I got lucky (I think)
and purchased a nice SKS tricked out a bit with a folding stock
about a month ago for under 300.00 out the door (including ammo).
My son and I went out with the intent to purchase one (to trick it out ourselves)
and last time we were looking, standard beat up AK's and SKS's were running about 150.00 or so.
This time, one of the dealers in our area
(that we purchased a weapon from previously)
had all these guns priced three times higher than just a few months before.
The 'lucky' part of this is we left and went down the road
to another dealer, as it was one the way to another destination.
We walked in and there it was, sitting there, (not even priced yet or in the rack)
just cleaned up as the gun smith brought it in to 'sell'.
(The wife made him get rid of some of his stash, so we were told.) lol
Weapon fires fine with only one FTF out of 120 rounds shot
from the new Tapco 20 round mags.
It hit the home made silhouette targets we set up, so that was good.
Our intent at the range that time, was to just throw rounds down range
to familiarize ourselves with the weapon.
Next visit will be to properly sight the thing in and if all goes well,
I may purchase a rail system to dress it up just a little.
At least a laser, possibly a scope and light?
All in all, I'm very happy with it as is.
It will go bang and hit what we are aiming at, right now.
But to the point.
Yes, people are stocking up
and hunkering down it seems.