SKS cleaning

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by NVBeav, Feb 24, 2007.


  1. NVBeav

    NVBeav Monkey+++

    I bought the "Big CD-Rom" set from surplusrifle.com a few weeks ago and finally looked at some of the contents (imagine that!).

    There was a video on disassembling your SKS, so I watched with amazement seeing before my eyes how to take it apart. I had never realized it was so easy to remove some of the pieces.

    Tonight I spent about 2 hours cleaning places I had always thought a gun smith would have to do. It's not too easy and I could probably have done better, but at least I got the gummy gunk they used to store the rifle all off.

    Only 9 weeks until my dsa fal comes in...
     
  2. magnus392

    magnus392 Field Marshall Mags Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Cool deal, The SKS is a nice rifle, glad you like it:D
     
  3. ridgerunner58

    ridgerunner58 Monkey+++

    Lots of fun cleaning that gunk off,isn't it....I think I'll send for the CD-Rom you mentioned.
     
  4. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Brake cleaner soaking, with a bit of soft wire brush. Patience is helpful ---[troll]
     
  5. NVBeav

    NVBeav Monkey+++

    Just remembered what that gunk is called: Cosmoline.

    Here is a link to a PDF article at SurplusRifle about it and how he cleans it off. The guy I bought my SKS from said to use Simple Green, which actually worked pretty well for me.

    Besides my old Ruger 10/22, this was the first "real" rifle I've ever had. It was good training cleaning it off and learn more about it.
     
  6. Gallowglass

    Gallowglass Winter is coming

    Congratulations on your new SKS. I have 3 of them (and am planning on a fourth) now and I think they are the best weapon for me in a SHTF situation.

    I read online about a guy who used boiling water to clean the cosmoline off his new SKS and, with much foreboding, gave it a try this last time around.

    To my relief it worked like a charm and the weapon cleaned up great with absolutely no corrosion problems. They really are a joy to disassemble compared with most rifles.

    Congrats again.
     
  7. NVBeav

    NVBeav Monkey+++

    Gallowglass --
    Thanks for the information about using boiling water. I might still try that because there are still traces of cosmoline in the areas of the front and rear sights.

    Question on sighting in:
    I sighted in my iron sights today at the local range, so I'm curious how you sight in yours? I've got a lot to learn about this... maybe you have some ideas.

    Sighting in a 25 yards gives consistent results. Afterwards, I moved out to 50 yards and the rifle shot about 3-inches high. At 100 yards it shot about 6-inches high. That was all the further I went out today.

    Is this standard for an SKS to have such a high arch like this?
     
  8. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    On an SKS, and most military style rifles for that mater, your sights are elevated far enouph above the bore that range makes more diffrence on the point of impact than with most sporting rifles, basicly just like if you have a scope on a rifle and especialy if it has the raised rings. If you sight it in at 100 yards you should be within about 3" + or - on elevation from the barrel out to around 175-200 yards or so without messing with the range elevator.
     
  9. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    Turn the front sight post to adjust the POI to match POA using your preferred ammo. If you don't have the sight tool, a black powder nipple wrench will work, or some needlenose pliers for the truly gun-tool-challenged.
    Raise the post to lower POI, lower it to raise POI.
     
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