- Russian Sks Identification Guide Free
- Russian Sks Identification Guide 2016
- Russian Sks Identification Guide Pictures
- Russian Sks Price
The Samozaryadniy Karabin sistemi Simonova (SKS) is a popular sporter simi-automatic carbine. As a military weapon it was quickly phased out by the Kalashnikov Automatic Rifle, 1947 Model (AK-47) which has a detachable box magazine. The SKS comes with adjustable iron sights. It is a perfectly serviceable rifle in it's stock configuration although many people do customize them.
It is chambered for the 7.62x39 round which is available with several different projectiles. My question was, are the sights on the SKS suitable for this assortment of rounds. I decided to examine two rounds which are quite dissimilar; 7.62x39x122 (bc=0.2573) and 7.62x39x154 (bc=0.530).
The SKS is a Russian design with original experimental production dating back to 1943. Knowing the history of how Russia releases information, its designs may have started before then but that’s purely speculation. Russian SKS-45 Bayonet. Home Bayonet Identification Guide Bayonets of Russia SKS-45 Bayonet: Bayonet.
Clicks and Angle of Departure
Fig. 1: Top view of rear sight showing range marks Fig. 2: Side view of rear sight showing ramp and motion
Russian Sks Identification Guide Free
Figure 1 shows the range markings on the rear sight. It is adjustable from [1] 100 meters thru [9] 900 meters with [D] a battle sight setting of 200 meters. There is a 10 marked on the sight but the sight will not move there. 900 meters is very optimistic for this round which is in reality only has useful accuracy at shorter ranges.
Figure 2 shows a side view of the sight. As the sight is moved toward the front sight (left in the picture), the sight moves both higher and closer to the front sight as it is pushed up by the ramp that it slides along.
| Mark | Yds | Front Sight | Back Sight | Dif Height | Distance | Mills | MOA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 109 | 1.13 | 1.16 | 0.03 | 19.042 | 1.641 | 5.64 |
| 2 | 219 | 1.13 | 1.19 | 0.06 | 19.021 | 3.286 | 11.30 |
| 3 | 328 | 1.13 | 1.22 | 0.10 | 19.000 | 5.099 | 17.53 |
| 4 | 437 | 1.13 | 1.26 | 0.14 | 18.979 | 7.245 | 24.91 |
| 5 | 547 | 1.13 | 1.31 | 0.19 | 18.958 | 9.890 | 34.00 |
| 6 | 656 | 1.13 | 1.38 | 0.25 | 18.938 | 13.201 | 45.38 |
| 7 | 766 | 1.13 | 1.44 | 0.31 | 18.917 | 16.520 | 56.79 |
| 8 | 875 | 1.13 | 1.50 | 0.38 | 18.896 | 19.846 | 68.22 |
| 9 | 984 | 1.13 | 1.56 | 0.44 | 18.875 | 23.179 | 79.68 |
The range marks 1 thru 9 represent 100 thru 900 meters. Since most American ballistic tables are set up for yard, I gave the equivalent distance in yards in column 2. The front sight, once adjusted during the sighting in process remains the same. The rear sight height changes with range adjustments and therefore, the relative height of the rear sight to front sight changes as shown in the DIF height column. The angle calculated with opposite / adjacent = angle in radians for small angles. Radians are converted to milli-radians (mills) and then to minutes of angle (MOA). This is controls the angle of departure (AOD).
Note: The accuracy of the data in Table 1 is subject to the limitations of my ability to measure the distances shown and there is certainly some error. It should be close enough to answer the question about the relationship of the sights to ammunition with different ballistic characteristics.
Sight Adjustment Errors with different Rounds
Ballistic tables can be quite rich in information (example at understanding-your-rifle-scope and External Ballistics Calculators but for our purpose here, we care about the angle of departure. The difference between the angle of departure for a given round and for the sight adjustment on the rifle is the sight adjustment error.| Yds | 122 gr fps | 122 gr AOD | 122 gr Err (MOA) | 122 gr Err (in) | 154 gr fps | 154 gr AOD | 154 gr Err (MOA) | 154 gr Err (in) |
| 000 | 2396 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2104 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 109 | 2046 | 3.49 | -2.15 | -2.46 | 1945 | 4.32 | -1.33 | -1.52 |
| 219 | 1734 | 7.86 | -3.44 | -7.87 | 1794 | 9.10 | -2.20 | -5.03 |
| 328 | 1466 | 13.39 | -4.13 | -14.20 | 1654 | 14.47 | -3.06 | -10.52 |
| 437 | 1246 | 20.37 | -4.53 | -20.76 | 1524 | 20.48 | -4.43 | -20.29 |
| 547 | 1096 | 29.11 | -4.89 | -27.99 | 1405 | 27.20 | -6.80 | -38.93 |
| 656 | 1000 | 39.56 | -5.83 | -40.03 | 1297 | 34.75 | -10.64 | -73.07 |
| 766 | 928 | 51.69 | -5.10 | -40.89 | 1205 | 43.07 | -13.72 | -109.99 |
| 875 | 867 | 65.51 | -2.71 | -24.83 | 1132 | 52.50 | -15.72 | -144.02 |
| 984 | 814 | 81.27 | 1.59 | 16.34 | 1074 | 62.75 | -16.93 | -174.48 |
Clearly, the sights on the standard SKS were designed for the lighter, faster round. Since the sight adjustments are not ballistically perfect, choosing the range that we actually sight the rifle in for will be an important consideration.
D, The 200 Meter Battle Sight Setting
The concept of battle sights and a battle sight setting are two fold. The shooter can quickly and easily lift the rear sight, slide it all the way back and set it down on the D mark to find the 200 meter range setting.
Battle sights are intended to be left at that setting and Kentucky windage adjustments made on the fly by the shooter. This is quite manageable for ranges between point blank and 300 meters (328 yards) as you can see looking at the trajectory plot above.
The chart above is for a 122 grain (bc=0.2573) round with a 90o 10 mph crosswind and 1 mph moving target. See the article scope.shtml for information on using the chart. Keep in mind that mills and moa data is more for people with scopes with mill or moa reticals.
Why You Adjust Your Sights
This chart shows the trajectory for the rifle sighted in at 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 meters where S2 is the 200 meter battle sight setting.
You can see that the S2 200 meter zero (crossing at Y5) curve is beyond manageable holdover for ranges beyond 300 meters. When you need to attempt a shot that is far removed from your sight-in, adjusting the sights is a must. They may not be the most accurate sight adjustments in the world, but they are quick and easy to make on the SKS.
Armed with knowledge of the errors to compensate with your biggest problem will be range estimation and marksmanship skills.
Russian Sks Identification Guide 2016
Final Thoughts
- I started the project to determine the accuracy of the range come-ups on the rear sight and the effect of changing ammo. The mechanical sights are less than perfect and range marks out to 900 are more for show then go but within its useful range, useful.
- The sight range marks are more accurate for the 122-124 grain projectiles than for the larger 154 grain projectile.
- Some component of the errors with respect to the calculated mechanical AOD are measurement errors on my part.
- Range estimation, without range finding equipment, is one of the most challenging skills for a marksman to learn. It must be practiced and refreshed regularly.
- The SKS was developed to be a military weapon and it's accuracy, in the hands of a competent marksman who can estimate range, is sufficient for combat out to the traditional maximum effective range for infantry rifles with human sized targets.
- For hunters, the SKS will serve as a fine substitute for the 30-30 as a deer rifle.
- At short range, the SKS can work for hunting game and is certainly a fun, inexpensive, general purpose carbine.
- The most prudent thing to do would be to sight in with the 200 meter range mark, even if you have to do it with a 4.4 in high firing at 100 meters. The rough in 25 meter firing 0.97 inch high strike with the 200 meter elevation mark is less accurate than an actual 200 meter firing range but is a good start if you can't sight in at rifle range. It will get you close on your battle sights sight-in.
The following pages will show the differences in the various SKS's manufactured or used by the many nations who adopted this fine rifle.
SKS RECEIVER COVERS: I have tried to show some of the arsenal markings found on the receiver and/or receiver covers of some of the various SKS's. The countries that I know of with no special markings in these areas are: Albania and Yugoslavia. The Chinese markings are too numerous to list now but can be found on www.sksboards.com & on http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?8-AK-And-SKS-Collector-Discussion-Board Hope this provides you with some good information.
1949 Tula Arsenal
This is the first year of production for the Russian SKS. Note the crude stampings and NO Russian rebuild stamp.
1949 Tula Arsenal
