Refinished stock on 1972 SKS carbine

randalee

Senior member
Nov 7, 2001
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I just picked this guy up at the local gun show in Salt Lake City last weekend. It was still fairly greasy, so I did the "dishwasher" trick, reoiling everything afterwards. The stock came out well -- the cosmoline had weeped out and been washed away. I sanded the stock in 3 separate passes, wiping it down clean after each time, to remove dust.

I wish I had taken "before" and "progress" pictures, but it looks WAY better than the "before". These pictures are after two coats of Minwax "Special Walnut" stain. I let the stain sit for about 10 minutes, then wiped off with a rag. I waited 5 hours, then repeated a second time, again waiting 10 minutes for it to sit before wiping.

Stock and Gas tube

Close-up of Stock

The Product

Disassembled Carbine

I noticed the stamped numbers are now much more defined. I also noticed 3 numbers stamped in the "trigger-safety-cutout" part on the stock that I hadn't seen before I did the sand and stain. Anyone know what these are? I'll have to get a good picture if you don't know what I mean.
 

AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
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Not sure what these numbers are for but compare them to the serial number stamped on the receiver and see if they match, though I 've never seen a serial number stampted on the stock.

How much did you pay for that Yugo? I hope you weren't buying it as a collectors item, since the stock finish is no longer original it lost quite a bit of its value.
 

randalee

Senior member
Nov 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: AnyMal
Not sure what these numbers are for but compare them to the serial number stamped on the receiver and see if they match, though I 've never seen a serial number stampted on the stock.

How much did you pay for that Yugo? I hope you weren't buying it as a collectors item, since the stock finish is no longer original it lost quite a bit of its value.

It was $165. I didn't really buy it to be a collector's item. The original finish was really bad, and the stock is in very rough shape (you can see all of the dark cuts/dings in the photos). What I really need is a replacement stock that's about 3 inches longer. These rifles weren't made for a monkey-armed American like me.

The numbers on all of the gun parts match, except for the gas tube. It seems it came from a different rifle. I'm not to worried about it holding value. This is a "fun-gun". The only cheaper ammo you can find is .22 LR, but this is a lot more fun to shoot.

I took $300 cash with me to the gun show. Picked up this rifle, 500 rounds of 7.62x39 ammo for it, an ammo crate, a recoil buffer for the SKS, and still had 30 bucks in my pocket when I left.
 

randalee

Senior member
Nov 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: rdubbz420
nice! now go put some linseed oil on that thing to give it bling.

Linseed oil, huh? I've not ever used that, nor heard of it. Does it give a glossy finish?
 

DeadByDawn

Platinum Member
Dec 22, 2003
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I've got a norinco paratrooper model. The # on the stock matches all the #'s on the rifle.
 

MiniDoom

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: randalee
Originally posted by: rdubbz420
nice! now go put some linseed oil on that thing to give it bling.

Linseed oil, huh? I've not ever used that, nor heard of it. Does it give a glossy finish?

yep.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
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I have a yugo SKS, having problems with ejection. I need to either polish my chamber or try brass casings instead of Wolf Steel.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
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Originally posted by: TallBill
I have a yugo SKS, having problems with ejection. I need to either polish my chamber or try brass casings instead of Wolf Steel.

Is the gas shut-off valve at the right position?

It should work fine with steel case ammo.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
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I have the perfect stock oil recipe at home... I will post it later.

I know it has turpentine, linseed oil and some kind of thick grease. I used it on my M1 Garande, Mosin Nagant 1891/30 and Chinese SKS.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
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Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: TallBill
I have a yugo SKS, having problems with ejection. I need to either polish my chamber or try brass casings instead of Wolf Steel.

Is the gas shut-off valve at the right position?

It should work fine with steel case ammo.

Yeah, it is.. I thought it was that too and double-quadruple checked it.
 

MiniDoom

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: TallBill
I have a yugo SKS, having problems with ejection. I need to either polish my chamber or try brass casings instead of Wolf Steel.

Is the gas shut-off valve at the right position?

It should work fine with steel case ammo.

Yeah, it is.. I thought it was that too and double-quadruple checked it.

Wolf is some dirty crap, I have that problem with my AR after a couple hundred rounds. The chamber gets dirty as hell.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
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Originally posted by: TallBill
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: TallBill
I have a yugo SKS, having problems with ejection. I need to either polish my chamber or try brass casings instead of Wolf Steel.

Is the gas shut-off valve at the right position?

It should work fine with steel case ammo.

Yeah, it is.. I thought it was that too and double-quadruple checked it.

I assume you have given the gas system a good cleaning.

 

yellowg555

Member
Sep 13, 2005
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Try using Miwall reloads. I think they have reloads for rifle rounds. I have been using their 9mm reloads and they rock. No duds yet, and I've been through 500 rounds in my USP. Not dirty either.
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
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sksboards.com

They would probably be able to answer any question you could possibly have about SKS's.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
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Originally posted by: yellowg555
Try using Miwall reloads. I think they have reloads for rifle rounds. I have been using their 9mm reloads and they rock. No duds yet, and I've been through 500 rounds in my USP. Not dirty either.

Wolf should work fine in AKs and SKSs.

Hell, the ammo is most likely being turned out of old soviet machines.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Wolf is some dirty crap, I have that problem with my AR after a couple hundred rounds. The chamber gets dirty as hell.

What do you do to clean out the chamber? I was told to put some steel wool on a wood dowel and put that in a drill to clean it out. I dont have steel wool, a dowel, or a drill, lol.

And yes, everything has been cleaned fairly well.
 

MiniDoom

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: TallBill
Wolf is some dirty crap, I have that problem with my AR after a couple hundred rounds. The chamber gets dirty as hell.

What do you do to clean out the chamber? I was told to put some steel wool on a wood dowel and put that in a drill to clean it out. I dont have steel wool, a dowel, or a drill, lol.

And yes, everything has been cleaned fairly well.

I just use break cleaner and CLP with a USGI chamber brush.
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
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Originally posted by: rdubbz420
Originally posted by: TallBill
Wolf is some dirty crap, I have that problem with my AR after a couple hundred rounds. The chamber gets dirty as hell.

What do you do to clean out the chamber? I was told to put some steel wool on a wood dowel and put that in a drill to clean it out. I dont have steel wool, a dowel, or a drill, lol.

And yes, everything has been cleaned fairly well.

I just use break cleaner and CLP with a USGI chamber brush.

Chamber brush + cordless drill and CLP is like an ultradouche. Good stuff.
 

MiniDoom

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: Specop 007
Originally posted by: rdubbz420
Originally posted by: TallBill
Wolf is some dirty crap, I have that problem with my AR after a couple hundred rounds. The chamber gets dirty as hell.

What do you do to clean out the chamber? I was told to put some steel wool on a wood dowel and put that in a drill to clean it out. I dont have steel wool, a dowel, or a drill, lol.

And yes, everything has been cleaned fairly well.

I just use break cleaner and CLP with a USGI chamber brush.

Chamber brush + cordless drill and CLP is like an ultradouche. Good stuff.

I will need to try this.:beer:
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
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Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: yellowg555
Try using Miwall reloads. I think they have reloads for rifle rounds. I have been using their 9mm reloads and they rock. No duds yet, and I've been through 500 rounds in my USP. Not dirty either.

Wolf should work fine in AKs and SKSs.

Hell, the ammo is most likely being turned out of old soviet machines.

Wolf should work fine in any firearm for the most part.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
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Originally posted by: Specop 007
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: yellowg555
Try using Miwall reloads. I think they have reloads for rifle rounds. I have been using their 9mm reloads and they rock. No duds yet, and I've been through 500 rounds in my USP. Not dirty either.

Wolf should work fine in AKs and SKSs.

Hell, the ammo is most likely being turned out of old soviet machines.

Wolf should work fine in any firearm for the most part.

well my possible problem is that if my chamber is built up the steel casings fit to tight. gonna have to clean it out good.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
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Originally posted by: Specop 007
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: yellowg555
Try using Miwall reloads. I think they have reloads for rifle rounds. I have been using their 9mm reloads and they rock. No duds yet, and I've been through 500 rounds in my USP. Not dirty either.

Wolf should work fine in AKs and SKSs.

Hell, the ammo is most likely being turned out of old soviet machines.

Wolf should work fine in any firearm for the most part.

I just meant that it would be rather unlikely for them to screw up the dimensions on 7.62x39 and that both weapons won't be temperamental about dirty burning ammo.

Edit: if polishing the chamber doesn't work then there is a gas leak somewhere
 

Lvis

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
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I'd use tung oil, its a much better finish than linseed.

Edit: Which ever you use, be sure to not leave the rags around the house, they will spontaniously combust.