can a sks be in 308 ?

[amw-dc]

im wondering if its possbile rebarrel an sks to a higher caliber  such as .308  or 30-30 or even the venerable 30-06   and to tweak the gas system so it would work with out blowing your face off ?   I thought about it because my buddy has a lee enfiled rebarrled to 30-06 (i know that bolt action is different)  ,  my other question has any body ,or country in the past ever tried a conversion of a sks to a higher caliber ?

[1952Sniper]

Considering it was designed for an intermediate cartridge, I'd say off the top of my head that the action was never meant for a high powered cartridge.  That's risking disaster just due to the higher energy of the larger calibers.

Furthermore, you're looking at some serious modification to get the action long enough to accept the longer cartridges.  The mag well isn't long enough, the bolt stroke may not be long enough to gain return momentum for stripping a new longer cartridge, etc.

Now, it could be possible to take the basic SKS action design and modify it (i.e. beef it up, make it longer) for a larger caliber.  But as for just rebarreling an SKS for something like .308 or .30/06, I'm going to have to go with the answer of "that's a bad idea".

[amw-dc]

 i think the venture into a higher caliber would require  alot of demesion changes ,and would require beefing up the reciver  and making it longer like you said and would  require the gas piston to be longer,the recoil spring would have to be stronger and longer ,the bolt would need be changed to be more hevier ,the bolt carrier would probably need to be modifided .the mag  would need to be modfied .the recoil would even then be violent

[Lollygagger]

If you want a dropping/tilting bolt rifle configured much like a SKS, but in a major class load...

Get a French MAS in the original 7.5mmm chambering.

If you want the same type of bolt in the GREAT .308 that is available -you are talking FN-FAL.

The SKS being adapted to a major full power rifle caliber is pretty much a nightmare of a project....with little or no purpose.

Lollygagger 

[Go_Yugo]

Hell for that matter,I wouldn't want the enfield in 30'06 either,the action w/rear locking lugs is considered barely sufficient for the low CUP .303 round,remember,it was designed for a black powder load in the 19th century! The Ishapore .308 maybe,used more modern smokeless grade steels in it in the 60's.Bad mojo in either case.

[Lollygagger]

Every ime I hear musings about the possibility of converting the SKS to use a major class rifle cartridge...

I've wondered if the asking party has ever looked at the locking surface in the action and notice the surface on the back underside of the bolt that impinges on it...

See the wear (this will be a little spooky for some of you)? Well, considering use of a more powerful cartridge -do you feel lucky or just want to know what a bolt would look like in your forehead?

Lollygagger 

[braindonor]

just get one of each cartridge and compare.

I have seen Chevy Vegas with 427s. Somethings are worth doing once, and pointless as well.

[HepCat]

The Saiga is basically a AK (7.62x39) and they were converted to .308, but then again the AK action is different from the SKS. I wouldn't bother with a caliber conversion, it's possible, but not practical.

I am not sure why anyone would convert a Enfield to 30.06, that is weird and I don't really see the advantage in it. 

[Lollygagger]

The Saiga is basically a AK (7.62x39) and they were converted to .308, but then again the AK action is different from the SKS. I wouldn't bother with a caliber conversion, it's possible, but not practical.

I am not sure why anyone would convert a Enfield to 30.06, that is weird and I don't really see the advantage in it. 

FWIW, t did produce them in .308 you know...

A 30-06 minus 1/4", that is of the same ballistics within a practical range.

Lollygagger  (that is alot easier to pull off wit ha long action bolt gun)

[Goryous]

 Perhaps you could  get into reloading, get brass 7.62x39 cases and some 180~220gr .308 bullets and load up some subsonic rounds with the right powder. You could say its .308 subsonic instead of .308 winchester 
Hopefully this is interesting. 

[AKBLUE]

As noted, converting an SKS to a .308/7.62Nato would ba large undertaking with little benefit and more expensive ammunition,  The Indians switcheds to a NATO round for the reason of more universal accessible ammo vs British .303.  Enfields have been chambered in 7.62 X 39 as well if you want to go that direction.  The 2a Enfields are nice rifles and a nice British/Indian variant for a collector.

[HepCat]

I was just thinking about a Enfield converted to 7.62x39, now that would be a nice plinker.
 

[skyugo]

The Saiga is basically a AK (7.62x39) and they were converted to .308, but then again the AK action is different from the SKS. I wouldn't bother with a caliber conversion, it's possible, but not practical.

I am not sure why anyone would convert a Enfield to 30.06, that is weird and I don't really see the advantage in it. 

the saiga 308 and the 12 gauge (and maybe the 20 too?) uses a bolt with moer locking lugs. 

it's AK based, but defintely diffent than an AK when you get right down to it. 

[longcutgrizz]

I was just thinking about a Enfield converted to 7.62x39, now that would be a nice plinker.
 

that would be fun. i got one in a .308. wonder how hard it would be to convert it. or since the 7.62x39mm is a .311 diameter the .303 barrel would work. i don't know just thinking outloud.

[firechaser]

A few months ago I saw an sks chambered in 223 but never higher.