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SKs scope question
coltpax
Member Posts: 7,516 ✭✭
Which would be a better option to mount onto an SKS in the scout position: A 2x20 pistol scope, a reflex sight, or a 30mm red dot sight? I'm gonna be hunting with it and I'll probably never take a shot past 200 yards. And 200 yards would be pushing it, 80% of my shooting is done under 100 yards. Opinions por favor?
Comments
A SKS is only good out to 200yrds. After that the bullet just drops. A scope can be very problematic on a SKS. Hard to keep sighted in cause the top cover moves around a lot. Best to just use the iron sights. They are adaquate for this application.
lobbing poop shots at 200 yards
Namely put out 10 rounds in 7 seconds into a 10" circle at 50 yards for a total cost of $2.50, then reload to do it again in about 5 more seconds.
SKS is PLENTY fine for its intended purpose of short-range combat, and makes a great brush gun.
To actually address the question, you're wise to put your scope onto the rear sight in "scout" fashion, where it will actually keep a zero. IMO that's the only way to go to scope an SKS, short of a side-riser scope mount drilled and tapped into the gun.
Any of the above three sighting options could work fine.
I think if there is a realistic change you are going to take a shot out to 150 yards (which I'd consider the maximum realistic range for an SKS), having a little magnification will help you. So given the parameters of your question, I vote for the 2x pistol scope. I have one on my Mosin carbine, and like the setup (see below).
Of the other two, it would depend on which exact model you were talking about.
If you're willing to forgo magnification, have you considered simple forgoing a scope altogether?
For less than the cost of a good rear sight mount and any dot or quality reflex scope, you can assemble a rear peep sight (Tech sights is the best brand) and a front fiber-optic sight (from Williams) into a stock SKS.
This will effectively give you the function of a red dot scope (the front fiber optic being the red dot), only with nothing sticking up from your gun (to snag) and no batteries to worry about.
It is easy to buy a bunch of cheap weapons. In ten years, you will still have cheap weapons. But well built weapon that will not decrease in value.
Actually SKS rifles have roughly tripled in value in the last 10-15 years, making them a FAR better investment than production Remington rifles.
You may remember being able to buy like new Yugo SKS guns for $100 (or less) in the late '90s with used ones for $89.
Today the surplus supply has virtually dried up. Unissued Yugo rifles run over $300, and even beat up used ones command $250+. Because importation of new ones is now banned, even the "junk" Chinese SKS guns regularly run over $200 used right now.
Now, that rate of appreciation obviously isn't likely to continue, but I think its also fair to say that SKS guns probably aren't going to DEPRECIATE either.
Nice 44 you got there. I like that rubber recoil pad...mine kicks like a mule with the steel plate on it. How do you like the fireworks show during night time shooting? Bob
I consider a rubber butt pad a necessity on these, not a convenience!
I think I bought it on Flea-bay for around $15 shipped. You unscrew the steel butt plate, and then this thing screws right in. I don't know if it works any better than a slip-on Pachmayr decelerator, but its probably a bit nicer looking.
It makes a pretty big difference. 'd say it cuts felt recoil by about 40% plus increases the length of pull, which is important on these guns.
Edit: I've never shot it at night, but I understand its quite impressive (see below).
http://www.{elsewhere}/52793-34.html
I like the fact that it is 28mm, and the fact that it is adjustable. The cheapest pistol scope I found is about $40, so might as well drop down a little more dough and get something better (while I have the money.).
http://tiny.cc/qzjms
Second row far left
On your question, I haven't used the scope in question, so I can't comment on it directly. You might be able to get away with it.
In GENERAL, low end scopes like BSA won't have as bright an image as better (read more expensive) scopes, and they may not hold a zero well. Quality control on them may also not be that great, meaning the chance of you getting a bad one is a lot higher than with a better branded scope.
IMO, you're better off keeping the original stock, and spending the extra money on good optics (and or a trigger job for your SKS!). Optics are NOT a good place to skimp, in my opinion, since problems there can cause a lot of aggravation (not just missed shots).
On the Mosin listed above, I put on a used 2x Leupold pistol scope, I again bought for about $90 on Flea-bay. Meaning I paid **WAY** more for the scope and mount than I did for the gun. But still well worth it, in my opinion. The image clarity is good, and I know I won't get a wandering zero under the pretty pounding recoil of the 7,62x54R.
For whatever reason, most shooters are looking for 4x pistol scopes, so if you're happy with a 2x, you might be able to find a used one for around $100. You might also check out Burris, which has some good quality, but relatively low cost pistol scopes.