SKS Barrel Chop

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  • Worsley

    I apologize for hurting your feelings!
    Jan 5, 2022
    2,792
    Westminster
    Looking for Gunsmithing services to chop, re-crown and fit a front sight on an well used SKS. Please let me know if you have questions or recommendations.
     

    Growler215

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 30, 2020
    2,170
    SOMD
    I've got a couple of Norinco "paratrooper" SKS's with barrels slightly over 16". The ends of the barrels are only about 2" past where the gas ports are. Contrary to what you might have heard, standard "paratrooper" models do not have shorter gas tubes. They cycle fine, but they have a larger gas port than 20" carbines to make up for the reduced "dwell time."

    So, besides chopping and recrowning, you might also need to drill out the gas port. Not the easiest job since the gas block is pinned and press fit on and has to be removed to drill out the gas port, but doable with heat and patience. Then getting it back on and aligned after drilling a larger hole would be the next challenge.

    With all that, it would be easier and possibly even cheaper to sell your SKS and buy a "paratrooper" model to replace it. Unless you just really like hard work and have the tools and patience to DIY it. Personally, I'm not fond of doing metal work on barrels because the steel is so freaking hard.
     

    ohen cepel

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 2, 2011
    4,509
    Where they send me.
    I was wondering if the gas system would need to be modified.

    To do it right may be more $$ than it is worth.

    Is there a reason to cut the barrel back (bulge, rust, etc), or just preference?
    Nothing wrong with preference being your reason but as pointed out trading it towards a para may be cheaper.
     

    easy

    Member
    Nov 25, 2011
    81
    SEOK
    Some people have shortened SKS barrels and not required the gas port(hole) to be enlarged(drilled out). Some need to be reworked. Just depends on your gun.
     

    chinchong87

    Member
    Sep 2, 2009
    62
    AA
    You may want to reach out to
    1) ADCO
    2) John Thomas at Retro Arms Works
    3) Garys Bunker

    They’re all very reputable though I think adco mostly does AR stuff.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,733
    Socialist State of Maryland
    You could spend a lot of money on an SKS and it still wouldn't shoot any better. They are what they are and putting lipstick on it won't make a difference. Just keep it as a collection piece and spend your money on other worthwhile projects.
     

    chinchong87

    Member
    Sep 2, 2009
    62
    AA
    You could spend a lot of money on an SKS and it still wouldn't shoot any better. They are what they are and putting lipstick on it won't make a difference. Just keep it as a collection piece and spend your money on other worthwhile projects.

    Eh- sometimes it’s not about what shoots the tightest groups or whatever. Building neat guns or trying to accurize ‘inherently’ inaccurate guns is a lot of fun.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,733
    Socialist State of Maryland
    It’s the 20” barrel that makes it unwieldy for me. Looking to turn it into something more “wieldy” if that’s even a word

    Century Int'l Arms used to chop up those that had worn muzzles and sold them as "tanker models" or some such. In those days, their gunsmiths were little more than a street chop shop and their quality was terrible. They almost never got the front sight lined up correctly. :sad20:

    Cutting and recrowning a chrome lined barrel should be done in a lathe with carbide tooling. SKS barrels are threaded or pressed and pinned and take some doing to remove, especially the pinned versions. Additionally, Chinese parts don't always want to fit other Chinese parts. E. German parts will interchange with no problem.
     

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