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Were
compare the Chinese Norinco SKS (Paratrooper
model) to the Romanian SAR-1
AK47. We chose these two for the test
because they are about the same weight and length.
In this picture they both have 30 round magazines.
Both are shoulder fired. Neither have optics
or scopes, neither has a folding stock. |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 without the magazines. The
SKS has a full wood stock, the AK47 has a metal
receiver that creates a gap between the wood
up front and the stock |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 from the other direction.
Both eject from the right side (like almost
all rifles & pistols) |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 the stock on both of these
rifles contains a small 'pill' cleaning kit
accessed through a hole on the end. |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 The SKS has a short stock
so an extended but pad was installed to add
about an inch to the length. Both of these rifles
have their rear sling mount screwed to the bottom
of the wooden stock. As with many military rifles
this position changes |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 The safety on the SKS is
on the right side of the trigger guard. It's
flipped up to be ON safety, and flipped down
to be OFF and ready to shoot. The AK47 safety
is the same on all versions, countries and years
and is the large lever on the side of the AK47 |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 because they use the same
round (bullet) the actions of these rifles is
similar in shape and size. But the AK47 uses
a sheet metal or 'Stamped' receiver while the
SKS uses a machined block of steel or a 'Milled'
receiver. |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 the bayonet on the SKS folds
under the barrel and into a slot in the wood
stock, It pivots out of it's closed position
and swings into place as an extension of the
barrel, There is a moving part that locks the
bayonet either forward or closed (rear) and
that same moving part has a loop to catch the
barrel of the SKS. Because of this the
SKS with a working bayonet can not add any muzzle
breaks
The
AK47 bayonet is stored on the soldier's belt
in a sheath. It is attached with a loop around
the barrel and a clamp that catches the lug
under the gas block on most AK47s |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 Front sling mount on this
SKS is on the gas block and on the AK47 it's
on the lower handguard. As with many accessories
these locations change by country and year of
production |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 Breakdown is similar even
though they are built quite differently. Both
rifles break down into very few parts for cleaning.
Aside from the magazine there is a bolt, bolt
carrier, recoil spring and receiver cover on
both rifles. Top handguards remove in almost
the same way on both versions and the wood (or
plastic) is removed from the top handguard with
the same method on both rifles. |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 closer look at the similar
but different parts of both rifles |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS looking down the sights
of the SKS |
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Romanian SAR-1 AK47 Looking down the
sights of the AK47 |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian
SAR-1 AK47 Looking down from the top
at these two rifles side by side |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS Shooting the SKS is
like a hunting rifle, so your hand is around
the whole stock and your trigger reaches forward
to the trigger and the tip usually is all that
reaches the trigger. |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS trigger / finger position
from another angle, more from the side, this
picture shows the angle the finger must make
to reach the trigger. The finger is right on
top of the safety in this position and it can
be felt to be on or off easily |
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In
contrast on the Romanian SAR-1 AK47
with it's pistol grip the finger wraps into
the trigger naturally the trigger guard is large
enough to allow the finger to move off the trigger
easily even with gloves.
The
finger must be moved off the trigger (and off
the pistol grip for some people) to disengage
the safety |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS for the other hand
the SKS front handguard offers a indented channel
to grip to. This is better than nothing,
but not much better. |
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Romanian SAR-1 AK47 has raised areas
ont he lower front handguard to make griping
very natural. Because they are wider (fatter)
than the rest of the rifle they offer a very
solid grip on the rifle. This style changes
from year to year and from country to country
though so shop around for replacement aftermarket
stock sets (most AK47 stock sets fit other Ak47s) |
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Now
the good stuff, bayonets |
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Yugoslavian
(Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and
bayonet Romanian SAR-1 AK47 The
SKS uses either a blade or spike bayonet, as
does the AK47, but most AK47 bayonets you'll
ever find are the blade (knife) type. They detach
from the rifle and are stored on the soldier's
belt here is the Yugo SKS with a blade bayonet
and the SAR-1 with a Romanian type 2 (fairly
early) bayonet |
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Yugoslavian
(Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and
bayonet and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47
both are strong rifles, both attach well the
their bayonets. I think the AK47 style bayonet
lug should work better and with it's shorter
design I would assume it breaks less. |
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Yugoslavian
(Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and
bayonet and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47
another angle of these two bayonets
and the rifles that follow them. |
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Yugoslavian
(Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and
bayonet and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 |
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The
Chinese Norinco MAC-90 type
of AK47 rifle and Russian SKS
with US made Stock and scope (no bayonet) with
detachable 30 rounds magazine |
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The
Russian SKS with US made Stock
and scope (no bayonet) with 10 round standard
magazine and the Chinese Norinco MAC-90
type of AK47 rifle |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and a mock up of a
German AK47 two carbine versions of
the larger rifles. Both with 30 round magazines |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the German
AK47 the same two rifles with the
German AK47 with folded stock to show
how much shorter it can get. |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS and the
German AK47 mockup the front
ends of these two rifles Their parts are similar
and serve almost equal roles in the operation
of the rifles but they look quite different
when next to each other. |
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Russian
SKS with US made Stock and scope (no
bayonet) weighs 9 pounds 14.4 ounces |
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Yugoslavian
(Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and
bayonet weighs 8 pounds 7.5 ounces |
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Chinese
Norinco SKS with red plastic stock
and blade type bayonet and optical scope and
butt pad weighs 9 pounds 6.3 ounces |
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Chinese
Paratrooper SKS with Russian wood butt
pad and screw on pistol grip weighs 8 pounds
2.3 ounces |
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The
Chinese Norinco MAC-90 type
of AK47 rifle weighs 9 pounds 8.7 ounces |
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The
standard 10 round magazine and the US made 30
round detachable type SKS box magazines. |
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The
same two magazines. The smaller standard 10
round SKS magazine opens to show the spring
and well which pivot on rivets. the after market
detachable SKS magazines have no parts other
than the follower and mag plate |
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Standard
30 round AK47 black poly waffle mag made in
the US and a US made SKS 30 round detachable
box mag |
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From
the front it is also apparent these two magazines
work differently |
