The SKS is a Soviet semi-automatic rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm
round, designed in 1945 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. SKS is an acronym
for Samozaryadnyj Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945 (Russian: ????????????
??????? ??????? ????????, 1945; Self-loading Carbine of (the) Simonov
system, 1945), or SKS 45. The Soviets rather quickly phased the SKS
carbine out of front-line service, replacing it with the AK-47, but it
remained in second-line service for decades. It remains a ceremonial arm
today. It was widely exported and produced by the former Eastern Bloc
nations, as well as China, where it was designated the "Type 56", East
Germany as the "Karabiner S" and in North Korea as the "Type 63". It is
today popular on the civilian surplus market in many countries. The SKS
was one of the first weapons chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 round later
used in the AK-47 and RPD.
SKS Pouch
Technical specifications
The
SKS has a conventional carbine layout, with a wooden stock and no
pistol grip. Most versions are fitted with an integral folding bayonet
which hinges down from the end of the barrel, and some versions, such as
the Yugoslavian-made M59/66 variant, are equipped with a grenade
launching attachment. As with the American M1 carbine, the SKS is
shorter and less powerful than the semi-automatic rifles which preceded
it—most notably, the Soviet SVT series and the American M1 Garand.
Contrary to popular belief, the SKS is a carbine and not a modern
assault rifle, because it does not meet all the criteria for such a
weapon. The basic design lacks both selective fire capability, and a
detachable magazine. Some selective-fire variants were produced in the
PRC, and many SKS's have been modified in various ways to accept
detachable magazines; however, the basic design of the SKS is
semi-automatic and fixed-magazine in nature. The carbine's ten-round box
magazine is fed from a stripper clip (see below), and rounds stored in
the magazine can be removed by depressing a magazine catch (thus opening
the "floor" of the magazine and allowing the rounds to fall out)
located forward of the trigger guard.
Design
A
standard SKS is semi-automatic and has a fixed/hinged 10 round internal
magazine which is loaded from the top of the rifle either by manually
inserting the ammunition one round at a time or with a 10-round stripper
clip. In typical military use the stripper clips are disposable. If
necessary they can be reloaded multiple times and reused. The SKS is a
gas-operated weapon that has a spring-loaded operating rod and a gas
piston rod that work the action via gas pressure pushing against them.
Also, it has a "tilting bolt" action locking system. Some variants of
the SKS have been modified, with limited success, to accept AK-47
detachable magazines (military rifles designed with fixed magazines
often experience feed jams when modified to accept detachable magazines,
and the SKS is no exception). Norinco had, at one point, manufactured
the SKS-M, SKS-D, and MC-5D models which were engineered from the
factory to accept AKM magazines without problems (though the wood stock
must be relieved to accept drum magazines). The SKS also has a slightly
longer barrel than AK-series rifles, with a fractionally higher muzzle
velocity.
The SKS can be quickly reloaded using disposable 10-round stripper clips.
While
early Russian models had spring-loaded firing pins, most variants of
the SKS have a free floating firing pin within the bolt. Because of this
design, care must be taken during cleaning (especially after long
storage) to ensure that the firing pin does not stick in the forward
position within the bolt. SKS firing pins that are stuck in the forward
position have been known to cause accidental "slamfires" (uncontrolled
automatic fire that empties the magazine, starting when the bolt is
released). This behavior is less likely with the hard primer
military-spec ammo for which the SKS was designed, but as with any rifle
users should properly maintain their firearms. For collectors,
slamfires are more likely when the bolt still has remnants of cosmoline
embedded in it. The firing pin is triangular in cross section, and
slamfires can also result if the firing pin is inserted upside down.
Third party kits are available that can put old-style spring-loaded
firing pins in SKS's that did not come with them, increasing the
reliability and reducing the chance of slamfires.
In
most variants (pre-1970 Yugoslav models being the most notable
exception), the barrel is chrome-lined for increased wear and heat
tolerance from sustained fire and to resist corrosion from chlorate
primed corrosive ammunition, as well as to facilitate cleaning. Chrome
bore lining is common in military rifles. Although it can diminish
practical accuracy, this is not a real limit on field grade accuracy in a
weapon of this type.
All military SKSs have a
bayonet attached to the underside of the barrel, which is extended and
retracted via a spring-loaded hinge (some are removable whereas some are
permanent). Both blade and spike bayonets were produced. The SKS is
easily field stripped and reassembled with no tools. The rifle has a
cleaning kit stored in a trapdoor in the buttstock, with a cleaning rod
running under the barrel, in the same style as the AK-47. In common with
some other Soviet-era designs, the SKS trades some accuracy for
ruggedness, reliability, ease of maintenance, ease of use, and low
manufacturing cost. The SKS is a simple design that is highly effective
and rugged.
SKS Pouch