SKS Detachable Mag Conversion

[Gurillawrist]

Hi Guys,
I'd like to convert my SKS to accept a detachable mag. Is this going to be worth the effort, or should I just buy another one that already does? If it is worth the effort, how do I make sure it is compliant?

[Doc Harvey]

Alrighty, then...I wouldn't convert an SKS unless its a Yugo or Norinco. If it's a Russian/Albania, etc, it's worth more unaltered. The "conversion" itself is nothing more than removing the original magazine and then sanding the innner aspects of the magazine well so the detachable mags fit. The "duckbill-less" conversion is a bit different, but very, very easy to do (a bit more expensive, though).

I'm not a 922R compliance lawyer, but my understanding is that if you remove the original fixed magazine and replace it with a detachable mag then 922 comes into play. You might want to triple check that, though.

"Is it worth it?" With my limited experience (less than 1 year) with my SKS, the answer is yes. I use the Tapco 20 round mags and have had zero problems (except for soft point ammo). I even purchased a second bolt and ground the lower rails off of it so I cound swap magazines out with the bolt forward. Many SKS fans out there are comfortable using the stripper clips with the original 10 round fixed magazine and say that they can reload as quickly with that as they can with detachable mags. I've personally never witnessed that, but thats what they say.

There is a TON of info on the SKS over at http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php . Just do a search and you'll come up with a lot of threads about SKS detachable mags versus stripper clips, etc. Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing/post some pics!

Here's mine: viewtopic.php?f=49&t=31834

[2in2out]

I used a 25-round detachable mag on my SKS without modification, and alternated between fixed and detachable mags periodically. I'm not aware of that being against the law, but if anyone can confirm that it is, I think the OP may benefit knowing that.

My detachable mag was one of those things with the extended tab, so that it would match up with everything. Removing the stock mag is a simple process, once you separate the stock from the receiver. If I remember correctly, mine was a Tapco mag, back in the days when Tapco had a catalog and anyone could order SKS parts from them.

As for my SKS, mags and ammo, it was all lost in a terrible boating accident....

[yuppiejr]

When all is said and done how much money are you going to have tied up in a modification that likely reduces the long term resale value of the rifle and may negatively impact function? The WASR 10/63 model AK's run $450 or so versus the Yugo SKS's at $300-$350.

My opinion - if you want a semi-auto milsurp rifle in 7.62x39 with detachable magazines either buy an AK or a -M series SKS designed to accept AK mags. I prefer the bone stock 10 round SKS configuration, it's simple, reliable, rugged and easy to reload with some practice... plus if you consider the added weight of each magazine you can probably carry a lot more ammo on stripper clips vs. steel surplus AK mags.

[MinnesotaSHooter1980]

When I bought my SKS I fully intended to convert it to the detachable mags - however after using the stripper clips with the Nagant I'm leaving it as is and feel comfortable using the stripper clips. i also figure i'll spend less money on ammo that way ;-P

[2in2out]

I no longer have an SKS and am not sure what kind of mags are available right now. However, I used a 25-round detachable mag in my early-60's Chinese SKS without modification. Field strip, pull out the 10-round fixed mag and put everything back together, sans mag. That's all it took. When it came time to sell, the mag went to one buyer and the gun with original 10-round mag went to another. No loss in resale value.

Now, if you're talking about a mod to use AK mags in an SKS, that's another matter. What I'm talking about is the "duckbill" mag that everyone sells for the SKS. Mine worked without fail - including all the steel-cased milsurp (non corrosive) ammo I could run through it.

[yuppiejr]

I no longer have an SKS and am not sure what kind of mags are available right now. However, I used a 25-round detachable mag in my early-60's Chinese SKS without modification. Field strip, pull out the 10-round fixed mag and put everything back together, sans mag. That's all it took. When it came time to sell, the mag went to one buyer and the gun with original 10-round mag went to another. No loss in resale value.

Now, if you're talking about a mod to use AK mags in an SKS, that's another matter. What I'm talking about is the "duckbill" mag that everyone sells for the SKS. Mine worked without fail - including all the steel-cased milsurp (non corrosive) ammo I could run through it.

Depends how much you have to file out the stock and latch points to make the aftermarket mag fit and lock up properly.... The Tapco 25 rounders I've seen fitted to Norinco and Yugo SKS rifles required some pretty significant Dremel time due to their width.... The steel ones I've seen were all nightmares of function that turned a reliable rifle into jam-o-matic range toys until reverted to their factory configuration (assuming it still fit correctly and didn't wobble around in the hogged out mag well). If you really want to go with detachable mags on the SKS it's probably better to buy a Tapco stock + the Tapco mags but at that point you're close to affording an AK and $11 surplus 30 round magazines that the rifle was designed to use.

When SKS rifles went for $100-$125 it made more sense to tacticool them up, now that they are closer to $250-$300 on the low end the upgrades to make it a reliable detachable magazine platform put you squarely in AK territory.

The SKS is a great rifle as designed, doesn't take much practice to get fast at loading from stripper clips and it's a lot easier to shoot prone in it's stock configuration and carry in the woods when a high capacity magazine is just adding weight and getting snagged on brush, etc..