Russian vs Chinese SKS

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I would have to shoot both to make my choice.
My brother's Russian is more accurate than my Chinese one. But tolerances being what they are. I couldn't say every Russian one is better.
You would have to inspect both and make your decision.
 
I have a Chinese SKS and the "Paratrooper Carbine", actually just a cut down SKS that sold a lot of rifles because of the name. Both were brand new out of the box. Plenty accurate for Deer under 150 yards and completely reliable. The Russian ones I have limited knowledge of, but for quality I'd say the Yugoslavian 59/66 out shines both. Very accurate, and the gas cut off turns it into a straight pull manual rifle for training. Heavier though. $120.00 each for six. new in the crate. Those were the day's. AK's and SKS's.jpg . .
 
Russian SKS are pretty standard across the board but the Chinese have a lot more variation in build quality. Some chinese SKS rifles are fantastic and other are pretty rough. So to answer the question it depends on the Chinese SKS in person
 
I've never owned a Russian, but I've had the chance to shoot a few and compare them to the Norico I owned at the time. The Russian fit and finish was better, not a lot, and not that it mattered. It also grouped better with the same ammo out of both, but not so much better to matter much either.

I still have a Yugo 59/66. It was defective out of the box. Peireced primers. Slam fires. The firing pin was sticking. I just cleaned it, put it away and forgot about it. A bit ago, I dug it out and tried to take the bolt apart, but found it not so easy, and it's a common problem on them. Found a Smith in Texas who specialized in repairing and upgrading the bolt. He did a great job. Shoots good now!
 
I have a Chinese SKS and the "Paratrooper Carbine", actually just a cut down SKS that sold a lot of rifles because of the name. Both were brand new out of the box. Plenty accurate for Deer under 150 yards and completely reliable. The Russian ones I have limited knowledge of, but for quality I'd say the Yugoslavian 59/66 out shines both. Very accurate, and the gas cut off turns it into a straight pull manual rifle for training. Heavier though. $120.00 each for six. new in the crate. Those were the day's.View attachment 932081 . .
Do you possibly know where I can get a crate of them?
 
I have had several different kinds of SKS's. I prefer my Type 56 Chinese with the blade bayonet. Its actually seen military use, vs. most other Norinco kind of SKS's.
 
Do you possibly know where I can get a crate of them?
Nowadays? Haha, aint gonna happen.

Two years ago, sure they were around.

Any SKS is a decent shooter, even the commercial-grade Norincos. One thing to be aware of on the Yugoslav guns is that the grenade-launcher gas velve tends to erode and will cause short cycling and jams, but can be replaced or upgraded with a stainless part.

The Chinese and Russian guns do not use these valves and are good to go.
 
As far as durability or reliability no real difference between Russian or Chinese. The condition of the specific rifle you are buying is more important. Price wise the Russians are rarer and more desirable so the price is higher. China was importing SKS rifles into the US into the 1990s while Russian ended production in 1958.
 
Late models of the Chinese versions had (edit) PINNED barrels which I avoided. I don't know anyone who owned one but preferred either Russian or Chinese with the "long nut" threaded barrel. It was reported they shot better and didn't show shot stringing that the pressed barrels exhibited. The Chinese Arsenal 26s had very nice finishes and clean bluing. My preference...

Here is a thread on "Threaded or Pinned barrels". Seems some folks think the pinned might be more accurate but I never owned or shot one for comparison.
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=98814.15

M
 
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I know very little about SKS variations despite owning 2 Chinese and 1 Russian. What is it I heard about some of the Chinese barrels are pinned in? My Russian SKS supposedly has a threaded on barrel, or so I was told when I bought it. Can anybody expound on that? Never heard that it makes any difference as to accuracy or reliability; just curious. Interesting thread here, as there's many little variants on one single design.
 
Russian versions have nicer wood, often arctic birch, which has beautiful coloring as opposed to Chinese orange shellac'd mystery wood.

But the Chinese versions were often found brand new, which is certainly a nice feature.
 
As said above, the Chinese rifles could be found in cases 5...BRAND NEW sealed in Cosmoline. Like many, I kick myself for not grabbing a few CASES! I remember seeing the cases sold for $299 at times in ‘05. Crazy.

I remember some really nice Russian pieces, and for the collector/enthusiast whatever, those were the ones to have. But for a shooter, I’d a preferred one of those fresh, uncirculated Chinese versions.
 
The only Russian I've shot had a bent barrel and shot low-right, in the 80s I purchased some Chinese SKSs with some friends and the one I cleaned shoots good at 100yrds, I left the others in cosmoline. The one I shoot has good wood and I wipe it down with BLO. I tried the adapter to use magazines without success and now just use strips.
 
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php These guys know a Lot about various SKS.

They even have dedicated forums specifically for the Romanian and Albanian variations, among others.

Some of the fairly recent imports Of Chinese SKS were the military types with blade bayonets and very gouged, scraped stocks. They were legal to import via a "third country".

Most of the Chinese SKS in the US were manufactured as "commercial/military" rifles, and were imported in the late 80s or so, were they not? These had, or have nice-looking choa wood, but it is soft and cuts easily.
 
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The Chinese SKS rifles bring sold today by Classic and PSA have been in storage in Albania for like 30 years. They are a total roll of the dice. You might get one that cleans up well, one with no bluing but functions properly, or you might get one covered in rust or a broken stock.
 
The Chinese SKS rifles bring sold today by Classic and PSA have been in storage in Albania for like 30 years. They are a total roll of the dice. You might get one that cleans up well, one with no bluing but functions properly, or you might get one covered in rust or a broken stock.
I saw some of the rifles Classic had at a gun show, and most were in rough condition. Found one in great condition at another vendor for a few dollars more.
 
The Chinese SKS rifles bring sold today by Classic and PSA have been in storage in Albania for like 30 years. They are a total roll of the dice. You might get one that cleans up well, one with no bluing but functions properly, or you might get one covered in rust or a broken stock.
Mine is actually in excellent condition from Classic. I’m very pleased with it.
 
IMG_4472.JPG I own an old Chinese SKS - pretty rough looking, but it is REALLY accurate, considering the triggers on these (even after sending the trigger group out for work). I love shooting it. I believe the truth is that it's a total roll of the dice as far as quality, especially with the Chinese ones that have seen action (which I'm sure mine is in that category).
 
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I had a Chinese SKS and a Russian. The Chinese one was new but looked like it was only halfway finished. Lot of rough edges, but man did that thing shoot well. I got lucky with that one. I paid $79 for it in ‘94.
I bought the Russian SKS for my daughter in ‘98 for $89 just before Christmas. It was covered in cosmoline. It cleaned up beautifully. She still has it and it still looks great.
The Chinese SKS out shot the Russian SKS.
My Chinese SKS tan rings around the SKS’s my friends had. My one friend had a couple of Russian models one was as accurate as my Chinese the other was just awful.

In my limited experience with them I would say getting an accurate one or one that isn’t is hit or miss. One thing’s for sure, all of them operated reliably.
 
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