Can I add a detachable mag to my SKS if it's 50 years old?

Bought this year. Can I modifiy the mag if its C&R eligible?

My understanding is that an SKS with removable magazine is specifically called out in MD code as a banned configuration.

I don't think age has anything to do with it.

See https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=219479

whistlersmother said:

My understanding is that an SKS with removable magazine is specifically called out in MD code as a banned configuration.

I don't think age has anything to do with it.

See https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=219479

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What about this guys reply? It's the third one down.

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=147915

SillySauce said:

What about this guys reply? It's the third one down.

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=147915

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He is talking about an SKS purchased as a C&R. Once an individual has it in their possession, it can be modified. However, this is a grey area if you decide to sell it, depending on the configuration, it may take it out of C&R status. I don't believe the ATF has any de facto ruling on what can be done to a C&R firearm before it is ruled not a C&R firearm anymore.

The detachable magazine is another story though. Unless the rifle was owned prior to Oct 1, 2013; you may not possess an SKS with a detachable magazine, creating one would constitute the creation of an "assault weapon" and the repercussions thereof in regards to the Firearms Safety Act of 2013.

What ST19AG said .

The conversation in the linked thread was discussing C&R status under Federal law ( and I'm making no comment on whether or not said magazine replacement would be relevant ) . This would for example potentially effect if the rifle so equipped could be directly shipped to an FFL003 holder in another state .

But C&R status would be irrelevant under Md Law , to wit FSA 2013 . It would be illegal ( post Oct 2013) to convert to a detachable magazine , OR a fixed magazine of greater than 10rd capacity .

Having used the detachable mags on an SKS in the past, I would say save your money. If there is an adapter for using AK mags out there these days, it might be worth a try but the extended front end type of mags sucked.

If you want quick reloads with an SKS, try stripper clips, its very fast once you learn how to do it.

If you're worried about the improving the functionality of a 50+ year old marginally effective rifle, what you really should be doing is working some overtime to buy a better rifle ;-)

Some things just aren't worth the time and cost of "improving". I can put an LS motor in a '72 Audi, but at the end of the day it's still a '72 Audi.

Norton said:

If you're worried about the improving the functionality of a 50+ year old marginally effective rifle, what you really should be doing is working some overtime to buy a better rifle ;-)

Some things just aren't worth the time and cost of "improving". I can put an LS motor in a '72 Audi, but at the end of the day it's still a '72 Audi.

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Burn!

For the OP, I do not believe that it is legal in MD to convert any SKS to accept detachable magazines. Prior to 2013 they were named as a "regulated", and are now banned (but grandfathered if owned prior to 10/13). Same deal with Mini-14s. Perfectly legal cash and carry unless it had a folding stock... then it became regulated/banned.

As stated above, the fastest and most reliable way to feed an SKS is by using quality stripper clips and the original 10 round magazine.

Avoid NCStar or any reproduction stripper clips! None work reliably!

Circle 31, BXN, or those that come on surplus ammo are the only ones proven to function properly. When you get good ones, save them.

Switching to AK mags requires modifying the stock, bolt and more to work reliably. I have a few different after-market mags and they are difficult to load, will not hold the advertised capacity, and jam constantly. Not worth the effort, IMO.

GuitarmanNick said:

Avoid NCStar or any reproduction stripper clips! None work reliably!

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I've heard that many times but had already purchased a box of them. Don't know if I'm the lucky one but I"ve had good luck with them. Unless I pull a box of Wolf ammo instead of taking my ammo box with rounds on NCStar strippers, That is how I exclusively load the SKS


I will say this about the plastic 30 round SKS mags. I had the chance to shoot an SKS prior to 2013 with 30 rounds (I purchased the ammo that day). Man, my head hurt pulling off 30 rounds one after the other. Except in a SHTF situation, I sure prefer 10 at a time for range shooting.

Definitly better videos but just watch the part where he olds the tip of the top round and pushes down. I have no problem reloading the SKS and never taking my left hand off the rifle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nLyv8Xe1zQ

Norton said:

If you're worried about the improving the functionality of a 50+ year old marginally effective rifle, what you really should be doing is working some overtime to buy a better rifle ;-)

Some things just aren't worth the time and cost of "improving". I can put an LS motor in a '72 Audi, but at the end of the day it's still a '72 Audi.

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So the SKS is a " old marginally effective rifle " Kinda like the M1 Garand I suppose LOL

Not hardly. With the Grand, you can selectively pick off targets at long range. Try shooting an SKS at an 30 inch target at 600 yards and see what you get.

Why bother with modifications to a SKS?

What is your end result you are looking at?

He probably wants to have a brown scary rifle.

John from MD said:

Not hardly. With the Grand, you can selectively pick off targets at long range. Try shooting an SKS at an 30 inch target at 600 yards and see what you get.

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With the right ammo and properly adjusted sights, 600 yards is still an option for the an SKS. Granted the carbine in the video looks to be in excellent condition. Not one of the more common, and well worn standard type56 beaters.

https://youtu.be/qoVb70yFKLI

But even out to 400 yds even the plinking ammo was staying on the "smaller than man sized" target.

There may be the odd one out there that is more accurate than most but it just wasn't made to be a match gun.

John from MD said:

There may be the odd one out there that is more accurate than most but it just wasn't made to be a match gun.

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Truth.

John from MD said:

There may be the odd one out there that is more accurate than most but it just wasn't made to be a match gun.

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It certainly wasn’t, but neither was the Garand. IIRC Garand standard of accuracy was 2.5MOA. Mine about huts that or slightly better with the right ammo.

I’ll grant my SKS is an exception, but with the right Ammo I can actually hit sub-MOA at 50yds. Sights aren’t good enough (even with a finer front post) to do that at 100, but I can manage about 1.5MOA at 100 and 200yds.

At 600 it might drop off (probably), it I’d be very confident out to at least 400 on a man sized target and I could probably arc some in at 600.

In either case, they are not detachable magazine rifles. The SKS is at least intermediate cartridge. I can load and SKS with good stripper clips only marginally slower than a Garand. And it’s 10 vs 8 there. I can fire (accurately) an SKS faster than a Garand due to the lower recoil. 10 rounds on a stripper clip of 7.62x39 weighs a lot less than 8 of .30-06 on an en bloc clip. So you can carry more ammo for the same weight.

Yeah I’d argue average accuracy of both platforms and the superior sights on the Garand plus the higher power cartridge makes it a better rifle at over 300yds. But that’s not most combat ranges. Which is why intermediate cartridges were introduced.

I love my Garand and if someone had to make me choose between them I’d pick my M1 carbine every time. I mean my Garand.

But if I had to choose between the two with my life depending on it, I’d go SKS. More ammo, can fire faster, certainly fine accuracy on all but trash ones out to 300yds and some absolutely can take it out to 500 or 600. Weighs a few pounds less (mine without bayonet is about 7lbs versus my Garand at nearly 10). Pretty rugged.

But if you compare either to a modern detachable mag rifle...

AK is more reliable than either. AR even better than that in bad conditions. Much faster ammo replenishment swapping a mag. Easier optics mounting. AR likely much more accurate than any of them (IMHO a typical SKS is actually slightly more accurate than your typical AK).

Run 120 rounds through an AR or an AK. You could probably do that including mag changes in maybe 60 seconds if you’ve got some training and have some decent possibility most of those rounds are in the right broadside if a barn directions.

An SKS might manage 120rnds in 3 minutes. A Garand would probably be more like 4 minutes.

Based on what your options are, an SKS or Garand is marginal compared to an AK or AR. It isn’t as obsolete as a bolt gun...but for modern combat against modern equipped infantry they are marginal.