SKS - Yes or No

[pinetree64]

I has a SAR1 and sold it, maybe too soon, but it's gone. I am now thinking about picking up a Yugo SKS for a truck box gun, what do you guys think? Are the high cap mags any good for these?

I already have several bolt guns and am a new C&R holder...on a buying spree!!!!

Thanks,
tjg

 

[mrming]

Hicap mags? SKS? Not many get them to work well. Also very quickly becomes impractical for shooting prone. I've never had any problems with it as a bowling pin gun out to about 150 yards. Stripper clips can be pretty fast if your good with them.

SKS's seem to be pretty neglect proof. Toss it in a safe, ignore it for months.. still goes bang every time.

 

[DMK]

I has a SAR1 and sold it, maybe too soon, but it's gone. I am now thinking about picking up a Yugo SKS for a truck box gun, what do you guys think? Are the high cap mags any good for these?

Yes, but keep it stock.

Nobody makes a decent detachable mag for these. I tried some chinese 30 rounders- Jamomatic. I tried a 20 round Red Star fixed mag- Jamomatic. I had some luck with 20 round USA detachable mags for a short while, but they acted up in time. I returned to the original fixed mag and never looked back. Personally, I detest an unreliable weapon.

www.aimsurplus.com has some decent shooters grade Yugos and free shipping!

 

[Peter Gun]

I recently acquired an SKS w/ a 30 rnd mag. It functions flawlessly. I recently bought another 30rnd mag that doesn't feed at all. Although both mags appeared identical at first, upon closer examination, the mag it came w/ had been slightly modified. It appears one must modify the duckbill (topside) to get it to sit at the right height. I think this is an individual mod that must be made to fit each gun. I'm going to mod the new mag this weekend, so I'll let you know how it works.
I've shot it prone w/ a bipod and the 30rnd mag is fine.
It does get in the way when trying to bench rest it.

 

[GD]

Leave it stock. Stripper clips work great in them. 10 rounds at a time with a few stripper clips in reserve should be great for a truck gun.

 

[digex]

Why not? Might as well have an SKS in the tool box. I usually just toss my AR behind the seat of my pickup, its my all-purpose rifle, and I kinda beat it up more than my others. It doesn't get the cushy treatment....

 

[bbrins]

I can't think of a good reason not to buy an SKS. Stick with the ten round fixed magazine, once you get used to the stripper clips, they are actually faster to load. If you buy a Yugoslavian SKS, make sure that you buy an unissued one, the ones that were issued tend to have problems with the gas system because of the very corrosive Yugoslavian ammo and improper cleaning of the gas systems, they also don't have the chrome lined bore if that matters to you.

 

[Preacherman]

Until a few days ago, I would have agreed that the SKS was probably the best value-for-money truck gun out there. No more... I had a chance to handle one of the EAA Saiga rifles (based on the AK-47 design), and am VERY impressed by the fit and finish for the price. It comes with a 10-round magazine, and is available in 16" and 20" barrels, in .223 Rem., 7.62x39, and .308 Win. It's priced as low as $169 at CDNN for the 16" 7.62x39 version, and only slightly higher at most outlets (typically $199). I think that this is now the best value for money for this type of gun. (And, yes, I bought one! )

For details, see here. I've attached a picture below.

 

[Blain]

How much are mags for those new rifles?

 

[Engineer]

Definitely get an SKS, but then go to Brownells and spend the $9 for the wolffsprings SKS tune up kit ($6 for you C&R folks) - Item Number: 969-301-900 . Best six buck I ever spent and it make the trigger feel alot nicer.

The Saiga's are also great rifles. I have the Saiga-308-1, and the only quirky thing about it is the way the trigger works - you have to pull back and up, due to the location of the trigger pin on the receiver.

 

[Feanaro]

I'd leave it stock. Stripper clips aren't much slower than a detachable magazines and there are some legality issues with Yugo detachable magazines. Nothing to do with the assualt weapon ban, if you put a detachable magazine on there it might be deemed "unsporting" and thus illegal because of the importation law. Some SKS rifles are exempt, I have heard but I am not sure. Best to leave it be.

I recently purchases a Norinco SKS and it's a fine rifle. Accurate(Not an M1 Garand but not bad), simple to use and utterly reliable. The darn shells keep ejecting on my head though since they go almost straight up. It would be a perfect car "carbine".

 

[BamBam-31]

Are those Saiga rifles legal in CA? Also, how accurate are they? About the same as a Yugo SKS?

(Please spare me the anti-CA sentiments--we're currently working on Davis' recall, so cut us some slack, eh? )

 

[juicy]

i dont think saiga rifles are legal in this (bleep!) state...


:banghead:

 

[pinetree64]

The reason I ask about and SKS is I have a C&R lic. and I'm looking for an inexpensive semi.

Are the "choate" style stocks any good?

 

[DMK]

The reason I ask about and SKS is I have a C&R lic. and I'm looking for an inexpensive semi.

Are the "choate" style stocks any good?

A "shooter grade" Yugo SKS is pretty much the cheapest, decent semi-auto you are going to be able to get with your C&R licence. Get a couple! I got four with my C&R.

I've got a Choate Dragunov on one of my shooter Yugos. It's a very nice stock. It's a little more pricy than the ATI, but IMO, it's heavier and built better. I like the adjustable length on it also.

 

[MAKOwner]

One of the Choate brand stocks is the way to go with an SKS. Makes the ATI ones feel/look really cheap. I have the Choate Dragonuv-style stock as well, really like it.

 

[cool45auto]

I've got a 30 round USA Mag magazine in my Romanian SKS. It feeds just fine. I had a friend sell his SKS and give me a 30 round mag he had left over but I couldn't get it to feed at all.

 

[Old Pa]

I have been carrying a modified Type 56 for the last ten years as a trunk gun and am very satisfied. Modifications include a fullsized Bell and Carlson stock, Williams rear peep, and removing the bayonet and grinding off the bayonet lug. Left the magazine stock; it handles better and you can't miss fast enough to catch up. Eighty rounds in stripper clips and 160 rounds still boxed in ziplocks makes the usual "party pack" . . . .

 

[goon]

We were shooting my brother's Chinese SKS the other day when it jammed. The bullet wasn't in far enough and it caused it to hang up. It messed up the crimp and the bullet was loose in the case.
I ejected the round, picked it up off the ground, pushed the bullet back in, chambered it and shot a clay pigeon at about 100 yds with it.
Any gun that will work with a round that looked like that one is OK in my book.
I also like my AK.
I would stick with the original mag and stripper clips over aftermarket mags.

 

[firestar]

pinetree64,
If you have a C&R, you have to have an SKS. I think it is the law or something, check the book that came with your FFL.

I got a new Yugo SKS and I am very happy with it. It is built well and works great. Ammo is cheap and so are after market parts and accessories.

I am thinking of getting a well used one and putting some aftermarket parts on it. I want to keep my unissued one is original condition.

 

[hansolo]

Bam-Bam31/Saiga

I was hot on the trail of this "AK-type" rifle , the CA DOJ has this fun-gun on the "No soup for you" list.....

No matter; I bought an un-issued SKS last week and am only a few days from picking it up! (Ten-day CA "cooling off" period...."hehe, hehe, hehe, hehe, He said PERIOD"....

And, I agree: please cut us Californicans some slack, as we are about to vote Schmuck-o out of office.....

 

[Old Pa]

And, I agree: please cut us Californicans some slack, as we are about to vote Schmuck-o out of office.....

First vote "putz boy" out of office, then we'll cut you some slack.

 

[AV1611]

You need a Yugo SKS. The price that they're going for is criminally low. Collector or not, they are too nice and too inexpensive to pass up. Buy a handful for your sons. They may well not be able to buy one for themselves when they are of age and certainly won't be able to buy a NIB one for $150.

AV1611 out...

 

[cwalker3]

By all means, get the SKS. Below is a picture of one that I just got from AIM. This is one of their 'excellent-unissued' ones for $149.95 shipped. Wood and metal is absolutely flawless. You're just not going to find a more reliable semi-auto for less money.

 

[NevadaPistolero]

I have 7 USA brand(duckbill) 30 round mags and never had a problem with any of them. They all work and function great. Some brands are junk...just stick with the USA brand.