How accurate can an AKM be?

[northbysoutheast.com]

I have always dreamed of an AKM that could approach a SKS in accuracy. Ideally a want both a Hog Gun and a home defender. Always figure I'd get a SKS as a HOG Gun and an AKM as the home defender but used P.O.S. SKS's are commanding $575 (no joke, lowest price anywhere, even pawn shops) I wonder if they are still reasonable in NH and VT? Today I say a $575 SKS siting on the rack next to a Eddystone 30-06 that was for a sale for $700. I don't get it. I can't find a non-bubba-ized AKM/A 47 pretty much anywhere. Could someone point me in the right direction. I know I want to build my own and believe I'm skilled enough can anyone point me in the right direction; y biggest concern is proper riveting.

Any AK mentors in NC looking for a protege? I'm a CPA so I can barter accounting work for wisdom, plus use of a 16 ton press!

[oldphart]

If you can read a cookbook and make dinner, you can build an AK. Don't worry about the press, using a couple of threaded rods will work just as well and be a lot cheaper. As far as the riveting goes, you could use screws or even do away with both of them and weld the trunions into the receiver. If you weld, you can also polish the receiver and make it look as if it were done in the factory. The only hard part anymore is finding a kit with a barrel. If you have to use a new barrel rather than the original one you'll have to cut a channel for the barrel-pin and than would mean a bit of time on a milling machine.

Still, it's nothing that can't be done if you want to. You probably won't save much money by building it yourself because you still have to buy the U.S. made parts to satisfy the feds.

But you don't have to fill out a 4473 to buy those parts either...

[1biggun]

I have one that will shoot sub 1/2" groups in 223. I have several AK pistols that will do under 1" in 7.62x39. I have one rifle with with a .308 bore that will do around 3/4" and once did a one hole group. alls these groups were at 100 YARDS with optics and trigger work and hand loads and in the case of the 223 major modifications. all My AKs will out shoot my SKS,s

the pick in the bottom with the quarter was a 200 yards 10 shot group while adjusting the scope to zero it. its actualy 3 groups with differant scope settings or it would have been even tighter. there is a thread in the AK discussion forum on making a AK accurate Ill find you a link.

[1biggun]

here is a link on accuracy builds

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]


You can likley buy a AK cheaper than you can build one. also what calibur are you looking at? how big are the hogs your hunting and at what range? a 223 might be a better choice. I have shot deer out to 225 yards with my AK pistol but its pushing it at those ranges in 7.62x39 and a 12" barrel. Ive used both a 223 and a 7.62 on hogs out west and both work fine. although I never had a 600 pound bore charging me for that Id want the 7.62 or bigger LOL. most of the hogs we got were 200 or less and the dogs had them pretty much wipped most of the time.

cutting the barrel pin hole is done once the barrel is in the trunion and dosent need to be milled it is done in a drill press. there are pleanty of kits with barrels staarting at around $200 and going up. with all the meathods and tools avaliable these days to build a AK by welding in the the trunions should be a last resort. (something I would do if they had to be built by a certain day due to a ban or some thing then look out there all getting tack welded into a reciver untill they can be built right. )

prices are crazy right after the election I saw a Browning BAR in 243 win in good shape cheaper than a rommy AK in a shop. Im still kicking my self for not buying it.

here Is a pic of the best group I have ever shot with a AK (possably any 30 cal) in 7.62x39 at 100 yards I should have stoped at 4 rounds the 5th got a little wide. I havent been able to duplicate it again so it may be a fluke but the gun has done 3/4" before. hand loads are a must. it should be noted that all these groups were done with varmit bullets or soft points. Target bullets in the 223 might be better but Im a hunter.

[Markp]

While what you have accomplished with the AK is impressive, I can only imagine what you might be able to do with an SKS.

Mark

[1biggun]

While what you have accomplished with the AK is impressive, I can only imagine what you might be able to do with an SKS.

Mark

HMMMMM SkS has a 19 mm barrel shank and sloppy chamber and its a long thin IE spindly 20.5" long . I doubt the results would be much better with a stock barrel. unless some serious mods to the reciver were done to allow a larger diamiter barrel I dont think your going to beat what Ive done with the 223. I have a milled parts unissued russian SKS and it dosent shoot as good as some of my stock AKs admittidly I havent spent much time shooting it and likely wont Its very mint. I should try some hand loads in it. the AK has a 23 mm shank allowing a much heavier barrel IMOO will yield more accuracy in a custom build and possably even in a stock barrel AK. MY AMD pistol will do under 1" Im sure if I had a stock an the big scope on it an a lighter trigger more like my varmit build I could cut that group down some.

I mean come on dude there is a holes touching 5 shot group circled in that 200 YARD group and a 5 shot 100 yard group under a 1/2" . and that other post is a 4 shots in one hole and the 5th is half way in the hole a dime easly covers it in 7.62x39. Im not sure how much better your going to get. (wish i could do it every time LOL)

I havent really messed with the SkS. I got into AK,s due to the pistol factor. you cant make a pistol out of a SKS legaly. I havent really seen any reports of super accurate modifed SKS.s but I honestly havent looked much.

I think a lot of guys saying the SKS is more accurate is due to longer site radious and the much better trigger than the AK. Mine is pretty decent. Im sure the SKS with some custom touches like a heavier barrel and floating the barrel and getting rid of that long wood stock that the barrel is touching it would be no slouch.

Do all the SKS,s have the 19mm barrel?? I need to dig mine out to see seems like it was a threaded barrel on it. the virgin SKS barrel I have laying on my bench is for a pinned action I believe. I wish the sks was still cheap like they were. I always thought one in 220 russian or 22 PPC would be slick. Hmmm Ill dig my russian out and look at it one of these days if a guy could get a heavier barrel on one it would be a cool build.

BTW all those groups are with well developed hand loads. You cant get there with any factory stuff ive tried.

[Coils]

I think hand loads are the biggest thing for the AK. I supervised and left a friend use my tools to build a Romy, he ran some hand loads through it to sight it in at 100m and got 1 1/2" group with open sights off the bench.

[Markp]

Here is a page with the barrel differences. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] I think that if one wanted to really explore this that there are significant differences between the different rifles where if someone was REALLY serious about making a very accurate SKS, it could be done. It would be a challenge, but if you start with the barrel and chamber and work from there, you could end up with a very good rifle. Especially on the Yugo where you can shut down the gas system.

Mark

[1biggun]

I agree that they likely can be vastly improved. Im not very knowlegable about the SKS. my russian is very well made IMOO and has pretty good tollerances. Ill check out the barrel situation and see what I think. Im pretty basic when it comes to this stuff just put the biggest od barrel you can but on it and float it as much as possable make the trigger not move the gun and put big optics that dont move on it so you can see the target and buy or make good ammo. and almost any gun will shoot pretty accuratly.

A target SKS would be cool, to bad there not $65 any more

[Markp]

Originally Posted by 1biggun

I agree that they likely can be vastly improved. Im not very knowlegable about the SKS. my russian is very well made IMOO and has pretty good tollerances. Ill check out the barrel situation and see what I think. Im pretty basic when it comes to this stuff just put the biggest od barrel you can but on it and float it as much as possable make the trigger not move the gun and put big optics that dont move on it so you can see the target and buy or make good ammo. and almost any gun will shoot pretty accuratly.

A target SKS would be cool, to bad there not $65 any more

The trigger is probably the part that can be improved the most on the SKS. It's pretty bad, some people claim that just some simple changes and good ammo can take an SKS from a 6 MOA rifle to a 1.5 MOA rifle. If that's the case, then I think you would be able to work some real magic with your skills.

Mark