by Zman
I am a gunsmith working in Canada and I come across a lot of firearms but one I would like to recommend would be the SKS. But first a little background…
The SKS was built in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. It was the first rifle of its kind to be chambered for the 7.62 X 39 round. Which is a fairly decent short to medium-range cartridge. They originally came with internal 10 round magazines that could be fed with a stripper clip but there are variations which I will get to further into this article.
It was used as a second line battle rifle when it was replaced by the Original AK-47.
The reason why I am going to talk about the SKS is for a multiple of reasons. First of all, in Canada, it is not legal for 95% of the population to own AK or AR-style firearms as they are considered prohibited or restricted.
The SKS is considered a standard Hunting rifle in Canada with a five-round magazine so you only need a basic Firearms License to possess one here. Second is they are very inexpensive to buy in Canada. Ammo is very Inexpensive and easy to get.
I bought 1300 rounds of Bulgarian FMJ for $200.00 plus tax. Hunting Ammo is about $15.00 for 20 rounds. The last reason why I like them is they are reliable, fairly accurate and are easily accessorized.
There are different models of SKS available in the surplus and yes civilian market. The most common ones I come across are Russian re-man SKS, Chinese type 56, Chinese Type 56-D and Yugoslavian.
The Russian Remanufactured SKS come in varying degrees. It is easy to tell if it is a Russian remanufactured because first of all a lot of them will have a big star over the receiver cover with a date. Some will have Cyrillic script (Russian writing) on the side of the receiver and some won’t.
If it is a Russian re-man all the serialized parts will have the same number but with one, two or three X’s behind them showing that the gun was built from either spare parts or parts of other ruined SKS. Most Russian styles come with a standardknifebayonet.
Some Russian SKS rifles come with the Chrome Lined barrel and some don’t so keep your eye out especially when using corrosive ammo which is about 80% of the market for ammo. They also have a polished uncoated receiver unless it is the rare version with a black coated receiver for NBC operations.
The Chinese Type 56 comes in three variations. The regular type 56 will have the standard (Pickle Stabber) style Bayonet which is basically a three-sided bayonet. It will have the standard internal mag pinned of course to 5 rounds in Canada, a Chrome Barrel (Which I highly recommend) and either Chinese Characters on the receiver or sometimes English depending on what factory it was produced in.
The Chinese Type 56 D, Comes with a detachable AK 47-AKM magazine and it has no bayonet lug. All other parts are interchangeable with the rest of the type 56 or another SKS.
Be very careful of the third type of Chines SKS it just has SKS and 7.62 X 39 written on the side and it is not a type 56 and it was made for the Civilian market. These were very cheaply produced by Norinco in the mid-’90s to mid-2000s.
They are of relatively poor quality and the parts are not interchangeable. They are not made from machined receivers and the Gas Tube is ½” Shorter than the Standard SKS. I have had a couple of these come in and they will work but they are not very good quality.
Almost all of the Chines stuff at this time are Original unfired and stored military surplus made in the mid to late ’60s. I highly recommend these as they are very accurate and they have a coated receiver that helps reduce rusting from corrosive ammo all the serial numbers and parts match, there machined receivers and all of these firearms have chrome-lined barrels.
The Last SKS style I see is the Yugoslavian version. It is very similar to the Russian versions but it has the spigot type grenade launcher and folds down grenade sight. They are neat looking but the grenade launcher isn’t very useful as it is not possible to get the grenades so it just adds weight. They also come with the standard Knife style bayonet.
When buying your SKS I tell everyone to do this first. Look to see if it has a silver ring on the inside of the muzzle as this shows if it is chrome lined. If it is black chances are it is not. There is nothing wrong accuracy wise with the non-chrome but it is easier on the barrel when using corrosive ammo.
![Is The SKS legal in Canada? [And Review] (2)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== "Is The SKS legal in Canada? [And Review] (2)")
Also, look down the barrel with light; you are looking for pitting, rusting and non-sharp lands and grooves. The next thing to do is pull the gas tube off. What you want to make sure is that there is no pitting and the Gas Piston inside is snug and not sloppy. You are also looking for rust as I have had a couple of Russian re-mans come in with holes rusted right through the Gas tube and these were both on “just bought” military surplus rifles.
The owners came in saying it would not eject the rounds and this is what the problem was. Next, if you can pull the whole SKS out of the Stock the reason why you want to do this is some of the surplus stocks have dry rot and you do not notice it much on the outside but on the inside it is obvious.
If you plan on replacing the stock with a Tapco, ATI, Archangel, etc. the stock probably won’t mean much, but use this as a tactic to buy the SKS at a better price. The last thing to look at is the bolt itself. Make sure the Firing Pin isn’t Jammed forward and make sure there is no excessive wear or rust.
When you get your newly purchased SKS home you must clean the cosmoline (Gun Grease) out of it before firing. That basically means you must strip the gun completely down especially the Chines versions. I strip all the metal parts and I first rub them down with a rag and take all visible cosmoline off of the parts then I run the parts under hot water with a little dish soap.
I then rub the parts down with a dry rage and then heat my oven to its lowest setting and put the parts in for 10 minutes to dry. After this, I use G96 Gun Cleaner/Lubricator on the Gun. You can use any Gun Lubrication such as Rem Oil or CLP etc. but I like the G96.
Ensure that you tear the bolt assembly with the firing pin totally apart including pulling out the firing pin. The firing pin is held in with a pin just use a punch and hammer to knock it out. You must clean the firing pin hole out because grease in there can harden and cause your gun to max (Go fully Auto) with no control or worse slam fire.
These firing pins have no springs so there is no resistance to hold the pin back. You can buy spring kits but as long as you clean, lubricate and take care of your firearm I have found that the spring kits are not necessary.
The easy way to tell if the firing pin is clean is by holding the bolt near your ear and shaking it you should hear the firing pin moving back and forth easily with no delay. You can also grab the end of the firing pin and it should move easily. If it doesn’t move freely take apart the bolt and clean and lubricate again.
With the stock, I use Window Cleaner and a rag to get the grease off. Do not put this in the oven or under the tap with water as most of the stocks are not finished in the inside. I do not recommend using any solvent-based cleaner, especially on the stocks as I found they do not work as nice and it can damage wood or plastic parts I have seen this first hand.
As well I have seen firearms that had chemical solvents that were not fully cleaned out and the damage created from this can be bad especially on finishes on moving parts.
I have come across varying degrees of accuracy of these rifles but to be honest, I have found the best accuracy with the Chines type 56. I have sighted in all kinds and these seem to be the most consistent. When sighting in please use good quality ammo as the Army Surplus can have spoiler rounds and the accuracy of some is excellent and of other kinds can be very poor.
I would recommend maybe buying some American Eagle as it is always very consistent, if that is not available Sellier and Bellot I have found works very well or even if you can find it the Hornady is very good. I am not a big fan of the open sights but they seem to be fairly adequate up to 100 yards after that the front sight seems to be too big and makes shooting tuff.
I personally would scope every one. (Just my opinion) as they make great scope mounts for these so you can still use the open sights.
When you are finished firing these firearms I highly recommend cleaning them and if you use corrosive ammo you must clean them or they end up at my place where I get to fix them. I use the hot water and soap method but you can also use glass cleaner.
If you are in an extremely humid climate or extremely rainy I always recommend on all guns to use good old 10W30 Motor Oil on the outside of your firearms metal parts.
I will not get into accessories in this article and if anyone wants me to do a write up on the accessories or have any more questions then please leave them in the comments and I will answer them the best I can.
Also, remember that nothing in this article should be considered legal advice. Before you buy, own, or use a firearm of any kind you are responsible for checking and following or not any local, state or federal laws for your area. Thank you.
FAQs
And, in 2019, two teenagers legally purchased a SKS rifle in British Columbia, killed three people and sparked a massive manhunt until they committed suicide. Despite this bloody record, the SKS rifle remains non-restricted. It can be purchased by anyone with an ordinary firearm license, sometimes for less than $400.
Can you hunt with a SKS in Canada? ›
In Canada, SKS magazines are pinned to 5 rounds. It's a bit of a pain in the ass, because it means you have to fashion your own 5 round stripper clips to take hunting but it's also a decent amount of ammo to take out on a hunt. A lot of the guys sporting WSM or WSSMs only have 2 or 3 rounds per magazine.
Is the SKS still a good rifle? ›
The SKS rifle is a battle-proven gun with a classic look. Its wooden stock is a sign to many of a traditional, reliable, and ready-to-use rifle. It is not hard to find an SKS in great condition with little wear and tear, at an attractive price since so many were produced.
Is the SKS considered an assault rifle? ›
AK 47 and SKS are both assault rifles, which have been widely used the world over. Both the weapons are Russian made. AK 47 or Automatic Kalashnikov was designed by Mikhail T Kalashnikov.
Are SKS rifles banned in Canada 2020? ›
The government conveniently left the SKS off of the banned list because they know a large number of people own them, and they weren't prepared to spend what little political capital they have left with law-abiding gun owners.
Is an SKS legal? ›
Zastava SKS Carbines 59/66 are considered destructive devices in California and therefore may not be purchased, possessed, imported, or kept for sale without a permit. These weapons were incorporated into the Yugoslavian Army in 1966 and are constructed with grenade launchers on them.
Can you use an SKS for deer hunting? ›
The SKS has gained popularity as a large game rifle due to its wide availability, low cost, and easy maintenance. It is a great rifle for medium-range deer hunting, firing the 7.62×39 Russian cartridge. For longer-range shots, it isn't a good platform and you should consider other caliber rifles.
Can you shoot a handgun on your own property in Canada? ›
Yes, no legislation places blanket restrictions on the required distance from a property line or on the calibre of the ammunition discharged on private property.
How loud is an SKS? ›
The criminal used a SKS rifle, with 7.62mm ammunition. Without a suppressor, the sound of a shot from such a gun is 165 decibels. This is more than twice as loud as a jet take-off, if you are 25 meters from the jet. With a suppressor, the SKS would be about 140db.
Why is the SKS so cheap? ›
The SKS has an odd place in the civilian world, too. Because China produced so many — and exported so many — the carbine has become a cheap, popular hunting and sporting weapon in the West.
Notwithstanding, the SKS rifle did feature several limitation that eventually designated it obsolete by the Soviet Armed Forces in the 1950s. Eventually, the SKS was replaced by the AK-47 which features a larger magazine as well as select-fire capability.
What makes an SKS valuable? ›
Please note that as a collectors piece, the value of SKS rifles are greater if they retain the original finish as well as the original bayonet. Another nuance is whether all the parts of the firearm have matching serial numbers.
Which is better AK 47 or SKS? ›
AK 47 is more reliable as compared to SKS because of its great loose design. In combats, AK 47 has mostly replaced SKS. The SKS rifle has better accuracy as compared to AK 47as SKS has a longer sight radius and it is easy to target.
What armies still use the SKS? ›
While never adopted for use by combat units, the SKS is still in use in ceremonial units of the Polish Army, Air Force, Navy where they replaced SVT rifles.
Is SKS a sniper? ›
The SKS (Samozaryadny Karabin sistemy Simonova) is a designated marksman rifle, being a middle ground between a typical assault rifle and a sniper rifle.
What guns are banned in Canada 2021? ›
Prohibition on assault-style firearms
As of May 1, 2020 the Government of Canada has prohibited over 1,500 models of assault-style firearms and certain components of some newly prohibited firearms (the upper receivers of M16, AR-10, AR-15, and M4 patterns of firearms).
What guns are allowed in Canada now? ›
The Three Legal Classes of Firearms in Canada:
Non-restricted firearms are ordinary hunting and sporting rifles, shotguns and airguns with an overall length of 660mm or greater. Many airguns fall into this class because they are capable of achieving a muzzle velocity of 500 feet per second.
Why are Norinco guns banned? ›
Norinco has been cloning and selling American designs on the international market for decades. In the United States, the company is banned because it tried to sell guns directly to gangs in the 1990s.
What is a Norinco SKS? ›
Norinco SKS Type 56 Blued Semi Automatic Rifle - 7.62x39mm - Used - The SKS is a gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle chambered for the Russian 7.62x39mm round. It has a fixed, non-detachable 10-round magazine, wood stock, and a manual safety. The SKS Type 56 is a Chinesse manufatured version of the SKS.
Are SKS is banned in the United States? ›
The Chinese rifle that Secret Service agents said a gunman used Saturday has been illegal to import into the United States since May, federal officials said.
Rocket launchers found in trash can near California school Grenades and rocket launchers are federally classified as firearms and are therefore legal with proper registration. But in California, possessing a destructive device is illegal.
What is the effective range of 7.62 x39? ›
7.62x39 ammo fires a 123 grain weight fmj bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2,350 fps for a combat effective range of 400 yards. With the popularity of the 7.62x39 on the rise, soft point (SP) hunting ammo has become more readily available for hunting whitetail and other medium sized game animals.
Can you hunt with FMJ in Canada? ›
and "FMJ is illegal to own in Canada", things people say but is not the law. You right NOT illegal...not the best round (hunter perspective) to shot a deer with, so not recommended, but NOT illegal or unethical.
How many rounds does a SKS hold? ›
SKS Overview
The SKS comes equipped with 20-round magazines firing 7.62x39mm ammunition. It's got a fast fire rate, but don't think that means it doesn't pack a punch.
Can you carry a gun while hiking in Canada? ›
In general, the only firearms allowed for wilderness protection are non-restricted rifles and shotguns. However, Canadian residents may be authorized to carry a handgun or restricted long gun for wilderness protection or for lawful occupational purposes if they: are licensed to possess restricted firearms.
Can I carry a shotgun in my car in Canada? ›
Transporting firearms
Canadian law states that you have to transport all firearms, including antique firearms, unloaded. If you are transporting them in a vehicle, they must be kept out of sight in a part of a vehicle that is kept locked (the trunk, if there is one), unless the vehicle is supervised by an adult.
What can I carry for self defense in Canada? ›
Any rifle or shotgun that is neither restricted nor forbidden falls into this category. Long guns are generally considered legal self-defense weapons in Canada, but there are several exceptions.
What caliber is the Russian SKS? ›
The SKS is a Soviet semiautomatic, self loading, piston operated carbine, chambered for the 7.62x39mm round, designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov.
Do you need hearing protection with a suppressor? ›
Attaching a suppressor to the end of the barrel can reduce damaging noise, but may not lower it to hearing-safe levels. This means that to effectively protect their hearing, recreational firearm users should always wear proper hearing protection devices on their ears, even when firearms are equipped with suppressors.
How quiet is a silencer? ›
How much do suppressors reduce sound? Modern day silencers typically can reduce the noise about 14.3-43 decibels, depending on a variety of factors, such as whether it's a subsonic bullet or not; length of the barrel/silencer; etc.
History note
The Chinese Type 56 Carbine was a copy of the Soviet SKS. This self-loading carbine was the creation of Soviet firearms designer S G Simonov. It was a gas-operated weapon, intended to exploit the introduction of the new Soviet M43 7.62mm cartridge.
Will an SKS take AK mags? ›
Some SKS rifles were modified later to accept AK magazines. The Norinco SKS is a Chinese variant, some of which accept AK magazines while others do not. The AK magazines hold more rounds than the traditional 10-round stripper clip used with the SKS.
Where was the SKS made? ›
Along with supplying their armed forces, China also supplied arms to many countries. Most of the SKS rifles that came out of Vietnam were of Chinese manufacture. Vast quantities of Chinese rifles were imported into the U.S. before the U.S. government cut off shipments of weapons from China.
Did the SKS see service in ww2? ›
But let's take a look at two semi-automatic carbines that were in service about 70 years ago: The Russian SKS and the American M1 carbine. Both were in service in World War II (prototypes of the SKS saw action against the Nazis) and both saw action in Korea and Vietnam.
When was the last SKS made? ›
The SKS rifle was produced at the Tula Arsenal from 1945 until 1958, when it was superseded by the AK-47. As with its successor, the Soviets readily made and/or licensed the manufacture of the SKS to nearly anyone who wanted it.
How old is my Norinco SKS? ›
At the end of the serial number, there is a dash followed by two numbers. These two numbers indicate the date of manufacture. For example, a serial number 044922-67 indicates that the SKS was manufactured in 1967.
How can you tell the difference between a Russian and Chinese SKS? ›
SKS Russian vs Chinese first look - YouTube
How many types of SKS rifles are there? ›
| SKS |
|---|
| Number built | 15,000,000 |
| Variants | Chinese Type 56; Yugoslavian PAP; Romanian SKS; Albanian SKS; East German SKS; (North) Vietnamese SKS; North Korean SKS |
| Specifications |
| Weight | 3.85 kg (8 lb 8 oz). |
19 more rowsThe SKS is a rifle from Designer Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov, the Creator of the AVS-36, PTRS-41, and basically Russian John Browning.
Is the M1 Garand legal in Canada? ›
As noted, there are exceptions—in Canada, the old M1 Garand rifle, for instance, is permitted to hold more than five rounds (eight, to be exact) simply because it was designed to hold exactly eight, no more and no less.
Firearms and devices that were prohibited on May 1, 2020
M16, AR-10, AR-15 rifles and M4 carbine. Ruger Mini-14 rifle. M14 rifle. Vz58 rifle.
What caliber does an SKS shoot? ›
The SKS typically has a wooden stock and a non-detachable magazine with a capacity of 10 rounds of 7.62-millimeter caliber, the same caliber ammunition used in the AK-47s that eventually replaced the SKS. The SKS rifle is a Soviet-era weapon.
Where did the SKS originate? ›
Can you carry a gun while hiking in Canada? ›
In general, the only firearms allowed for wilderness protection are non-restricted rifles and shotguns. However, Canadian residents may be authorized to carry a handgun or restricted long gun for wilderness protection or for lawful occupational purposes if they: are licensed to possess restricted firearms.
How many shells can a shotgun hold legally in Canada? ›
A shotgun must be plugged so that it cannot hold more than a total of three shells in the chamber and magazine combined.
Can you defend yourself in Canada? ›
Canadians have a right to defend their property or themselves as long as their defensive actions are reasonable under the circ*mstances. This means that if you injure an intruder entering your home or property, you would need to show that the circ*mstances gave you no other reasonable choice.
What self defense weapons are legal in Canada? ›
Any rifle or shotgun that is neither restricted nor forbidden falls into this category. Long guns are generally considered legal self-defense weapons in Canada, but there are several exceptions.
Can you shoot a handgun on your own property in Canada? ›
Yes, no legislation places blanket restrictions on the required distance from a property line or on the calibre of the ammunition discharged on private property.
What guns are allowed in Canada now? ›
The Three Legal Classes of Firearms in Canada:
Non-restricted firearms are ordinary hunting and sporting rifles, shotguns and airguns with an overall length of 660mm or greater. Many airguns fall into this class because they are capable of achieving a muzzle velocity of 500 feet per second.
Is SKS a sniper? ›
The SKS (Samozaryadny Karabin sistemy Simonova) is a designated marksman rifle, being a middle ground between a typical assault rifle and a sniper rifle.
The SKS has an odd place in the civilian world, too. Because China produced so many — and exported so many — the carbine has become a cheap, popular hunting and sporting weapon in the West.
What makes an SKS valuable? ›
Please note that as a collectors piece, the value of SKS rifles are greater if they retain the original finish as well as the original bayonet. Another nuance is whether all the parts of the firearm have matching serial numbers.
How can you tell the difference between a Russian and Chinese SKS? ›
SKS Russian vs Chinese first look - YouTube
When was the last SKS made? ›
The SKS rifle was produced at the Tula Arsenal from 1945 until 1958, when it was superseded by the AK-47. As with its successor, the Soviets readily made and/or licensed the manufacture of the SKS to nearly anyone who wanted it.
What was the SKS designed for? ›
It was developed to replace the Mosin-Nagant series of bolt-action rifles, the AVS-36 (another Simonov design) self-loading rifle, and the SVT-40 self-loading rifle. Though a dated design compared to modern assault rifles, the SKS is still widely employed in military capacities throughout the world.
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