Gun forum featuring gun manuals, discussion, community. The Simonov SKS is a Russian carbine that was developed in 1946. It is a gas operated, self-loading, semi-automatic rifle. The rifle is chambered for the 7.62 mm cartridge which it takes from a 10 round box magazine.
The SKS, (the SKS45), was designed by the famous Sergei Simonov. The Russian SKS were produced originally in the Tula Arsenel in 1949 through the mid 1950's. The Soviets Army replaced the Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifles with the SKS rifle. The SKS was eventually replaced by the AK-47 rifle (Avtomat Kalashnikov).