[vsse]

Well?

[pbhome71]

I can find a few:
a) it is more expensive than before. However, the Yugo SKS, IMHO, is a best deal right now. I would get a couple.
b) It is not easy to top off - similar problem with Garand
c) most accessories for the SKS are crappy. I would leave it alone, with an exception of may be replacing woodstock with syntetic stock.

[railroader]

What isn't there to like? You can get a real nice one for under $200. They are very reliable fun to shoot and the ammo is very cheap. No they aren't super accurate like an ar15 but they can easily keep up with a ruger mini 14 accuracy wise for less than half the price. Everybody should have at least one. As for the price chinese sks's were going for about $80 to $100 about 10 years ago. The yugo with muzzle break I got a month ago was $159 locally plus transfer and tax but it is really clean. Here's some clean ones that you can get for $129(these are $99 each when you buy 5 guns, cali conversion is $20 xtra) plus shipping from interordnance, and there are other good deals out there. http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=621949

[Beetle Bailey]

The SKS isn't very accurate. The best I've seen is a 2.5 inch group at 100 yards with American Eagle ammo. About 4 inches sounds right, depending on ammo. The trigger. . . well, I don't think too many people are in love with the stock trigger, but there are a few solutions to the long two-stage stock trigger. But remember, for the price, it's great. You get robust reliability, shoot a very inexpensive and available round, and versatility (the SKS can fill a lot of roles).

[straightShot]

Problem?

Well, you can't stand three of them up in the living room like you can with an M1 Garand! Other than that, 1000 rounds of ammo for $80 and an afternoon to shoot can't be beat!

[hillbilly]

SKS:

Bad

Clunky stock
Clunky trigger
Not that accurate
Hard to top off
Hard to get those "30 round" mags to fit in certain models. (30 rounders not for Kali, anyway)



Good:

Cheap
Parts everywhere
Cheap
rugged
Cheap
Accurate enough for combat style shooting out to about 300 yards
Cheap
Ammo is plentiful and cheap
Did I say Cheap????

I have purchased many SKS rifles over the years. Currently I own only one....a Chinese model designed to take AK-47 mags.

I like the SKS!

It's like the 99 cent double cheese-burger of the semi-auto rifle world.

It ain't fillet mignon, buy hey, it's still pretty good, especially for the money.

hillbilly

[WonderNine]

Um, more accurate than a Mini-14 (for one third the price or less) with cheaper, more effective ammo. Oh wait, that's all good, never mind.

Ok, let me think, the SKS has been quite a bit more reliable than the Mini-14.....Oh darn! I did it again. Um.... I dunno...you got me.

Hehe, just kidding. Ok, seriously, I'll post some weak points later, but I'm too drunk now.

Goodnight.

[Dave Markowitz]

Pro:

Cheap.
Dead nuts reliable (with the stock mag!).
Accurate enough for its intended purpose.
Shoots ammo that is powerful enough for defense or deer hunting.
Ammo is dirt cheap and easy to get.
Fun to shoot.
Very rugged.

Cons:

Trigger stinks.
Stock sights are crummy.

[OEF_VET]

The worst thing about SKS's is that once in awhile, you'll come across one that just likes to slam-fire, especially with commercial, non-surplus ammo. I had a Russian that was like that. Even when I had just cleaned it, it would occasionally go full-auto on me. So far, my Norinco hasn't had that problem.

The only problem I've had with the Norinco is with the detachable mags. They can be tough to load and the plastic ones like to jam. They can really be tough to reload while still in the weapon, using the chargers. After the first 10 rounds, the bolt tends to release. I'm thinking I may just go to using an original 10 round mag from now on.

Frank

[Bill Hook]

Checking that the FP is in correctly and that there are no burrs on FP or the channel in the bolt or boltface is a good idea.

[Mike Irwin]

With an aftermarket stock, the SKS is capable of surprising accuracy.

Without too much trouble I was cutting 1.25" to 1.5" 100 yard groups with mine once I dropped it into a Choate stock and put a scope on it.

The biggest problem with them is that it is VERY easy to burn through a lot of ammo in a short period of time.

[Dave R]

Agreed. Bad points are the trigger and the ergonomics of the standard stock. Put it in an aftermarket stock, and you're down to just a bad trigger.

[Nathanael_Greene]

I think the SKS is rather heavy, all things considered.
It's also pretty ugly.
And the wood (at least on my Chinese SKS) is cheap and too soft.

None of these are show-stoppers, though--the rifle is a definite hoot.

[Bill Hook]

Stone the heck out of the sear and it feels Glock-like, which, depending on your opinion, is a bad or not-too bad trigger.

[BevrFevr]

I put it in a choate stock which is sort of a pain as It could be designed a little better.

I think the trigger could be worse. It's better than my Ishy. Toping off is not a prob if you do a red dot mounted to the rear sight.

some are more accurate than others and it is often a luck of the draw.

I would buy one. That 5 for 500 has got me thinkin!

-bevr

[Dain Bramage]

Doubling on Bill Hook's comment, My Yugo SKS came with a firing pin retainer that was jammed in at the wrong angle. It was impinging on the FP and would have been a prime candidate for slam-fire. I cleaned the FP channel, and put the firing pin and retainer back in correctly, and I've never had a problem. I always check that the FP rattles freely before a shooting session.

[WhoKnowsWho]

Why don't my local gun shows have $129 Yugo SKS rifles? :(

[vsse]

BTW, how much does it weigh, loaded and unloaded?

[son of a gun]

Think I read some where if you mix and match part on SKS's from different country's of origin there could be a big dangerous problem and especially when talking about firing pins, does anyone know about this scenario ?

[BamBam-31]

9 lbs. 1 oz. unloaded. A hair more w/ loaded mag. I don't think the weight is a drawback. Combined with the intermediate cartridge, recoil is minimal. That, plus cheap, means a lot of shooting.

Brownells sells a Wolff spring kit to tune up the SKS trigger. Helps some, especially if you stone it a bit like Bill Hook says. Sights can be replaced with Mojo's or Williams peeps (also from Brownells).

[Stonewall]

Good:
Cheap Ammo!
Cheap Weapon - Less than $200
Lots of aftermarket parts.
It can take a lickin' and keep on ticken'

Bad:
Stock is short, but can get a $2 1 or 2" extension
Sights: not really that bad, but can upgrade to a mojo sight cheaply.
Trigger can be rough, depending on what you get. I have a Chinese that i ahve had for many many years and the trigger is fine. It can be polished up a bit and improves a bit.

All in all a very good low priced battle rifle. This weapon is not made for long range shots. It is intended to put alot of lead downrange. I typically get 4 inch groups @ 100 yds with Wolf ammo. I can manage 2" groups with better ammo. I have hunted deer with it quite a bit and had good results up to 100 yds.

[varoadking]

I just bought a 1964 like new condition Norinco SKS with the spike bayonet yesterday. Can't wait 'til the transfer is complete and I can get it to the range.

[vsse]

What caliber does the SKS use?

[straightShot]

The SKS is 7.62 x 39.

[vsse]

How long is the SKS overall?

[Stonewall]

Here you should find all the info you could ever want on the SKS. Including a full history, tech specs, aftermarket parts and reviews, etc...
http://www.simonov.net/

[Stonewall]

BTW here is my chinese:

[Atlas Shrug]

Stonewall:

Howdy - I'm in your area. Shoot at any of the clubs around in central NC?

vsse:

Either you are seriously lazy or are pulling folks' chains with innane questions. I vote the latter. If you are serious about help, ask and you'll get it. However, you look to be wasting folks time, and that's not nice.

My apologies if I got you wrong, but it sure looks like a duck to me....and you started the thread to boot.

No, I'm not a moderator. Just noticed weird behavior. Perhaps I've just had a rough day.

[Stonewall]

Heya Atlas Shrug,
I'm in raleigh and shoot mostly at the following:
Range-1 (highly recommended)
Wake County Public Range
Personal Defense & Handgun Safety Center, Inc

How bout you?

[Atlas Shrug]

Stonewall,

Well, I don't shoot much lately due to family demands, etc.

When I do, it's usually at:

-Sir Walter
-Ramseur (Riverside Gun Club)
-Wake County Range

I've not been to PD&HSC in years, never to Range One.