SKS scout build suggestions

[These Two Hands]

I've a cheap Chinese built SKS which is kicking around doing nothing, it's a fun wee carbine and I kind of like to shoot it but I want to do something with it to give it a bit of life... I have done a "bubba" build on another SKS which ended up on a Tapco stock with pistol grip and and ugly-as-sin Tapco magazine with a pronounced duckbill. It was fun but I ended up not liking it very much and handed it on to somebody else.

I decided I'd like to do a bit of a scout rifle build with this one, as it's on a plain wooden stock and something about it just looks the part already to make it into one. Now, I know it's "breaking the rules" already in a few places, and it's definitely too heavy to be a textbook scout but I'm 250lbs myself and I personally consider it pretty light in the hands.

This one's stripper fed, or can be hand loaded into an internal mag that's supposed to hold 7 but always takes 8.

I want to keep everything pretty low cost, as it's about the cheapest bloody gun you can buy as it is... So looking for some suggestions on parts to use, what to do to it, just general ideas from people who know a bit more about this kind of thing than myself so I can think about how to make it into a nice little scout.

Go raibh maith agat!

 

[Chesten_Hesten]

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56294.120

 

[These Two Hands]

http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56294.120

Bit different than what I am looking to do with this one, but I am sure using the search feature over on that board should give me all the answers I need - thank you very much for the link matey!

 

[Stoic1]

Keep it in original configuration

 

[These Two Hands]

Keep it in original configuration

Yeah I started thinking I should keep this one pretty simple, like I said that last SKS build I didn't end up liking. My idea with this was pretty much to stick a scout scope mount onto it with (obviously) a 2x or 3x scout scope on it, jimmy up a ching sling for it and replace the bayonet fixture (it's been removed on this one) with bayonet. Keep it nice and simple, and it still fulfills most of the criteria for scout rifle - and I can live with those it doesn't quite fulfill as well.

I might sand back the stock and refinish it though, I don't quite like the way the wood looks but that's pretty straightforward anyway.

I've been digging around on the site that was linked, and found my way to a company that sells ready-to-go scout scope mounts for SKS, still working on the bayonet but I know a guy.

 

[Hankooks]

If you're dead set on an sks I'd try to find one that takes ak mags and start with that. If you can't find one of them get a 20rd fixed magazine. That's the only mod I do to them anymore.

 

[These Two Hands]

If you're dead set on an sks I'd try to find one that takes ak mags and start with that. If you can't find one of them get a 20rd fixed magazine. That's the only mod I do to them anymore.

Hi there, thanks for the input but it looks a little to me like either you didn't read the OP or I didn't explain myself well in the OP...

I've done a Bubba build on one before which included converting to magazine, wasn't happy with it in the end. I'm not looking to buy an SKS, I have one laying around the house which I decided to spruce up a bit - but I definitely don't want to go Bubba on it. They have a rustic charm to them which I wish to capitalize on and use it as the base for a scout rifle.

Building a scout rifle is only a few minor adjustments to the SKS and I could be mistaken but I am pretty sure Col. Cooper's criteria for a scout rifle allows for the strippers so I was planning on leaving that as is, fuck putting a magazine in again. The duckbills look ugly as sin, and converting them to take other mags is a massive pain in the ass for me - plus a scout build with strippers is rather inconspicuous compared to certain other modifications. I pretty much know what I'm doing now, have mounts and scout scope incoming via the post and am sorting out the bayonet. Just need a ching sling and it's pretty much done.

Not 100% a scout rifle, but let's call it "the SKout" and be done with it.

Thank you everyone for the advice.

 

[These Two Hands]

Oh and I'll chuck a ghost ring on the fucker too.

 

[Hankooks]

The 20rd magazine I'm talking about is fixed. Similar to the factory one but more capacity. Still loads from the top with strippers.

I'll take a pic of mine here in a minute.

I can't get it to post from my phone for some reason. Just Google sks 20rd fixed magazine. You'll see what I mean.

 

[These Two Hands]

Thanks, I Googled them - looks like they're made for the Chinese SKS which is exactly what I have this time round. Apparently they can be hard to find though, but I'll look. If I can find one I'll add it to the build. I thought you meant those 20rd Tapco mags.

 

[Roaming East]

well its never gonna be a good scout rifle. Doesnt have the range, the accuracy or the weight. You'd have to someone chop about 3 pounds off it, which i guess a good synthetic stock might help with, but the 7.62x39 is nothing if not terrible at a scout cartridge role and the SKS' accuracy with that round is....undesirable?

 

[These Two Hands]

well its never gonna be a good scout rifle. Doesnt have the range, the accuracy or the weight. You'd have to someone chop about 3 pounds off it, which i guess a good synthetic stock might help with, but the 7.62x39 is nothing if not terrible at a scout cartridge role and the SKS' accuracy with that round is....undesirable?

Thanks for your input, I think either you haven't read the OP or I haven't explained what I'm doing very well.

 

[Sean Kotch]

Get a Rhodesian sling from Andy's Leather if you don't want to use a third sling swivel.

 

[Roaming East]

Thanks for your input, I think either you haven't read the OP or I haven't explained what I'm doing very well.

i read it, and I still stand by it. When you say 'i want to build a scout rifle' you are talking about a very tightly defined specification. a light weight, carbine length full power rifle with excellent accuracy mounting a LER optic
The SKS basically only meats the length requirements and everything else is a wash. Its like asking for a good conceal carry weapon but has to use the Remington 870 as a base.

But if i had to do a scout build with an SKS?
-Ramline synthetic SKS stock
-AR gear SKS scope mount OR Scout Industries 7in SKS scope mount. The first is a high rise that allows you to maintain the use of the iron sights. The second is not but is mounted forward for a LER that will allow you to mount an optic and still use stripper clips to reload
-any good quality 2.5-4x LER scope. Leupold makes a decent one.
-start reloading. you're never gonna find factory 7.62x39 worth a shit accuracy wise. you'll have to make it yourself. It can be done even within the short ballistic envelope of that cartridge.
-oh and a integrated bipod setup like NCstars is never a bad idea. gives you some stability if you dont mind the extra weight at the front making standing shots....interesting.