The Goose
NES Member
Last week I purchased a Yugoslavian SKS and of course it was covered with cosmoline. I did not realize what I was getting into, although the heckling from the other folks at the gun shop should have given me a clue. Oh boy!
When I got home I opened the sealed box and removed the rifle and a bunch of other goodies. There was some cleaning stuff, tools, a moldy canvas sling and some moldy leather ammunition pouches and a little paper manual. I followed the instructions in the little paper manual and field stripped it as far as instructed, but for the life of me I could not figure out how to remove the action and barrel from the stock. Regardless I started cleaning with WD-40 and some rags. About five hours later it was semi clean. The next day I worked on it again for several hours. Finally, I felt it was pretty clean, but the stock was still on and I knew that I was not done.
My next step was to find Milsurps 4 Me’s sticky on the SKS which led me to www.surplusrifle.com , then I really knew I was not done. So last night I went back to work. I field stripped it again, but this time I pulled the trigger group and magazine and took the action and barrel out of the stock. I also took the bolt apart. I cleaned all of the stuff that had not been cleaned and re-cleaned everything that had already been cleaned. Especially the gas tube. Another four hours or so. I would say it is 99% at this point, but I will go over it again tonight. Today I bought a can of Tung Oil for the stock.
The revelation is this. To date I have close to 15 hours invested in my new beauty and I have thoroughly enjoyed every second. What a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. I just cannot describe the sheer enjoyment I have experienced throughout the process. That rifle is MINE!! I know it inside and out intimately. When I am completely done I will post some pictures. To all of you it will look like a thousand others, but to me it is a special treasure.
PS. A special thanks to Milsurps 4 Me for taking the time to post that sticky.
When I got home I opened the sealed box and removed the rifle and a bunch of other goodies. There was some cleaning stuff, tools, a moldy canvas sling and some moldy leather ammunition pouches and a little paper manual. I followed the instructions in the little paper manual and field stripped it as far as instructed, but for the life of me I could not figure out how to remove the action and barrel from the stock. Regardless I started cleaning with WD-40 and some rags. About five hours later it was semi clean. The next day I worked on it again for several hours. Finally, I felt it was pretty clean, but the stock was still on and I knew that I was not done.
My next step was to find Milsurps 4 Me’s sticky on the SKS which led me to www.surplusrifle.com , then I really knew I was not done. So last night I went back to work. I field stripped it again, but this time I pulled the trigger group and magazine and took the action and barrel out of the stock. I also took the bolt apart. I cleaned all of the stuff that had not been cleaned and re-cleaned everything that had already been cleaned. Especially the gas tube. Another four hours or so. I would say it is 99% at this point, but I will go over it again tonight. Today I bought a can of Tung Oil for the stock.
The revelation is this. To date I have close to 15 hours invested in my new beauty and I have thoroughly enjoyed every second. What a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. I just cannot describe the sheer enjoyment I have experienced throughout the process. That rifle is MINE!! I know it inside and out intimately. When I am completely done I will post some pictures. To all of you it will look like a thousand others, but to me it is a special treasure.
PS. A special thanks to Milsurps 4 Me for taking the time to post that sticky.
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