Books'nSundries

~ The SKS Rifle ~

             ...aka, The "Cowboy's Companion"
                          ...The "Farmers Friend"

                                                   by Emil T. Miller (Tony Miller)

                                          ~~~~~

~ The Modern Day Minute Man's "Musket" - The "EVERYTHING" rifle! ~
(Click the photos to enlarge)

* There could be as many as 3 million of these rifles in the U. S. alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The "father" of the Samozaryadnyi Karabin Sestemi Simonova (The SKS Carbine) was Russian Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov pictured at left, and it was issued to the Russian Army at the end of WWII, hence the SKS Model 45. In 1956-57 during the height of the Cold War, the paranoid Russians sold equipment and sent engineers to their perennial enemy China, and thus began the huge Chinese manufacture of their own SKS; Model 56. Subsequently virtually every Com-Bloc country also manufactured great quantities of this versatile and now ubiquitous and dependable rifle, and they are seen all over the world. Only the AK47, first issued two years later in 1947, has seen greater production numbers. The SKS is almost indestructible and will function in the most adverse conditions. An American visitor to a Chinese factory saw workers at the end to the assembly line grabbing the rifles by the barrel and giving them a sling over
to land on a huge pile of rifles awaiting shipment to their army.
...ETM

The SKS rifles, shown below in just a very few of all their different configurations,
are also seen on the many websites showing this rifle:

RUSSIAN SKS rifle with 30 rnd magazine and blade bayonet. (apparently allowable
due to it having the designation of "Curio and Relic" by the BATF - and now legal due to the sunset of Clinton and the Democrat's onerous, purposely mis-named and so-called "Assault Weapons Ban" ).

In addition to the above there are many different pre-made stocks available as well, such as a black Zytel Monte Carlo (a great choice), an AK style, a Dragonuv style and several others. NOTE 1: FOR MANY OTHER NICE PICTURES OF THIS RIFLE IN ITS VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS, GO TO: http://www.simonov.net/pictures.htm

NOTE 2: Modifications and/or attachments should be discussed with the nearest BATF office in order to maintain legality (see note below* regarding the sunset of the "Assault Weapons Ban which, amazingly, included this regular semi-automatic rifle) . Their phone number can be found under "Governmental Offices - United States.

* BELOW is an informative "MUST READ" ARTICLE about this handy little rifle:

Now he is tired of all that nonsense, frustrated in his recent search for a life mate, and begins now to take the time to consider some of those gals he may have overlooked in his more youthful ignorance. Thus now experienced and open-minded, one girl finally catches his eye and his attention, and he gives her a whirl. She feels great, satisfies his deepest longings, he is totally comfortable with her, she has character and is reliable and true to him, and she never lets him down. Still, he cannot believe that this "plain Jane" is the girl for him, though due to her good attributes she is looking prettier and prettier to him all the time. But she is so different in so many ways from all his pre-conceived notions! After all, he to this point as well as most other guys actually thought her, well, to put it mildly, ugly. But is another guys' "ugly" what is REALLY important to YOU in life?? Absolutely not. But this one is not only a little ugly but may have been taken advantage of and be slightly used too, and he would never go for that! He would never accept what someone else had miss-used and in ignorance rejected and tossed aside. Would he?? So he is mean and maybe a little abusive to her and tries his best to leave her and get her out of his mind. But in spite of all, she stays true to him and stays right there in his mind and heart and he keeps coming back to her and giving her (and himself) another chance. Finally in the end, when she has sufficiently demonstrated her faithfulness and reliability to him, even perhaps taken some thoughtless abuse, and he has finally faced the fact that he loves her truly and cannot live without her, he gives in to both his heart his intelligent mind - AND MARRIES HER (and lives with her happily ever after).

The SKS rifle is a whole lot like this girl, and for all these reasons I call my favorite SKS my SWEET SARAH, even though I thought it a piece of junk for a long while. Americans often call the semi-automatic SKS rifle (Russian SKS Type 45, Samozaridnya Karabina Simonova) by various names; "THE ALL PURPOSE" rifle, "THE POOR MANS' EVERYTHING RIFLE", "THE FARMERS' FRIEND" , THE COWBOYS' COMPANION" , etc. etc. Most wouldn't believe it but this rifle has been the leading seller over all other rifles in this country, both foreign and domestic, every year since Clinton and his Democrats shoved the so-called "Assault Rifle Gun Ban" down our throats, slowed only briefly by Clinton's, arbitrary and illegal "Import ban" - Bush having yet to rescind it to my knowledge. It (and all parts and other firearms from China, and Russia as well as most other countries) has been banned from further importation by Clinton's Executive Order (but now see note below* regarding the sunset of the "Assault Weapons Ban") . He even, by presidential fiat and contrary to existing law, banned importation of parts for our own M1 Garands and M1 .30 Carbines of WWII and Korea fame!

However, certain "regulations" still stand regarding certain existing Russian and Chinese SKS rifles, apparently dependent on serial numbers and importation dates, and others which qualify under the law as a "Curio and Relic." I must point out here, that try as I might, I have found no one, no publication, no firearms authority or writer, or (according to these) even any individual BATF employee or office who will or has put out definitive guideline or interpretation of the ambiguously written law [sec. 922(r)] as applicable to the SKS rifle. If any reading this knows of such and advises me I will revise this article and give reference to it. In the meantime you can contact them with any question you may have. Also, there are now many nice Romanian and Yugoslavian SKS's available in the US. Ammunition for the SKS was banned from China as well, but Clinton's footsies with the Russians has allowed great gobs of ammo from them (currently $79.95 per case of 1,000 rounds) - less than 8 cents a round folks! In addition I should point out that this 7.62x39 caliber is made by all the major American manufacturers and is to be had wherever ammunition is sold. Liberal Democrat Clinton was the most corrupt, immoral, anti-2nd Amendment president in history (firearms denied citizens and held only by the military and agencies of the government is pure unadulterated Socialism, the people having lost control of government and their own lives at that point). Confounding the Socialist "Gun-Control" crowd (read Gun-Ban/Gun Confiscation crowd), literally millions of SKS rifles (along with great quantities of other firearms of all types) were snapped up by the American people just after the passing of Clinton's so-called "Assault Rifle Ban" (but now see note below * regarding the sunset of this law) . This shameful president turned out to be the most wildly successful firearms salesman of all time!

The history of the SKS rifle in brief, is that it is the Granddaddy of the Ak-47 (Avtomat Kalishnikov - 1947), and uses the same 7.62x39 cartridge. Invented by Sergi Gavrilovich Simonov and others as a semi-automatic rifle (though I understand that a few fully automatic experimental versions were also made), it was used by the Russian Army after World War II and after 1948 by them in conjunction with the full-automatic version of the AK-47 for over 30 years (and is still today carried ceremonially by those who guard their Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and who perform other such duties). It has at one time or another been the primary arm of China (still is at present) and all the Eastern Bloc countries, many African and Asian countries, as well as being still currently in use by the military of most small countries. It was the primary arm of the Viet Cong in the early part of the Viet Nam war, and continued along with the AK47 in the later years to the end. It is reliably reported that even at this updated writing in March of 2004, the paranoid Russians still have millions of new unissued SKS rifles still in storage in multi-storied concrete underground warehouses, even after selling off several million when they got strapped for cash after the 1989 collapse of the U.S.S.R. I have read that the Russian people, who were denied personal firearms for 70+ years after the Socialist Bolshevic Revolution of 1917 on up until the fall of the USSR in1989, can now buy all the SKS's they want for $8 each or less. Socialism will be hard-pressed to jump on the Russian people again, now that they can again keep and bear arms.

Most people on first examination of the SKS, as I did, simply dismiss the rifle out of hand. Especially the Chinese SKS Type 56 (the year they began producing them) copies of this rifle comes across as the ugliest and junkiest looking, most unappealing unromantic rifle they have ever seen. It took me six months to give in and to give it any consideration at all, and about as long to actually buy one and try it out. But as I immediately discovered, when all things are considered and the rifle is given a good "road test" along with objective consideration, all that negativism changes abruptly to the positive. When the cost, durability, reliability, versatility, overall performance, its' short handiness, wide selection of stock and accessories and their availability, intermediate range accuracy, mild recoil, cost of ammunition, and sheer enjoyment of shooting it are all considered, one realizes that as an all around "everything rifle" , it SIMPLY CANNOT BE BEAT. And at that point one realizes he has met a true blue sweetheart, one that he will commit to and invest in! If I had to choose only one rifle and could have no other, it would be a Russian made SKS (not necessarily to disparage the Chinese copies - most people would never see the difference in appearance, workmanship, reliability or performance, and therefore may not feel the extra cost for a genuine Russian rifle to be justified). And rest assured that you will not live long enough to wear one of them out, though you mistreat it horribly (which is one of its greatest attributes). Even if you try, you can't really hurt the darn thing!

It sort of grows on you. In the beginning you hate to admit it, but then it gets to looking better and better to you as the astonishing qualities and possibilities it offers become apparent. No other rifle of its features and versatility is nearly as inexpensive to purchase and shoot. It hardly ever actually requires cleaning (though it should be), it can thrown in a mud puddle, used as a club, fencepost, or whatever, and still be cleaned and shot reliably (Viet Nam saw the proof of that), and I have never seen one even close to being worn out (even those having had hard use by the Chinese and North Vietnamese Army). They have chrome lined bores and any part will interchange from rifle to rifle since they are designed and manufactured with loose tolerances for all these purposes.

As a deer rifle it is near all around perfection for the woods, hills and hollows of Middle Tennessee, or any hilly, brushy setting where extreme distances are not of paramount consideration. Ballistics are virtually identical to the historically reliable 30-30 Winchester, a caliber that has downed more deer than any other and still a favorite of many, which makes the SKS extremely accurate out to 150 yards and very reliable even beyond, even out to 300 yards and more.

There are many configurations the SKS can be put into, and an enormous amount of accessories available for the rifle. Many whole companies exist based on making and supplying parts and accessories for the millions of these rifles in the U.S. today. The existing SKS "Sporter" versions (grandfathered in and legal to own even before the Clinton Gun Ban) are legal to purchase now that the Ban has sunset, and all of them take AK magazines as well, if that is what gets your soup hot. Ammo for hunting or plinking is dirt cheap and available at any gun store or show. And not to worry, this 7.62x39 ammo will always remain available and affordable because of the sheer numbers of SKS and AK-Kalishnikov type rifles in existence here in the U.S., and since all U.S. companies manufacture it (they'd be fools to ignore such a huge market wouldn't they?). Again, this is because there are far more SKS rifles existing in this country than any other single rifle! Makes one wonder why more are not seen or heard talked about, and the answer is simple. When guys show their rifles it is always the prettiest, fanciest, most powerful hunting rifle they own, even though so many hunt with them alone. Their "ugly" every-day hunting rifle and "camp rifle" for plinking which they never leave behind, is not considered a "show" rifle.

The SKS rifle however, can be finished out, "tricked out" , and "prettied up" as finely and expensively as you like as many have discovered, and I have seen some exquisite ones. It is called the "Farmer's Friend" and "Cowboy's Companion" because it is thrown back in the pickup by so many in the South and Southwest, and dragged out against those pesky groundhogs, skunks, armadillos and coyotes as necessary; just make the dust fly until you catch up to it! And for personal farm/home/ranch defense - well, it is and can be a heliferocious wooleybooger. Everyone should have a few of these rifles, to pass on to their children if for no other reason! In the near future an SKS for under $400 will be a thing of the past, if available at all. When Klinton was elected in 1992 a brand new Chinese SKS rifle sold for an amazing $62.50, used ones went for $55.50, and a brand new unissued Russian went for $101.95 (at present about $380 to $475 - when they can be found). Fortunately at this writing, SKS rifles can still be found fairly easily at gun stores and gun shows.

Man, go out and buy yourself two or three before you wind up kicking yourself. ... © Emil T. Miller (Tony Miller)
(Click here for AUTHOR'S BIO)

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~~~~~~~~~~~~

► (*) LATE (*) NOTE (*) ◄

Some aspects of the above article have changed as I have tried to note, and the restrictions mentioned will have to be re-evaluated and re-assessed according to revised law which removes many of the restrictions which were imposed 15 years ago in 1994. The onerous and ridiculous "ASSAULT" WEAPONS BAN (semi-automatic rifle ban), is no more. It sunset as of September of 2004, 10 years after the Democrat majority of Congress passed it in 1994, and was signed by Bill Klinton. Rest In Peace you Socialist piece of legislation (defication) imposed on us by Liberal (Socialist) Democrats. Honest law-abiding citizens can now REJOICE! But remember, the Leftists have far from given up re-instating this nonsense, or passing other "Gun Control" nonsense. To Wit: the Leftists' denigration of a great president to the end that the recent election of openly Socialist Barak Obama (God help us!) is reality. We MUST NOT flag in the on-going cultural, ideological war for the heart and soul of our country!

P. S.: HERE IS ONLY A PARTIAL LIST OF PARTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE SKS, each category having not only numerous manufacturers foreign and domestic, but so many different kinds and varieties that they are far too numerous to list:

(Note (see above*) that as for all rifles, sec. 922r of the Federal Firearms Laws applies as to the use of some combinations of these accessories. If you are not familiar with how this applies to the SKS rifle (I haven't heard of or read of anyone who is) and how you would like to dress yours up, you should contact the BATF and try to find out.)

THREE GOOD SOURCES FOR SKS ACCESSORIES (there are scads more):
Tapco - Kennesaw, Ga
Classic Arms - Indian Trail, N.C.
Federal Arms Corp. - Fridley, Mn.

TRIGGER GROUPS: These rifles, as do all military type rifles, have stiff triggers that "creep," and most hungers consider them too rough to be used for deer hunting. However, the trigger group as a sub-assembly, can be easily removed and taken to a gunsmith for the inexpensive work required to adjust and smooth it up. You can do it yourself with common tools and a video from AGI, but only if you are gifted in such work. It is best to BE SAFE!

(Ask any accessory supplier for a free catalog - they will put you on their mailing list if you want)

STOCKS
Many styles and grades of both fancy wood and synthetic (Zytel) moisture-proof and custom hunting stocks are available; such as Monte Carlo, Dragunov, Thumbhole, "Assault" , and AK47 style.

SCOPES
Many styles, makes, and power of scopes, rails and mounts, both foreign and domestic, made especially for the SKS, including numerous Chinese and Russian made commercial and surplus military scopes and mounts.

MUZZLE BREAKS and FLASH HIDERS
Many styles and models, to numerous to list, both fixed and removable, twist-on and pin-on, including AR-15 style, AK-47, AK-74, Krinkov, and Vortex, styles, etc.

TRIPODS
Harris tripods and other brands, as well as Chinese military and domestic folding, adjustable, and quick detachable tripods are in existence.

MAGAZINES
The rifle comes with the standard 10 round fixed magazine with bottom quick release similar to most hunting rifles. It is loadable singly, with 10 round stripper clips, or in the case of all the hi-capacity magazines available, either singly or using an inexpensive quick loader if you wish.

NOTE that the Democrat's 1994 so-called "Assault Rifle Ban" (read "Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban") also calls for no more than 10 round magazines (see update above*) except for those magazines made prior to this rifle ban. These are called "pre-ban" magazines and sec. 922r applies in some cases as to their use (and/or) detachability regarding the SKS, as well as their use in combination with certain other accessories. Check it out for yourself when you are in doubt (and hopefully you might be lucky enough to get the same answer from any two different BATF personnel).

OTHER REGULAR and (*) PRE-BAN MAGAZINES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE:
5 rnd fixed or detachable, flush fit hunting type, metal or Zytel.
20 rnd fixed or detachable (made and used by the Chinese military - about $14).
30 rnd fixed or detachable, metal or polyester
40 rnd fixed or detachable, metal or polyester
45 rnd fixed or detachable, metal or poly
50 rnd fixed or detachable, metal or poly
55 rnd fixed or detachable, metal only
75 rnd drum (Chinese military or Romanian), metal only (currently about $80)
100rnd drum, metal only, Chinese manufacture (currently selling for around $99).

NOTE: Some SKS rifles (the thumb-hole stocked "Sporter" versions) were made so as to accept all AK-47 magazines. Such pre-ban magazines both foreign and domestic, are currently still readily available, though getting more scarce.

This might change though, since the sunset of the "Assault Weapons Gun Ban" (see above*).

SLINGS
Many and various

OTHER ACCESSORIES
Reloading dies, brass, powder and primers
Magazine Loaders
Ventilated metal and/or Zytel handguards
Shell deflectors
Butt pads
Stock extensions
Ambidexterous safety levers
Scopes and mounts of all kinds
Flare launchers
Tools and cleaning kits
Chest pouches, etc
Broken shell extractors
Front and rear sight adjuster tools
Pistol grips
Different colored Front Sight posts - set of 5
Rear Sights of several types, adjustable for both elevation and windage
Extended Magazine Catches
Recoil Buffers
Stock tool
Stripper clips
Weaver adapters
Bi-pods
Laser Sights
...and much more.

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