2/11/2021 Field Stripping the SKS Rifle

How to Field Strip the SKS Ri e

How to Field Strip the SKS Ri e

Field stripping is the term for disassembling a gun into its major components or assemblies. You don't completely
disassemble it, but you break it down enough that you can clean and lubricate it. As the term suggests, this is something you
might do in the eld while further disassembly requiring special tools would be done back at the armory or shop. Here is
how to eld strip the SKS ri e.

In 1945, Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov invented a 7.62x39mm service ri e that the Soviet Union later standardized as the SKS
(or СКС in the Cyrillic alphabet), the Samozaryadniy Karabin sistemi Simonova (Самозарядный Карабин системы
Симонова), the Self-loading Carbine, system of Simonov.

The SKS was quickly replaced by the AK-47 as the USSR's primary service ri e, but it
remained as the secondary shoulder- red arm, issued to non-infantry and second-line
troops at least into the 1980s and possibly into the early 1990s. It's still in o cial
military service in the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of
(North) Korea, and some African nations. Versions of the SKS are still used by
ceremonial units and honor guards within former Warsaw Pact nations.

The People's Republic of China is probably the most prominent manufacturer of an SKS model, given the vast numbers they
produced. The Chinese called it the Type 56 (or Model 56).

Other SKS manufacturers included Romania, Yugoslavia, Albania, East Germany, and North Korea. Poland refurbished and
modi ed Soviet built ri es. North Vietnam was a source of a small number, either modi ed Soviet and Chinese units, or
slightly varied clones of those.

The SKS is very popular in the North American civilian market, and was imported in enormous numbers until 1994. It is
military, ring the same 7.62x39mm cartridge as the AK-47, but not so military in the analysis of just what makes an infantry
ri e be an "assault ri e" or not. Survivalists are ready to "go inna woods" with their SKS.

Start, of course, with an empty ri e!

 Make absolutely certain that the weapon is unloaded. 

The magazine follower is the plate that rises under spring pressure to lift the top round into place for chambering.

When the magazine is empty, the follower will lock the bolt back, as seen here.

Pull back on the bolt handle to release the pressure on the follower, push the follower down while allowing the bolt to
advance slightly, get your hand out of the way, and allow the bolt to close.

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Notice the lever at the right rear of the receiver cover. Here you see it in its normal horizontal position.

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Rotate that lever to the vertical position, then pull it and the locking pin toward the right, out of the receiver cover. The pin is
captive, you cannot completely remove it.

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When the retaining pin is fully extracted to the right, you can remove the receiver cover.

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Release the rear of the recoil spring and pull it out of the bolt. Then pull the bolt carrier to the rear and lift it and the bolt out
of the receiver.

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Separate the bolt from the bolt carrier.

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Above and at right you see the bolt and bolt carrier from the top and side, respectively.

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Notice the lever on the right side of the rear sight block. Normally it is rotated about 45° below the horizontal.

Rotate that locking lever upward to approximately 45° above the horizontal. This will rotate the atted shaft that holds the
forward hand guard and gas piston in place.

Lift the rear of the gas cylinder and forward handguard, raising if off the barrel.

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Remove the gas cylinder and forward handguard and set the assembly aside.

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You will see a piston within a cylinder in the front of the rear sight block. This is the gas piston extension, which has a fairly
powerful spring compressed behind it. Place the thumb of one hand over the end of that piston.

Use your other hand to rotate the locking lever to the fully upright position, freeing that gas piston extension.

Allow its spring to gently expand and push the pin out of the rear sight block. Then remove the gas piston extension and its
spring and set them aside.

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Rotate the gun about the axis of its barrel, and nd the latch within the rear of the trigger guard.

Place the safety lever in the "Safe" position, rotated forward against the stock. Then use a rigid object like a punch or a
screwdriver to depress this latch.

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Rotate the trigger group around its front end and lift it out of the stock.

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Pull the rear of the magazine down, away from the stock. When it has rotated slightly around its front end, it can be removed
from the receiver and stock.

You can now separate the stock and the receiver-barrel assembly by rotating the stock downward around its front end.

The ri e is now ready for cleaning.

7.62X39MM FIELD-STRIP 922R

AMMUNITION AN AK-47 COMPLIANCE

See the Section 922r compliance page for details on how to make certain that your surplus ri e is legal!

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Assemble a Garand from parts

FINDING MANUALS

GETTING THE PARTS

FINISH REAMING

DETERMINING THE VINTAGE AND SOURCE OF PARTS

WOOD RESTORATION

FINAL ASSEMBLY

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AMMUNITION

BARREL BREAK-IN

BUILDING A CUSTOM GUN CASE

M1 Garand Topics
THE HISTORY OF THE M1 GARAND

M1 GARAND TROUBLESHOOTING

A SPREADSHEET TO TRACK PARTS FOR SPRINGFIELD ARMORY M1 GARANDS AND M14S

THE .30-06 SPRINGFIELD CARTRIDGE

M1 GARAND GAS PRESSURE AND THE OPERATING CYCLE

SAFELY LOADING THE M1 GARAND WHILE AVOIDING GARAND THUMB

THOMAS PYNCHON ON GARAND THUMB

THE M1 GARAND ON PARADE

Ammunition
.30-06 SPRINGFIELD

.45 ACP

7.62X54MMR

7.62X39MM

7.62X25MM TOKAREV

9X18MM MAKAROV

MILITARY SURPLUS AMMO MARKINGS

Other Ri es
THE MOSIN-NAGANT "3-LINE" RIFLE

MEANING OF Н/Щ ON CLEANING KIT OIL CAN

THE SKS RIFLE ON PARADE

Pistols
M1911 / M1911A1

TT-33 / TTC

ČZ-52

FÉG PA-63

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Field Stripping Guides

Ri es Pistols
M1 GARAND M1911

AK-47 ČZ-52

SKS TT-33 / TTC

MOSIN-NAGANT FÉG PA-63

Gun Safety and Gun Laws

GUNS, SWIMMING POOLS, AND STATISTICS:

WHICH IS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH: A GUN OR A SWIMMING POOL?

NATIONAL RATES OF GUN OWNERSHIP AND VIOLENT CRIME:

THE U.S. HAS MORE GUNS AND A LOWER HOMICIDE RATE.

WHAT DO BRADY CAMPAIGN RANKINGS REALLY MEAN?

EVEN PROMINENT ANTI-GUN FIGURES FIND THEM WORTHLESS.

DEFENSIVE GUN USE IN THE U.S.

HOW OFTEN ARE GUNS USED DEFENSIVELY IN THE U.S.?

SECTION 922R COMPLIANCE FOR MILITARY SURPLUS RIFLES

KEEP YOUR MILITARY SURPLUS RIFLE LEGAL.

Gun Maintenance and Cleaning

HOW TO REMOVE BLUING (AN ANTI-CORROSION SURFACE TREATMENT) FROM STEEL

HOW TO PARKERIZE STEEL (APPLY AN ANTI-CORROSION AND LUBRICATING PHOSPHATIZED SURFACE TREATMENT)

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR CLEANING GUNS

BE CAREFUL — CLEANING SOLVENTS CAN PRODUCE POISON GAS

HOW TO TREAT BAD RIFLE KARMA

The ČZ-52 Czech Pistol

INTRODUCTION TO THE ČZ-52 PISTOL

7.62X25MM TOKAREV AMMUNITION

IS THE ČZ-52 REALLY STRONGER THAN OTHER 7.62X25MM HANDGUNS?

DECIPHERING ČZ-52 MARKINGS, INCLUDING THE NOTORIOUS "ACCURACY PUNCH MARKS"

IMPORTANT ČZ-52 SAFETY NOTES

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THE ČZ-50 / ČZ-70 SMALL PISTOL

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PROTECT YOUR FEET!

WRAP YOUR OWN PORTYANKI!

THE MEANING OF "OTK" ON SOVIET AND CZECH MILITARY SURPLUS

HOW TO DECODE SOVIET MILITARY SURPLUS AMMUNITION LABELS

GUNSMITH HORROR STORIES

CLASSIC BATTLE RIFLES: COMPARING THE AK47, M16/M4/AR15, AND MOSIN-NAGANT

CLIPS VERSUS MAGAZINES — THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!

FIREARMS PHILOSOPHY OF IVAN CHESNOKOV

LINKS TO OTHER SITES WE FIND INTERESTING OR USEFUL.

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