Patrick Sweeney - The Gun Digest Book of the AK & SKS: A Complete Guide to Guns, Gear and Ammunition

The Gun Digest Book of the
AK&SKS

PATRICK SWEENEY

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO GUNS, GEAR AND AMMUNITION

2008 Krause Publications Inc.,
a subsidiary of F+W Media Inc.

Published by

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715-445-2214 888-457-2873
www.gundigestbooks.com

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All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2008929070

ISBN-13: 978-0-89689-678-9
ISBN-10: 0-89689-678-1
eISBN: 978-1-44022-436-2

Designed by Paul Birling
Edited by Dan Shideler

Printed in United States of America

Dedication

S ometimes life is strange. If, years ago when I was deeply immersed in guns, working long hours at the gun shop and shooting everything that I could lay my hands on, you had told me Id be here, I would have said you were crazy.

I was just not looking very far ahead which is what you have to do to learn something front-to-back and in all its details. Looking only at what is right in front of you is a great way to learn a subject, but a lousy way to live a life.

Yes, get out, learn to shoot, learn about firearms, but dont forget that there is more to life than just guns. (Hey, it took me a long time to figure that one out.) Find someone to share it with, either a shooting partner or a life partner. Some really lucky ones find one person who is both.

As with all the other titles, this is dedicated to Felicia, but also to the two poodle dudes who accompany me on walks. They are very amused by my jokes and turns of phrase, and I get to polish my writing on them by orating parts of it while we walk. Felicia is too, but she, unlike the two dudes, also points out where my grammar could be improved, for which I am grateful. Having seen what passes for a manuscript from other authors, I think Dan is also grateful for Felicias efforts.

If you find the book to be amusing, entertaining, and useful, I give all credit to Felicia, the poodle dudes and Dan. If not, Ill take the hit.

Patrick Sweeney

July 2008

Other KP Firearms Titles

Assault Weapons Buyers Guide

Std Catalog of Military FA

Gun Digest Book of the AR-15

Gun Digest Book of the AR-15, Vol. 2

Gun Digest Book of the Glock

Gun Digest Book of Ruger Pistols & Revolvers

Gunsmithing: Pistols & Revolvers

Tactical Weapons Assembly/Disassembly

Gun Digest

Standard Catalog of FA

Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices

Modern Gun Values

Cartridges of the World

Rifles of the World

Pistols of the World

The Gun Digest Book of the
AK&SKS
Contents

Acknowledgments

F irst off, the people I consulted were extremely generous with their time, knowledge and interest. You know the guy who can recall every useful loading recipe for all the common, and some uncommon, cartridges, but who cannot remember to pick up bananas on a trip to the grocery store without writing it down? Thats me. Yes, I know a lot about guns, but even I have to consult other people, people who live a particular aspect of a subject day-in and day-out.

First, Dave Fortier, who could have easily talked his way into doing this one. Not me, he said. Youre the book guys. Instead, he goes on to form a complete web site from scratch and fill it with content he wrote without anyone knowing about it beforehand. Youve got to see it, if you have any pretensions of knowing everything current about black guns: tacticalgunfan.com

Then, the guys who built guns for me: Greg Collins at Hammerstone Armory built my Romanian clone, and built it exactly as I requested. Lots of guys build guns, but many are all too willing to inject their own tastes into a project. Greg did what I wanted, no more. Ive got a couple more on the way to him as a result. Mike Branson of Missouri Custom Armament also followed instructions and built me an AK-74 that is different. When I left it out in the rain and the stock showed some rust, he immediately offered to refinish it for me. I figured Id test it long-term, and left it as-is, so if you see my 74 named Kermit and it looks a bit scruffy, it isnt Mikes fault.

Chris Butler at AK-USA built me an AK-74 that is so nice it seems a shame to take it to the range and put ammo through it. However, I am not one of those guys who buys a rifle just so I can keep it as pristine as the day it left the factory. (Unless it is really, really rare.) So Ive shot it in classes and in qual courses, and have done well with it.

Marc Krebs was invaluable. He answered all my questions (even the ones that were off the record and thus not quotable); he showed me the shop; and he left me alone at times to simply fuss over thoughts, photos, and questions. He then shoved a rifle into the back of my truck and told me to send it back whenever youre done with it.

Kevin Miller at Tapco sent me a care package so large my delivery driver almost had to get out the hand truck to bring it to my door. It is fashionable in some circles to dis Tapco because what they make isnt Soviet mil-spec. Yeah, youre right, in a lot of cases it is greatly improved over the typical socialist workers paradise-manufactured product, so I guess it isnt Soviet-approved. Me, I dont judge people by what they put on their rifles, but how they handle said rifles. One of the most competent contractors I know is quite happy with Tapco upgrades, as he finds them much better than their Warsaw pact counterparts. And in many cases, Tapco makes things the Soviets never have made.

Jason Morton at CZ-USA sent me their Vz-58, and has left it with me to shoot as much ammo through it as my heart desires. Unfortunately, while my heart is quite desirous, my schedule is not so forgiving. Jason, I have not yet managed to wear off the finish at the corners, let alone shoot it until I wear the finish off.

When I asked Dave Michener at Elite Firearms for a sample to test, he grabbed a rifle out of the rack to ship to me, and a very nice rifle it is, indeed. I must admit, the combination of caliber and model is one not often seen, and it speaks well that hed build something uncommon just because a customer asks for it.

Steve Kehaya at Century Arms sent me one of his hot tickets: the Golani Sporter. Despite having a desk full of orders for them, he plucked one out of the rack and shipped it, for which I am grateful. Every importer, manufacturer and custom gunsmith always has to strike the balancing act of I can ship this to a paying customer, or I can ship it to a gun writer who will play with it and send it back in pieces. Steve has always shipped to me, so if you found your rifle, handgun, ammo, accessories or whatever arriving a day later than promised, Im probably to blame.