Posted on 11/13/2012 5:45:34 AM PST by rellimpank
Who could imagine the sound of enemy fire would signal the last rites for our honored dead? In what may be among the most ironic acts of official neglect and insensitivity of the past seven decades, the Russian SKS rifle is now used in ceremonial service by some honor guards as the last sound our Native American veterans and their families hear as veterans are laid to rest across South Dakota. It is an act of omission and ignorance.
The SKS is a Soviet semi-automatic rifle designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. The Samozaryadnyj Karabin sistemy Simonova 1945 was semi-retired in the early 1950s, replaced with the indestructible AK-47. Both rifles continue in service today, in mostly enemy armies. Untold numbers of our soldiers have died and are dying at the hands of enemy soldiers armed with these formidable weapons.
(Excerpt) Read more at rapidcityjournal.com ...
blasphemy.
Incredibly dumb.
As an elderly veteran I am appalled. But I see the point as volunteers have to buy their own weapons and ammo.
While the oversight on the part of our military is ignorant, the author shows a lack of understanding as to the power of the American gun owner. Should a new revolution arise in America, there will be countless SKS rifles on the battlefields, as they are reliable and cheap tack drivers.
An interesting story. I remember the American Legion and VFW providing honor guards for veterans’ funerals. They carried surplus Springfields or 1917 Enfields. Why the National Guard won’t assist now is strange.
The SKS in ceremonial use should be left to communist regimes. Or.... use SKS rifles that are captured Vietnam war trophies.
Can CMP assist with procuring Garand rifles?
Not that long ago you could by Garands from the CMP for about the same price of an SKS...
Reliable and cheap, YES.
“tack drivers”? I have never seen THAT demonstrated.
Of all the things to be concerned about, this is very low on my list.
It is a nice rifle, fire BY OUR MEN IN AN HONOR GUARD - it is not “enemy fire”, that is so stupid
Mucho betterer than an AK-47.
Contrary to what you may think not all tribes are in the casino busness. There are many extremely poor tribes across the USA. Perhaps the USA government should honor its treaties and refund all tribal trust funds that have disappeared under government guideance.
At one time I was in charge of the 03’A1s my American Legion Post used for such proceedings. They had been on “loan” from the Army to us for decades. The paperwork and hoops the Army made us jump thru was mind numbing. Can’t fault anyone for going another route.
True.
The barrel whip on the AK is insane, but having 30rnd detachable mags vs the 10 round internal mag is infinitely superior.
Norinco made a Model, “M” that took stock AK mags. They’re about the priciest SKSs around.
If you leave the stock magazine in it, you’ve got 10 rounds in a relatively well-balanced rifle. With a bench rest, you could keep groups pretty tight at 100 yds.
Is that not the definition of tack driver?
My experience with SKS rifles is that they have good inherent accuracy.
The major problem preventing the use of this accuracy is the standard sights, which have a relatively short sight radius and are difficult to use with precision. In addition, many scope mounts are placed on the dust cover, which has to be removed for good cleaning, allowing for shifting scope positions when reinstalled.
If you install a good scope and mount on an SKS, it has been my experience that they will hold about 3 inches or better at 100 yards, which I consider good practical accuracy.
Agreed, people get the stamped, cheaply made AK's confused with the SKS simply because they use the same ammunition. In fact the SKS is a heavy machined steel gun.
I bought a few of them several years ago (before they were lost in a tragic boating accident), and I converted one of them to the detachable mag type. I much prefer the stock SKS.
I’d rather fire 10 rounds accurately than try to “spray” 30 from a hi-cap mag. IMO, once you drop the barrel and receiver into a new stock with pistol grip, you’ve essentially made an AK. The standard stock SKS is a great distance shooter, esp. for varminting.
“Pretty tight” and “tack drivers” are relative terms, but they imply different things.
While “pretty tight” leaves room for embellishment (and doubt), “tack driver” implies just that. While I’ve owned cases (and cases) of SKS rifles, none have grouped even close to the largest of tack heads. They’re handout rifles that work relatively well.
My Colt Tactical Carbine, with well over 10,000 rounds through it since 1998, has recently posted a .63” group with Sierra Matchkings and N140 powder. That’s one hole smaller than a dime. I’m not good enough to consistently repeat that, but it’s it’s on the edges of being a tack driver.
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