[another person]

What advantages does a SKS have over an AK? I just realized that it has barely any.

Fit and finish: about the same, maybe a little better on the SKS compared to a WASR.

Capactiy: AK clearly wins.

Size: AK wins.

Weight: AK wins.

The only things I can think of that an SKS has over an AK is very minor accuracy increases and the lower price.

I just want to sell my SKS right now and get an AK. Theres nothing that the SKS has that the AK doesnt. Its just a heavy, huge rifle which uses stirpper clips which are hard to transport loaded unless you have a bandoleer or pouches, and lacks the magazine capacity that an AK has.

Im not trying to bash the SKS, I just realized that want an AK now and im trying to come up with reasons why I should keep the SKS instead of selling it.

[dasmi]

AK: Not legal in California.
SKS: Legal in California.

[ArmedBear]

There is no point of owning an SKS. I've never even cleaned the Cosmoline off of mine. The Yugos don't like regular ammo, many ranges don't like steel cases, the gun has the ergonomics of a tree branch attached to a sewer pipe.

But here in California, we buy whatever "evil" rifles that are still legal and that we can afford, just to thumb our noses at Bill Lockyer, one of the worst human beings ever to walk the earth, as well as our Attorney General. I've bought a few things for that reason alone.

[MSGT9410]

SKS is about $200 cheaper?

[LiquidTension]

Price: SKS wins
Recoil: SKS wins
Accuracy: SKS wins
Legality: SKS wins

Just because you don't like them doesn't mean they are useless. I have both and don't plan to get rid of either of them.

[LeonCarr]

What is the point of owning an SKS?

Lemme see.

If you are deer/hog hunting, and the rifle falls 20 feet out of your elevated blind to the ground, big deal. Better for it to fall out than your Weatherby or Lazzeroni or something like that, and the SKS will still work afterwards.

If it rattles around in your truck for forever and a day, big deal. Better for it to be in your truck if your truck gets stolen. Then you are out 150 bucks for an SKS instead of 2000 bucks when your ubertactical pimped out AR-15 with all the trimmings is stolen out of your truck.

If you shoot somebody, they are going to take the firearm used into evidence, and it could be in the evidence room for years through the trial and the appeals and all that stuff. Big Deal. What would you rather have rusting away in a damp, humid evidence room, a 150 dollar SKS, or your 3500 dollar Wilson Combat Super Grade .45?

There ya go...a few reasons to own an SKS. Besides being cheap to shoot(not as cheap as they used to be but still pretty cheap), brutally reliable, and virtually indestructible, if something happens to it, big deal :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[Mikee Loxxer]

Many SKS's are real milsurps (piece of history). With few exceptions an AK is either a parts kit gun or a semi-auto clone of a real military rifle.

[jklinstein]

I see only 2 possible advantages with the SKS.

First is that visually it doesn't project the same image as an AK-47 clone. This is only an issue if one ever has a "social need" to use the rifle.

The second advantage is only realized with the addition of a Tech-sight. This improves sight radius and sight picture immensely (IMO), which translates into better precision shooting. The trigger still needs working over to improve, but in the end you can end up with a more accurate rifle with these improvements.

Personally, the AK-47 is more versatile, but I can't get rid of my SKS. It's the rifle I'll leave in my trunk for months without worrying about it getting beat up. I just can't see selling a very reliable rifle for $150, in order to fund a HEAVIER and more costly rifle in the same caliber, with no improvement except increased capacity.

[grimjaw]

SKS: Some of them qualify for C&R.
SKS: Techsights are available that easily beat the sight picture of standard AK sights any day, and give longer sight radius than Mojo sights.
SKS: Slighty better ballistics from the 20" bbl.

another person, if you haven't seen the "paratrooper" versions of the SKS, that might interest you. I have one w/o a bayonet lug and it's just as compact and about the same weight as a standard stamped AK. You still have the magazine capacity issue, though.

jm

[The Real Hawkeye]

Generally speaking, the SKS rifle was actually manufactured from scratch and assembled as a front line rifle of a national military. The AK-47s available to Americans were manufactured and assembled for the American civilian market by people who knew that no military armorer was going to evaluate them for serviceability, and no one will be going to the gulag if a bunch of them are assembled incompetently or get soldiers killed due to inferior parts or assembly.

[Number 6]

The Yugos don't like regular ammo, many ranges don't like steel cases, the gun has the ergonomics of a tree branch attached to a sewer pipe.

I have never heard of Yugo's being temperamental, unless you mean US made ammo with soft primers. I have two Yugo's with several thousands rounds through both, using a variety of ammunition with only two malfunctions, which were due to a bad extractor.

[ArmedBear]

unless you mean US made ammo with soft primers

That's what I mean (for hunting especially).

I encourage anyone who wants to, to buy 10. It's not that I don't like them. I do, in a way.

I might grab another one; I got a nice-looking original Model 59 with no launcher, so I kinda want to keep it as-is. If I get a de-milled 59/66, I'll tear off all the extraneous crap and put a modern stock on it; then it'll make an acceptable hunting carbine.

You don't need a "point" to get an SKS.:)

[DontBurnMyFlag]

its easier to fire the SKS from the prone
if you kill an intruder with an SKS, it will look better in the media than an evil AK hahaha.

uhh...NJ wont let me have an AK unless it has the thumbhole stock and 10rd magazines. and even then they charge 800 bucks.

My sks was 150

[ArmedBear]

If you are deer/hog hunting, and the rifle falls 20 feet out of your elevated blind to the ground, big deal. Better for it to fall out than your Weatherby or Lazzeroni or something like that, and the SKS will still work afterwards.

True. But a Marlin 336 won't fire a couple times when it hits the ground.:p

Still, I think that everyone should buy an SKS or two, even if they stay in the closet. We might need them one day. You don't need an excuse to buy a $150 ($180-200 in PRK) rifle. You generally need an excuse to buy a Weatherby or Lazzeroni, especially if the kids are gettin' skinny.:D

[LeonCarr]

ArmedBear,

If it fires a couples of times when it hits the ground:

1. It might wake you up if you are taking a nap in your blind, or

2. It might kill a deer or a hog :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[saltydog]

Because some of us own everything else.:D

[ArmedBear]

Another advantage:

If you're sitting in someone else's tree stand with an SKS, people won't ask you to leave.

Sorry, bad taste.

[Feanaro]

The SKS is more compact, vertically, than the AK. It has a longer sight radius. It looks friendlier. It is cheaper. The weight issue becomes muddier when you add the weight of a load magazine for the AK. Tech sights.

What's the point of an AK when you don't need 20 more rounds? :evil:

[RNB65]

Because the SKS is so god-awful ugly and cheap, you're not going to care when the Lab puppy chews on it, the cat uses it as a scratch pole, it falls out of your truck when driving down the highway, your wife backs over it, and your teen son leaves it outside in the rain for a few days. The good news is that, even after all of the above, it's still going to go BANG when you pull the trigger. :)

[Lonestar.45]

I have both.

I'd rather shoot my SKS any day over the AK. Only accurate rifles are interesting. I'm waaay past the stage of thinking that high capacity mag dumps are fun.

[MachIVshooter]

if you kill an intruder with an SKS, it will look better in the media than an evil AK hahaha.

Don't know about that. Since the SKS's became readily available at very low prices, they have been a popular choice of thugs who don't have the coin for an AK, and are quickly earning a reputation with the media. Though not as infamous as the AK, SKS's (especially with hi-cap mags) are easily villified by the media. They are also often misrepresented by said media as AK's. The addition of a 30 rd. mag and a pistol grip stock give the SKS a very AK-like silhouette, easily mistaken by sheeple. Me thinks it's the unmistakable curve of 7.62x39mm magazines that gets the recognition.

If you are worried about being PC in a defensie shooting, use a S&W K-frame or single-shot 20 gauge.

Me? I'm interested in saving my bacon and will use my AR-10 if necessary.

[ArmedBear]

A pike is always good.

[aka108]

Sk's and Ak's. Both just fun to shoot. Get one or two of each.

[lee n. field]

The SKS

1) is cheaper, by far.

2) has a bolt hold-open.

3) has a nicer safety.

[tenbase]

1. You can polish the bolt carrier on the SKS to a high shine and it looks great from all sides.

That's all I have.

[ArmedBear]

The AK is a squared-off beer can with a bunch of stuff sticking out of it in all directions.

The SKS is a rifle, made the way they should be, out of a heavy block of crappy commie steel, set in an inletted semi-reshaped 2x4.

They're both amusing. The SKS is a better tool for hunting, etc.

I like the Ruger Mini's ergos, balance, weight and size better, but you can buy a closet full of SKS's for the same money. And the SKS has a bayonet.:evil:

Seriously, buy an SKS or two. But don't ask about the "point.":D

[No_Brakes23]

I am amazed no one has mentioned the pig-sticker on the end.

I like my Cali-legal Yugo M59. It's like a Commie Garand. I am gonna keep it , even though I can now buy an AK. The SKS shoots good enough. I don't hate the ergos, even though I prefer pistol grips. I don't think it is ugly, it looks like a proper service rifle.

Is the AK a more advanced design? Undoubtedly. More capacity and faster reloads? Yep. But asking why buy an SKS when you can get an AK is like asking why buy a Garand when you can get an FAL. The SKS is just fine.

And besides for folks in ban states, it allows you to shoot M43 legally.

I'd rather shoot my SKS any day over the AK. Only accurate rifles are interesting.
Hold on, AKs can be accurate. There's a big difference between a Century Arms WASR frAnKen rifle and a Saiga. I have seen sub-MOA groups from a Saiga. A Saiga might not be a tackdriver, but I think Minute-Of-Badguy is plenty interesting. A 9 inch group at 300 yards will still hit a man.

[carterbeauford]

There is no point of owning an SKS

We apparently don't share the "any Russian-designed milsurp is a good Russian-designed milsurp" mantra.

I had $150, wanted a reliable intermediate caliber semi-auto rifle that was built like a tank, so I have good reason to own one.

Don't think anyone has mentioned how easy they are to take apart and work on.

[Stiletto Null]

SKS vs. AK:

+SKS is more comfortable
+SKS will probably be more accurate
+If you get a Yugo, you can switch off the gas system to make it a pseudo straight-pull boltie
+Stripper clips are less annoying to deal with on really long range sessions
-Can't use AK magazines

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I have yet to encounter an SKS I actually liked handling, whereas Yugo SKSes actually fit me decently.

[sgphoto]

The Tech Sight adds a lot to the SKS. This one is a great truck gun.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/sgphoto/Yugo59_66SKSD696246.jpg

Here's a comparison with the Saiga 16" 7.62 x 39.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/sgphoto/Yugo59_66SKSP17405434.jpg

The SKS feels good in the hand too.

Steve

[Stiletto Null]

I thought Saigas felt weird...what is that, an extra inch of trigger reach?

[jbharned]

Funny,I have always said the same thing of .30 carbines and ruger mini 30's.
I have a "few" SKS rifles and I started collecting them because they are unique and a lot of fun to shoot. It's a real military rifle unlike the mini 30. It's hands down better (my opinion) than any 30 carbine I have ever fired. It is more accurate than the AK for sure and it's rugged ,reliable and dependable with decent ballistics that is easy to shoot. Ammo is almost everywhere. If you do not like them that's your choice but it's a part of history pre AK era. If a person wants a rifle for home or family protection I can not think of anything close in price that would top the SKS rifle.

[another person]

I guess ill keep it. Is Murphy's Wood Soap good for the stock? What do I use on the stock after I buff it with the soap to get a nice glossy laminated finish?

[DougW]

They are just too much fun to shoot!

[Stiletto Null]

Eh? "Laminated" describes the wood, not the finish. :scrutiny:

Also, I just used dish soap to clean off the stock when I was de-cosmoing. Took a while, but seemed to work OK. Even left the wood's surface "nice" and dry (aka absolutely disgusting to the touch, because the soap degreased it)—ready to be refinished, basically.

I had great results refinishing an M48 (elm wood; post some pictures of your SKS so we can give better suggestions) using boiled linseed oil and some tung oil. More info in this old thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=210206).

Put aside a bit of cash, then get Tech Sights (http://www.tech-sights.com/) ($60 for the elevation-adjustable ones) and send your trigger pack off to Kivaari (http://www.kivaari.com/) ($65). Your SKS will become a whole new animal.

[MCgunner]

I got two SKSs cause they're cheap, reliable, more accurate than an AK, can be sporterized for hunting, and they're just fun to play with. I really think the SKS and the AK are pretty worthess for anything I do with a rifle, but cheap fun is why I got 'em. I got the rifle for 75 bucks and the paratrooper SKS carbine for 115 bucks. I also had fun pimping 'em out. Lots of aftermarket stuff for 'em. They also allowed me over the years to take advantage of cheap 7.62x39 ammo, though I do have dies for 'em.

I just don't like AKs. They're not accurate enough even to have fun with unless you can't shoot anyway and like the spray and pray aspects of it. I don't like big box magazines stickin' out the bottom and though I did put that folding stock on the carbine, I really prefer a standard rifle stock and not a pistol grip for field carry, much quicker to the shoulder.

Besides, SKSs make great truck guns for the farm. Just toss it behind the seat and don't worry about how dinged out it gets. While the accuracy ain't great, at least you can hit a coyote at 100 yards on the first shot. My SKSs are the only autoloading centerfire rifles I own. I really don't like autos, prefer the accuracy of a bolt. But at the pricing of those SKSs back 15 years ago before Clinton got elected, how the heck could you NOT want one????

Oh heck, edit, I lied. I also have an Egyptian Hakim battle rifle, picked up for 80 bucks back around 1990.

[another person]

The stock doesnt matter anymore. Im getting a synthetic T6 stock tonight. Im going to celebrate by taking the SKS to the range this weekend. Maybe I can get agood at loading the stripper clips...

[Hazzard]

And the #1 answer is....

Because we can!

Applause!...applause!...applause!

[STAGE 2]

I can't believe no one has said it yet but....

...if I have to 'splain it to ya, ya wouldn't understand.

[grimjaw]

If you're comparing a Yugo SKS to an AK, of course the length will compare favorably. Here's a different one.

http://grimjaw.net/mig/albums/theboomgoesthere/2133.jpg

[Stiletto Null]

Im going to celebrate by taking the SKS to the range this weekend. Maybe I can get agood at loading the stripper clips...It helps to tension it forward a little bit...like, push down on the base of the top round, while also pushing it forward until the clip won't tilt forward anymore. This can make the difference between crunch-crunch-crunch-ow I cut myself on the clip-crunch and slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK.

"slideCLICK" sounds and looks a lot more badass if someone's watching. :D

[mp510]

AK: Not legal in California.
SKS: Legal in California.
Same up here in Connecticut.

[silverlance]

I really dislike my Yugo M59/66. Now that I have a NIB Norinco Paratrooper, I'm going to ditch the m59/66. the gun is just too long and too heavy. The same goes for the full-size Norinco SKS that I also own.

The only two skses that I like are the Norinco Paratrooper and the Russian or Yugo M59 (no GL)

[plexreticle]

I think an SKS is the best bang for the buck for a hunting rig. I bought two and gave one to my Dad. He loves it and uses it more than his Savage 99.

I paid $79 for one and $100 for the other. Both milled one China and one USSR. I have a Norinco AK milled. It's dosent do anything the SKS' won't do except waste more ammo between reloads.

[cyco668]

My first rifle was an SKS. It was what I could afford at the time and it just plain ol' works. I bought it because it was on sale at the time. I later sold it for more than a paid for it.

[foghornl]

I have a Yugo 59/66 SKS with all that grenade launcher stuff on it. Makes it kind of heavy compared to a standard Mdl 59.

Shot a couple of different AK variants, and they felt a bit strange to me. Not knocking Mr. Kalishnikov's products; they just don't "fit" me. I prefer Mr. Simonov's efforts.

Now, if I could just find some of the grenade launcher blanks, & some dummy grenades...well anyone up for the 200yd "Yard Darts"? ? ? ? :evil: :D

[Diggler]

Another plus...

If you find yourself having to carry 300 rounds of ammo, it's easier and lighter to carry them on stripper clips; they're all ready to go. Unless you're going to carry around 10 loaded AK mags. If you empty your AK mags, it takes time to load them. With the SKS, just keep feeding it the stripper clips. Your first couple reloads with an AK will be faster with the spare magazines, but once they're empty, the SKS will catch up in no time.

[another person]

I have a couple dummies. Do you think it would be safe to use vice grips to pull the bullet and then use a dowel to stuff some really thin gift paper into the case mouth?

I dont know if it would be easier to carry 300 rounds on stripper clips without a bandoleer. If you stuck one or two in your pocket usually a round falls off the end. Mags, on the other hand, (IMO) are ready to go right away. You can just stuff them in your pockets and be gone.

[Hoppy590]

The AK is a squared-off beer can with a bunch of stuff sticking out of it in all directions.

The SKS is a rifle, made the way they should be, out of a heavy block of crappy commie steel, set in an inletted semi-reshaped 2x4.

best comment of the thread! requesting permission for sig? ( already up, but i can take it down)

[buzz_knox]

Why?

1. Because he who dies with the most toys wins.

2. Because it is a weapon with considerable historical value and makes an excellent addition to any collection.

3. Because you can.

Pick all that apply.

[ArmedBear]

Granted with my compliments.

What I'd REALLY like to do, is get some nice curly maple, and make a beautiful stock for my M59. Then I could hang it over the fireplace loaded, but no one would guess that it is.:p

[Diggler]

I DO have a chicom bandoleer, it cost under $10, and can carry a few hundred rounds on stripper clips on it. So that's where I was coming from with that. It's a lot less bulky than 10 AK mags.

But I like my AK's, too.

[MechAg94]

An SKS is just a fun, collectable, and reliable rifle to shoot. I'll keep mine even though I have a Vepr as well.

My Vepr is as accurate as my SKS or better. If you don't think AK's are capable of accuracy, get a better AK. It has it's limits, but it can keep up just fine.

On clips vs mags: You can get a small pouch and hold a large number of clips. You need bigger pouches or more specially designed pouches to hold very many magazines very well, and they may rattle. I got a chest rig as well. :)

[BobTheTomato]

Its HAWT!!!!!

[mainmech48]

IMO, the real question should be "why not?". Where else can you get as much pure practical utility over such a broad spectrum of potential tasks for as little investment?

While it can be argued that an SKS might not be the "ideal" tool for a given task, it'd be tough to come up with many where it wouldn't be a whole bunch better than nothing.

[MechAg94]

From another angle, I can see how I would ask the same question if we were not talking about a mil-surp gun.

If both designs had to be bought brand new, the SKS would likely cost more. The only practical reason for getting it would be due to AWB laws. I am sure looks and collecting interests would still be there, but much less so.

Hell, I have 5 or 6 bolt action guns right now that are all mil-surp for no other reason than they are fun to shoot and have some military history interest. An inexpensive SKS has value for at least that reason.

[MCgunner]

I think an SKS is the best bang for the buck for a hunting rig. I bought two and gave one to my Dad. He loves it and uses it more than his Savage 99.

Yeah, cheap until you start pimpin' it out for hunting. :D Ah, it really wasn't THAT bad. Only gave $75 for the rifle, $75 for the stock, 19 for the case deflector/vented forearm, 17 or something ridiculous for the ambidextrous trigger, 35 for scope mount, 10 for rings, 50 for scope, 10 I think for the five round mag, cut off the bayonet lug and cold blue the stump, not a bad hunting rifle for a nearly 9 pound lunk of steel with similar exterior ballistics to a .30-30 and lighter bullet capability. IOW, I think I wasted too much money. It's now a fun gun for the shooting range for which I can use cheap surplus ammo. I hunt with my 6 1/2 lb stainless Remington M7 in .308 with 2x10x40 Weaver. Much nicer hunting rifle and MOA accurate with a FANTASTIC trigger.

BTW, the slip on recoil pad is to get me away from the scope. That Chote stock isn't long enough anyway, not enough length of pull. But, that's as far forward as I could get the friggin' scope, and I'd like it a little farther forward.

Nope, not an ideal hunting rifle, but still fun to play with and you can spend way too much money if you're not careful. That scope has a lighted reticle and I'm thinking I'll do some night hunting for hogs with this thing in the future. I'll limit my hogs to 200 lbs, not really enough caliber here for a really big, grissle plated porker. But, then, I'm hunting for meat to eat when I hog hunt, not big teeth or ugly face. I got a mirror at home for that. LOL!

[Stiletto Null]

Oh yeah...SKSes scout out better.

[RiverwinoIA]

nice picture grimjaw.

i assume that is a "factory" sks para. with a 16.xx" BBL?

The sight radius difference between the two (not to mention the superior rear sight) is quite impressive.

Im the opposite of the original poster, i want to like AKs, but the SKS seems so much more practical/useful for the money, especially when you compare a short barreled sks with techsights against the AK. (paratrooper sks are quite expensive now, so cutting down a yugo would be much more cost effetive)

[DawgFvr]

I have a Yugo...re-finished the stock, had a trigger job done, placed an adjustable rear peep sight on it...bought a huge amount of ammo for it. You fire it like you "stold it". This is a truck gun you you carry around "just in case"...throw it in the back and forget about it. Now my Garand, on the other hand, I personally carry in a special case and treat like a baby.

[grimjaw]

i assume that is a "factory" sks para. with a 16.xx" BBL?

Yes, there are a couple of different versions. You can find several on Gunbroker at the moment, including one that takes AK mags.

jm

http://www.grimjaw.net/mig/albums/theboomgoesthere/1834.jpg

[S.P.E.C.T.R.E.]

OP: There is no point in owning an SKS if you just don't like the gun. The fewer people that like SKS's, the better the price is for those of us who do. Sell the gun and get your AK. Personally, I think AK's are ugly, utilitarian, cheap looking tin guns and I have no desire to ever get one.

But do you see how different people can have different opinions?

[NineseveN]

An SKS-D (AK Mag version) with a TechSight Adjustable sight on the rear beats an AK every day of the week. I don't have one of either anymore, but if I did find myself wanting one, it would be an SKS-D with the Techsight.

[Exposure]

My pimped out Yugo SKS. Dragunov style stock, bipod, illuminated rangefinding scope, muzzle brake, and done up in Colt Gray and AUG Green Dura Coat.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b301/paulj1973/SKS1.jpg

Every where I go it gets the most attention and, "Me next!" of any thing I have. And surprisingly enough it's pretty darn accurate.

I have to say, the thing is fun as heck! I unroll a piece of carpet in the back of my truck, setup the SKS, and people just line up to get on the trigger.

I've got two other un-molested SKS's but this is the one that gets the most ammo fed to her! For under $300.00 you can't beat it.

[ndh87]

For 200 bucks, why not? I just got one at the end of summer and i think its great, im planning on swapping out the wood stock for one of the dragonov style ones, i'll see about the scope bit. but for 200 bucks, cant go wrong. Dont have to worry if you forget to clean it, drop it, etc.

[MCgunner]

Here's my Paratrooper pimp job. Gun was $115, stock about 45. I already had the laser and didn't have anything else to do with it. It's hidden a big by the sling just behind the bayonet mount which makes a pretty good guard for it. Ambi safety, 20 round mag, the flash hider was free from a friend. I did waste some money on a stick mag that didn't work. Live and learn.

[possum]

10rds? what's wrong with only 10rds if you can't hit what you need to you want need to worry about the ammo capacity issue, if it takes you more than 10rds then you are in a petty bad way and an ak wouldn't do you any good, and you'll probally be dead and some bad guy will be using your weapon, as his own. I have one, i think they are neat little handy rifles, they are inexpensive, no magazines to worry about buying, decently accurate, especially in the brush. I like them and like all other guns i like to shoot them and have fun with them, they are tools and they are used to accomplish a goal and that can be done with an sks, quite a bit.

[Diggler]

Get some of those fancy golf ball launchers and you won't have to find dummy grenades.

May even improve your golf score when you break out your 7.62 iron.

Golf Ball Launchers (http://www.aardvarkfirearms.com/golfballlauncher.htm)

[mr.trooper]

did anyone notice the he said WEIGHT was one of the AKs advantages?

Im guessing that he doesnt own either the AK or the SKS.

My Vector AK weighs EMPTY what my Norinco SKS weights full. Slap a 30 round mag in there and you REALY feel the difference.

[MCgunner]

Get some of those fancy golf ball launchers and you won't have to find dummy grenades.

May even improve your golf score when you break out your 7.62 iron.

An', if you get hungry, I betcha could scramble eggs with it, too!:D

[another person]

Mr. trooper, why would I make this thread if I didnt own an SKS? I have a Yugo 59/66, so maybe that explains it, but I thought it weighed more than the empty AKs I held at a local shop. Or maybe the SKS isnt as heavy, but it sure feels like it when all of that grenade launching equipment is weighing down the end of the barrel. It makes it very hard to shoot standing.

Here's a pic of one of my dummies.
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8397/grenade2yj7.jpg

Maybe this weekend ill try to make some blanks and launch one of these puppies.

[Moondoggie]

I bought my Norinco SKS in '93 on a group buy at my unit.

The guy in the squadron who had an FFL asked me if I wanted to go in on a group buy of SKS's.

I asked "What's an SKS?"

He replied "It's a 7.62 semi auto rifle with a 10 rd mag. Oh, yeah, they're going to ban them and it's $59."

My response "Count me in."

Never regretted it.

AK, no thanks.

[tenbase]

$59?? I hate you. Mine was a whopping $89, also in '93 :)

[Spencer]

DAMN you guys have some tricked out SKSs.

great pics!

[Andrew S]

You list weight, length, and capacity as the important benefits of an AK. What are you using the rifle for where those benefits become significantly important and worth the extra coin?

I paid $75 for my SKS and none of the advantages of an AK are worth $300 more to me.

[trickyasafox]

i kinda think the history of the rifle is neat.

and they shoulder better for me than an AK though both are pretty short.

not saying i don't want an ak as well, just in my mind they serve different purposes.

[aguyindallas]

I am not sure there is a "point" to most of the guns we own, but we do for one simple fact:

BECAUSE WE CAN

[another person]

I would be much happier with my sks if it was a paratrooper model. I o kinda like the fact that they are so cheap you dont have to worry about dinging them. When I got it I was trying to disassemble it and i didnt know that I had to pull the takedown lever to the right, I thought you just had to move the lever up. I ended up scratching the blue with a screwdriver and I was all pissed off. then I realized it was an SKS. Oh well!

[Borachon]

An SKS is made by tiny magical elves.

An AK is made by drunken fat Russian women.

[Jackal]

One word sums it up. Fun

[carterbeauford]

Exposure, beautiful Simonov, a 20 round fixed mag would really finish it off.

I say that because mine is almost identical, if tastefully modified SKS pics are what you guys seek, then it's time for a photoshoot.

[CornCod]

The government is always threatening to take away our AK's. Buy both an SKS and an AK, but shoot the SKS more often to save wear and tear on the more expensive rifle.

At least that was my rationalization..... A burglar got my AK two weeks ago, so I am looking for a new one.

[another person]

Damn that sucks. Did he take any other guns?

[Green Lantern]

I've never owned or even shot an AR for comparison, but I have no regrets on buying my unissued-grade Yugo SKS, for reasons others have doubtless mentioned as well as maybe some others:

-Learning experience. It was my first "real" rifle, and since it was cosmo'd-up...there's no choice but to break it down totally and clean it before you can fire it the first time...and with that comes another lesson:

-You get what you pay for, except when you get more. I was reminded of a fellow member's quote about wikipedia. Well, when I got the rifle I also bought a translation of an early Russian manual. Good read, very interesting...

But for what I really bought it for (breakdown/reasssembly instructuons) - surplusrifle.com was FAR more helpful!

-History. I've never been one for "antique-ing." But just holding the stuff that came with my old Commie battle rifle sent a bit of a chill down my spine. I don't think I've ever held "history" in my hands before. Even though MY SKS had not seen any battle action, I thought about the others like it that had. The pouches, how a soldier's life would depend on the sixty rounds of ammo in the stripper clips. The oiler (it actually had oil IN it), cleaning kit, and what I guess was an early version of the "bore-snake" - I held them and thought of soldiers out in the field, probably in ungodly conditions, using them to keep the weapon in the best shape possible...or at least to where it would go "boom" when they needed it to!

-Price. Low cost + High quality = VALUE!

I've kept mine totally stock, even use the original sling. Apparently from what I know about "assault" weapons laws (funny they apply to a gun that was NEVER designed to be full-auto OR hold more than 10 rounds!) this is the safest thing to do anyway?

I'm happy enough with the stripper clip setup, which is good since I hear more bad things than good about removable/high-cap mags for the SKS...

Again I don't know how it stacks up to the AR, but the SKS is pretty simple if even I could strip one without any help (well, short of an excellent internet tutorial)....

[Arcticfox]

If you're sitting in someone else's tree stand with an SKS, people won't ask you to leave.



Ohhhh, that's AWEFUL!!!!!!!!!:p

[Arcticfox]

GrimJaw

What a great pic!!! What an Arsenal! Which one is your fav?

[byf43]

Bought an SKS and a MAK 90. $159 each. The SKS was Russian mfg.

A friend caught the 'bug' bad after I bought these. He HAD to have the MAK 90.
He kept going up on his offers. . . . $200. . . $300. . . $350. . .$400. . .$450. Heck, I HAD to sell it to him for the $450!!!

I don't regret it for one minute.

Some buddies bought the Chinese SKS with screw-in barrels for $76 right after they hit the country. One guy bought 5 of 'em.

[dm1333]

we buy whatever "evil" rifles that are still legal and that we can afford, just to thumb our noses at Bill Lockyer, one of the worst human beings ever to walk the earth, as well as our Attorney General. I've bought a few things for that reason alone.

I owned an SKS that was cheap and a pretty nice shooter and have shot several pimped out guns that were really nice. I'd rather own an SKS than an AK because I think AKs are ugly.

[DF357]

http://www.dfandkf.com/sks.jpg

It has no import marks and a spike bayonet.

I like to shoot it much more than my Romanian SAR-1.

[BGlaze250]

What's the point? You can use the bayonet as a letter opener. Sure, it's hard, and the SKS makes for an unwieldly letter opener, but it can be done. Try to do that with an AK-47.

[mrmeval]

It is gun. It go bang. It better than stick.

My first SKS, the new made chinese one from the 90s was far superior to my MAC90 and most AKs at the time in accuracy. It also had zero muzzle blast which was nice. Both the AK and SKS are very reliable though I suspect the trigger group on the AK will outlast an SKS.

I like both guns but I also like the AR-15, Mausers, Enfields etc each has a purpose it is made for and all of them have the primary purpose of pissing off gun banners.

Oh, I do have my klinton arsenal, do you? :)

[tubeshooter]

Well, I don't have a "point" for you, I'm just glad I have my all-matching Romanian. I'm also glad I kept it stock, I was going to get an aftermarket stock for it but I'm glad I preserved the original configuration now.

It seems like a really good value, and like somebody said the history behind it makes it a bit more interesting. You can easily get higher capacity guns, but 10 reliable rounds is fine for me in a defensive or truck/ranch-type role. I doubt I could do much better if I tried for the $140 I paid. Besides plinking, that's about all I would need it to do and it seems well-suited for that. It's just a modest, inexpensive platform for 7.62 x 39, and some people prefer it over an AK believe it or not (either is fine with me, I'm not here to convince anybody).


Like somebody else said, get that AK if you want and help drive prices down; I'd gladly get another SKS or 2 if I ran into them and they weren't overpriced. I kinda need a "beater" to shoot, because my Romy is actually a pretty nice specimen that I'm not afraid to shoot but kinda hate to abuse.