Anyone still into and shooting SKS's ??

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I bought 1 Norinco many, many years ago and my father bought two. We paid $70 for them at Roses of all places. They've been sitting in cosmoline, unfired ever since. I had no idea they were actually going for around $200 or more now.

This post got me thinking I should drag one out of the safe and see what she'll do. Up until now I've thought of them as safe garbage, something I'd toss out if my safe became too crowded. I was given some surplus ammo awhile back by an ex-uncle. I've yet to tear one down and strip all the gunk off to take it shooting. One is missing the spring (I guess there was a spring?) that holds the bayonet in place, the lug just kind of slides back and forth loosely. I think I'll unpack that one and see what kind of aftermarket stocks are available, or just run it as is. I picked up a folding stock and 30 round steel mags pre-Clinton at a gun show for a whopping total of $25, but I don't like them.
 
My SKS was my first rifle, and I will always keep it; however, I do not shoot it very much. I need a trigger job, and maybe a tech sight like someone above said. I wouldn't do many mods to it. other than performance at first.
 
If you're young and own a SKS or there is one in your family, ask if you can buy it or it be left to you. Kind of hard to ask a parent or grandparent, uncle, etc, "hey when you die can I have your rifle/s".


In 20 years any SKS/AK should double or triple in price, as long as there is ammo available at a reasonable prices. I'm pretty sure I won't still be around.
JT
 
They are just getting rarer in gunshows nowadays. But not that one can't find one. The prices have all gone up to high heaven esp the Russians.
 
Hi Everyone. First post here.

I had 2 SKS's, sold one and just have one as a collectors piece now. It's draped in Serbian trench art. Don't like shooting it much, but it's quite a conversation piece.

Best part is, I got it on Gun Broker for next to nothing.
 
"Serbian trench art"?

My Yugo has the carrier's name and checkpoint marks etched in it; is that what is meant by trench art?
 
Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate it and thank you also for the pics. I bought mine cheap, a little beat up, and missing the rear sight. I've got a sight ordered and on it's way. Haven't had an SKS in a while and have a guest for a few weeks and would like to get her shooting while she's here.
After that, since it has little or no collectible value as it's a commercial Norinco, not a military one, was thinking of dropping it in a Choate stock.
 
Once per week the SKS is taken to some area of the river to blast things, after warming up with the .22.
No exaggeration here, but don't know how to post photos.

Would prefer the Lee-Enfields:), but the cheap Russian 7.62x39 ammo is not labor-intensive, compared to the two hours spent reloading 50 rds. of Prvi .303 (to save the heap of surplus).

Why spend a bunch more money on ammo for an FAL, G-3 or M-1A?
 
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I have a couple. One is a "bring back" with no documentation whatsoever. It has the look and no English, only Chinese, and numbers. I really like it, especially the discoloration on the stock and the rust under the bluing. Makes me feel like it was there. I know, I know..stupid but still, it shoots good and looks like it has a story or two. The other is a Yugo M59.
I had the trigger group on the Yugo worked on by Tom Prince. His email is found below. I learned about positive and negative engagement ( http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=55951.0 ) and decided to have my trigger worked on. I doubt most worry about it and that's fine. When I got the trigger group back from Tom, it amazed me. So smooth and crisp with little creep etc. ( [email protected] )
I enjoy the SKS Survivor's Board. http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php
Worked for me, ymmv.
 
I just picked up a Chinese SKS with a 30 rd mag. It came with two M95/35 Steyr Mannlichers. Got all 3 for 200 bucks. The SKS looks like it is in great condition but needs the wood refinished. I don't know how to date it but looks pretty old to me. I have not fired it yet. some one put a scope on it; however, the original sights are still there. I have to say after reviewing it, I still prefer my AR 15, but i am happy to own this pc of history.
 
Kymasabe said:
Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate it and thank you also for the pics. I bought mine cheap, a little beat up, and missing the rear sight. I've got a sight ordered and on it's way. Haven't had an SKS in a while and have a guest for a few weeks and would like to get her shooting while she's here.
After that, since it has little or no collectible value as it's a commercial Norinco, not a military one, was thinking of dropping it in a Choate stock.
Click to expand...
Yer just gonna shame me into gettin' some pix taken of my two aren't'cha? Been meanin' to. :D
 
"Serbian trench art"?

My Yugo has the carrier's name and checkpoint marks etched in it; is that what is meant by trench art?
Click to expand...

as in carvings/etching on the wood and metal by the soldier who carried the weapon. Will post pics soon.
 
One of mine, I have two, has some ones name carved in it as well. right before the rear sight.

I am amized to think that some one once held this riffle day in, day out, night or light. rain or snow while 10 below. while in a trench fighting for life. Thats why i treasure my war riffles.
 
Over the next decade the AKs and SKSs that are kept in the original stock configuration will retain a higher selling price. IMO
 
SKS, Like Mine

I like my Yugo M59 (no launcher) that I got several years ago for $150.
It is fun to shoot, but has a short stock for my long arms. I may get one of those butt extenders.

Anyhow, my main complaint is the jerks at the gun range, including range officers who come over and bash it and call it cheap commie crap, or can you hit anything with that? To me, it is a utility rifle that gets the job done for hunting and self defense. I sometimes want to sell it, but it is just a fun gun to blast with and ammo is still cheap!
 
cpy911:

The range officers at MSSA near Memphis have seen my SKS a few times, and have much more 'class' (character) than those at your range, who feel the need to stop by and criticize one's choice of rifle.

Here they see no need to start negative talk which is uncalled for.
Show them these comments and I'll gladly provide my cell phone number.
 
Whatever you do, don't mod it. I went down that road when I first started shooting. I took a Russian and put the synthetic Drag stock on it, scope cover scope mount and scope, and 37 round detachable magazines. Not to mention purchasing the 'correct' US compliance parts. It still shot like an SKS-MOA of bad guy. Not knocking it, but I should have taken the money I spent on Bubbarizing my SKS and purchased an AR. In the end, it was nothing that couldn't be fixed. I kept the old miltary stock and parts. I put the whole thing back together again, sold it to someone who 'had to have it' sold the accessories for HALF of what I paid for them and bought a Remington 870.
 
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JTX said:
If you're young and own a SKS or there is one in your family, ask if you can buy it or it be left to you. Kind of hard to ask a parent or grandparent, uncle, etc, "hey when you die can I have your rifle/s".


In 20 years any SKS/AK should double or triple in price, as long as there is ammo available at a reasonable prices. I'm pretty sure I won't still be around.
JT
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I don't know about that, or at least in my area. Their reputation has mostly been built up because they are a cheap rifle. These were a footnote in the development of the AK. If they were fairly accurate, that may be something different. When I am talking accuracy, I am talking MATCH accuracy. I have never seen one in a match. You just can't do much to make them shoot 'Match' well. Besides, they are very common. The milsurps that are really 'valuable' are the rifles people think Americans took into battle. You wouldn't believe the people who drool over my 1943 Springfield M1 because it is WWII. I have a really nice H & R M1 with an LMR barrel and no one but an M1 Garand junky seems to care.
 
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Ignition Override said:
cpy911:

The range officers at MSSA near Memphis have seen my SKS a few times, and have much more 'class' (character) than those at your range, who feel the need to stop by and criticize one's choice of rifle.

Here they see no need to start negative talk which is uncalled for.
Show them these comments and I'll gladly provide my cell phone number.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the support. I don't go to that range anymore. I usually head out to the hills to plink anyways with it. The SKS is a good utility rifle that get's a bad rap for being "cheap." I actually like cheap firearms, especially C&R surplus as they have history and character and can be had inexpensively.

Regards...
 
Smokey Joe- thanks. For the refinishing I used a mix of acetone and diatomaceous earth and brushed it on. It dries fast then you brush it off - but really that didn't work for this type of finish and this type of wood. I got more aggressive and scraped it. I then sanded it, stained it with a little cherry stain. Let it dry and repeated next day finally realizing "hey -this is laminate not porous". Like I said I was kind of stupid about it at first. Then I would sand and apply with linseed oil (but I may have used tung oil -its been a while). Next day repeat and after a few days used lighter sand paper and finally steel wool. Did this for about a week or more then left it a few days, broke out some paste wax and waxed the wood and the metal. I made it harder than it was and learned to sort of look at things and trust myself.
 
I put mine under a nice layer of polyurethane; gave it that 'history under glass' look...
 
Picked up a Norinco a few weeks ago...I really like it but I haven't got to shoot it much. Got to kill a monster water moccasin the first day I bought it.
IMG_0027.jpg
 
If you get the Tech-Sight, then also get the thinner front sight post that is optional for a few bucks. (And an adjustment tool as well.) I keep the adjustment tool and the wrench for the rear sight in the SAW grip on the one I linked above.
 
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