The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

What collectors reference book is recommended?

Would a '52 Tula refurb have a chrome lined barrel?

Thanks in advance!

Soviet & Chinese (Norinco) SKS rifles have chrome-lined barrels. I'm not sure, but IIRC the rest of the Eastern Com-Bloc examples do not?

I prefer the chrome-lined barrels... Never cared for the Yugo with it's extra weight & abused bores.

If a Russian has an "original" barrel up to '52 would not be chrome lined, a refurb with a new barrel installed would be chrome. My '50 is not chrome lined, where my '52 is.

The Poyers book is good and has lots of information, but has many errors..and it's seriously out of date.

Rongo wrote:Soviet & Chinese (Norinco) SKS rifles have chrome-lined barrels. I'm not sure, but IIRC the rest of the Eastern Com-Bloc examples do not?

I prefer the chrome-lined barrels... Never cared for the Yugo with it's extra weight & abused bores.

Russian, Romanian, Chinese, and Albanian are all chrome lined, as are DDR, NVA and NK as I remember.

M59 Yugo, M59/66, M59/66al are not chrome, however on the Bosnian G10 Yugoslavian sold off as a M59 sometime back, they were rebuilt with a chrome lined new production barrel.

In my "opinion" it's out of date.. so many new things have been discovered/learned and even changed since that book was released. The base material like the individual pieces and parts is great in that book.

But to answer your question... Sadly no.. I have heard "rumors" of a new book in the works/pipeline that is "up to date", but there is no hard firm release time or even if it has been submitted.

I can't help with a specific book, but I use this website often for reference:
http://www.yooperj.com/
There are tons of sections on different parts of the SKS and it's many variants.

And the '52 Tula Refurb I just got last month does have a beautifully chromed barrel!

Thanks everyone! The new one is my third SKS, I figure if they are going to follow me home I should learn something about them.

SA1911a1 wrote:What collectors reference book is recommended?

Would a '52 Tula refurb have a chrome lined barrel?

Thanks in advance!

Just confirming what others have said. My 52 Tula refurb also has a chrome lined bore.

My '51 Tula refurb, laminate stock, black bolt has a chrome one. I've got to have an SKS match one day. Also a M-39 Sako contest.

How can you tell if its chrome lined or not? Serious question. Been wondering about mine

Blakefromminnesota wrote:How can you tell if its chrome lined or not? Serious question. Been wondering about mine

You should be able to look at the muzzle and see the difference in the color of the metal.

Mines all black besides alittle tiny bit of silver on the inner part of the crown.

I dont believe its chrome lined?

I can't see the same defined chrome liner like in my pictures but that doesn't mean it's not chrome lined. It may be covered by bluing or paint. I'll defer to others with more experience than me. Look at the lands and grooves int he bore. You might be able to see the chrome better there if it is a chrome lined bore. Unless the bore is fouled.

There should be no question if your bore is very clean, if it's not chrome then it's probably a little frosty, looking down the muzzle with a light or white patch on the bolt. I've got a 1 Tula, 2 Chi com's, all chrome, and two Yugo's, no chrome and frosty. If you shoot any Yugo ammo in a non-chrome, prepare for much cleaning. A couple rounds of new ammo at the end would help. ....p.s. I got my '51 out and looked again, it's shiny but not chrome.

Ive never deep cleaned the bore. I suppose i probably should, its about that time of year anyway :p