SKS, 7.62 x 39

Looking for some info on the SKS, and I know there are a few on this forum who have them. Every now and then I think about grabbing one, but I have a few questions.

I hear talk about corrosive primers and that the gun needs a THOROUGH cleaning after shooting. This sounds like a pain; are corrosive primers a cheap idea out of the Communist age or why would anyone choose this ? Is ammo with non-corrosive primers available ? If yes what is a ballpark cost ? I see that some guys shoot milsurp ammo, but where do you buy it ? How would I know if the ammo I am looking at has corrosive primers or not ?

Also, people talk about matching serial numbers. Is this just between the stamp on the barrel and the clip ? What other components have serial numbers marked ?

anything Info on what to look out for or stay away from is appreciated

Sks will likely be one of the first guns Trudeau will want off the streets

If your going out to shot 20 rounds use non corrosive if your going to shot 100 plus rounds shot corrosive for the savings
Non corrosive can be bought at gun shop 20 round box $9.99
same as corrosive surplus 500 round can or crate
corrosive use to be dirt cheap not so much anymore
Tracers are cool ! But not cheap last I got some close to buck a round
Sks is one of the easiest guns to take down and clean up but after corrosive rounds you must clean it up it will rust in no time
All parts serial numbered
There are some really nice after market stocks from sporterized wood to plastic adjustable black gun looking stuff

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Originally Posted by js4fn

Sks will likely be one of the first guns Trudeau will want off the streets
Tracers are cool ! But not cheap last I got some close to buck a round

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Excuse my ignorance but are tracers even legal to shoot?

barnaul is about 250 for a case of 500, i think. that's non corrosive. decent stuff, never had an issue with it. spam can of surplus is about the same for 750 rounds, crate is a bit over 400 bucks for 1500. you'll want clean your rifle after shooting the corrosive stuff for sure. i don;t know if it was the batch or because it was chinese but a can i bought last year around february rusted my sks real good after only a night when i forgot to clean it. if you don't care about scrubbing the ever loving poop out your gun then go corrosive. if you're lazy or don't really care, non-corrosive is the way to go. i've had mine for 2 1/2 years and i can hit sporting clays at about 80 or 90 yards but they're not all the same. it's a fun gun if you're not looking for a target rifle

The corrosive primers always go bang, lots of militaries used them, you could store ammo for a hundred years and it will still go bang.

It is easy to take the SKS apart but yes, you need to clean it any time you shoot corrosive, all of it, including the gas tube.

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Originally Posted by smitty55

Excuse my ignorance but are tracers even legal to shoot?

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Yes, yes they are legal, if they are not explosive or incendiary, just a tracer is not illegal in Canada.

I see that Tenda has Barnaul non-corrosive on sale $350 for 1000 rounds, I figured that was not bad ?

How does that compare to milsurp 7.62 x 51 ?

I bought my SKS about 15 years ago for 200 tax in for a nice laminate Russian, I would have preferred non laminate but it's what they had. At the time I purchase 2500 rounds for 300 so about .12 a round it was cheap back then. Now it is averaging 25 cents + a round. These when I shoot it I replace the ammo with non corrosive as the saving is very little for corrosive.

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Originally Posted by 73hunter

I see that Tenda has Barnaul non-corrosive on sale $350 for 1000 rounds, I figured that was not bad ?

How does that compare to milsurp 7.62 x 51 ?

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Are you asking about the difference between 7.62x39 and 7.62x51 or are you asking people to go out and comparison shop for ammo for you?

The 7.62x39 is what is called an intermediate cartridge developed by the Russians after finding the 7.92x33mm Kurz German intermediate round. The 7.62x51 is a full power round developed from the 300 Savage as a replacement for the 30-06 and adopted by NATO in the 50s.

Speaking from experience, the bulk ammo that they advertise as being non corrosive unfortunately is not non corrosive.


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Originally Posted by Goosesniper

Speaking from experience, the bulk ammo that they advertise as being non corrosive unfortunately is not non corrosive.


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Norinco is, Dominion is but anything with just a paper pack I would not trust, even though some countries used non-corrosive primers.

One way to test your ammo is the nail test. You break down the bullet, dump out the powder (the power is not corrosive) and use just a primed case. Start a nail into a 2x4 with a head that is less than 30 cal. Slide the primed case over the nail and while in a safe place to do it fire off the primer onto the nail. Let it sit for a couple days, you will know if your primer is corrosive or not.