[DefiantDad]

I see a lot of recommendations for the SKS when it comes to reliability + 7.62x39, but was wondering is it inherently more reliable than the AK, or is the primary consideration price/value? In other words, if you were given either an AK or SKS for free, which one would you pick (assuming you have no other guns).

[Husker1911]

Respectfully 180 degree disagree. I think both are good, reliable rifles and generally have high value for the price paid. But I don't believe there is any other semi or full rifle out there more reliable than Comrade Kalashnikov's Avtomat Kalashnikova.

[WardenWolf]

No. It's not more reliable. Some people say it's more accurate, but a high-end AK is just as accurate as any SKS. I'd choose an AK over an SKS, though I currently own both. My SKS is a beautiful rifle, but the AK has more going for it, including the ability to easily accept scopes. The AK is just a much more versatile firearm.

[Kachok]

Both are reliable, neither is highly accurate, but I give the edge in each to the AK over the SKS though I have seen accurized SKSs that shot really well for a semi auto.

[DefiantDad]

Thanks; that clears it up for me.

[mshootnit]

In my experience the AK is more reliable.

[HJ857]

I like the SKS a lot, but it's old technology. The AK beats it in every way and I wouldn't call the AK particularly modern either.

I'll take it one step further since you didn't specify, so if I had a choice in AKs I'd take a AK74 over an AK47 and a Saiga .308 over any of them.

[rcmodel]

is it inherently more reliable than the AK,
NO.

The thing is though, the SKS's that have always been imported are military surplus mil-spec weapons.

The majority of AK's in this country were built with a hodge-podge of surplus parts and American made parts by a small U.S. arms manufacture.
Of which there have been half a gazillion come & go over the years.

A mil-spec AK-47 with all the original parts is no longer a possibility you can find or afford unless you are a west coast drug dealer.

So, there is a high likelihood of an AK-47 being a parts gun put together in somebody's garage.

And a high probably of an SKS still being a military grade weapon just like it was when it was built to some countries military specifications years ago.

rc

[MCgunner]

Main reasons I've got SKSs is, I like the ergos better, field carry is easier. Also, accuracy tends to be a little better. Besides, they were 75 bucks and 115 bucks when I bought 'em. :D Who could turn THAT down?

I have hunted with one of mine, killed a deer with it. It's accurate enough to make a 200 yards shot on a broad side deer. Not many AKs are. It's a good truck gun and general knock about rifle. I set my rifle up with a 5 round mag so that it carries better in the field, can grip it with one hand at the balance point no problem. I'm more of a traditional type of guy, don't have BOBs, don't worry too much about SHTFs, etc. I figure I can out shoot 99 percent of these young mall ninjas in to all that sort of thing, anyway, and I know firepower can't trump accuracy in any case unless you're talking platoon level assault and trained soldiers. I don't plan on going to war, though, just shooting the occasional hog or such.

Kinda depends on your requirements. If you're planning an assault in a revolution with your buddies, you have tac air and artillery support, you have one man with a SAW, maybe some mortars, maybe some Javelins .............whatever. :D For me, the SKS is a better gun. YMMV

[Sky]

Main reasons I've got SKSs is, I like the ergos better, field carry is easier. Also, accuracy tends to be a little better. I have hunted with one of mine, killed a deer with it. It's accurate enough to make a 200 yards shot on a broad side deer. Not many AKs are. I set my rifle up with a 5 round mag so that it carries better in the field, can grip it with one hand at the balance point no problem. I'm more of a traditional type of guy, don't have BOBs, don't worry too much about SHTFs, etc. I figure I can out shoot 99 percent of this young mall ninjas in to all that sort of thing, anyway, and I know firepower can't trump accuracy in any case unless you're talking platoon level assault and trained soldiers. I don't plan on going to war, though, just shooting the occasional hog or such.

Kinda depends on your requirements. If you're planning an assault in a revolution with your buddies, you have tac air and artillery support, you have one man with a SAW, maybe some mortars, maybe some Javelins .............whatever. For me, the SKS is a better gun. YMMV

^yep^

Both my SKSs are reliable and accurate weapons. The AK is a great weapon also so IMO it depends on what you shoot best and are comfortable carrying.

[Texan Scott]

Both have been made in so many countries in so many variations, it's hard to generalize. I'd say go with whichever has the threaded-in (not pinned) barrel and tightest chamber tolerance. On the surplus market, for the money that'll probably be an SKS. But cost being no consideration, i'd take a threaded-in AK over a cheaply pinned SKS. It's not the DESIGN, so much as the EXECUTION.

threaded > pinned, tight > sloppy, milled > stamped

[mac66]

AK and SKS=made by peasants for peasants.

And yeah I have a bunch of both but they are pretty basic and crude in terms of function and design. Both work well and certainly are adequate for what they are intended.

If you want the conventional look with AK reliability and function look at a Saiga

[cdpsrjc]

I sold my Arsenal AK and kept my Russian built, refurbed SKSs. I don't need a 30 round mag to hit what I aim at. For ME, the Russian built SKS is better built and more accurate. I'm way to old to consider myself a door-kicker-downer. YMMV.

[coalman]

The AK47.

[Ignition Override]

From my perspective the SKS has somewhat better ergonomics, and the "bolt hold open" (BHO) tells you Now that the last round is gone.

Even though the basic mag only holds ten rounds, this helps my ammo to last much longer, and can help to limit critical barrel heat, which can reduce the gun's accuracy and useful life.

Another possible benefit of the SKS: none were assembled by Century Arms' outsourced shops.
It's your hard-earned cash, but maybe you like to gamble...

[sarduy]

if you were given either an AK or SKS for free, which one would you pick (assuming you have no other guns).

i would pick the ak because it's cheaper to get mags and parts if needed. plus it's a little lighter too and easier to mount a scope/reddot . but the sks is just as good, i recommend you hold them both and see what fit your style.

SKS with Tapco Stock
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/40653/2451305740095461090S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2451305740095461090tDHHhq)

AK
http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/50651/2626193440095461090S500x500Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2626193440095461090KSHuMS)

[Gunnerboy]

Im going to pick Vz 58 :D the best of both

[db_tanker]

mebbe not MORE reliable, but will stand up to just as much as any Kalashnikov or Simonov...definitely the equal of any AK or SKS...


I'll take my FAL :)


But I've had a Norinco SKS and my CUR2...I still have my CUR2.

I will have a standard -47 to go with that -74 in a bit though.

[Okiegunner]

I have owned both an Arsenal SAM-7 A1R and a Norinco SKS with the Chinese Characters marked on the reciever. Both are really good, reliable rifles. Paid around $900 for the Arsenal, paid $125 for the SKS.

Bought the Norinco in very early 90s. It was packed with a ton of cosmoline. Though it was brand new, no telling how old it really was. For all out "cool" factor, obviously the Arsenal. However, the Norinco is probably the much better rifle value wise.

[Ignition Override]

Gunnerboy:
The VZ58 is reportedly a fine weapon. "Sturmgewehr" posted a pretty decent video of his on Youtube.

Do 58 owners feel that they are worth the approx. price of a 'SG' Garand from the CMP, or a Bulgarian AK, if at a similar price?
Despite already having such an M-1, I would like to to read various opinions.

[kozak6]

The SKS used to be widely available for amazingly cheap prices. You still hear stories about the crates and crates of $60 Chinese SKS's, and that last wave of Yugos came in at around $100 within the last decade.

Even though the price is significantly higher these days, it's still a good rifle for the price.

Also, as already mentioned, the SKS's come in as issued. The AK's are mostly assembled from wide varieties of parts kits to varying degrees of competence.

There's also the idea that a rifle with a conventional stock and 10 round fixed magazine might be more conductive to developing marksmanship than an AK.

[Pilot]

I prefer the SKS, especially the two Russian Tula Arsenals I have. They were available at great prices in the 90's. I paid about $100 each back then. They are great shooters, and never skip a beat. Offhand, I can easily shoot minute of pie plate at 100 yards with cheap ammo. Much better accuracy if bench rested with better ammo. While it is no target rifle, I believe the design is inherently more accurate than the AK.

With a rubber butt pad extension, they fit me great.

[jim243]

My vote would be for the SKS. The SKS is a rifle, the AK a carbine. Which would you shoot better with, that depends on if you are "spray and pray" or "snipering". Your shooting style will make the deciession for you.

Jim

[jon_in_wv]

Both are great weapons and much more capable than people give them credit for. People act like the are reliable but you can't hit anything with them but I can pop a 4 inch steel plate all day at 100 yards with my Saiga. I'm sure my SKS would do the same but my eyes aren't cutting it with those sights anymore.

[Elkins45]

What is a fiberglass stocked Chinese SKS in good condition selling for these days?

[CountryUgly]

I've got a Norinco sks and a WASR 10/63 AK. Both have been nothing but fine, reliable and yes accurate rifles for me. Both group inside 3 -4 inches while shooting prone off hand at 100 yards which I consider accurate for an old military rifle. When I was zeroing the scope on the AK I was getting sub 2inch groups using a vise and 154gr sp ammo. I like the AK just a bit better because I like to tinker with guns and the AK is tad bit more customizable. The AK is also my wife's favorite deer rifle. She is a tiny thing and it's small size and lack of recoil suit her well.

[AABEN]

I like the meld better than the stamp ones.

[valnar]

Do 58 owners feel that they are worth the approx. price of a 'SG' Garand from the CMP, or a Bulgarian AK, if at a similar price?
Despite already having such an M-1, I would like to to read various opinions.
Yes, but I am not a fan of the .30-06, so I'm biased. I think the Vz.58 is one of the best practical assault rifles ever made. The only thing against it is ubiquity.

So lets take parts availability off the table - If I could have either 10 Vz.58's, 10 SKS's or 10 AK-47's to live out my days and forgo the rest, I'd take the Vz.58 every time.

(Disclaimer: I own a Vz.58 and SKS. No longer own an AK-47)

[hang fire]

In 1988 paid 89 bucks for my Norinco SKS and got two 1200 round wooden crates of ammo for 100 bucks each. Have shot a few hundred out of one crate and the other one remains unopened.

It has never hiccupped and wouldn't feel underarmed with it in a SHTF moment.

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I like the SKS a lot, but it's old technology. The AK beats it in every way and I wouldn't call the AK particularly modern either.

Old technology? The SKS is only 4 years older then the AK 47.

[Trent]

With SKS's skyrocketing in price in recent years, I think an AK pattern build would be a better 'bang for your buck'.

This being said, I agree with rcmodel; FAR too many AK47's are garage-built these days. And I've see my share of CAI import / rebuilds that were BROKE from the factory. From 2006-2009 I sold about 200 AK's, and I had to fix about 10% of them. Everything from gas-tube lever being impossible to lift, to rear sights being maladjusted, to incorrectly fitting gas pistons (which I didn't even know was POSSIBLE until I saw it).

The worst offenders on CAI was the all-too-frigging-common problem of magazine catch being welded in the wrong spot. this resulted in an overly-tight to overly-loose magazine fit, and in the worst case I saw, the rifle *would not even strip the top round from the magazine that shipped with the firearm - or ANY magazine I had in the shop*. (That one, along with many others, went back to the factory as defective.. but I'm sure they just turned around and re-sold the damn thing again to someone else).

Anyway.... if you get an AK-47, ESPECIALLY TODAY...

BUY FROM A TRUSTED BUILDER!

[mr.trooper]

There is NOTHING inherent in firearms. Nothing. Ever.

[foghornl]

I have shot both, and I prefer the SKS. Nothing wrong with either Comrade Simonov's or Comrade Kalishnikov's arms, the AK just feels a bit ahhhh "odd" to me.

I have a Yugo 59/66 SKS....yeah the one with all the grenade launcher stuff. Now, when I get some launcher blanks, and dummy grenades...well anyone up for some 200+ meter "Yard Darts"?

[jrdolall]

I like my Russian SKS better than my WASR. I like my Romanian AK74 better than either.

[MCgunner]

i would pick the ak because it's cheaper to get mags and parts if needed. plus it's a little lighter too and easier to mount a scope/reddot . but the sks is just as good, i recommend you hold them both and see what fit your style.

'Bout 30 bucks for the mount IIRC and came with a drill and tap, tapping was easy. You'll note the vented hand guard and attached shell deflector. That was 18 bucks IIRC. Bought all this 15 or 20 years ago so don't ask from where. I don't have it on the gun, anymore. I have better hunting rifles, use this thing for a truck gun. I prefer my Remingtons in .257 Roberts and .308 Winchester for serious uses.

You'll note the recoil pad. That's because I couldn't mount the scope far enough forward, not the best deal there. Red dot wouldn't have that problem, but like I say, it makes a better truck gun without the scope.

http://i25.tinypic.com/tasrba.jpg

[wrs840]

So, there is a high likelihood of an AK-47 being a parts gun put together in somebody's garage.

So does that hold true for my FEG AMD-65 sidefolder? Just curious.

[jon_in_wv]

I don't think that would even hold true for most.