SKS….

[u/ooTurtle1999]

Obviously with getting my PAL issued, my first purchase will be an SKS.

I’m thinking about the ATI because I like the “tactical” look to things opposed to how wood does.

Won’t even be buying a wood stock shotgun….

Anywho, how hard is it to make the SKS take removeable mags?

If I did it, is there any way to reverse it?

Edit: I’ll probably just snag the Alder AD500… I think it meets more of what I’m looking for. Thanks for the info to stay away from the ATI SKS

[u/Eoghanwheeler]

You simply remove the trigger group and the internal magazine and then put the trigger group back in and then you can use detachable mags. To put the fixed magazine back in you remove the trigger group and then place the fixed mag back in and push the trigger group back into place.

[u/ooTurtle1999 → u/Eoghanwheeler]

I thought you have to file down some part of the stock to get a mag to fit? Or do I simply throw in a ProMag?

[u/Dizzy-Wedding5769 → u/ooTurtle1999]

It depends on the gun some will take extern magazines perfectly, and someone will have problems. If you end up with a problematic one, a couple strokes of a fire will fix your problem.

On the other hand, the Russian I have experience with seems to fit the archangel mags without any modification . The bolt needs to be back when they are inserted.

The ones that are put in the ATI stocks are usually from guns with broken wooden stocks. Take that information and do with it what you will, but I’d prefer a good quality gun that I can modify myself, which is why I would suggest buying a wooden stock one and then adding an aftermarket stock.

The ATI stock is OK but the Archangel one seems to be better

[u/SirKickBan → u/ooTurtle1999]

To clarify, before you damage your SKS: You file the magazine, not the stock.

There's a point on the magazine that acts as a fulcrum, it's the 'duckbill' part that, when seated in the gun, is furthest towards the barrel. You want to very gently, just a half a millimetre at a time or so, file down the contact edges and corners until you can seat it properly.

For added precision you can use something like a coloured marker on the magazine's contact points before, then very gently try and insert it. When you meet resistance, press just a little more firmly and then pull back, and file the spots where contact rubbed your marking off of the magazine.

[u/NecessaryRisk2622 → u/SirKickBan]

Something I read somewhere in a legal document about modifying magazines vs modifying magazine wells to accept magazines concerns me. Can anyone help me here?

[u/SirKickBan → u/NecessaryRisk2622]

Not a lawyer, but so long as you don't create a prohibited device, you should be good. For instance you're allowed to manufacture your own magazines with any capacity you please, so long as they aren't designed to fit into a semi-automatic weapon (edit: I'm a little incorrect here: Handguns are still limited to 10, no matter how they fire). -Which you obviously can't prove unless it physically cannot fit into semis, but the point being that the only concern is if you've created a prohibited device, which, so long as your SKS magazine remains pinned to 5, you are incapable of doing.

[u/Penguinbotxv]

Obligatory french tickler comment

[u/AHangryBeaver → u/Penguinbotxv]

Is it really that good rather than a laminate Russian one?

I see ticklers going for $100-$200 less than a laminate Russian Sks so I’m curious why everyone loves the tickler

[u/Penguinbotxv → u/AHangryBeaver]

Best fit and finish, best accuracy overall minus the Yugos. New and unfired.

[u/ooTurtle1999 → u/[deleted]]

I thought some require that you need to file down the stock to get the mag to fit? What brand of mag did he use?

[u/itsagrapefruit]

It’s quicker to fill a stock tickler than to fill a removable mag.

[u/CurlyWurly61]

I was in the same boat. Got my PAL and ordered a French Tickler to slap into a FAB Defense Chassis

Had it for a month or 2 and just had the urge to put it back into its original stock. It felt and looked cool but honestly the Novelty wore off and at the end of the day I was happier with the wood.

[u/No-Principle-433 → u/CurlyWurly61]

That FAB Defense chassis sounds interesting. Since you’re back to the wood stock now, any chance you’re looking to part with the chassis? I’d be happy to take it off your hands!

[u/Wolfxskull]

The SKS is a work of absolute ART the way it came from the factory.

[u/thecoop1999]

People really bag on the ATI stock; maybe I just got lucky, but mine is great. Absolutely the other options are better but in my opinion there's nothing wrong with the ATI stock. My only recommendation would be to buy it in person so you can inspect it because those ones are typically made from busted up SKSs

[u/Rewindonemoretime → u/thecoop1999]

At least I’m not the only one. I bought two and they were both numbers matching, and “brand new” as new as an Sks can get. Other than the tiny screw holding the pistol grip on I haven’t had an issue. Are the ATI’s the best? No, but having an adjustable stock right out of the gate is a game changer for a big dude like myself.

[u/HappyCan7250]

For a kinda cool tactical SKS without going to the crappy ATI, I have my SKS in wood, with a full length rail on top, and a 5/20rd mag on it. Still looks pretty cool while having a nice solid wood stock. 

It was originally an ATI SKS, as I had thought the same thing. Hated the ATI stock and ended up trading it to a guy for a bayonet, $50, and a wooden stock. I then refinished the wood stock and the rifle looks great with this setup

[u/SierraRomeoJuliet]

I'd just use the internal magazine and stripper clips. Much more reliable than the removable mags. Also the ATI stocks are junk. Buy a wood one and upgrade to a Tapco or Archangel stock down the road.

[u/real_draft]

There is no advantage to a magazine. More expensive, feed worse, slower to load

[u/Sherlock_Doggo]

The TNA stock is solid, even if you keep it in the wood chassis , you can get the rear sight pic rail

[u/AHangryBeaver]

I’d buy a wood stock Sks and transfer it to a polymer stock yourself. The ATI style ones you get online are the Frankenstein style and you’d have a better gun overall if you got a matching serial wood stock Sks and then transfer it to a polymer stock yourself.

I did that and it was awesome having the “tactical” look but also all matching serials and knowing it wasn’t just spare parts thrown together

[u/Even-Somewhere-9554]

Get the best factory gun you could find and buy a stock you want

[u/Flat-Dark-Earth]

The AD500 won’t be even remotely comparable to the SKS in terms of accuracy.

[u/ovjho]

“I like the “tactical” look to things opposed to how wood does. Won’t even be buying a wood stock shotgun”

We live in Canada my guy. You know what looks even cooler than mlok and polymer? Guns that work.

[u/NEUMANN-METALWORKS]

Removable mags are a gimmick unless you are into doing illegal shit and getting your PAL taken away forever lol

Even IF the detachable mags loaded easily (they don't) you're still going to have a slower rate of fire overall since the mags are all pinned to 5.

Not to mention all the failure you'll have with them...

In Canada they're for looks, that's about it. I recommend using the SKS as intended. Internal mag and stripper clips is what separates it from many other semi-autos in the first place.

[u/JaxIsLoud → u/NEUMANN-METALWORKS]

5 mags so far with zero failures. My reload rate since doing duckbill delete is comparable with stripper clips. 30 round mags that only take 5 rounds is annoying. But oh well.

"We have AK at home"

[u/NEUMANN-METALWORKS → u/JaxIsLoud]

That's the thing, that duckbill really just ruins it lol I can hardly get a damn internal mag in half the time, the tolerances are so finnicky.

[u/JaxIsLoud → u/NEUMANN-METALWORKS]

All it takes is one well placed pin and you get AK style mag changes.

[u/itsagrapefruit]

Buy the cheapest surplus French tickler you can find, learn how to disassemble and clean it, and then modify it as you desire. The ones that already have ATI stocks mounted are parts guns with no matching serials or histories.

[u/Top_Importance6216]

ati worst of all options

[u/FD4L]

In general, the Sks' with ati stocks are surplus that have been rebuilt due to damage or neglectful storage.

There are several chassis and stock options for the sks, and the ati, archangel, fab defense, tna, boyd's, etc.

The ati stock is the cheapest.