Whats the point of owning an SKS?

The AK is a squared-off beer can with a bunch of stuff sticking out of it in all directions.

The SKS is a rifle, made the way they should be, out of a heavy block of crappy commie steel, set in an inletted semi-reshaped 2x4.

They're both amusing. The SKS is a better tool for hunting, etc.

I like the Ruger Mini's ergos, balance, weight and size better, but you can buy a closet full of SKS's for the same money. And the SKS has a bayonet.

Seriously, buy an SKS or two. But don't ask about the "point."

I am amazed no one has mentioned the pig-sticker on the end.

I like my Cali-legal Yugo M59. It's like a Commie Garand. I am gonna keep it , even though I can now buy an AK. The SKS shoots good enough. I don't hate the ergos, even though I prefer pistol grips. I don't think it is ugly, it looks like a proper service rifle.

Is the AK a more advanced design? Undoubtedly. More capacity and faster reloads? Yep. But asking why buy an SKS when you can get an AK is like asking why buy a Garand when you can get an FAL. The SKS is just fine.

And besides for folks in ban states, it allows you to shoot M43 legally.

I'd rather shoot my SKS any day over the AK. Only accurate rifles are interesting.

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Hold on, AKs can be accurate. There's a big difference between a Century Arms WASR frAnKen rifle and a Saiga. I have seen sub-MOA groups from a Saiga. A Saiga might not be a tackdriver, but I think Minute-Of-Badguy is plenty interesting. A 9 inch group at 300 yards will still hit a man.

There is no point of owning an SKS

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We apparently don't share the "any Russian-designed milsurp is a good Russian-designed milsurp" mantra.

I had $150, wanted a reliable intermediate caliber semi-auto rifle that was built like a tank, so I have good reason to own one.

Don't think anyone has mentioned how easy they are to take apart and work on.

SKS vs. AK:

+SKS is more comfortable
+SKS will probably be more accurate
+If you get a Yugo, you can switch off the gas system to make it a pseudo straight-pull boltie
+Stripper clips are less annoying to deal with on really long range sessions
-Can't use AK magazines

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I have yet to encounter an SKS I actually liked handling, whereas Yugo SKSes actually fit me decently.

The Tech Sight adds a lot to the SKS. This one is a great truck gun.



Here's a comparison with the Saiga 16" 7.62 x 39.



The SKS feels good in the hand too.

Steve

I thought Saigas felt weird...what is that, an extra inch of trigger reach?

Funny,I have always said the same thing of .30 carbines and ruger mini 30's.
I have a "few" SKS rifles and I started collecting them because they are unique and a lot of fun to shoot. It's a real military rifle unlike the mini 30. It's hands down better (my opinion) than any 30 carbine I have ever fired. It is more accurate than the AK for sure and it's rugged ,reliable and dependable with decent ballistics that is easy to shoot. Ammo is almost everywhere. If you do not like them that's your choice but it's a part of history pre AK era. If a person wants a rifle for home or family protection I can not think of anything close in price that would top the SKS rifle.

They are just too much fun to shoot!

Eh? "Laminated" describes the wood, not the finish.

Also, I just used dish soap to clean off the stock when I was de-cosmoing. Took a while, but seemed to work OK. Even left the wood's surface "nice" and dry (aka absolutely disgusting to the touch, because the soap degreased it)—ready to be refinished, basically.

I had great results refinishing an M48 (elm wood; post some pictures of your SKS so we can give better suggestions) using boiled linseed oil and some tung oil. More info in this old thread.

Put aside a bit of cash, then get Tech Sights ($60 for the elevation-adjustable ones) and send your trigger pack off to Kivaari ($65). Your SKS will become a whole new animal.

I got two SKSs cause they're cheap, reliable, more accurate than an AK, can be sporterized for hunting, and they're just fun to play with. I really think the SKS and the AK are pretty worthess for anything I do with a rifle, but cheap fun is why I got 'em. I got the rifle for 75 bucks and the paratrooper SKS carbine for 115 bucks. I also had fun pimping 'em out. Lots of aftermarket stuff for 'em. They also allowed me over the years to take advantage of cheap 7.62x39 ammo, though I do have dies for 'em.

I just don't like AKs. They're not accurate enough even to have fun with unless you can't shoot anyway and like the spray and pray aspects of it. I don't like big box magazines stickin' out the bottom and though I did put that folding stock on the carbine, I really prefer a standard rifle stock and not a pistol grip for field carry, much quicker to the shoulder.

Besides, SKSs make great truck guns for the farm. Just toss it behind the seat and don't worry about how dinged out it gets. While the accuracy ain't great, at least you can hit a coyote at 100 yards on the first shot. My SKSs are the only autoloading centerfire rifles I own. I really don't like autos, prefer the accuracy of a bolt. But at the pricing of those SKSs back 15 years ago before Clinton got elected, how the heck could you NOT want one????

Oh heck, edit, I lied. I also have an Egyptian Hakim battle rifle, picked up for 80 bucks back around 1990.

And the #1 answer is....

Because we can!

Applause!...applause!...applause!

I can't believe no one has said it yet but....

...if I have to 'splain it to ya, ya wouldn't understand.

If you're comparing a Yugo SKS to an AK, of course the length will compare favorably. Here's a different one.

Im going to celebrate by taking the SKS to the range this weekend. Maybe I can get agood at loading the stripper clips...

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It helps to tension it forward a little bit...like, push down on the base of the top round, while also pushing it forward until the clip won't tilt forward anymore. This can make the difference between crunch-crunch-crunch-ow I cut myself on the clip-crunch and slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK-slideCLICK.

"slideCLICK" sounds and looks a lot more badass if someone's watching.

AK: Not legal in California.
SKS: Legal in California.

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Same up here in Connecticut.

eh

I really dislike my Yugo M59/66. Now that I have a NIB Norinco Paratrooper, I'm going to ditch the m59/66. the gun is just too long and too heavy. The same goes for the full-size Norinco SKS that I also own.

The only two skses that I like are the Norinco Paratrooper and the Russian or Yugo M59 (no GL)

I think an SKS is the best bang for the buck for a hunting rig. I bought two and gave one to my Dad. He loves it and uses it more than his Savage 99.

I paid $79 for one and $100 for the other. Both milled one China and one USSR. I have a Norinco AK milled. It's dosent do anything the SKS' won't do except waste more ammo between reloads.

My first rifle was an SKS. It was what I could afford at the time and it just plain ol' works. I bought it because it was on sale at the time. I later sold it for more than a paid for it.

I have a Yugo 59/66 SKS with all that grenade launcher stuff on it. Makes it kind of heavy compared to a standard Mdl 59.

Shot a couple of different AK variants, and they felt a bit strange to me. Not knocking Mr. Kalishnikov's products; they just don't "fit" me. I prefer Mr. Simonov's efforts.

Now, if I could just find some of the grenade launcher blanks, & some dummy grenades...well anyone up for the 200yd "Yard Darts"? ? ? ?

Another plus...

If you find yourself having to carry 300 rounds of ammo, it's easier and lighter to carry them on stripper clips; they're all ready to go. Unless you're going to carry around 10 loaded AK mags. If you empty your AK mags, it takes time to load them. With the SKS, just keep feeding it the stripper clips. Your first couple reloads with an AK will be faster with the spare magazines, but once they're empty, the SKS will catch up in no time.

The AK is a squared-off beer can with a bunch of stuff sticking out of it in all directions.

The SKS is a rifle, made the way they should be, out of a heavy block of crappy commie steel, set in an inletted semi-reshaped 2x4.

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best comment of the thread! requesting permission for sig? ( already up, but i can take it down)

Why?

1. Because he who dies with the most toys wins.

2. Because it is a weapon with considerable historical value and makes an excellent addition to any collection.

3. Because you can.

Pick all that apply.