Bought SKS

[Dan_Eastvale]

I like my SKS so much i bought a second one, i have no clue why the other one will last me and my son in law the rest of our lives. stock up on ammo.

It might be the initial signs of addiction.. Emphasize might.. You will know for sure when you decide you now want the spiker version.. and then you'll want the security or precision or both pinned barrel versions.. and then you'll want the paratrooper version made for us gringos. And then you'll want the Yugo, Romanian, Russians, Vietnam bringback... One used by Che at the siege of Havana...etc. etc.

I recognized the sickness and stopped at 4 Chinese.....But still drool when I see others..

[Bobby Ricigliano]

The SKS is my favorite milsurp, as I have stated around here more than a few times. If someone is serious about collecting all the variants out there, it will be an expensive proposition and some variants may not be attainable regardless of available funds. The Chinese SF is a nicely collectible variant that can be found for $500 or so and is clearly a higher build quality than your average Norinco.

Russians can be had for $400-ish for heavy refurbs, up to $700 for unmolested Tulas and higher for Izhevks.

Romanians are always uncommon and seen in fewer numbers. Most are also non matching. Build quality equals the Russians easily and Romys are year-dated on the receiver too.

Albanians are oddballs and always collectible. Maybe 5K of them in existence and almost all are beat to hell mixmasters.

Yugos are great and ignore fud about gas valve problems. PAP M59 is my all time favorite.

The above is just the opinions I have.

[Capybara]

Everyone who likes guns NEEDs to own an SKS. Very fun, interesting gun.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Everyone who likes guns NEEDs to own an SKS. Very fun, interesting gun.

It should be noted that the SKS is a very complicated design with many small and complex moving parts. The weapon requires regular maintenance and constant cleaning to function correctly. It is also known to prefer expensive brass factory ammo.

NOT!

[NOTABIKER]

It might be the initial signs of addiction.. Emphasize might.. You will know for sure when you decide you now want the spiker version.. and then you'll want the security or precision or both pinned barrel versions.. and then you'll want the paratrooper version made for us gringos. And then you'll want the Yugo, Romanian, Russians, Vietnam bringback... One used by Che at the siege of Havana...etc. etc.

I recognized the sickness and stopped at 4 Chinese.....But still drool when I see others..

my first SKS was basically new 59/66A1. Century thought it would be a good idea to cut off the barrel at the grande fixture instead of unscrewing it. ruined it for me and i sold it.
I now have a very early 6 dig chinese and a very late spiked chinese . good to go. If a Russian had a lot of different features i might want one but really a early Chinese and a russian are the same rifle.

[NOTABIKER]

It should be noted that the SKS is a very complicated design with many small and complex moving parts. The weapon requires regular maintenance and constant cleaning to function correctly. It is also known to prefer expensive brass factory ammo.

NOT!

Are you talking about my M1 Garand again.

[Mark B]

Congrats They're fun rifles.

You asked about cleaning cosmo so here's what I do. there are many methods including the plastic bag in the sun trick.
I soak the parts in Windex. Plug the barrell and fill it with windex. Let it soak for ~ 30 minutes and the cosmoline will wipe off easily. I've also used gasoline and its much more effective although smelly. 15 minute soak in gas and the cosmo runs off like dirty water. Pay close attention to the firing pin and channel. remove the firing pin (youtube) and use a pipe cleaner to fully clean the channel, dont oil the channel when done. Clean the gas tube and piston well.

For the stock, I boil water, soak a towel in it and wrap the stock in the towel. wait 10 minutes wipe and repeat as needed. This will also cause small dings to rise and "heal" a little. A hot clothes iron placed on the towel will help to bring up deeper dings.

I would suggest that you resist the urge to oil the firing pin. The firing pin and channel should be kept clean and dry. you should be able to turn the gun muzzle down and see that gravity has caused the pin to drop freely into firing position. Muzzle up, the pin should drop into the channel. This will help eliminate the slam firing that you will read about later.

[MaHoTex]

Oh any advice on how to clean up the cosmo? I'm new to this and would love I put. Also, the paperwork I send to DOJ with $19, is that per firearm? Cup the SKS is riding with a Mosin too.

I took mine apart and hung the parts from a piece of wire and then used a heat gun (from Harbor freight for <$10) to melt it away. I was able to get the majority of it using this method. It melts at about 125 degrees but be careful to not get it too hot! The flashpoint is relatively low at only 365 degrees. After that I wiped it with mineral spirits or acetone.

Remember to lubricate very soon after using acetone though! Bad stuff called rust happens if you don't.

Good luck and have fun!

[DesertWalker]

$19 for one or more, I think

Oh any advice on how to clean up the cosmo? I'm new to this and would love I put. Also, the paperwork I send to DOJ with $19, is that per firearm? Cup the SKS is riding with a Mosin too.

I think the current wisdom is $19 for one firearm ,or for more than one at a time. The paperwork has spaces to list several firearms. I think others on this forum have gone so far as to staple an extra sheet and register many C&Rs in one mailing and one $19 check.

Others more knowledgeable can correct me.

[johnthomas]

Just make sure you take the bolt apart and clean well. Slam fires happen and the firing pin gets stuck forward making the carbine go full auto. I have a Chinese sks. I like shooting it better than the russians I have.

[durandal]

Yes, detail clean everything. Critical areas are Bore, chamber, gas port, gas tube, bolt, trigger group. There are workarounds if you cant detail strip the weapon but you should not cut corners.

You do not want to shoot a rifle with a slug of cosmolene in the barrel or a firing pin corroded and stuck in the forward position.

Ive bought a number of t56 carbines and there has been a major functional problem with each of them.

[jkgts1]

Thanks for all the replies I very much appreciate it.