r/canadaguns • u/dke783 • Apr 16 '26
Buy recommendations Halp! Which SKS optics mounting did you use?
I keep umming and ahhing over finally buying an SKS before they become stupid expensive.
- I have vision astigmatism to work around;
- I do like green dots with magnifiers;
- I DON'T have experience with long eye relief scout optics;
- I DON'T understand all the collector nuances with these surplus Albanian, Yugoslavian, Chinese, and Tula variants. But I am OK with polymer stocks.
Have you got an affordable optics/mount setup for your SKS?
Does your setup allow fast stripper clip loading from above?
And am I dumb to want to modernize an SKS?
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u/DoYouGetSarcasm Apr 16 '26
I just point it like a shotgun and hold the mag in from the bottom
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u/gamercast1337 Apr 16 '26
This is the truth when it comes to sks. No other way to use such s beautiful rifleÂ
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u/Dummy_Wire Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
The safest option, as long as you’re okay with losing stripper clip functionality (aka okay with detachable magazines), is option A. That will let you use a conventional eye-relief magnified optic, and is most available. Option C won’t hold zero and definitely won’t hold zero between cleanings, and Option D is not easy to find or install.
Personally though, I have a version of option B, since I just have an unmagnified red dot on mine, and with the Fab Defence chassis on my SKS, it holds zero fine. You can use stripper clips that way, too. There isn’t really a good option for a magnified optic and stripper clips, on an SKS. Pick one. Option A with a magnified optic and no clips, or option B where you get clips, but only a red dot. I have some astigmatism too, and my red dot is fine. It depends how bad yours is, though.
In Canada, we don’t really have the rare SKS variants, and you don’t want one, anyways. Yours will probably be Chinese or Soviet, and they’re both fine to excellent rifles, generally. Buy in-person, inspecting the rifle for obvious rust/pitting, if you can. Good luck!
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u/Low_Bar_804 Apr 16 '26
They make ones that are stripper clip compatible now. https://www.magwedge.com/product/sks-tactical-kwikrail-new-gen-3-now-available/
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u/prosper_0 Apr 16 '26
why don't you just appreciate it for what it is, and shoot it that way? Trying to make guns into something they're not is usually a recipe for disappointment. If you want a gun that's accurate enough warrant hosting an optic, then the SKS is not the rifle you want anyway. There is no good AND affordable optic mount for the SKS. The solid/stable ones aren't cheap (or non-invasive), and the cheap ones aren't solid and stable. Not that it really matters anyway, because the gun itself was never designed or intended for anything resembling accuracy.
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u/Low_Bar_804 Apr 16 '26
Your acting like we don’t live in Canada lol, it’s not like we have a bunch of other options to play around with. I agree everyone should own atleast one SKS that’s been completely untouched by the hands of bubba tho.
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 17 '26
I feel this. Sks is best shooting it as is. Least disappointed, irons keep you from expecting too much precision out of it.
I can understand the desire to build a pseudo AK with a pistol grip stock and removable mags with the t81 banned, but I think that's just asking for disappointed unless you spend a ridiculous amount of money on itÂ
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u/SonOfJaak Apr 16 '26
D is the only real option. I used a drill press, a tap, and wood file. Holds like a dream.
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Apr 16 '26
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u/_JohnDeer mohawk Apr 16 '26
OP has vision problems. The whole point of the post is looking for optic options so they can still enjoy shooting it.
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u/Jurple-shirt Apr 16 '26
Imagine taking the time to read the thread.
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Apr 16 '26
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u/Jurple-shirt Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
The words of an ableist.
Optic mounted SKSs have been seen in combat as recently as Ukraine all the way to the Vietnam war. You don't get to dictate what can and can't be done with a rifle you do not own.
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Apr 17 '26 edited Apr 17 '26
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u/Jurple-shirt Apr 17 '26
What the rifle was intended for 80 years ago doesn't matter.
No mounting hole? Make em
Want to use stripper? Side mount
It really isn't that deep.
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u/AdditionalLoss7274 Apr 17 '26
Lol. Unironically using the word "ableist". What a time to be alive...
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u/MourningWood1942 Apr 16 '26
Weird, I seem to be running optics perfectly fine. Must be a unicorn SKS
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u/undernopretextbro Apr 17 '26
It’s good to know the bar on what constitutes human intelligence is still low, keeps the pressure off.
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Apr 17 '26
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u/undernopretextbro Apr 17 '26
That does not mean it’s impossible for him to accommodate his vision problems on the gun platform. Tinkering and modification is an important aspect of the gun ownership experience for millions of people, working around the limitations of a platform is par for the course. If he was to come back and complain about the rifles accuracy relative to his optic after, you’d have a leg to stand on.
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u/LordRaizer Apr 16 '26
The SKS isn't that accurate of a rifle to warrant a big scope like that imo
But if I had to, probably D
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u/dke783 Apr 16 '26
Wouldn't D be a scope-bite hazard?
7.62x39 is not heavy recoil, but it will bruise your eye socket with that kind of eye relief!3
u/Murray3-Dvideos Apr 16 '26
Those Russian optics have rubber cups designed to make contact with your face. The hard metal bit is usually 1.5-2" in front of your eye. The rubber can also be removed and the optic used like a normal scope.
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u/Prestigious-Tap-1329 Apr 16 '26
It’s A or B for me son . I’m leaning toward A because it just feels natural and then b is like a scout rifle setup on a rugggggggger.
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 17 '26
Go B because it's interesting! Most guns will be A normal scope and such and it gets so boring!! So go B to have a unique scout scope on a gun that uses a scout scope well
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u/Weary_OLeary Apr 16 '26
Neuman metalworks makes a great low profile rail for optics, I would check him out
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u/SandySpectre Apr 16 '26
Bad Ace has a pic rail that replaces the rear sight and you can mount a red dot to that. It’s the only optic mounting method I recommend to my clients as every other approach loses zero when you take it apart to clean. And you don’t need more than a red dot because they’re not inherently accurate firearms to begin with.
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u/satansnacks Apr 16 '26
Think your best bet would be one of them side mount rails then set up an optic however best for your eyes.
I love scout rifle builds, but the sight picture is already really small so I'd hold a scout rifle yourself before going that route(fwd mounted optic)
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u/Opening_Pizza Apr 16 '26
I went with the rear sight rail and a red dot route. A prism might fit too.
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u/Ok-Bowler-203 Apr 16 '26
My SKS is the only one I want completely stock and original but that’s just my preference.
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u/AngryToasterOven97 Apr 17 '26
if you are shooting corrosive you will need to remove the gas tube to clean the gun after every shoot so you will lose zero with the nc star gas tube. Also something no one told me is that it requires alot of filing to fit. basically only good for looks and maybe mounting a light.
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u/Standard_Custard2338 Apr 17 '26
I've had a couple variations over the years. The best one was this one. I put it on an sks I had years ago that a had put a detachable mag adapter on. No using stripper clips with an optic over the receiver but this one is by far the most stable mount I found.
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u/Volgin Apr 17 '26 edited Apr 17 '26
TECH SIGHTS!
IMO it's the only option that doesn't look too bubba other than being able to rock a 600$ side mount PU style scope.
EDIT: I had a rail like A but I hated the bubba look, switched to Tech sights and they look fuckin great (I mean as good as an sks can look)
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u/pr0cyn1c Apr 16 '26
A or b
Edit: my personal sks is a. But i set a buddy up with option b using a vortex long eye relief scope on a bad ace mount. That worked out well.
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u/bosnanic Apr 16 '26
Only two mounts will hold zero: receiver or rear sight mounts.
Any mount that sits on the gas tube cover or dust cover will lose zero because those parts shift.
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u/GonZo_626 Apr 16 '26
None of the above is the correct answer, the best mount replaces the rear site and uses only the rear site attachment points thus not needing to be removed for cleaning. You can put a small optic, or a red/green dot on it then.
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u/BrotherLefthand Apr 16 '26
Options B and C are no good. You'll lose zero on both every time.
Option A is good, but limits your ability to reload. Stripper clips make things much much easier.
Option C is good, but is pretty much unobtainium and requires drilling into the receiver. There are other options, such as the Choate optic rail that accomplish the same thing.
The most popular option is a badacetactical rear sight block. They're readily available, affordable, and easy to install. However, you're very limited on practical optics due to the height over bore of the rail. You'll need a micro dot- which your astigmatism won't like. Well, mine doesn't like it. Your mileage may vary. Almost all pistol optics use large dots, which sucks balls.
I can comfortably use the PA glx microprisms, but they're tall and don't sit well on the badace rail.
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u/handen Apr 16 '26
Scout. Bad Ace Tactical or the Scoutscopes.com one which might be forever out of stock at this point.
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u/some_guy2024 Apr 16 '26
A is the best, easiest setup for a magnified optic or red dot + magnifier. You lose stripper clips but such is life. Holds zero pretty damn well between cleanings as well.
Probably the best option for a magnified optic would be the Choate mount that bolts to the receiver. I don’t have any personal experience with it but you can set it up such that it doesn’t interfere with stripping/cleaning and it stands to reason that it would hold zero the best. Obviously not an easy install for diy though unless you have access to a mill.
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u/boringlongbusride Apr 16 '26
There are ways to mount a red dot directly where the rear sight is normally, that would allow stripper clip loading and not add to much weight or bulk, that's what I would recommend but if you want an actual scope option A is a good one.
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u/Ronin_Black_NJ Apr 16 '26
If you want to run stripper clips, I'd go with option B and forward mount the scope.
Depending on your eyes and assume you're not planning on consistently mag dumping and you're running stock steel case in a off the shelf rifle, you'd could do 1x6 30 or 40mm scope to hit reliably out to 300-400 for average shooter, YMMV.
A bigger objective will make it a bit more nose-heavy, but not that much.
A smaller 3x prism and red dot are either mounted over/under or with a flip to side capable, but not 100 percent sure which model clears the SC notch.
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u/goodfleance Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 17 '26
A) Decent option that works well, non permanent and several companies make em, standard optics mount just fine, this is the easiest way to play around and find what you like, can always change it out later.
B) won't hold zero, bad option
C) won't hold zero, bad option
D) Dope, cool as fuck, holds zero, but requires permanent modification, also it's dope.
Bonus:
E) Crazy Ivan mount, works very well, holds zero, clears stripper clips, is removable, also requires some permanent modification, also looks dope.
F) Badace Tactical scout mount, mounts a micro red dot, comes with Picatinny rail option as well, holds zero very well, clears stripper clips and is non permanent. Also yep, looks dope.
I have the last two and I've tried number A), all work well but only A) and F) are non permanent, if that matters to you.
Edit:
I have astigmatism and struggle with the SKS sights, I've tried several setups and the only two I really like are the Badace and the Crazy Ivan mounts.
Badace replaces the rear sight, but so does your option A). Those both work awesome and are non-permanent but I love having a tiny red dot and being able to use stripper clips. I set mine up with a primary arms rs-10 and it's crazy fun.
Another setup I really liked was the Crazy Ivan mount. I had to order from the states and it requires drilling and tapping the receiver, and a small notch in the stock. It works great for a scope mount and it's quick detach so you can unscrew it and go back to irons any time. It does clear stripper clips but the optic you mount may not. Also with import, tax, USD exchange, etc it's like $250 to get one to your door. I used a primary arms 3x micro prism and it was awesome, but the eye relief was pretty close.
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u/FuzzyLampShade Apr 17 '26
Secret option E) front sight leaf mount. Some come adapted for stripper clips.
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u/Iokua_CDN Apr 17 '26
Personally is go B.
A can work! Just means you go removable magazines and no stripper clips. That's fine, it's a choice, but it's not my choice.
B at least feels cool. Scout rifle wannabe and such. I'd be using a red dot, but a small scout scope works too. Something like a 2-7 zoom would be sweet. Stripper clip approved and such.
C looks ugly. Don't care if it works, it looks horrible.
D. Looks expensive. Like hell yea if you can get it done, side mount scope looks legit, and I think it would allow you to use stripper clips. I think it's cool but I imagine it is a bit more work to do
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u/layzorbeemz Custom Flair (Be appropriate or else we'll take it away again) Apr 17 '26
Clearly the right answer is B. 🙄
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u/outdoorsman-1995 Apr 17 '26
A) or a scope/magnified optic as it's the most secure B) for a red dot so it doesn't block as much FOV and saves weight
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u/Icy-Sniper64 Apr 17 '26
I tried few for fun, removed all and I shoot better without these things. It look better natural without this make up
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u/Weedle_Woo Apr 17 '26
You could always use electrical tape like that guy that wanted to shoot trump at his golf course
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u/H0B013 Apr 17 '26
Dont put an optic on an sks, the irons are more than fine for the rifles effective range. If you must, get one of the rails that replaces your rear sight, they will actually hold zero
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u/These_Engine_7758 Apr 18 '26
Remove rear sight, install picatinny sight mount, install red dot, job done
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u/BreakfastNo7687 Apr 19 '26
Seriously none I’m old school iron sights are enough. If I can effectively see you at 150 metres then I’m good.
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u/DougMacRay617 Apr 16 '26
They are already stupid expensive and you just need a red dot. Its a 300m gun.
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u/Fundude45 Apr 16 '26
The sks was never designed to be scoped lol no matter how try to scope it. Will be a compromise or challenging to use. If you can't see the front sight can screw in a hi-vis colored one. If want to mount a scope there is scope base that replaces the rear sight for red dot. Its your rifle and money just making suggestions all the options you posted. Either are hard to use or not stable mounting spots. Especially the dust cover optic mount hope that helps.
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u/Murray3-Dvideos Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
A) " look man it works good enough, and I didnt feel like molesting this thing permanently "
B) " do any of these hold zero ? I think itd be a sweet setup " crickets
C) " JUst BUILt ThIS, CaNt WaIT tO Use iT tHis wEEkeND " one month later posts question about option A
D) " I know what I'm doing and have a strange fetish for Russian shit "