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Bruce from Canada sent these pics of a recently purchased Russian Sks. The mag is pinned to 5 rounds to comply with Canadian law. It has a laminated stock and a few forced matched parts. He said it is a good shooter, but ammo is a little tough to find except for cases of corrosive Czech mil/surplus. According to Bruce, Russsian sks’s are being imported lately by the thousands. That’s a good thing, as long as you have ammo available.

Range Report:Finally

I finally went to the shooting range, to sight in my M-44 with my  new red dot sight. I had also added a nice custom- look recoil pad. The setup looks great, but does it really do the job or not, was the question. The first time I took the rifle out to the range was right after I bought it. I had cleaned up the stock a little, but that was about it. Shooting this rifle at the range was not very pleasant, as it had the original metal butt plate. Firing it was very hard on my shoulder, and each round needed a mallet to open the bolt. Kinda thought I had made a bad purchase. The bullets hit the 25 yd. target way high to the left. I guess I needed the bayonet extended, but just didn’t want to draw too many stares from other shooters. Anyway I lasted about 5 shots. With a slight headache and bruised shoulder I packed up and went home.

After a  thorough cleaning, including using a 20gauge wire brush to clean and  polish the chamber, I decided to add a red dot sight which replaces the elevation sight, to give it a scoutish look. To help in the heavy recoil, I added a rubber butt pad.  With these in place the rifle sat in the gun cabinet for several months.  Then I finally decided to go to the range, to see if these add-ons made any difference. I brought with me some Silver Bear 203g soft point ammo. I was a little recoil shy as I chambered the first round. I planted the stock firmly in my shoulder, aimed at the center of the target and pulled the trigger. WOW. Recoil felt, was very acceptable. About like my dad’s 30-06 Remington Woodsmaster. Ok, now for opening the chamber and putting in another round. To my surprise, the casing extracted easily and another round chambered with minimal effort. So far, so good. The shot landed about the same place as the first time I shot this rifle, but this time I knew I could adjust it, with the new scope. I fired a few more times just to get used to the recoil  and make sure the action worked fine. Then I adjusted the scope and tried some more rounds. They got closer to the center of the target, but didn’t group that tightly. I fired 15 rounds in all with the M-44 and that was about enough to start feeling it in the shoulder. I didn’t bring any more 7.52×54 than the 15 rounds, so the shooting of that rifle was over. I was pleased with how the rifle felt holding it. Adding a couple inches in length with the new butt pad, gave it a better feel overall. I was worried about the inexpensive sight coming loose, but it seemed to survive the 15 rounds ok. I think with a little more steadiness in the shot and a little more tweaking of the scope, I think I will be in the black, and have tighter groups. Also I want to try different ammo to see if that helps the grouping any. Oh by the way, the other shots were from my sks sporter-D and the real tight group was from my Saiga .308!

WOW, Have Things Changed!

I just can’t get over the prices for sks’s and other military surplus rifles lately. I remember back in the 90’s spending hours cruisin’ up and down the aisles at gun shows checking out all the ak’s and sks’s for sale. Comparing prices, seeing who was practically giving them away and who was trying to catch a sucker. Chinese sks’s could be had for a little over a hundred bucks and mac 90’s  were around two-hundred. I remember not wanting to spend a lot for the mac 90, so I opted for a sks sporter D with the thumbhole stock and detachable ak mag. I got it for $149 and spent the left over money buying accessories and ammo. Chinese steel core was going for about 2$ a box. Those were the days! Tokarev pistols were going for 120$, and I bought a brand new IJ-70 Russian Makorov pistol for 129$. I doubt we will see those days again, so I’m glad I got to participate back then. The last time I looked, a Russian sks on Gun Broker was goin’ for 550$  Have fun.

Send Pics Of Your Fireams

I ‘ve always wanted a pics page of your favorite sks rifles and other cool rifles. If you start e-mailing me some jpgs, I will start posting them. Send also a brief description and I will make a pic post out of it. Send to bibic682@knology.net

New Addition To The M-44

I recently added a red dot site/scope to my m-44. I also added a recoil pad to the stock. I posted a pic with this set up to see what you all think about it. I haven’t sited it in and haven’t even been to the range yet. I want to make this a close, out to maybe 75yd.  hog and deer rifle. I may be going soon to the range, and when I do I will post a range report on this setup.

Check Online Before You Buy

It amazes me, how some gun stores charge the prices they do. I always try to stop in an area gunshop when I am in the neighborhood. I check out there firearm prices and look at the prices and availability of their ammo. Some ammo is three times what you can buy it online for, and that’s with shipping . Firearm prices are easily 50-70% over what a purchase online will bring. Look at the different dealers online and check various online ammo stores. I won’t plug any in particular, because there are so many  out there, not to mention the online auction sites. I have saved soooo much  buying online. Of course buying a firearm involves getting an FFL dealer involved, but they will usually be very fair on a fee for that. Now in defense of the local shop, they do have real overhead to maintain, employees to pay, but so does the online guys. About the only advantage,  is you get what you want quicker.

The Time Has Come !

Always Be Ready

With the current state of the economy, and the ridiculous situations the new Administration have put us in, the survival mode in me has me getting my  ammo and gun supplies in swift order. First, finding the ammo you want is getting very hard, if not impossible. And buying a reasonable priced firearm is getting to be a thing of the past. I have already got my 7.62×39 supply where I want it, and also my 7.62×54R. Calibers in .223 and .308 are getting real scarce, and your usually available stock at places like Wal-Mart are simply drying up! New anti-gun legislation IS being proposed, as well as bringing back the “assault rifle” ban. When it’s all said and done, owning a few military surplus rifles might be  what the Dr. ordered. Get the ammo you need for them soon, and keep the rifles in tip-top shape. Buy your accessories now, if you need them. I think I am going to get another Mosin-Nagant rifle. Not sure if it will be a 91/30 model or another M44. I think if I had to take that in the woods, it would serve as a fine enough rifle to put some meat on the table.  I think ammo soon will be taxed so high, that it will be nearly impossible for the average person to buy it. And importation of lesser expensive surplus ammo, will probably be banned too. Part of the administration’s plan I’m sure. I don’t think I’m an alarmist, just precautionary. Things are adding up in a very funny way out there. Keep scouring the net, and if you find it, GET IT ! Be the one prepared, not the one who is sorry he isn’t.

It’s Time To Cling To Your Guns

buy

Well I really didn’t want to use this blog for politics, but with a new president taking the helm in January, I have to advise people that now is the time to buy your ammo and any one of those NASTY LOOKING ASSAULT rifles before it is restricted to do so. The second amendment might not be in jeapardy as we speak, but mark my words, legislation restricting types of guns allowed for purchase, magazine capacities, and types of ammo is a very real threat. Give it a year or two and you will be sorry if you didn’t get your supplies in order ASAP.

It’s That Time Of Year Again

            With a couple of cooler nights in Florida, you kinda get a feeling that fall is actually here. But usually you won’t feel it until a major cold front sweeps the state, plunging us into the 40’s or 50’s. Hey, that’s cold when you have been sweltering in the mid 90’s all summer and the nights are in the low 80’s with 100% humidity making it hard to breathe. The itch for hunting is starting, and we can’t wait to scratch it. November is the deer season start, but hogs are fair game all year long. It’s just plain too hot now to think about it, but when the coolness sets in, it’s time to go. I just took out my 30-30 and cleaned her up. I think the scope is still “right on” so I won’t be going to the range. So with  my camo and a box of  150 grain softpoint, I’m on my way. I think the 30-30 is the absolute perfect rifle for a Florida hog. Great for any hog from 60-70lbs on up to about 200. I like them around 100lbs. Easier to drag out of the woods than big ones, easier to clean, and taste a whole lot better. Come on cold fronts!

Traded SKS For Ammo

                I had a hard decision to make. I traded my Chinese Sks for ammo. That was my first rifle I ever purchased and I have fond memories of it at the range and in the woods. But I just know with ammo prices and availability, I needed to make a “management decision”. I got plenty of .223 and some odd amounts of .308, 9mm, and even a box of 30-30. I just think a little ammo ahead is the thing to have. You can’t shoot your gun without ammo. It could become impossible to buy surplus, and regular ammo could get extremely expensive,  if it’s available. I still have my favorite rifles and will most likely hang on to those. But who knows. Also, ammo could become a hot commodity. When a hurricane is out there, its nice to have plenty of food and water, and a full tank of gas.