SKS loading question

JesusCow · February 14, 2002, 08:56 PM

ok, so when i want to use the fixed magazine, do i have to use a stripper clip and load from the top? like this?

is that how the fixed magazine is used? or can you load each round into the magazine individually?

thanks
-willie

EDIT: SKS owners... do you use a detachable magazine or do you use the fixed one with stripper clips?

Bob Locke · February 14, 2002, 09:01 PM

You could load each round individually, but that would put your fingers in a couple of places that you probably ought not have them.

The picture you posted is the proper, safe method for loading an SKS.

JesusCow · February 14, 2002, 09:04 PM

i see, ok

thanks, anyone else have opinions?
-willie

jjmorgan64 · February 14, 2002, 09:12 PM

Just don't push that little block down, or that could hurt.

You can also open the mag from the bottom and drop em in, this works but is kind of a pain in the tail.

JesusCow · February 14, 2002, 09:38 PM

like this?

Jamie Young · February 14, 2002, 10:25 PM

I've never caught My fingers in an SKS while loading it. I think they're Dandy little rifles.

hksigwalther · February 14, 2002, 10:54 PM

The little block that JM is talking about is the bolt stop that is activated by the follower in the mag. As long as you don't knock it down or don't knock the bolt back (which would allow the stop the drop), you should be OK loading the mad from the top one round at a time. I've never tried to load the mag from the bottom with the mag hinged down as it seems to be more difficult than it's worth to do so. Why bother? IMO, I think the trap door is there just to unload and not as a means to load.

WilderBill · February 15, 2002, 07:36 PM

Either strippers or individually works just fine. Never got M 1 thumb outside of an M 1.

If you keep a banoleer of loaded strippers as a SHTF precaution, be sure to "rotate the stock" as the steel case ammo will rust and/or stick to the steel stripers over time.
One handy idea I picked up here at TFL is to take a fired case, add a little lapping or polishing compound in the extractor grove and run it from one end of the stripper to the other a few times while rotating it. Makes for a quicker, easier reload with less chance of stripping. Be sure to clean out ALL the gritty compound when you get through polishing.

uglygun · February 15, 2002, 08:02 PM

I've never gotten a "Garand Thumb" from loading singles into my SKS.

I have how ever gotten "SKS Finger" but it isn't what you'd think it is, it IS NOT from loading the gun and having the bolt squash your thumb flat.

To me, "sks finger" happens when you try to get that darned little cleaning kit out of your buttstock trapdoor and you've never done it before, you'll stick your finger in there and the first few times you'll get it out just fine. Problem is that one day you'll push your finger down a little too far and the darned cleaning kit will slide up over your finger nail trapping it between the cleaning kit and the trapdoor, until you rip your finger out of there you'll have an entire rifle dangling from your finger while you rant and cuss worse than a sailor. Oh yeah, SKS Finger, somebody here will know precisely what I'm talking about. What's more I bet we've got a few members who were just like me and thought they were smart enough to not let it happen to them more than once, I thought I'd be smart enough to learn from that one experience but I'll be darned if it happened 2 or 3 more times.

February 14, 2002, 08:56 PM	#1
JesusCow Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2002 Location: 11 Pinon Pl, Broomfield, CO Posts: 4	SKS loading question ok, so when i want to use the fixed magazine, do i have to use a stripper clip and load from the top? like this? is that how the fixed magazine is used? or can you load each round into the magazine individually? thanks -willie EDIT: SKS owners... do you use a detachable magazine or do you use the fixed one with stripper clips?

February 14, 2002, 09:01 PM	#2
Bob Locke Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 1999 Location: Greeley, CO Posts: 2,518	You could load each round individually, but that would put your fingers in a couple of places that you probably ought not have them. The picture you posted is the proper, safe method for loading an SKS. __________________ "When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty." - Thomas Jefferson

February 14, 2002, 09:12 PM	#4
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	I do both Just don't push that little block down, or that could hurt. You can also open the mag from the bottom and drop em in, this works but is kind of a pain in the tail. __________________ The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke And seventeen inches of flame. -Marty Robbins JM

February 14, 2002, 10:25 PM	#6
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	I've never caught My fingers in an SKS while loading it. I think they're Dandy little rifles. __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

February 14, 2002, 10:54 PM	#7
hksigwalther Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1998 Location: NE OH, USA Posts: 3,198	The little block that JM is talking about is the bolt stop that is activated by the follower in the mag. As long as you don't knock it down or don't knock the bolt back (which would allow the stop the drop), you should be OK loading the mad from the top one round at a time. I've never tried to load the mag from the bottom with the mag hinged down as it seems to be more difficult than it's worth to do so. Why bother? IMO, I think the trap door is there just to unload and not as a means to load. __________________ - Ron V.

February 14, 2002, 09:04 PM	#3
JesusCow Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2002 Location: 11 Pinon Pl, Broomfield, CO Posts: 4	i see, ok thanks, anyone else have opinions? -willie

February 14, 2002, 09:38 PM	#5
JesusCow Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2002 Location: 11 Pinon Pl, Broomfield, CO Posts: 4	like this?

February 15, 2002, 07:36 PM	#8
WilderBill Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 610	Either strippers or individually works just fine. Never got M 1 thumb outside of an M 1. If you keep a banoleer of loaded strippers as a SHTF precaution, be sure to "rotate the stock" as the steel case ammo will rust and/or stick to the steel stripers over time. One handy idea I picked up here at TFL is to take a fired case, add a little lapping or polishing compound in the extractor grove and run it from one end of the stripper to the other a few times while rotating it. Makes for a quicker, easier reload with less chance of stripping. Be sure to clean out ALL the gritty compound when you get through polishing. __________________ I reserve the right to keep AND arm bears. Support those who support us.

February 15, 2002, 08:02 PM	#9
uglygun Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2001 Location: Cowpie Ca Posts: 552	I've never gotten a "Garand Thumb" from loading singles into my SKS. I have how ever gotten "SKS Finger" but it isn't what you'd think it is, it IS NOT from loading the gun and having the bolt squash your thumb flat. To me, "sks finger" happens when you try to get that darned little cleaning kit out of your buttstock trapdoor and you've never done it before, you'll stick your finger in there and the first few times you'll get it out just fine. Problem is that one day you'll push your finger down a little too far and the darned cleaning kit will slide up over your finger nail trapping it between the cleaning kit and the trapdoor, until you rip your finger out of there you'll have an entire rifle dangling from your finger while you rant and cuss worse than a sailor. Oh yeah, SKS Finger, somebody here will know precisely what I'm talking about. What's more I bet we've got a few members who were just like me and thought they were smart enough to not let it happen to them more than once, I thought I'd be smart enough to learn from that one experience but I'll be darned if it happened 2 or 3 more times.