Would an SKS or Mini 14 be a good temporary buy?

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The Exile

The Exile

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I just am having a mother of a time finding anything I want right now. Was kind of hoping that between the vaccine roll out, the unrest from last year simmering down, election season being over the gun market would start to settle down but I still just cannot find almost anything I want. Trying to keep an eye on the second hand market but this is definitely a time defined by the phrase "pickers can't be choosers" so I was thinking that what I could do is in addition to keeping my eyes out for a good AR/AK, if I see one I could buy an SKS/mini14 and then sell/trade it once I get something I actually wanted and hopefully not lose too much value on things. Is this dumb? I don't know how well SKS is gonna hold value.
 
Do you already have an AR or AK? If you already have one or more, I’d wait. If not, I’d buy a mini 14. It looks like more useless lockdowns are coming because the media told me to BE SCARED!!!!!!:what: Price and availability might be as good as it gets for a while. Who knows, I’m just guessing like everyone else. :)
 
Hard to say, SKS's seem high now to me so I'm selling one rather than looking to buy. May come down, or may not. Also, without knowing what you have and the hole you're trying to fill it is tough. Mini 14's are nice and have usually sold a bit high. Seems that AR's are plentiful where I am and prices are reasonable.

Tough call. SKS may be great if they ban things with a detachable magazine, however, that is a dangerous game to guess what fools will do on the political side.

So, best bet may to be; buy what you like when you can. That is what I am doing now, with little regard for pending legislation.
 
Hartkopf said:
Do you already have an AR or AK? If you already have one or more, I’d wait. If not, I’d buy a mini 14. It looks like more useless lockdowns are coming because the media told me to BE SCARED!!!!!!:what: Price and availability might be as good as it gets for a while. Who knows, I’m just guessing like everyone else. :)
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Nothing but a glock to my name, just landed my first adult job so I suddenly have money to spend and everything is crazy
 
Ohen Cepel said:
Hard to say, SKS's seem high now to me so I'm selling one rather than looking to buy. May come down, or may not. Also, without knowing what you have and the hole you're trying to fill it is tough. Mini 14's are nice and have usually sold a bit high. Seems that AR's are plentiful where I am and prices are reasonable.

Tough call. SKS may be great if they ban things with a detachable magazine, however, that is a dangerous game to guess what fools will do on the political side.

So, best bet may to be; buy what you like when you can. That is what I am doing now, with little regard for pending legislation.
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Right now the big things on my list are a tactical rifle and a Mossberg 500, can't even find the mossberg sadly all the shops are full of Turkish imports
 
It would depend on the price. SKS seem to start at $400 around here. Mini 14 (new) around $900. That said, I don't think either are moving that well due to other available options. As far as AR types, have you checked Palmetto State Armory? They have frequent sales and lots of options in AR's. You could have a gun you like sent to a local dealer and just pay the transfer fee, which will vary dealer to dealer.
 
I am Bombarded with emails offering deals on AR's? Are you legally able to purchase and own, do you have a FFL near to receive a shipment and do the transfer? Aim Surplus, Natchez Shooter supply and CDNN come to mind just from this mornings emails. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's you can order online and pick up in the store.
There are so many smart people on here really and willing to help. I would not waste money on a SKS just my opinion.
Regardless of what you think of Biden, he is not going to be allowed to take your guns, that is why the market is getting back to normal, and prices are going down, down, down.
 
If the goal is to shoot more I would look hard at a nice air pistol or rifle. Can order that through the mail and be shooting ASAP in your yard, basement, garage, etc. Cheap to feed and trigger time is key if you want to get good. I enjoy mine a lot since I don't have to drive to the range, go fire 10 or 100 rds when I like.
 
Even though ammo is starting to come back little by little, you may find your biggest obstacle is going to be procuring enough to really get to know whatever rifle you do find. I haven't seen an abundance of Mossberg 500's around here but several places I've been have had AR's anywhere from $750-$2000 depending on brand and configuration. Haven't seen ammo for them in quite as many places though.
 
I find the best deals on PSA between 12 and 1AM.......:)

If, for some reason, you cant get your hands on an AR, either the SkS or Mini will do the job if stuff all falls apart. The biggest issue with the SKS is, of course, magazine capacity, but stripper clips are surprisingly quick- IF you can find a goodly quantity of quality ones. Ive heard the new-production SKS clips arent great, though most of mine are '90s Norinco production and work perfectly.

Kinda the same story with the Mini. Factory Ruger high-cap mags have always been a little tough and expensive to come by, but layaway a half-dozen and youre golden.

Ive invested heavily in the AR platform, but also keep an SKS and a Mini as they are still viable survival weapons.

Grab one and you wont regret it.
 
I am finding lots of ammo online? MidwayUSA last weekend had a flash sale with "free" shipping. I have purchased about 500 rounds in the past week, zero issues.
 
I would have no problem buying a SKS and being done with it. Solid guns. Can be. loaded fairly easily.

The Ruger Mini Series guns are okay, but priced a bit high. If I bought one it would be a Mini-30 instead of 5.56/.223.

Not sure where you live out why you can't find a AR or AK. Even used ones have always been available in my area.
 
If its going to be temporary, the SKS is a great choice.

Ruger Mini is alright, but for the price, you can get your combat shotgun, and an SKS.
Around here, a Mini new is $1000 on up.

J&G Sales has SKS's for $400, and can be found for similar pricing else ware. Just depending on what you want.
Ammunition is widely available and hard hitting being 30. cal.

Shotgun wise, if your not too particular, there is the Mossberg Maverick 88.
J&G Sales has those too, and for $300 on up, its not a bad deal.
Or you could even go for the Mossberg 500 Shockwave they have too.

Happy hunting. ;)
 
SKS no magazine not made to any standard except stamped out cheap enough for poor peasants to use and lose. When they were less that $100 or $75 USD good enough for a hang in the farm / ranch truck gun, never $400!! You can get a US made AR for under $600 that be customized with aftermarket parts or not and usually comes with a magazine.
Second the Mini-30 however.

This is just my opinion and I am not getting into an argument.
 
If you look online you will not have any trouble finding an AR in multiple price ranges and the prices seem to be coming down as the supply increases. I am also seeing a good supply of ARs in my LGS. You can now also find many AKs online as well but the prices still seem to be high. Palmetto State Armory seems to now have a consistent supply of AKs as well as ARs. The online buying experience is not hard you just need a local FFL and some patience.

Both the SKS and the mini 14 are good guns but I don't think that I would make either my first purchase of an a rifle. Also don't shy away from Turkish shotguns. Turkey has been making shotguns for a long time and generally the quality if very good. Just do your research. Even if you bought a budget European shotgun the chances it is made in Turkey are high.
 
If you want a semi auto to shoot why don't you start with something like a Ruger 10-22 22RF rifle? It will teach you the basics of shooting and poeple are reporting that 22 ammo is getting to be found on the shelves again. Then sock back your money and do a little more research. Maybe by then gun prices and availability will be better.

I have a Mini-14 and two SKS rifles. I like them both a great deal. Much better than the AR I own. Nothing wrong with the AR except I don't like the way it feels in my hands. Neat design though. If you want to shoot the 7.62x39 round I would get the SKS over the Mini-30. If you get the Mini-14 make sure it is a new version with a serial number starting with 580 or above. Ruger reworked the guns and they are much more accurate than the older guns.
 
The Exile said:
Nothing but a glock to my name, just landed my first adult job so I suddenly have money to spend and everything is crazy
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The local shop just got a mini-30 on consignment. Sig scope, 4 10rnd mags 2 5rnd mags and 400rnds of ammo. It was $1300 I think.
 
Personally I would not buy the Ruger Mini 14 unless you just want to pay a lot for rifle that is almost accurate....sometimes...if you are lucky! Now watch someone come along and tell you how wonderful and accurate they are...but keep in mind some people (actually almost 800K) liked Yugo's too.
 
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Pretty easy to procure an AR now and even the ammo prices aren't too awfully crazy. At least enough to get started. I just can't find the friggin' 6.5Grendel barrel I want.
 
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