Goal: To create an inexpensive “tactical” rifle using the Norinco SKS-D as a starting point. Visualized was a cheap, reliable rifle mounting a reflex sight in a scout configuration. As the scout mount replaces the existing rear leaf sight, a replacement rear peep sight was required to ensure that some sighting system remained available to the user should the optics be damaged or otherwise fail. A series of minor asthetic and ergonomic changes were planned in order to create a more comfortable rifle overall.
Stay tuned, this entry will be updated as the modifications are made.
This project came about after a few discussions on the Zombie Squad Survival Forums about the perfect “Anti-zombie” rifle. I felt the SKS was quite probably the perfect rifle for this role, but still found myself favoring the more expensive residents of my gun cabinet. I began this project in an effort to create the perfect general purpose anti-zombie rifle “On a budget”. As such I allowed a maximum of $150 for the slated improvements (magazines, ammunition and existing mods excepted).
Modification 1: Bolt Carrier – The Albanian version of the SKS features a different bolt carrier with a curved charging handle (as opposed to the “knob” that is standard on most other SKS variants). I had acquired one of these some years back, and it has been present on the SKS-D since I first bought it.
Besides being a bit more pleasing to the eye, I’ve found the curved charging handle to be easier to manipulate while on the range (it feels more familiar, like the M1 or M14). Installation could not be easier as this is a “drop in” part, simply swapping out your current bolt carrier for the Albanian one (I have used this bolt carrier on my Tula, Norinco SKS and now the Norinco SKS-D with no problems what so ever).
Modification 2: Handguard – An asthetic change that I have been meaning to make for some time was the replacement of the wooden handguard with a ventilated metal version. I’ve not seen many offered through local suppliers, and eventually I turned to Ebay finding one for dirt cheap.
Installation was fairly simple, involving driving a retaining pin from the gas cylinder (a little difficult as it was hard to determine which side of the pin to hammer on), then removing the handguard retaining cap (entire process is better documented here). Installing the new handguard was simplicity itself compared to removing the old wooden one.
Modification 3: Front sight – Williams markets a fibreoptic front sight post replacement for the SKS. Designed to improve the visibility in “low light” conditions, this sight is not adjustable for elevation or windage (which is not important as the rear aperature I’ll be installing adjusts for windage) and was fairly simple to install.
To install the firesight you remove the front sight post, and drive the drum out to either the left or right (this is much easier if you have the C-clamp style sight adjustment tool, fortunately I do). Then drop in the Firesight and tighten down a screw that sits in the old drum cavity and you’re away).
Modification 4: Rear Aperature Sight – TechSights has come up with a receiver mounted peep sight for the SKS (the TS100), exactly what I needed with the planned installation of the scout mount (and removal of current rear leaf sight) from mine (excellent service from these guys by the way, prompt responses and quick shipping). The sight mounts across the rear of the receiver replacing the receiver cover retaining pin.
Installation (including removal of the leaf sight) took approximately 45 minutes of fiddling, but the instructions included are excellent. The sight picture is not exactly “clean” as the mount for the leaf sight obstructs the lower portion of the front sight post, but still provides a much improved overall sight picture (without machining the “wings” on top of the leaf sight mount down theres really no way to improve this and keep an overall low profile). As the rear aperature sight is intended to serve as “back-up iron sights” this is more than acceptable for my purposes.
Modification 5: Scout Mount – Millet offers a scout mount that replaces the rear sight for the AK47 and SKS. Using the mounting points on the rifle, this mount provides a basic rail for weaver style scopes.
Installation was fairly simple, with the one hiccup being the removal of the rear sight spring (this is required as the Millet mount utilizes a piece that slides into the spring recess and provides tension to keep the mount stable). Once this was done, the sight was installed (with only a little percussive effort) and I was immediately impressed with how solid the mount was.
Removal is easy, requiring only an allen key to release a single bolt, and then the removal of the cross pin (this had been a concern of mine as the mount WILL have to be removed in order to clean the gas cylinder on the rifle). Millet appears to have taken this into account, as the elevation screw does not need to be adjusted for removal, and should facilitate a “return to zero” when the mount is re-attached.
Sadly the mount (as I suspected) is high enough to block the iron sights altogether, but as removal is simple this is not a catastrophic set-back.
Modification 6: Optics – The final modification slated for this rifle was the addition of an inexpensive reflex sight. Until the reflex sight arrives I obtained a red dot scope which serves the same purpose and will allow me to test the rifle at the range.
While less asthetically pleasing than the reflex sight, the red dot is located perfectly when the rifle is shouldered, and gives the user a wide field of view.
The reflex sight finally arrived, and as I’ve already got the red dot I’ll test them out on the range and figure out which is the better option.
It certainly looks a little more futuristic than the uber-red dot.
Modification 7: Tactical Illuminator (Flashlight) – It was a bargain, and I couldn’t resist, a flashlight with remote switch was picked up for a song, and mounted on the rifle. The results (when combined with the red dot sight) are amazing.
The flashlight was moved to the strong side of the rifle, as I felt during range tests that the weak side (or body side when slung) should be kept as obstruction free as possible.
Modification 8: Stock overhaul – A customized stock designed to incorporate a pistol grip into a standard SKS stock. Key goals were the retention of the storage compartment in the buttstock, and utilization of the hollow pistolgrip to store extra hex keys needed for disassembly of the rifle in the field.
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I just happend on this site while searching sks mods. I really like the mods you did, and the OD grean/black tiger paint is sick.
I just got my first yugo and am turning it into a sniper rifle. I have two stocks, one the swing out synthetic type and the regulator wood. I was going to use the synthetic for the sniper version and leave the wooden as is for the classic look. The problem im having is the the synthetic stock seem alittle too big and I can’t get a nice smug fit…about 1/8th inch play when assembled.
LOL…Can’t have that now can we. I was think about making some kind of shim or weadge to solve this, But I really dont like the synthetic stock that much anyway so I might end up selling it if I cant make it loveable. Any ideas from getting a better fit?
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Thanks for the info, I’ll let you know how it comes out. I may have to just call this my AZR MK2 project, as I am also a strong advocate that the only way to survise the raising of the undead is to prepare with what little time is left avalible to us.
Bart: Want to hear something that really sucks? You guys know that chick at Dairy Queen?
CJ: The fat one?
Bart: Yeah. She was coming over tonight. I would have tapped that shit for sure.
Terry: Bart — dude, everybody’s dead, okay? Your mom’s dead. Your brother’s dead. That fat chick at Dairy Queen… dead.
Bart: Yeah. That sucks too.
Where can I get the Albanian verison of the ‘Bolt Carrier’ for my Chinese SKS?
Damon: Not sure where you can find one. I got mine at the exchange forums over at Canadian Gun Nutz, and I know they were available south of the border, but a quick google search wasn’t any help tracking one down.
I s’pose you could always fashion your own by grinding the charging handle on a standard bolt down, or welding a new handle on, might take a bit of metalworking skill but it wouldn’t be that difficult.
Good luck!
doing my 2nd ATI stock installation, and this is the 2nd time I’ve pounded every way possible on that handguard retaining pin. I got my 1st one done after a lot of work, but the 2nd one isn’t budging with 2 adult men pounding like apes.
Anyone have any tips or tricks, other than the very attractive option of just buying a new complete handguard assy with tube already in place?
I miss the SKS.
Me too. I need to get cracking on the VZ58 as a new project.
Mugwug, very impressive tactical sks rifle and outstanding work, concerning the Albanian SKS Bolt Carrier, were the stamped numbers missing when you received it or did you file them off, if so what did you use and how did you complete this, as it looks as if it was made that way without any stamped numbers?
On my norinco (china) sks i am trying to get off the pistol grip. how does it come off?? i am trying to put a new tapco stock on, but I can see inside the hole. i dont know what size socket it takes. any tips???
I have already posted my great opinion of this project and have some pics I would like to send of my own , but I am having some difficulty finding the albanian bolt to replace the one in my yugo, I have been serching online and at gun shows with no luck. Any ideas or suggestions where i ca find one and is there any modifications need for it ?
thanks
Shaun
Edit: albanian bolt carrier and will the yugo bolt need modding?
Hey, I know this article is pretty old but i am having a heck of a time finding the flashlight with mount you have on your sks. could you let me know the brand it was? was it by chance a panther? i cant find a good flashlight that comes with a barrel clamp bracket like that, driving me crazy.
For anyone looking for a cheap but very good tactical flashlight like this one that can clamp onto the barrel check this out. Ive done alot of looking, first off they dont really sell barrel clamps with the flashlights anymore so this is the best way to go about it without getting some really ugly looking clamp. First either go to sportsmansguide.com or ebay and purchase the Panther brand tactical light that comes with a scope ring to mount to rails, i got mine for 26 bucks with my discount from the guide plus ten dollars off with my coupon(they have tons of great sales with a membership). Then go straight to ebay and search QD Nut’ the qd nut clamps to your gun barrel with allen wrench screws and it has a mini rail on it that you in turn put your flashlight thats connected to the scope ring on and you have a set up just like the one in the pics. On ebay the qd nut was 8 bucks with shipping. will probly need paypal tho because all the qd nuts were from australia or hong kong. thanks and good luck
I recently got a Norinco SKS, so I’m new to the weapon-
I am wondering whether or not a “tick” noise in the gas tube/piston area is normal when the weapon is tipped forward/back and forth-when I bring the muzzle down? it sounds like its the piston sliding forward slightly and contacting the inner surface of the gas tube. The gun fires well as far as I can tell-its this little noise that bugs me. I have not taken the gas system apart whatsoever.
hey, the noise with your piston is normal for the sks.. also i noticed you said you fired the gun without checkin the piston out etc.. next time i would highly reccomend looking the gun over as much as possible, it is extremely easy to strip down a sks especialy the gas chamber, good luck and have fun. i really enjoy the sks’s. at a second note its usually not worth puting alot of crap hanging on there, u usually will go back to the stock gun.. a little white paint on the front post sight and a possible bipod is what i like now, very versatile.
I have a Norinco sporter. chrome line barrel .. machined bolt. Tapco t6 stock, leapers tactical red dot , UTG tri receiver rail combo. UTG xenon tac light, AIM folding bayonet lug mount bi pod, UTG folding fore grip, NC star flash suppressor, t6 butt stock pad, sks buffer, firesight combo, t6 removable 20rd clips.. ITS OFF THE CHAIN.. i love it more than my M4!!! I did all the smithing myself..most of it in minutes…spent $500 on total gun and parts.. its a deff favorite in my rifle case…..
since that soldier was built ive bought 3 more..
ive laid down multiple targets up to 200 yards using suppressive fire with the 20 rounds allotted in my clip (note using precision rounds) ball ammunition isnt as effective with suppressive fire at longer ranges but is good for plinking lol…. and ive shot 8 inch groups at 400 yards (note using precision rounds).. for the price you cant beat it!!
CLEAN YOUR GUN. I DO A COMPLETE OVERHAUL AFTER EVERY TRIP TO THE RANGE!!
and my friends i just made an easy $30 to clean up there overshot worn out sks… its imperative that you clean your gun!!! THEY ARE DEPENDABLE RIFLES BUT WONT PREFORM AT OPTIMAL LEVELS DIRTY AND GUMMY… true they will still fire.. but when you can hit a barn at 30 yards lol something is wrong 
ive had ton of guys bring me there sks and say it jams it shoots like crud.. they dont know whats wrong with it.. i ask them have you ever cleaned it.. there response 99% of the time is umm..i dont kno how to
cant*
Hiding away in his room with his books and metrics to protect him, he isolates himself from all human relationships because he has identified those relationships as the originator of all his heartfelt pain. He is a tor and an island.
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