SKS-45 Simonov Steel Series

Sergei Simonov designed the SKS semi-automatic carbine in 1943. Adopted in 1949, it served in the armed forces of 40 countries, with around 15 million made, and it is still carried at parades today. This laser tag version is built from a blank-firing gun, with the electronics integrated into the original design.

The real thing, almost

Steel, a wooden stock and the weight of about 4 kg give it the feel airsoft models cannot match. Apart from the optical tube, it is a faithful copy. It is very durable, which is why it is recommended for rental clubs.

Build and electronics

• Steel barrel and metal parts; wooden stock and upper handguard.
• A metal butt cap with storage for cleaning kit, and two sling swivels.
• A bayonet mount (no bayonet) that also holds the rod.
• A 2.2 Ah lithium battery in the stock for up to 30 hours.
• The speaker is in the detachable magazine; the charging socket and LED are at its base under a rubber plug.
• The optical tube gives a range of up to 200 m.

Sights and controls

• Rear sight graduated to 1000 m in 100 m steps, plus a front sight.
• The safety by the trigger switches it on; keep the thumb piece down or the carbine turns off.
• Reload with the bolt.