From the Vault: A Dive into the History of the Russian SKS
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- 🔍 From the Vault: A Dive into the History of the Russian SKS
🎥 In this episode of "From the Vault," we explore the fascinating history of the Russian SKS (Samozaryadny Karabin sistemy Simonova), a semi-automatic carbine that played a pivotal role in post-WWII Soviet military development.
🔫 Designed by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov in 1945, the SKS bridged the gap between bolt-action rifles and the fully-automatic Kalashnikovs that would follow. Chambered in 7.62x39mm, it featured a simple, rugged design with a fixed 10-round magazine, integral bayonet, and wood stock, making it both practical and reliable for Soviet soldiers.
Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to obtain a 1950s Sino-Soviet SKS that was apparently a bring-back from Vietnam. It is in a decent condition, and is an excellent rifle. But I recall back in the early 90s, when SKSs were flooding the mil-surp market, mostly heavily used Chinese rifles still thickly coated in cosmoline that were selling for between $49 to $69 each. I paid $600 for this one. I've run a lot of rounds through it, and it functions flawlessly, at least so far, and its not finicky about what ammo is used, it eats it all, from decades old surplus ammo from various Eastern European countries to US match-grade and everything in between. I've known guys with Chinese Norinco SKSs made for civilian sales outside the country that have problems, but so far I seem to be fortunate. Very comfortable to shoot, and very accurate.
I really love the SKS platform. I know they are antiquated but I love this gun
In the USSR and Russia this carbine served until the end of 90s. In aviation (airfield security), air defense troops, communications troops and navy.
@@СергейВолков-н3х they are cool guns that show the progression to modern Assualt Rifles such as the AK and the AR-15
It is indeed a very good and reliable weapon.
After it was replaced by the AKM in the army, it was used for a long time in a variety of civilian security services - post office, collectors, foresters and rangers, etc. It was issued to members of geological and scientific expeditions for self-defense and hunting.
It is still very popular in Russia. The cheapest carbine for the cheapest cartridge.
I own a VPO 208 (SKS rebarreled in .366TKM). Excellent weapon for hunting.
In winter, in severe frosts, you can completely remove the grease and make several shots without harm to the gun. Modern greases also work at low temperature, but it used to be very appreciated by hunters, especially in polar regions.
The SKS is an iconic weapon. And, for people of my generation, this is primarily due to its civilian service. The gun that won the Arctic. The image of the rifle is replicated in many Soviet books and movies. One can immediately imagine a geologist walking along a mountain path, with a huge backpack on his back, a geological hammer in his hand and a carbine on his chest. Or a rugged trapper stalking a rogue bear in the snowy taiga.
@СергейВолков-н3х i honestly didn't know about the geologist side of it very cool! So the .336tkm round do you have a picture of that? Very interested in that we do not have that here in the U.S. super cool round though! Can always email us support@2ifbyseatactical.com. we have a display of unusual rounds and I think that's really awesome. Is that a super popular round in Russia?
@@2ifbyseatactical The cartridge is based on the 7.62x39mm cartridge case. The muzzle was extended to 9.52mm (.375).
www.google.ru/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fxn--80aaxgqbdi.xn--p1ai%2Fpubl%2F1%2Frossijskij_patron_366_tkm%2F17-1-0-870&psig=AOvVaw3xYvcLoxw9XcyKIZFRaXFo&ust=1736618486531000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCLio3I_e64oDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
Mostly old AKs and SKSs were remodeled. But also new weapons were produced.
huntportal.ru/assets/images/articles/patrony/rossijskie-pulevyie-gladkostvolnyie-patronyi/rossijskie-pulevyie-gladkostvolnyie-patronyi_07.jpg
ruclips.net/video/8goVg-zhAMQ/видео.html
Weapons were produced with Paradox (rifled chock) and Lancaster (oval-screw) barrels, and were sold as shotguns. This allowed it to be used in any hunting season, for hunting any game. Also with a shotgun you can hunt within 200m from residential buildings (with a rifle not closer than 500m). Also, until 2019, it was not allowed to reload rifle ammunition.
All of this made guns of this caliber very popular. As of 2021, there were about 200,000 of them (for all ~4 million gun owners in Russia).
In 2021 they were equated to rifles of large caliber (more than 8mm), and now you can hunt with them only on ungulates and big predators. In addition, in Russia you can not get a hunting license for riflel, if before that within 5 years you did not own a hunting smoothbore weapon. This has greatly reduced the popularity of this caliber.
But gun manufacturers do not give up, and have already established production of Vepr and Saiga carbines, with a completely smooth barrel and thread for external paradox nozzle. Which makes them shotguns again. :)))
The cartridge is similar in characteristics to the .35 REM. Bullet is 180-250grn, muzzle velocity 2000-2500fps.
I have hunted beaver, wolf, roe deer and wild boar with this caliber. Other hunted moose and bear with it. Good stopper, meat does not spoil much, there is almost no ricochet in bushes. The trajectory beyond 150m is mortar-like, but in the forest you rarely shoot beyond 50-100m.
VPO-208 English language videos
ruclips.net/video/l49H8WYLArw/видео.html
.366TKM birdshot and non-lethal self-defense ammunition
ruclips.net/video/2qc2vtT-Rbw/видео.html
The SKS firing mechanism is quite unique in its locking method. Rifles like the AKM and M-16 cause a turning of the bolt to engage the locks like a bolt action rifle or the Swiss straight pull bolt action rifles.. However, the SKS has a bolt and bolt carrier. When the bolt carrier pushes the bolt forward it gets to a point in the receiver where there is a cut-out and the bolt drops into it and the bolt carrier continues forward unlocking the trigger group disconnector. When the gun is fired the bolt carrier moves backward and a cam picks up the edge of the bolt and pulls it out of the cut-out and back to repeat the process. I always wondered if the SKS could shoot upside down with such a simple action. Obviously, you don't want to try this at home without taking proper steps to be nowhere near it if the bolt is not locked, although it may not fire because the firing pin is not on the primer. Anyway, I always wondered about this or if it is something considered not likely enough to warrant having a fix for.
Some states require the bayonet be removed.... LOL
That is true. But the rifles themselves are legal!
@ Not laughing at you. I’m laughing at the stupid law makers.
@@jacka55six60 I understand! They are stupid