Carabiners are shortened and lightened automatic rifles. In addition, the name "carbine" is also used in the army, hunting and sports environments. The main requirements that were put forward to carbines are lightness, compactness and the preservation of high combat qualities.
One of the most famous Soviet carbines is the SKS 7 62 caliber carbine. About what role he played in the development of Soviet small arms, as well as the tactical and technical characteristics and features of its use will be discussed in this article.
History of SCS
This weapon was developed in parallel with a Kalashnikov assault rifle for a specially made intermediate cartridge of 7.62 mm caliber of the 1943 model. The previous model was taken as a basis - AKS-22, which was developed at the beginning of the Second World War. The need for new weapons was very acute. At that time, the main model of the rifle was the famous Mosin-Nagan model of 1898. Also, in smaller quantities, self-loading rifles SVT and ABC were used. But the peculiarity was that although there were a lot of these models, they did not satisfy both the command and ordinary soldiers. For example, ABC and SVT, although they were very good, but required very careful care, which in the conditions of military operations was not always possible to carry out.
The Mosin rifle was, of course, reliable and unpretentious, but also did not fit in many ways. In such deplorable conditions, the army command needed an unpretentious reliable weapon that would be capable of firing at a farther distance than the PPSh and PPS, with all this, the store's capacity had to exceed the standard 5 rounds, like the Mosin rifle. And so the SCS appeared - a carbine, the technical characteristics of which in many aspects exceeded those of the Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Legendary weapon developer
The responsibility for the development of such weapons fell on the shoulders of designer Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov.
This famous gunsmith was the developer of such models of small arms as ABC, PPS, PTRS, in addition, he collaborated with Fedorov and Degtyarev during his formation as a designer of shooting systems. Prior to this, Simonov worked at the Kovrov machine gun factory, then, climbing the career ladder, he became a student at the Academy of Industry. His first model, which was adopted by the army, was the ABC-36 (Simonov automatic rifle arr. 1936). She was the first automatic rifle adopted by the Red Army after the Fedorov assault rifle.
As a result of hard work, the designer presented his new model to the government in 1949, at about the same time that the Kalashnikov assault rifle was launched. Then the rifle of Simonov SKS was approved for arming the Red Army. For his work, the designer was awarded the honorary title of Hero of Socialist Labor, he was also awarded various government prizes and orders.
Initially, a special needle bayonet was used in the design of this weapon, which was later replaced by a knife-shaped folding type. In addition, during the manufacturing process, some changes were made to the design of individual parts of the carbine. And although the beginning of the concept was laid back in 1943, problems with the refinement allowed to show it only in 1949.
International weapon
SCS managed to fight in many armed conflicts after the end of World War II. It was successfully used by the Viet Cong partisans during the Vietnam War, it was also used by the North Korean army, it was spotted in Cuba, in Africa, Laos, Namibia. This popularity is largely due to the high combat performance of the weapon, as well as the fact that it was massively produced under license by various countries of the Soviet bloc. In China, the weapon was called "Type 56" and was adapted for mounting optical sights, and also had an adapted magazine for 30 rounds, similar to the magazine from AK. A carbine was also produced in the German Democratic Republic, Yugoslavia, Egypt, and Albania. In some armies of the world they are still armed with separate units.
SKS carbine - performance characteristics
In an uncharged state, the SCS weighs three kilograms seven hundred and fifty grams. It has a fairly high rate of fire - 40 shots. in minutes The gas system allows firing in single-shot mode only. Sighting range is 1000 meters.
Mastering a carabiner is very simple. He possesses sufficient “attachment”, is well balanced and balanced. The barrel is longer than the AK-47, which allows to achieve higher accuracy indicators. The spread on hits at a distance of 800 m is approximately 290-380 mm.
Device and function
Automatic weapons function by removing powder gas through a hole in the barrel. The barrel channel is locked by tilting the shutter down. The valve stem moves under the influence of a spring-loaded plunger and a piston with a rod. They do not take part in further functioning, which ensures the smooth operation of automation. When the stalk rolls back, the back of the shutter rises and disconnects from the receiver, and when it rolls back, it locks the bore. The return mechanism is placed in the shutter stem in a special channel. At the same time, the stem is also a loading handle.
Impact mechanism - trigger, with a coil spring of a screw type. It is made on the basis of the trigger guard and created as a single mechanism. Fuse - flag, located behind the trigger. To prevent a shot with an unlocked bore, a self-timer is used.
The carbine has a magazine for 10 rounds, an integral type. For the convenience of equipment store shutter has grooves for clips. An open sector sight is marked at a distance of up to 1000 meters, the front sight is placed on the rack at the muzzle, and the aiming block is located in the middle of the carbine. The weapon has a wooden box with a pistol-like protrusion for the palm of the hand, the barrel pad is non-removable, tightly connected to the gas outlet pipe.
SKS - carbine, the technical characteristics of which are one of the model for the Soviet small arms.
World prevalence and post-war life
After the SCS was morally obsolete, it began to be used as a service weapon in various branches of the armed forces (air defense, for example). In Ukraine, it is still widely used as a weapon of guard companies or honor guards, regardless of the type of troops. Now also a carbine has been widely used as a hunting weapon. It is a fairly budget option, fully justifies the money spent on it. Hunting with an SKS carbine is really very convenient and can end successfully.
Significantly popular weapons received in the United States. Yes, America actively buys carbines of different years of release. Currently, approximately 1,500,000 units of these weapons are located in the United States. American designers are enthusiastic, so many modifications of this carbine have appeared. In particular, USA Magazine developed a detachable store for him with 30 rounds, Liman - a sports diopter sight. Some weapon parts undergo a number of modifications in order to increase corrosion resistance. Lodges made of plastic with a pistol grip, a retractable butt have also been developed; there is the possibility of installing bipods.
The use of a carbine for hunting
From the point of view of hunting weapons, the SKS carbine has rather good technical characteristics. Of course, compared to the cartridges now existing, the 1943 model is not particularly suitable for combat missions, but it can play a big role for amateurs and professionals in hunting. SKS is ideal for hunting wolves, ungulates, and any animal weighing up to 100 kg. The bullet of the cartridge remains effective at a distance of 150 - 200 meters, while aimed shooting (using optics or an open sight) can be conducted up to 300 meters.
Of course, this weapon is able to give many trophies only to a skilled hunter. The dispersion during shooting is negligible, its light weight and convenient shape allow it to hit the target even when shooting offhand, and the use of special hunting cartridges increases the chance of hitting the target with one shot many times.
Some features of the use of a carbine
When operating this weapon, it is worth remembering that the SKS-45 is a carbine designed for the ordinary Soviet soldier. Weapons were developed strictly according to the requirements for combat qualities and performance characteristics that were relevant at that time. Although its production was massive, but still the level of manufacture remained very high. The weapon is not without a certain degree of grace and has its own charm.
Of course, the design of the carabiner is typical of the 30s of the twentieth century and contains many outdated solutions, such as loading with a clip. However, its combat qualities can be called high even by modern standards. Of course, hunting modifications of a carbine differ from military ones. They do not have a bracket for installing a bayonet, and also marked on the receiver. The passport of the SKS hunting rifle contains the same notes. By the way, another reason for the popularity of this carbine is the possibility of free purchase under a standard license for the possession of hunting weapons. The price is quite acceptable - up to 10 thousand rubles.
Of course, there are plenty of competitors in the market. First of all, these are the popular hunting carbines “Saiga” and “Boar”, but they are more expensive and do not carry historical value, although they are more practical.
Any hunter should remember that the SKS is a carbine, the technical characteristics of which are performed at the combat level, and the quality and reliability have been tested by more than one generation of soldiers and hunters.
SKS carbine: specifications
- Caliber weapons - 7.62 mm.
- Type of cartridge - 7.62x34 arr. 1943 year.
- Muzzle velocity - 735 m / s.
- Fire modes - only single.
- Rate of fire - 35-40 rds / min.
- Muzzle energy - 2133 J.
- Weight (with an empty magazine) - 3.75 kg.
- Weight with a full magazine - 3.9 kg.
- Sighting range (maximum) - 1000 m.
- Magazine capacity - 10 rounds.
- The length of the weapon is 1020 mm.
- Barrel length - 520 mm.
Total
The SKS is a carbine whose technical characteristics and combat qualities can be called acceptable even despite more than half a century of history, and the quality, reliability and practicality will appeal to both collectors and hunters and just shooting enthusiasts.