|
|
#1
10-26-2005, 10:08 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Yugo SKS's
One of our local gun shops had a sale a few weeks ago, and they had the M59/66 Yugo SKS on sale for $99.00. Scraping up some extra cash, I bought four of them.
Getting them home and out of the box was like Christmas in September! Taking a look at them I noticed a few things. Three of them had been used, really used. Stocks were rough, finish was really rough. The fourth, while obviously an issue rifle, looked pretty good. The next thing I noticed is cosmoline. They look like they had been submerged in it. Parts would not work because there was so much of it. So I set them out and started cleaning. After spending an hour on the first one, I said the heck with it and went out for some brake cleaner. That did a really good job of removing the cosmoline, but it also pulls oils out of the metal and I had to use liberal amounts of gun oil afterwards. 2 Hours later all rifles are clean, parts are working as they should, and I am happier. Looking down the barrels, they look clean and bright. There is no pitting or rust and the rifling looks great. I take the best looking one and set it aside. I like keeping one "as is" and take the best looking one for that. The next best, so to speak, received a synthetic stock and a scope. That was fun. Simple swap my rear! The new cover/scope mount assembly had to have a LOT of fitting to seat properly. But finally, I have a scope on my rifle. Nothing fancy, but it looks cool and it works. Put it in a case and its ready for my next trip to the range to sight in. I am also thinking of having this one rebarreled. The idea of a 7.62x39 shrunk down to 6.5mm, 6mm or .257 really piques my curiosity. Not to mention that I don't think I would meet many others with that setup. I plan on removing the grenade sight, and the thought ran through my head to have the grenade launcher drilled out as recoil reducer. This one is "the lets see how much we can mess with it rifle." The worst looking pair got sent to Salbo arms, here in North Carolina (www.salboarms.com ). Each rifle will have the metal refinished, and the furniture as well. It's the first time I have ever sent anything to them and when I get them back I will post pictures. They will be parkerized and receive a flat black gunkote. The bayonette will also be flat black, instead of silver. The wood will be refinished in a dark walnut with a satin finish. It costs $200.00 a rifle for this. So I am getting a pair of $90.00 rfiles refinished, no big deal right? Heck the case I sent them off in costs more than they did put together! You would think so, but I am as anxious as an expectant father to get them back! I should have them before Thanksgiving, I am heading south with the boys for a family gathering, which includes a trip to the range. It will be a blast. Now, I want another surplus rifle. I am not sure what I will get yet. But I am looking around. Anyone have ideas for my next ex-miltary rifle? David 
|
|
#2
10-27-2005, 08:01 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
David,
Welcome to the Forum. From what I gather from you post, you did not carefully inspect the 4 guns before you bought them and took them out of the box. I always thoroughly inspect prospective purchases before I buy them. It seems like $200 per SKS to refinish them would have been better spent on buying Excellent+ condition arms from the get go. I am not trying to second guess you here. Most SKSs have chrome lined bores so they should be shiny, even if well worn. I remove cosmoline by dunking parts in hot, soapy water and melting the gung off. A large coffee can of water at near boiling will soften the grease. For your next project, you might consider a M48 Yugo or a Russian Mosin as they seem to be quite common these days. Adam
__________________
Adam Helmer
|
|
#3
10-27-2005, 02:52 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
So now I know a lot more than I did, and not nearly as much as I want. I consider the whole thing a learning experience. And as far as they go it was pretty cheap. I still have the rifles, although with quite a bit more money invested than needed. And unlike other learning experiences, this one only goes off when I pull the trigger! One of the things I learned.. Most SKS's indeed have a chrome lined barrel. Except for the Yugo's. Yugoslavia has little or no chromium ore deposits so no chrome lined barrels. David
|
|
#4
10-27-2005, 05:39 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
David,
Ok so you are on this side of the transaction and you gotta live with it. I was intrigued when you said in your last post, "On sale day we were not able to open the boxes." Ok, so that is when you should have walked out! Just WHY were you "not able to open the boxes?" Wot is going on here??? You need to look before you buy. Remember: Caveot Emptor, let the buyer beware. If some mope told me to bid on or buy a box I could not inspect, I would show him/her "Their Sign!" (That is a finger signal for mopes that restrict potential buyer inspections.) Adam
__________________
Adam Helmer
|
|
#5
10-27-2005, 06:32 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
I am currently checking out the Yugo M48 and the Russian Mosin. I leaned toward the M48 first, but now I checking ou the Mosin. I will let you know when I figure it out. David
|
|
#6
10-28-2005, 09:43 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
It depends
I agree with some of the points that Adam raised. He and I have been buying surplus arms since 1958. I would not buy anything sight unseen unless there was a return provision. Here in the Commonwealth, we have a 3-day return option on some purchases.
Let us know how the rifle refurbishment projects turn out. All the best... Gil
|
|
#7
10-29-2005, 01:07 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
just a point of reference.
the Yugo sks does _not_ have a chrome lined bore, if it is lined, it isn't a yugo, or it's been relined. Yugoslavia does not have any chromium mines. It was decided that for the typical service life of the weapons, it was not cost effective to import chromium, when with good cleaning they could save some cash, and still have a decent rifle. In general the fit, finish, and general quality of the yugo sks is typically higher than many others, it simply doesn't have the chrome lined bore. That's what i have always been told, and i've not seen or heard anything to contradict it. If i am misinformed, please speak up.
|
|
#8
11-18-2005, 04:59 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I got my SKS's back from Salbo Arms today. He refinished the stocks in walnut, parkerized the metal and finished it up with a flat black gunkote. The first rifle out of the case looked great. The finish was even, you could still read the markings, and the sight numbers had been repainted. I lost the night sights, but they didnt work anyway. The stock had all the dings, dents, and scratches removed or repaired. It is smooth with an even finish and feels so much better than before.
The second one, the metal was also great. The finish on the stock was different, I dont know if it was grease, the grain, or something the person refinsihing the stock meant, or didn't mean to do. But I like it a lot. I attached a picture of it, I hope. All in all I like them. I still have 2 (I bought another one, and did a much better job this time thanks to you all) in original configuration. I am now on hold until after Christmas, but come January I will be patiently on the prowl for my next mil surplus rifle. David Last edited by Ak_Red; 11-18-2005 at 05:04 PM.
|
|
#10
11-18-2005, 06:52 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thanks for posting the pictures
Looks like a decent refurbishment. All the best...
Gil
|
 |
|
|
Linear Mode
