SKS Magazine conversion
I've got a pristine Norinco SKS and have heard about conversion kits that would allow it to accept AK mags. Does anyone know if these things are reliable and if they are, where I can get one.
0
-
Is anyone still making the conversion kits for sks rifles to allow them to use ak mags? I used to see them at gunshows but I have not been able to find them lately
Thanks, Rusty
RDL0 -
I believe the SKS to AKS mag conversion was an idea that didn't work out. While it is possible to do a conversion, the machine work to the bolt and gun is extensive and difficult. In my opinion, I would either use the factory 10 rd. magazine with stripper clips, or buy a factory rifle (model M or D) that takes AKS mags, or buy an AKS. I bought a "M" model SKS with Monte Carlo stock. It functions beautifully. The cost was around $275 if I remember correctly, but they often cost more, maybe $350 and higher, but worth it. I also bought an AK. It cost around $600, it is also worth it. Best to just accept the SKS for what it is, and what it is ain't too shabby. With stripper clips it's amazing how fast you can reload with just a little practice.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau0 -
Post to this forum, they would know.
http://www.sksboards.com/forum/index.php?sid=99841292b8a29699ac379cd031845a15
0 -
I have a friend that converted his sks to use ak mags.It was a lot of work but it works wonderfully. $600 bucks for an AK wow. I got both of mine for under $300 each brand new. It's amazing how fast you can shoot and reload an sks with stripper clips. But if you want a good high capacity rifle get an AK but don't spend $600 for one.
Veritas vincit "Truth conquers"0 -
One advantage of the stripper clip system (apart from it having no springs to wear out) is that under most classification systems, semi-automatic guns with a fixed magazine don't qualify as "assault" rifles.
This doesn't matter much in most of the USA where the assault weapon ban is gone, but many states have their own bans on these sorts of guns.0 -
With the standard SKS with stripper clips and without a protruding hi-cap mag you can lay flat in a prone firing position.
Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.0 -
There are low priced AK's and there are expensive AK's. Mine's a Norinco pre-ban underfolder 84s-1 in .223 caliber. Usually goes for $1000 or so. $600 was a very good price.Lots of other ones sell for around a grand as well. I know some of the Romanian ones sell for around $300 and they're good guns. Spending lots of money on an AK is fine as long as you know what you're buying. 0 -
I got both of my ak's for around $300 each brand new.This is what they are.
Saiga AK-103 "7.62X39"
Hungarian AMD63 "7.62x39"
All you have to do is look for really good deals at the right places. And you will alway's find a great deal. Thats my motto don't just check one place and think it's the right one check around then pick the best one.
Also one of my friends has a Romanian AK-47 and it is just as good as mine.
So why pay $600 and up when you can either find a great deal or buy a cheap AK that is just as good.
Veritas vincit "Truth conquers"0 -
http://www.simonov.net/magazines.htm (the very bottom of the page)
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34510 -
As you may have noticed, the AK mag is too big, the mag well is altered by filing, adding metal, then filing some more. Now you have a hole. Work begins on the mag catch, with more metalworking.
I had a 3-sheet pamphlet from an old gun show that shows just how much work is involved; forget about it and buy a WASR.
"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID0 -
Hi Topedog,
This same question pops up every 3 to 4 months on the forum. You need to read the following to answer this question. This is a very informed response to the question.
This is not my information! The information quoted below is attributable to "IRARMSX".
"As has been previously mentioned, "there is no kit to convert a standard SKS to take AK mags". I have sold SKS's from various countries going back to the mid 1980's. I have been approached at gun shows by countless individuals that had been sent to me by other dealers specifically looking for said kit. Upon my telling them that one does not exist, many of these guys get pissed and think I am messing with them.
Yes there have been SKS's that took AK mags. They were made from the ground up to be just that "an SKS that uses AK mags". The receiver is made differently, the bolt carrier is made differently, the trigger group is made differently, and the stock is made differently. All of these guns were made that way because most any attempts at a conversion will have limited success if any. There was a company in Michigan back in the early 1990's that did conversions on the SKS so that they would take AK mags. The conversion cost over $100 and wasn't always reliable and looked cobbish. Eventually the gov't shut down the operation.
Before the ban of 1989, there were SKS's that took AK mags and had standard stocks, with metal butt plates, bayonets, the whole nine yards. They were stopped from importation in March of 1989 along with the AK's. After the ban they came out with an SKS sporter model that had a thumbhole stock and later a Monte Carlo stock. They too were made from the ground up to use the AK mags. They had 16.5" barrels, no bayonet lug and the non-traditional stocks. Later seeing the popularity of the AK mag "sporter" SKS, the Chinese tried retro-fitting some standard SKS's so that they would take the AK mag. Although they knew what needed to be done, the coversions didn't work well. One of the main problems was that they tried to use a modified original trigger group. The problem was the mags fell out when you fired them. They really needed a different trigger group that had a different latch system so that the mags would stay in. The "made from the ground up" models had this trigger group. The modified ones did not. I personally had to make modifications to mags for customers so that their mags would stay in. Hence defeating the purpose of being able to take "standard" off the shelf AK mags.
Additionally there was a company years ago that made a kit. There advertising said "detachable magazine for your SKS, just like the AK. Problem was it didn't take AK mags, it just allowed you to convert the guns to take a detachable mag of their own design. It was made of plastic. You had to drill holes in your stock to attach the conversion block. They found there was too much play between the stock and the gun, so they redesigned it to attach to the barrel. In that design you were given instructions how far to drill into the chamber area of the barrel. "YES I SAID DRILL INTO THE BARREL Under The Chamber". The instructions were based on the thickness of a "screwed in" barrel. Just one problem, many had the thinner "pinned in" barrel. When they drilled their holes, they either drilled into the chamber itself (barrel destroyed immediately) or so close to the chamber wall that when they fired the weapon, the kit blew out the bottom of the gun because the pressures in the chamber blew there way through the weakened part of the chamber (The holes) and once again ruined the barrel.
Anyway, there is no kit for making an SKS take AK mags. A machinest can accomplish the task with great effort and skill. There isn't much that a truly good machinist can't do along those lines. However, you are talking machining, grinding, welding, redesigning on the receiver, the trigger group, the stock, and the mag release system. Having experienced these attempts at conversion previously, I can honestly say that I personally would not attempt it. Any specific instructions that you may receive should be looked at with a cautious and discerning eye. General instructions aren't going to cut it. You will need detailed drawings, specs relating to your specific series of SKS, Chinese, Russian, Romanian, Yugoslavian, Albanian. If Chinese, you will need specific detailed blue prints with exact measurements for the gun specifying milled trigger guard, screwed in barrel, stamped trigger guard, pinned in barrel. Etc.
Given the fact that even the Chinese themselves couldn't get a retro fit to work, I guess I personally wouln't attempt it. Th factory made models worked reasonably well, but the ones that they tried to do the refit had a number of problems. I personally experienced a few of those problems and got feedback from supplies that had to take them back with various other problems. All said and done, feel free to pursue your course, but it is by far and away, not nearly as easy to do this type of conversion as you may think or as you may have been told by the average "Arm Chair Gunsmith" or "SKS Expert" in the past."
Regards,
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
11 comments