Let me introduce "The Snow Leopard"

rjinga · October 21, 2017, 09:11 PM

I bought an SKS this afternoon.

From the first time I saw one, I thought they were kinda cool. I mean, who doesn't like a rifle with a fold-out bayonet, right? And, since 7.62x39 surplus ammunition is so cheap (compared to 7.62x51 anyway), it got me thinking of looking for an inexpensive plinking rifle.

So, when I saw this rifle, and extras, offered for sale on another forum by a seller that was only 30 minutes away, I contacted him. We met at his local indoor range and I got inspect the rifle and shoot it as well. The seller told me that it is Chinese military by way of Albania. I am curious about its history, but that isn't the main reason that I bought it.

I call it "The Snow Leopard" because of the splotches on the stock. All the numbers match, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave that original stock on it. I also think I'm going to keep the splotchy appearance; I kinda like it.

I got the rifle with sling, a Russian Arctic birch stock with hand-guard (probably going to re-sell), a "made in China" (in cursive) 20-round metal magazine (pretty sure I'm going to re-sell), 28 10-round stripper clips, a 7-pouch chest rig, and 80 rounds of ammunition for $350.00.

I shot all the ammo (and a little more) this afternoon, so stay tuned for my first range report!

ttarp · October 21, 2017, 10:01 PM

Thats a pretty decent deal, too many folks try to ask $500+ for these rifles nowadays.

rjinga · October 21, 2017, 11:07 PM

First target: 25 yds; standing, offhand; Tulammo; five shots at the X and five at the head (1st shot at each group marked).

Second target: same specs as first target (without 1st shots marked).

Third target: 7 yds; resting arms on counter; Tulammo; three shots; the squares are 1", the bulls-eye has a 1-3/4" diameter, and the 10 ring has a 3-1/2" diameter.

Forth target: same specs as third target.

Fifth target: 15 yds; resting arms on counter; Tulammo; four shots.

Sixth target (the bottom of the sheet, so I flipped it over): 25 yds; resting arms on counter; Tulammo; ten shots.

ms6852 · October 21, 2017, 11:27 PM

Nice acquisition .

rjinga · October 22, 2017, 12:41 AM

I took "The Snow Leopard" to the nearby 100 yd range the same afternoon that I bought her.

25 yds; bench rest; Tulammo; the bulls-eye has a 3" diameter; 10 rounds. I tried a 6:00 hold on the first shot and it's the one at the bottom of the bulls-eye. On the second shot, I tried a POA/POI hold, and the impact was almost dead center.

50 yds; bench rest; Tulammo; the 10-ring has a 7" diameter; 10 rounds. I think I was trying a POA/POI hold again.

50 yds again; bench rest; Monarch ammunition; POA/POI hold; 10 rounds. I was firing a little quicker than previously.

100 yds; bench rest; Monarch ammunition; POA/POI hold; 10 rounds.

100 yds again; bench rest; Tulammo; POA/POI hold; the 9-ring has a 13" diameter; nine rounds. Even though the Monarch seemed to shoot high, I suspected that the Tula would shot lower with the same hold, and that appears to be the case.

One target at 50 yds and another next to it at 51 yds; standing off-hand (trying to do the elbow on the hip thing); Tulammo; alternating shots at each target; 20 rounds.

SanchoPanza · October 24, 2017, 05:30 PM

Keep the 20 rd mag if it is a Chinese fixed; they are good.

fourbore · October 26, 2017, 08:04 PM

Being well used military surplus maybe a factor here. so; take this for what it is worth.

I got a mini-30 when they first came out. I was shooting groups like your gun due to discrepacy in bore diameter and bullets. I traded it in and moved on. At the same time a friend a new in box (Norinco I guess) chinese import sks. Back before the ban. That gun would shoot 3 inch at 100 yards and given iron sights I am sure that would have been better with a scope.

I dont know what is going on here. If this was my gun, I would be looking at the bore, crown, chamber and all the screws, etc. Something looks wrong here.

Sevens · October 26, 2017, 08:22 PM

Haha, gotta chuckle at the 7 yard target -- because you brought it up early in the post, you should have shown us a paper target with bayonet jabs through the center!

Ricklin · October 26, 2017, 08:38 PM

Nice sevens.....well it is a carbine.

Accuracy is not the strong suite of the sks. Best described as combat accuracy.

I love em for what they are, rugged, reliable, and cheap. Designed to put in the hands of conscrpits, peasants, and villiagers, there are a crap ton of them.

Don't try to make an ak out of it. Stripper clips are great. Enjoy it for what it is, a handy rugged compact carrbine.
It's the perfect ""truck gun" IMHO

rjinga · October 27, 2017, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricklin

Nice sevens.....well it is a carbine.

At that point I was just trying to figure out the POA/POI, and get my 57 yo eyes used to the sights.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricklin

Accuracy is not the strong suite of the sks. Best described as combat accuracy.

I'll always be working to tighten up my groups, but those will be MOM (minute of man) groups.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricklin

I love em for what they are, rugged, reliable, and cheap. Don't try to make an ak out of it. Stripper clips are great. Enjoy it for what it is, a handy rugged compact carrbine.
It's the perfect ""truck gun" IMHO

Exactly.

Chainsaw. · October 27, 2017, 02:21 PM

SKSs are fantastic rifles that get a bad rap because of what they are not. Shoot the heck out of it and enjoy. Good find.

aarondhgraham · October 27, 2017, 03:17 PM

I expected to see a white stock,,,
Because of the name "Snow Leopard".

I remember a character from a sword & sorcery fantasy novel I once read,,,
She was a warrior woman with pale skin and white hair,,,
Her sobriquet was "Snow Leopard".

I once saw a Mosin-Nagant with a white stock,,,
The barrel, action, and trigger guard were anodized a light gray,,,
And all of the fittings such as the barrel bands were powder coated a deep scarlet red.

I was thinking maybe you had done something similar.

Aarond

.

johnwilliamson062 · October 27, 2017, 04:57 PM

I think that stock was just poorly stained. I don't know what wood it is, but some woods splotch like that when stained unless you seal with something(de-waxed shellac being the best sealer IMO). Gives a nice effect on that piece though.

2damnold4this · October 27, 2017, 07:42 PM

Nice historic rifle. With SKS iron sights and 57 year old eyes, you did well.

Model12Win · October 28, 2017, 12:34 AM

I would refinish it, grind off the bayonet lug, add a cheap scope to it, spray paint it puke green, add a TAPCO 20 round banana clip, and a 4 point tactisling.

That's how all the SKS's look at my LGS.

October 21, 2017, 09:11 PM	#1
rjinga Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: N. E. Georgia Posts: 512	Let me introduce "The Snow Leopard" I bought an SKS this afternoon. From the first time I saw one, I thought they were kinda cool. I mean, who doesn't like a rifle with a fold-out bayonet, right? And, since 7.62x39 surplus ammunition is so cheap (compared to 7.62x51 anyway), it got me thinking of looking for an inexpensive plinking rifle. So, when I saw this rifle, and extras, offered for sale on another forum by a seller that was only 30 minutes away, I contacted him. We met at his local indoor range and I got inspect the rifle and shoot it as well. The seller told me that it is Chinese military by way of Albania. I am curious about its history, but that isn't the main reason that I bought it. I call it "The Snow Leopard" because of the splotches on the stock. All the numbers match, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave that original stock on it. I also think I'm going to keep the splotchy appearance; I kinda like it. I got the rifle with sling, a Russian Arctic birch stock with hand-guard (probably going to re-sell), a "made in China" (in cursive) 20-round metal magazine (pretty sure I'm going to re-sell), 28 10-round stripper clips, a 7-pouch chest rig, and 80 rounds of ammunition for $350.00. I shot all the ammo (and a little more) this afternoon, so stay tuned for my first range report! __________________ "Yo homie. Is that my briefcase?" Sig Sauer P229 SAS GEN 2 E2 9mm; PTR 91, GI model; Chinese Type 56 SKS; Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm

October 21, 2017, 11:07 PM	#3
rjinga Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: N. E. Georgia Posts: 512	Test Firing at the Indoor Range First target: 25 yds; standing, offhand; Tulammo; five shots at the X and five at the head (1st shot at each group marked). Second target: same specs as first target (without 1st shots marked). Third target: 7 yds; resting arms on counter; Tulammo; three shots; the squares are 1", the bulls-eye has a 1-3/4" diameter, and the 10 ring has a 3-1/2" diameter. Forth target: same specs as third target. Fifth target: 15 yds; resting arms on counter; Tulammo; four shots. Sixth target (the bottom of the sheet, so I flipped it over): 25 yds; resting arms on counter; Tulammo; ten shots. __________________ "Yo homie. Is that my briefcase?" Sig Sauer P229 SAS GEN 2 E2 9mm; PTR 91, GI model; Chinese Type 56 SKS; Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm

October 21, 2017, 11:27 PM	#4
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	Nice acquisition . __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

October 22, 2017, 12:41 AM	#5
rjinga Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2012 Location: N. E. Georgia Posts: 512	Taking the SKS out to 100 yds for the first time. I took "The Snow Leopard" to the nearby 100 yd range the same afternoon that I bought her. 25 yds; bench rest; Tulammo; the bulls-eye has a 3" diameter; 10 rounds. I tried a 6:00 hold on the first shot and it's the one at the bottom of the bulls-eye. On the second shot, I tried a POA/POI hold, and the impact was almost dead center. 50 yds; bench rest; Tulammo; the 10-ring has a 7" diameter; 10 rounds. I think I was trying a POA/POI hold again. 50 yds again; bench rest; Monarch ammunition; POA/POI hold; 10 rounds. I was firing a little quicker than previously. 100 yds; bench rest; Monarch ammunition; POA/POI hold; 10 rounds. 100 yds again; bench rest; Tulammo; POA/POI hold; the 9-ring has a 13" diameter; nine rounds. Even though the Monarch seemed to shoot high, I suspected that the Tula would shot lower with the same hold, and that appears to be the case. One target at 50 yds and another next to it at 51 yds; standing off-hand (trying to do the elbow on the hip thing); Tulammo; alternating shots at each target; 20 rounds. __________________ "Yo homie. Is that my briefcase?" Sig Sauer P229 SAS GEN 2 E2 9mm; PTR 91, GI model; Chinese Type 56 SKS; Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm

October 24, 2017, 05:30 PM	#6
SanchoPanza Junior Member Join Date: June 13, 2017 Location: Beauvoir, Mississippi, C.S.A. Posts: 10	Keep the 20 rd mag if it is a Chinese fixed; they are good. __________________ "And a woman is only a woman, But a good Cigar is a Smoke." Rudyard Kipling The Betrothed

October 21, 2017, 10:01 PM	#2
ttarp Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2013 Posts: 888	Thats a pretty decent deal, too many folks try to ask $500+ for these rifles nowadays.

October 26, 2017, 08:04 PM	#7
fourbore Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2015 Location: new england Posts: 1,159	Being well used military surplus maybe a factor here. so; take this for what it is worth. I got a mini-30 when they first came out. I was shooting groups like your gun due to discrepacy in bore diameter and bullets. I traded it in and moved on. At the same time a friend a new in box (Norinco I guess) chinese import sks. Back before the ban. That gun would shoot 3 inch at 100 yards and given iron sights I am sure that would have been better with a scope. I dont know what is going on here. If this was my gun, I would be looking at the bore, crown, chamber and all the screws, etc. Something looks wrong here.

October 26, 2017, 08:22 PM	#8
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Haha, gotta chuckle at the 7 yard target -- because you brought it up early in the post, you should have shown us a paper target with bayonet jabs through the center! __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

October 26, 2017, 08:38 PM	#9
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,013	Grin Nice sevens.....well it is a carbine. Accuracy is not the strong suite of the sks. Best described as combat accuracy. I love em for what they are, rugged, reliable, and cheap. Designed to put in the hands of conscrpits, peasants, and villiagers, there are a crap ton of them. Don't try to make an ak out of it. Stripper clips are great. Enjoy it for what it is, a handy rugged compact carrbine. It's the perfect ""truck gun" IMHO __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free Last edited by Ricklin; October 26, 2017 at 08:39 PM. Reason: Spelling

October 27, 2017, 02:21 PM	#11
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	SKSs are fantastic rifles that get a bad rap because of what they are not. Shoot the heck out of it and enjoy. Good find. __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

October 27, 2017, 03:17 PM	#12
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	I expected to see a white stock,,, I expected to see a white stock,,, Because of the name "Snow Leopard". I remember a character from a sword & sorcery fantasy novel I once read,,, She was a warrior woman with pale skin and white hair,,, Her sobriquet was "Snow Leopard". I once saw a Mosin-Nagant with a white stock,,, The barrel, action, and trigger guard were anodized a light gray,,, And all of the fittings such as the barrel bands were powder coated a deep scarlet red. I was thinking maybe you had done something similar. Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

October 27, 2017, 04:57 PM	#13
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	I think that stock was just poorly stained. I don't know what wood it is, but some woods splotch like that when stained unless you seal with something(de-waxed shellac being the best sealer IMO). Gives a nice effect on that piece though.

October 27, 2017, 07:42 PM	#14
2damnold4this Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 2,526	Nice historic rifle. With SKS iron sights and 57 year old eyes, you did well.

October 28, 2017, 12:34 AM	#15
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	I would refinish it, grind off the bayonet lug, add a cheap scope to it, spray paint it puke green, add a TAPCO 20 round banana clip, and a 4 point tactisling. That's how all the SKS's look at my LGS.