SKS for long range,accuracy shooting?

[Lager]

Lets say, I want to hit my head against the wall repetitively and want to make an SKS a long distance shooter.
Which series or manufacture would you start with,Russian,Chinese or Yugo and what model?
Im guessing what Im looking for is barrel length,chromed or not,Bolt assy and trigger ?
Why am I doing this when there lots more better choices out there?
Cause I want to, gotta love being the underdog at the Shooting range.
There has got to be a better shooter out there then my Chinese Para model, I just need your help finding it.

[jblomenberg16]

I'd have to think that barrell length would help.

Also, would check out some of the info on the board about hand loaded ammo, and the trick work kivarri does with the trigger.

Good luck!

[godzilla]

Lager

I have done quite a bit of searching on this topic myself. I have heard every type of answer. The answer I have heard most often is Albanian and one of those is on my list.

[wera276]

In general i think most will agree that no SKS is any more accurate than the others based on model; its more of a individual rifle vs rifle comparo.   Some say China, some say Russia, others have even said the Yugo.......all for different reasons.  Ultimately i agree that it comes down to the unique rifle not who made it.

What do you mean by long distance?  You do understand the 7.62x39 by its character is not a very accurate long distance round.  Anything over 200 its performance starts to decline very VERY fast.  Yes it will shoot farther but it was build as a medium range round...that said that is the range it performs best.

You could take a SKS or such rifle that shoots a 7.62x39 give it a fancy fluted bull barrel and smooth trigger and its still gonna struggle to shoot accurate at 300 or 400m like a plain stock 7.62x54 or 8mm mauser.....two rounds designed to shoot accurate at 400m with scopes.

Any sniper SKS or AK in all honesty is a joke.  Sure a scope is good and easier to shoot better with but to call any 7.62x39 rifle a sniper is a joke.

[Steiner]

Also keep in mind that surplus M43 ammo is not condusive to accuracy above the 3-4 moa performance. I've seen posts with people who have shot the surplus ammo out of Rugers and CZ 550 bolt action rifles, and the accuracy with the military ammo is still so-so. Their handloads performed much better (but not a long range cartridge, check the ballistic drop on the web) than the mil-surp FMJ.

Making the SKS into a sniper rifle is a nice idea, but it's like making a M1 .30 cal carbine into a sniper rifle. Neither the rifle nor the round is suited to this application. But scoping does make it alot easier to shoot for some of us. Not trying to discourage the project, just consder the design limitations of both rifle and ammo. Sooooo....go scope it, have fun. :-)

[BigBill]

I was benchresting my chinese scoped 20" barrel sighting it in with norinco ammo.  As i made my last adjustments on the cover mounted scope the pos came loose.  But i did manage to shoot a few shots @ 100yds that gave me a clue she can shoot 1/2" groups @ 100yds well under 1".  I now have the russian mosin type scopemount secrued to the receiver in the thicker part of the receiver so its a rock solid mount.  Now i need to go back and sight it in again and now I will know exactly what it is shooting, but the outcome looks good already.

My chinese paratrooper will shoot 1 1/2" groups @ 100yds benchrested using chinese norinco ammo too.

I don't think any sks sniper is a joke just look at the many different style sks snipers the yugo's had.

I have heard the white box winchester ammo is as accurate as the norinco ammo is too.

Next i'm interested on how much farther can shoot accurately too? Will she go out to 200yd or 300yds?

[vomSpeerhaus]

You have a very special rifle.
Neither my 20" Chinese (PU scope mount/Redstar scope) or my Yugo with Choate mount, will hold better than 3.5" at 100 yd. from a bench rest. I thought they were pretty special. (The yugo holds about 4" but still has an occasional "flyer".) Winchester ammo. Both have Wolf spring and stoned trigger groups. I love all my SKS's, but they are not long range rifles. They are great 100yd. battle carbines.

[wera276]

Any Yugo grunt with a SKS and a scope was not by the true terms a "sniper"  As others have said, due to its limitation the rifle and ammo will not hold true to the sniper that most expect.

In fact i feel it disrespecting to true snipers who take 700+ shots to call a guy with a SKS or AK with a scope a "sniper".

Scopes make the shooter more accurate but by no means a sniper.

[vomSpeerhaus]

Who said "sniper"? 

[Steiner]

BigBill,
Can you post a pic of your Russian scope setup? I want to scope one of my SKS's also and would like a sort of Soviet/Eastern Bloc look to it.

[Lager]

I sure wasnt thinking sniper capability, I dont have the eye sight for that !
Since most folks seem to shoot their SKS"s with iron sights just for fun and think they are really inaccurate rifles. Im just trying to shoot the best i can with the equiptment I can afford.
 Sure, I know there lots more accurate rifles out there, but then, they cost a whole lot more also.
Thus my post,, what was the most accurate SKS that you knew of, out of the box ?
 Anyways,,,,,,,,,,,,,Today I installed the Choate scope mount. That wasnt fun, the lower reciever is made from hard,hard steel.
 But it was sucess, much better scope mount then the rear cover add on.
Off to the range i went to sight it in.
I had to shoot at the 50 yard line because I forgot to bring my spotting scope, I cant see the lil holes out there at 125 yards thru my 6 power scope.
My best target group was my last after 60 sighting in rounds( Got Dark out there on me) was 1.5 inches for 7 rounds useing Wolf ammo.
Im not the best rifle shooter, this is my first rifle I have shot in 30 years but Im having fun.
Im sure this Chinese para model isnt the most accurate SKS out there,but when Im out there on the range  sitting next to a deer hunter with his $1000 rifle, he has to reload after 5 rounds, Im happily banging away 20 rounds rapid fire and Im shooting close to his groups. Im just looking for another $200 SKS that might shoot a bit closer to the X as we throw our targets on the ground between our shooting benches.

[grousedog]

Well,I too have heard the Albanians tend to be the more accurate out of the box.While they are commanding higher values these days,I would suggest a pinned barrel Chinese.Many have reported better accuracy out of these as opposed to the screwed in barrel.If you do a search you may find some threads on it.

[micmacman]

my buddys Russian is scoped,and he shoots 1'' groups at 125 yrds all day,i havnt scoped any of mine ,but i did put a red dot on my M to help out my tired eyes

[BigBill]

My trigger is lubed with moly and so is my receiver(moving metal parts).

Just benchrest it with the right ammo either chinese norinco or white box winchester 7,62x39 ammo.

Do you breathe while aiming and shooting?

I was hammered by a retired gunnery sarge on how to shoot at a local gun club when i was 10yo.  We were shooting 22lr target rifles.  He taught me to;
1. take a deep breath and let it out
2. take another deep breath, let it halfway out and hold it.
3. aim and shoot!!!!

Holding your breath stops a little weaving action the rifle is more steady.

Using gun rests;

I hold the gun with a down force into the rests rather than trying to hold the gun.  I adjust the rear rest till the sights line up on the bull while i apply the down force. . The down force into the vee of the rests holds the gun more solid.

Trust me it works.  I put two rounds of 338winmag thru the same hole @ 100 yds using this method.

[BigBill]

BigBill,
Can you post a pic of your Russian scope setup? I want to scope one of my SKS's also and would like a sort of Soviet/Eastern Bloc look to it.

www.texastradingpost.com/yugosniper/skssniper.html

I need to learn how to post pics here of mine.