take it apart to clean and put back together?

Thanks in advance for all the help and reply's.

[Power Surge]

Welcome!

1 - You've got what's called a Chinese "letter gun". They were made in 1959 and 1960. Yours looks like it has a replacement stock, and a spike type bayonet. It would have come with a blade type bayonet.

2- Yes, a cleaning rod goes between the barrel and the bayo. They are all over ebay.

3- The cleaning kit goes in the hole in the stock. Also available on ebay.

  * I don't suggest using the original cleaning rod or cleaning kit, so if you're not worried about originality, don't bother.

4- The scope will depends on your needs.

5- Never seen a laser on an SKS.

6- Most ammo in 7.62-39 is 122-124 grain.

7- Most people shoot steel Tula, Wolf, Brown Bear, or Golden Tiger.

8- Once sighted in, should make a nice hunting gun.

9 - There is a break down post in the Chinese section.

[MXZ_ SHINE]

Thanks Power Surge.

1. Do you know what year the stock would be?  Haven't shot this yet do you know if changing the stock would alter the gun any from shooting?  Does the value of the gun go down because of the stock being changed?  Does the stock change make it better?

*3. What is a good cleaning kit to use?

[Power Surge]

Thanks Power Surge.

1. Do you know what year the stock would be?  Haven't shot this yet do you know if changing the stock would alter the gun any from shooting?  Does the value of the gun go down because of the stock being changed?  Does the stock change make it better?

*3. What is a good cleaning kit to use?

The value does go down because it's not an original matching gun. The original stock would have been numbered on the left side of the butt with the serial. The stock is a replacement stock, most likely changed out when the gun was imported. It's a spike bayo stock, to go along with your spike bayo. Your bayo is installed upside down btw .

Cleaning kit wise, just buy one of those universal rifle cleaning kits that come with the brushes, oil, and patches. You could also get yourself a boresnake, they work well too.

[Indy762]

Mine came without a cleaning rod and cleaning kit. Picked those up at a local gun show, along with some stripper clips and a sling. Not sure where you're from, but here in Indiana there are gun shows almost every weekend. Should be able to search for them for your area on the 'net.

[SKhiSm 59-66A1]

Welcome to the Files, and to SKS ownership  I'm from downstate Illinois and still spend time there.

[carls sks]

hi MXZ and welcome. good to have you here. lots of vids on u/tube on how to break it down and cleaning. I would get the cleaning rod and cleaning kit on eBay, there cheap and are cool to have with it. congrats and have fun with it, its a beauty. 

your wife sounds like a keeper, lucky guy. 

[running-man]

Hi Everyone,
This is a really KOOL web site.  I have a couple questions about the SKS my wife bought me for Christmas.
1. Can you tell what year this gun is?  Looks like it has all matching #'s 
2. Should there be a cleaning rod above the barrel?  If so where would be the best place to get one?
3. What goes in the back hole of the stock?  And where would the best place to get one also?
4. Is this a good scope on it?
5. Would like to put a laser on it what is a good one for this gun?
6. Is there different grains for this gun? 
7. What is the best bullets to shoot in it?
8. Will mostly be used to hunt White Tail deer and range shooting.
9. Is there any info on this site how to take it apart to clean and put back together?

Thanks in advance for all the help and reply's.

Welcome to the boards!

PS is spot on with everything he says.  I'll add just a few things:

1.  As PS indicated: letter gun yes, all matching no as it has a replacement stock.  The bluing has also been redone.  This gun is a pre '92 import. 

4. Scopes and SKSs are hit or miss.  The rail you've got is a B Square mount, and I've heard generally good things about them (compared to some of the other receiver cover replacement style mounts that don't hold zero).  I do notice that to install that mount the previous owner has removed the rear takedown lever and replaced it with a button head cap screw.  To properly clean the firing pin and get to the bolt and carrier this will have to be removed every time you strip the rifle which I suspect could get to be a PITA. 

6. Many hog hunters use Wolf or Silver Bear 154 grain soft points.  Big lazy bullet, but it does the job well.  Typical FMJ/SP/HP loaded at the factory run 122 to 124.  If you're just talking bullets and not cartridges, 7.62x39s typically run ~.312 vs ~.308 like typical 30 caliber bullets go.  Some SKSs eat the smaller bullets just fine, others are pretty picky and accuracy suffers greatly with the reduced size.   

7.  Many swear by the Yugo M67 surplus: http://www.sgammo.com/product/762x39/1120-round-crate-762x39-m67-non-magnetic-copper-fmj-brass-case-corrosive-yugo-surplus as being the best ammo available.  I think it's a bit overhyped myself, but it does come with excellent stripper clips and it is agood storage round.  Note that it is corrosive and a good cleaning after each session is going to be necessary if you live in an area where the humidity is routinely above 20 or 30%.
 
Additionally, Golden Tiger is sought after as well: http://www.sgammo.com/product/golden-tiger/1000-round-case-762x39-fmj-bt-golden-tiger-124-grain-russian-ammo as it is relatively cheap and has a very good track record for quality. 

9: How to field strip an SKS

[Loose}{Cannon]

Welcome aboard!

I'll add...  Like PS said the spike and spike accepting stock was likely added just prior to export, but the stock ferrule notch was also likely changed to the U shape ferrule to correspond with the spike bayo. So swapping back to a blade and blade cut stock would be alot less feasible.

[MXZ_ SHINE]

Thanks to everyone that has commented you have helped me out a lot. 

carls sks my wife is a KEEPER Thanks. 

Running-man
4. I do notice that to install that mount the previous owner has removed the rear takedown lever and replaced it with a button head cap screw.  To properly clean the firing pin and get to the bolt and carrier this will have to be removed every time you strip the rifle which I suspect could get to be a PITA.  Since the rear takedown lever was removed what do I have to do to take apart?  I couldn't find any instructions on the net for B Square mounts.

Has anyone done a new FP from Murray's Gunsmithing is this worth doing?  How about the Neck and Throat Chamber Reaming is it worth doing?
Are there any other Mods I should look into?

Thanks again for all the comments.

[running-man]

I suspect you have to totally remove the screw circled in blue. You may also have to loosen or remove the two forward screws on either side circled in yellow as well.



The receiver cover underneath the scope mount is under a bit of spring pressure. You might have to apply pressure on it from the rear to work the blue screw all the way.out.

[John Galt]

Welcome MXZ!  This is a great place for gaining information and making friends!  Good to have you.

John Galt