I Have This Old Gun: SKS Carbine

by
posted on August 17, 2022

By the end of World War II, the incorporation of new infantry tactics and technology was already reshaping the concept of the infantry rifle from the long-range, bolt-action rifles that had been standard before. During the war, the Germans developed a revolutionary new rifle, the StG44 "Sturmgewehr," along with an intermediate rifle cartridge to go along with it. This cartridge, 8 mm Kurz, was more powerful than conventional pistol ammunition of the time, yet not as powerful as a full-size rifle cartridge. The result was a lighter recoiling load, and thus reducing fatigue on the user. The Russians captured several examples during the war, and after studying the design, embraced the concepts behind it and adapted them into their own, the M43 7.62x39 mm cartridge.

On the range with a SKS carbine.
On the range with a SKS carbine.

By the end of the war, the Russians had rapidly adopted the new cartridge and developed a new semi-automatic rifle to chamber it, the SKS carbine designed by Sergei Simonov in 1945. Despite being made in a conventional manner similar to older rifles, with steel and wood construction, the SKS is shorter and lighter than the SVT-40 that proceeded it, at 40" long and 8.5 lbs., unloaded. Using a simple gas-operation action design, the standard version of the SKS feeds from an internal 10-round box magazine filled via the use of stripper clips. It also incorporates a built-in folding bayonet, which tucks up into the fore-end when not in use.

A Veit-Cong solider armed with a SKS carbine during the Vietnam War.
A Veit-Cong solider armed with a SKS carbine during the Vietnam War.

During the beginning of the Cold War, the SKS served as the standard infantry rifle of the Soviet Union, before being soon overshadowed by the AK-47 chambered for the same cartridge. Despite this, the SKS was a common sight throughout the Cold War, being widely used by Soviet supported nations and groups. While Russian production of the SKS only lasted from 1945 into the late 1950s, millions were manufactured in that time, along with the many more manufactured by China and other Eastern Bloc nations.

Some examples of different version of the SKS.
Some examples of different version of the SKS.

There are also several variations of the SKS carbine that were developed in that time, to include versions that ditch the internal box magazine and accept detachable AK-style magazines. The SKS is still actively used around the world today in a variety of roles and is also a popular military surplus option on the U.S. market due to its chambering for the common and popular 7.62x39 mm cartridge.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees
heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees

Red Fifty: The Soviet 12.7 mm DShK Heavy Machine Gun

While the Browning .50-cal. M2 machine gun has been unequaled for a century, John Moses Browning’s genius design has had one significant 12.7 mm competitor: the Soviet DShK.

Support The NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) On Giving Tuesday

With more than 1,200 students having graduated from the program and over $700,000 in scholarships awarded since 1996, NRA's YES is an immersive leadership program for high school students eager to learn about the foundations of our nation, the importance of civic engagement and the role of the Second Amendment.

Rifleman Review: Remington 360 Buckhammer

Remington Ammunition's 360 Buckhammer is a straight-wall hunting cartridge that's designed to give deer hunters an ideal round for their Midwestern hunt.

New For 2025: EAA Girsan Witness2311 Brat, Match and MatchX

European American Armory Corp. (EAA) introduced an affordable variation of the double-stack 1911 design with their Girsan Witness2311 in 2023, continually adding additional chamberings and slide length options. New for 2025, the company is adding three new versions of the Witness2311 with the Match, MatchX and Brat models.

Review: Citadel Trakr

At less than 4 lbs., this repeating rifle is easy on the back while also being extraordinarily easy on the budget.

Freedom Munitions To Move Ammo Component Production To Idaho

Freedom Munitions has announced it will be consolidating its projectile component production from X-Treme Bullets out of Nevada into its Lewiston, Idaho, facilities.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.