SKS owners past/present

[easy]

Do/did you own a SKS? What's to like? Why did you get rid of it?

 

[Mannlicher]

there was a time when I was heavily into Commie weapons. I had SKS, Makarov pistols, CZ 52, AK 47 and AKM.
Now I am down to one Bulgarian SA 93 AK, and two Tula Arsenal SKS rifles. They sit in the back of a safe, and have not been to the range in probably two or three years now.
I decided that for my purposes, its better to have American made and Nato caliber weapons.
I do admit to making quite a profit on the ones I sold.

 

[Cayoot]

I currently have 3 SKSs and I have made sure that each of my sons owns at least one SKS with an emergency supply (as in, only break this seal in the event of an emergency) of ammo.

I really like not being dependent on removable (read: loose-able) and easily damaged magazines. I think that it is adequately accurate and reliable, not to mention robust and powerful enough to justify having a few in my "downfall of civilization" arsenal. Of course, I already have several thousand rounds of ammo (non-corrosive Wolfe) on stripper clips and sealed in ammo cans.

I don't think it should be the do-all, end-all firearm, but I do think that it is very, very under valued and a good thing to have.

 

[Mot45acp]

.

I think everyone should own one. Buy Russian or Chinese though. My friend is on his 3rd yugo lemon. My Chinese is a paratrooper model short, light, and it makes the perfect "4 wheeler gun" Its nice to have something that is reliable, and not afraid to shoot/carry/scratch. Accuracy has been great for a sks once I bought the front sight tool. There isnt a beaver safe for miles(they dam up the drainage system for my father in laws catfish farm)
p.s. there is a link on arfdotcom that will let you look up your sks by markings and tell you what percentile yours fits in and what factory made in cool stuff

 

[TimboKhan]

I own two SKS's. One is a regular Chinese model, complete with bayonet that I own (and shoot) simply because it is the military style rifle. The other, also Chinese, is called the "hunter" by the company that imported it (gun isn't right in front of me right now, and I can't remember the importers name. It was not Norinco.) If you look at the picture, you can see what it looks like, but essentially it is an SKS that has been cut down to a compact carbine length. I would not part with this gun for love or money. It is only pie-plate accurate, but it is simply the handiest, most reliable, easiest to shoot gun that I own. After years of seeing replacement stocks that I didn't care for, I plan on buying one of the new TAPCO stocks for it, and I think that will make it about the most perfect SHTF/Utility gun that I could ever want.

 

[Duckster]

Had one and got rid of it.

I bought a brand new SKS w/attached bayonet back in 1989 or 90. I got rid of it promptly after I shot it once. It was not very accurate and I was not a fan of the sights. At a hundred yards, my Marlin .35 Cal Lever Action shot 3 times better than the SKS. I'm one of those people whom was trained that a firearm is a tool. If it doesn't work, get rid of it. I did sell it for $150 more than I paid for it.
If you are wondering if my markmanship had something to do with it. I'm an Army Sniper School Honor Graduate and 101st Div Sniper Champion. Also, Army's Excellance in Competion Badge Receipient.
I don't believe in owning something that work. Get an M-1 Garand or M-14 if you want something that works in that class of rifle.

 

[browningguy]

The SKS is a great rifle for the price. M-14's and Garands are not in the $100 rifle class from what little I know, and fire a full power rifle round rather than an intermediate round.

With my old eyes the sights are a little tricky so I've put a red dot on mine. It shoots 2-3 groups with most decent ammo at 100 yards, good enough for plinking and a whatever happens gun.

They are cheap to buy, well built, accurate enough, and ammo is inexpensive.

 

[Technosavant]

I've got a Yugo 59/66.

I love it. The sights stink and the trigger is so long it feels like it's double action, but it's a great gun. It isn't accurate enough for benchrest work, but it's good enough for any practical purpose, and the 7.62x39 round carries a fair amount of punch. It's built like a brick outhouse, and when you handle it, there's no doubt in your mind that you are holding a battle implement.

If I thought I could get away with it, I'd buy a couple more just for passing around to family when the New Madrid fault finally kicks loose.

 

[KenpoProfessor]

I have 7 SKS's at this point, and chances are, I won't ever sell them, even if I don't shoot them much. I've got all of them working exactly as they should, and it took a few trips to the range and swapping parts to get them that way so there's no way I'll get rid of them. I'll buy more, it's an addiction with them, and I don't know why, but, as long as I have the funds, I'm buying them when it's too good of a deal to pass up LOL.

I'm also into the Egyptian Hakim (8mm semi auto) and have 3 so far, and it's becoming just as much of an addiction as the SKS, although a bit more expensive for the rifles, but way cheaper ammo LOL.

Have a great Kenpo day

Clyde

 

[aka108]

Own one Norinco with the short barrel. Simply a fun gun, plinking and an occassional varmit. Inlaid some wood to fill in the cut under the stock forend and refinished the stock. Wood under all that original finish is not too bad.

 

[rbernie]

I've had a bunch of Yugos and Norincos, and over the last year or two I sold them all. Nice weapons, but I find AKs of equal build quality to be superior in most every way. When I can get a Saiga for the same price as a Nork, it's time to move on.

I really like not being dependent on removable (read: loose-able) and easily damaged magazines.

It would seem that every military force in the world disagrees with this. I don't find the AK magazine easily lose-able (they flat out won't drop free without help) and certainly they're not known for being easily damaged. I really like the fact that my $220 Saiga won't run dry until the SKS shooter has run dry and had to recharge his/her weapon at least twice.

 

[possum]

i currently have a norinco sks, i like it, i don't shot it hardly at all any more, maybe while i am home on leave. i like it, i shoots ok and pretty darn good for what it is with wolf 154gr sp's. they are easy guns to learn and shoot, they are inexpensive, ammo ain't that bad even though prices have gone up. they are among the easiest semi auto rifles to dissassemble and maintain. i lik it, and won't get rid of it, no telling when they are gonna cut off the supply and then i would wish i still had it, so i am keeping mine. they make for a fun day at the range all day long and pretty cost effecient at that.

 

[Pilot]

I bought two Russian SKS's in 1994. They are great carbines and I will never sell them. A piece of Cold War history that is also fun to shoot.

 

[Frog48]

Whats not to like? They're not the most pretty or fancy, but they're reliable as anything, nearly indestructable, and ammo is cheap. I'll be picking up mine this upcoming week. Its a new (unissued) Yugo, built at Zastava.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've got three Chinese SKS's. One is a standard rifle with a 20" barrel, one is the 16" Paratrooper model and the last is a 16" Sporter (takes AK magazines).

I haven't shot them in a year or so, but if I take an SKS to the range, it's normally the Paratrooper.

Nice rifles...everybody should own one or two.

 

[cortez kid]

Got eight of them things myself. 1 Russian, 1 Chinese, 1 Romy and5 Yugo's. Great weapons. I can hit whatever I'm aiming at. Sights are just fine. Works great with cheap Wolf ammo. Best gun for the buck. I just need a few more then I'll be set.... to buy some more.
kid

 

[Lonestar.45]

I now own three. There's a lot to like about them, and a little not to like, but overall there's no way I'd ever get rid of mine.

Probably the main reason I own them is because it pisses off the antis, what with that evil bayonet and grenade launcher. Wish I had enough money to buy one for every one of my family and friends, just on principle.

 

[Froggy]

I'm thinking of getting a second one.

They are fun plinkers, reliable, shoot cheap ammo without complaint, reasonably accurate (minute of pie plate over iron sights), and cheap and replacable enough that one doesn't fret over nicks and dings that come with rough handling.

 

[CornCod]

I currently have 1 Chinese SKS. Lost a Chinese Paratrooper SKS to the burglars. I love the rifles. Inexpensive, low recoil, good cartridge, cheap stripper clips, easy field strip. Golly, what's not to like?

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I've got a yugo 59/66 SKS that I really like. I bought it for $150 in excellent condition from an FFL, I bought it for the purpose of having a "general purpose" rifle. I think it fills this role great, from pest control on my property (fox, cyotes, and racoons), to just fun plinking. Its built like a tank, shoots cheap ammo that packs a decent punch (wolf), its just a fun rifle to have. The SKS is not good at any one task, but it can handle many different task's, the jack of all trades. My yugo has been 100% reliable. In a SHTF scenario, I would want the SKS with a 640 round tin of ammo and my 12 gauge, I would call it good at that point.

 

[WNTFW]

Rodney King got me mine with the spike bayonet. Not on par with AR or Garand but a lot less money. Shoots same round & has 1 or 2 advantage & disadvantages to AK (Still cheaper). I like the stripper clips & china bra (cheap & easy to keep track of). Safety is not bad to operate.

I like that it was cheap. I don't mistreat the gun but it is no safe queen. I don't trust the rear sight, (can be replaced). Trigger is not the best (can be worked on). I carried it after Katrina with a ATI folder. Folder developed looseness with use. Put Wood stock back on.
American weapons AR, M1 etc have better sights, but you pay for it. I may never get rid of the SKS. I'll loan it out if need be, already have.

WNTFW

 

[Simonovfan]

I have an older style M59 Yugo, that doesn't have the grenade stuff on it. The only negative toward the SKS in my book is the sights. I love it; it shoots 3" in. groups at 100 yds. with the Tech-sights aperture sights. It doesn't malfunction with either the 10 rd. or the duckbills. I like to know that it works in both configs for SHTF scenarios. I think I lucked out, because most M59s seem to be in worse shape than the 59/66's because of age, but mine is like new. I plan on getting either another Yugo or a Saiga; depending on the deal my Gun broker gives me. I'm currently looking at a Saiga in .223, mainly because I want a Kalishnikov that uses .223 ammo for SHTF.

p.s. I think everyone should look into the Tech-sights aperture sights. My groupings improved when i started using them. Get the smaller front sight or reduce the stock one also after you replace the rear or it will hinder your sight picture. I will admit, that the SKS sights are it's worst enemy. The main reason it gets a bad rep for accuracy is because of it's crappy factory sights.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I own a M59/66 Yugo that I bought at a gun show, and I've still got it. I like it for many of the reasons already stated here, it's extremely tough, good for SHTF, or for plinking. After I bought the rifle, I was shocked when I found out how powerful that 7.62x39 round is. Bear in mind, I didn't know much about guns at the time. Would I like an American rifle like an M1 or an AR-15? Of course. But they're just so expensive!

 

[Simonovfan]

I agree, I would love to have an AR15, but I have a wife and a child and can't afford $1,000.00 or more for a rifle. The SKS fits the bill just fine. I used to own an AR15 and had to sell it to a friend. Honestly, I miss it a little, but I'm glad I have my Yugo. I don't believe it's ever going to let me down when it's needed.

 

[Jason M.]

Comparing the SKS to a Garand or AR or really 95% of other semi-auto military rifles is... kinda silly, without taking price into consideration. It's a decent weapon, and for the price to product ratio, fantastic.

As has been said by some famous dude in the past... Quantity is its own quality. You can get 5 or so SKSs for a decent quality Garand and 10 for a decent AR-15.

Why anyone would feel the need to "get rid of" a (usually) sub $150 gun is something I don't understand.