First look at TechSIGHTS for the SKS

When I arrived home from work today I was psyched to see that my SKS TechSIGHTS had arrived. This sighting system (Model TS2000) is an M1-type peep-sight setup that attaches to the receiver cover via the takedown latch. That's the pin that you rotate and withdraw to remove the receiver cover.

The first thing that you'll notice when you open the package is the excellent construction. It's made of very solid, steel components finished with military spec manganese phosphate and hard-coated anodized aluminum, also to military specifications. I've found that the biggest weakness with any sighting system on the SKS is its attachment to the rifle. Most everything attaches to the receiver cover, which means that when the receiver cover starts to walk, so does your scope or whatever else you've mounted. This unit attaches itself to the receiver via the take-down latch and pushes against the receiver itself and not the cover. This looks like it will actually be a very solid mount.

The first step in mounting this sight is to remove the stock takedown latch. There's a pin at the end of the latch that keeps it from falling out of the receiver when the latch is withdrawn. Some latch pins can be pressed down, which makes it easy to remove the latch. Of course, this wasn't the case with my SKS and I had to deal with a pin that was brazed on. The instructions suggest taking it to your gunsmith, but I'm not that patient nor do I want to pay to complete this step. I got out one of my father's old disk cutter, put it on a drill and in seconds the pin was gone and the latch was in my hand. That was easy! It's all downhill from here. It's my understanding that some states might have a stupid law prohibiting you from modifying the latch pin, so be aware of any law that affects you.

4 small screws go into the back of the sight, and each screw has a small brass pin projecting from it. Unlike all the junk I've installed in the past to attach a scope that cut into the receiver's finish, brass pins won't destroy your rifle. That's a nice touch. You screw them in until the pins are flush with the sight's inner surface, then stop. Next you replace the stock latch pin with a similar 'cross screw' that comes with the kit. The screw goes into the sight, the sight goes over the receiver cover and the 'cross screw' passes through the takedown latch holes. A nut at the other end holds it in place. Now you tighten down the 4 screws until the sight stops rotating, and TechSIGHTS claims that the sight will return to zero after it is removed and replaced. Those tiny screws have some kind of dry locking compound on them to keep the screws from backing out.

This M1 / M16 style TS200 sight has both windage and elevation adjustments.

The package comes with instructions on how to remove the rear sight, but it looks to me as if the peep sight looks over the old rear sight, so I may be able to keep it on. Hey, you never know when you might need use of that grenade launcher.

It seems like I'm always dropping and losing small parts, so I decide to order an extra set of the 3 loose parts:

• TS00104 Cross Screw
• TS00145 Nut
• TS00128 Lock Screw

The lock screw is an extra locking system for people who do a lot of shooting. The 'lock screw' threads into the end of the 'nut' to lock it down. Kind of like double knotting your shoe laces.

The installation took me about 45 minutes, but you guys who can follow instructions might be able to do it in 15. I usually have to do everything twice to get it right, Dah.

The weather has been so lousy that I doubt I'll be able to try these sights out for a few weeks. I'm looking forward to that shoot because it will be a first for the TechSIGHTS, the new gas valve and the bipod. It should be a blast, so check back for more.

Here's a link to TechSIGHTS product page

One of my buddies writes:
"Something to chew on. Had HiVis sights on my shotgun. Made of plastic. Broke the front one night before deer season. Will no longer buy plastic anything for my guns! The search is on."
No problem here!