Renovatin' ...

My antique arm prior to doin' any renovatin' ... a 1952 Tula Armory SKS - 7.62 x 39mm semi-auto carbine.

     Howdy-do!  I finally got around to renovatin’ my old 1952 Tula SKS.  This gun wasn’t doin’ me any good just sittin’ in a gun safe.  Takin’ it to the range occasionally for sh¡ts & giggles wasn’t justifiable; I really just wanted to make this relic my new hog huntin’ gun!  This Soviet surplus semi-automatic carbine fired ten 7.62 x 39mm rounds, loaded into what I called a “dump” (fixed or stationary) magazine which is fed via the use of a stripper clip.  My main objectives were to replace this system with removable 20-round magazines, and give my old gun both a legal as well as a tactical face-lift in the process.  I did not want to make any permanent modifications to my antique arm, so I got out on that-there internet and done me a bunch of researchin’ before I began.  I found several helpful hints on various SKS forums, and found some very informative You Tube videos as well.  So for my first shout-out … my camo Waffle House hat goes off to “sootch00” aka Team Sootch Minuteman; thanks for all of your time & efforts that you’ve put into your excellent You Tube channel, and especially for keepin’ us informed!  His “Fun Gun Reviews & Sensible Survival” videos will not disappoint, so y’all be sure to check him out …

 

The Tula star & arrow logo
with the rectangular refurb
stamp just above the date.

     After doin’ some pretty extensive research on my particular SKS, I discovered that even though it had been refurbished … it was actually refurbed at the original Tula Armory and had all of its matchin’ serial numbers!  This gun was purchased in the late 80’s and I had all of the original accessories that came with it as well; the sling, cleanin’ tools, the oiler and the bladed bayonet.  Hell, I even have a couple of boxes of the original hollow-point shells!  To a collector, the gun was worth more than just your average surplus carbine, so I wanted to make sure that I did not modify or re-tool any of the original parts.  I would, however have to replace some components to make my arm legally compliant.  So, after some careful analysis of all of the different options that I had available, I decided to purchase the TAPCO Intrafuse 6-Postion Stock System (with a blade bayonet cut) in traditional olive drab.  This adjustable stock is jam-up for gettin’ the right feel when yer aimin’ it or sightin’ it in … especially if ya got short little “T-Rex” arms like mine!  I also had purchased the T6 rubber butt-pad, which reduces the kick a bit, and bought an Ultimate Arms Gear adjustable tactical butt-stock sling from The Global Sportsman which allows several different configurations of carry positions.

 

     I had to keep in mind that this gun was goin’ to be my new hog huntin’ rifle, and would receive quite a bit of abuse out in the field.  Any gun that I take sloughstalkin’ has gotta withstand wet & muddy conditions, not to mention the abnormal abuses of hog huntin’!  The last thing I wanted to do was warp, crack or damage the original wooden stock or upper hand guard, so gettin’ my new TAPCO synthetic composite stock was a must.  It came with a SAW style pistol grip and a Picatinny rail-styled upper hand-guard that would allow the mountin’ of any additional accessories.  This stock system counted as 3 of the legal compliant parts needed for my conversion (butt, pistol-grip and fore-arm) and the 20-round magazine counted as 3 as well (floor-plate, follower & the body).  The muzzle-brake counted as another, and I had also opted to purchase TAPCO’s improved gas tube as well as their gas piston, which each count as one U.S.C. (United States Code) 922r compliant part for my import.  Now, I’m not goin’ to get into any legalities concernin’ the conversion of an imported firearm, but I highly suggest that y’all do yer homework prior to takin’ on such a project.  I made damn sure that I followed every letter of the law, ‘cause I don’t ever plan on tradin’ any of my camo for one of them federal orange jumpsuits.  Period.

 

     On top of producin’ quality US made components, I found that TAPCO has excellent customer service as well.  Not only did I get a complete list of all the parts (and correct part numbers) that I would need to purchase from the customer service manager Kevin … he also e-mailed me detailed instructions, includin’ those on any modifications that may have to be made.  For example, some SKS’s would not accept the TAPCO 20-round magazine without some minor toolin’ to the magazine itself.  Luckily, this was not the case with my arm; however, I did have to file the top edge of the gas tube in order for the latch to slide down and lock it securely into place.  Also, I had decided to remove my bayonet to accommodate a foldin’ bi-pod from Ultimate Arms Gear, and added the TAPCO threaded muzzle-brake.  And speakin’ of toolin’ … my barrel was not threaded, and I had read several horror stories in the form of reviews on Amazon.com from folks who added inferior muzzle-brakes which only had 1, 2 or 3 set-screws.  I ended-up purchasin’ an SKS Thread Adapter from Tactical Military Gear, which is also manufactured in the USA and features 4 set screws.  The last thing that I needed was catastrophic failure at firin’ time …

 

A few things used for my amateur gunsmithin' ...

     This 14x1mm left-hand thread pitched adapter did not initially fit over my particular barrel.  I did not want to thread the barrel on my antique arm … so I had to do some creative tool work on the inside of the adapter.  My dilemma was that if I used a lathe … I might take-out too much of the inner wall of the adapter, and the fit would not be tight.  It needed to fit snugly, and not have any play that might change the trajectory or cause the bullet to strike the inside of the muzzle-brake.  After wandering the aisles of my local Ace hardware store, I decided on buyin’ a 2” long, 9mm ¼” drive socket, which just fit inside the adapter … as well as a manual driver with a sturdy handle.  Using 3M double-sided tape, I made calculated, tight and even wraps over the outside of the socket; I then used my trusty X-ACTO to cut a piece of 120-grit sandpaper, and wrapped it over the taped socket to where the ends matched-up evenly.  What I made was a custom-fit cylindrical rasp, which now fit tightly inside of the adapter, and I sanded it by twisting it.  As my opening became a fraction larger, I would add another wrap of tape each time I changed-out my sandpaper.  I gradually switched to finer grits … until I eventually ended-up smoothing it-out with 320-grit.  My adapter now fit very snugly onto the end of the barrel, and seated firmly against the sight.  To ensure that the 4 set-screws would hold under the extreme pressure of firing, I made four 1/16” deep divots into the outer barrel.  After re-bluing the adapter and the divots in the barrel … I simply applied some blue thread-locker to seal the deal!

 

All mods complete except for optics; I prefer an open-site and will add a NEBO iPROTEC Green Light.

     As you can see, the final result was just as excitin’ as getting’ a new gun!  But looks ain’t everything … ‘cause the true test would hafta come from the range.  The last thing anyone needs is an “uh, oh …” out there in them woods, resultin' in severe injuries or worse.  If somethin’ does go south … hopefully it’s a simple fix, like usin’ a broken shell extractor.  Then again, bein’ amongst a buncha p¡ssed-off feral hogs with a rifle that don’t shoot wouldn’t be no picnic either; unless, I guess … you was one of them hogs!  All jokin’ aside, most of ‘em just run upon sight; however, I have had a couple lately that have stood their ground or chomped their teeth at me.  I had jumped a boar, two sows & a piglet on Horse Island close to Back Lake last year that had bedded down next to a huge tree-fall.  The two sows and piglet squealed & ran, but that big ole boar not only stood his ground but he friggin’ growled at me!  I’d love to have this same scenario play-out again while holdin’ my renovated SKS and thin that herd.  But first, I’ll be gettin’ some range-time in over the next couple of weekends.  So until then, y’all take care and enjoy the summer!