SKS vs. 12 gauge?

If I could only have one gun, it would be a 12 ga. It will serve you well for all types of adventures.

Are you in an urban environment? That will answer alot of your questions. Why are you specifically comparing these two firearms, a shot shooter/slug shooter vs a specific caliber brass shooter??? Just curious my friend.

The Dove

If your SHTF scenario is Alfred Hitchcock's "THE BIRDS" I'd definitely go with a 12 Gauge. If I was a bit more like Carlos Hathcock and wanted to be a bit more distance away from my adversary I'd choose the SKS if something like an M1A, M4, or other weapon was not around.

You will not have much money in this life if you buy things that you do not want or think that you need. So you should probably not buy that SKS for $400.
$400 would get you a very nice SKS indeed. They are two very very different animals the 12 gauge and the SKS.

Why are you specifically comparing these two firearms, a shot shooter/slug shooter vs a specific caliber brass shooter???

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That is basically what I am asking also. It sounds like you are curious about the SKS, I suggest shooting one and finding out for your self. It fills a much different role than a 12 gauge.

Well, first off I would never pay $400.00 for an SKS. But different strokes for different folks as they say. The shotgun will do you fine if all you want is one gun.

That sounds extremely expensive for an SKS, did it belong to Uday Hussein?
A shotgun is fine unless your adversary is out of your range but you are within his...

Buy the SKS. $400 is steep, considering 18 years ago they were $69.95, but that's just what they cost now. I have had several, and think they are a fine rifle for a SHTF situation. The nice thing about the sks is the chrome lined barrel. A shotgun and a rifle cannot even be compared, so I won't bother trying. Comparing the two is sort of like this equation: 2x4= blue triangles

I saw SKS's selling for $200 plus shipping on gunboards a few days ago. 250 would be a good deal in this market for any type. Don't stop looking or settle for the first thing you find.

Shotguns are very effective at close quarters range, but are useless at 50 yards, to say nothing of 200 yards.

Both, but if you can only get one, get the one you feel most comfortable with, and buy ammo, lots and lots of ammo. Any time you have an extra 10 or 15 bucks buy a box or two of ammo. When SHTF you will not be able to find ammo, you need ammo, ammo will be used as currency, get ammo.......


Ok mabey not that bad, but the way prices have been going up, a couple of boxes might not hurt. You can carry about 30 rounds of 7.62 X 39 in the same space 5 shotgun shells take up, keep that in mind.

400.00, unless its a Russian its way to high.

870 for home defense.

Reach out and touch 'em gun for TEOTWAWKI or SHTF. SKS will get hits farther than 100yds if you do your part!

Excuse my ignorance, but why should I buy an SKS for 400.00?
I have a shotgun (Remington 870 12 ga). I am wondering if TSHTF and I need to defend property or the constitution ...
wouldn't a 12 ga loaded with 00 buckshot and/or slugs do me well out to 100 yards? I have heard the SKS is only about that accurate. 10 rounds SKS 7.62X39 versus 7-8 rounds of 00 buckshot or slugs...hmmm...

I'm on a limited budget of 400.00

$400 for SKS... UFTA it better be a SKS-D with lots of ammo/mags with it.

IMO there is a lot of info I would need before I could suggest what. Do you have any other firearms? Do you have any training with any weapons systems? Where do you live? Will you get any training? etc,etc,etc.
The 12 guage pump has been the baseline Home defense gun. You call 911 and stay behind a couple locked doors and blast anyone who breaks down door and exposes themself to you.
TSHTF you won't have 911.. You may want to distance yourself from possible threats. If they become real a SKS will penetrate "soft" cover much better then buckshot/even slugs. Also handle most cheap soft body armor.
If you have no guns I would get the 870 (hopefully used if you know someone familiar with them) for $200 area or less. A box of bird shot from wally world $24 for 100 rds (good practice) Slugs (dang near a buck each) and a box of lead buckshot (no idea current prices) Learn how to load/change ammo in chamber on demand. (Frontsite has a free online vid of their shotgun class/shootoff.) (The Police/vs non-leo challenge. The Officer who flubs the selection of slug over buck was imo the most useful.)
One advantage of the 870 vs SKS. If you fire 4rds with SKS you have 6 left and no easy way to reload without taking rifle OUT of service for a period of time. The 870 (standard mag) with 4+1 you can fire 4 and reload with gun on target/ready to fire that last rd

Shotgun accuracy and SKS accuracy.

A shotgun with a rifled barrel and sabot slugs is going to be in the same ballpark of accuracy as the SKS, but probably a little behind, at least out to 100 yards.

Beyond 100 yards, the SKS blows it away.

I'd not want to lob slugs at a guy at 200 yards taking pot shots at me with his rifle, I'd definately rather have an SKS.

Other benifits of the SKS are much superior sights, so in addition to mechanical accuracy, real world user accuracy is greatly improved.

Further, the SKS is able to fire faster, with less recoil, and be reloaded a lot faster.

I concur that the SKS for $400 sounds like A LOT.

Before you comit to the Savage bolt gun however, I suggest seeing if you can scare up a good condition used Marlin 30-30 lever gun, and if not, take a look at the Mosin Nagant or Lee Enfield surplus rifles.

One advantage of the 870 vs SKS. If you fire 4rds with SKS you have 6 left and no easy way to reload without taking rifle OUT of service for a period of time. The 870 (standard mag) with 4+1 you can fire 4 and reload with gun on target/ready to fire that last rd

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Note, this theoretical 6 shots left in the SKS is MORE than the number of rounds you'd have in the theoretcally reloaded shotgun.

Also note, while you could definately top off one round on the shotgun while keeping your eyes on the thread, puttingn in all 5 is going to take some time.

Slapping in a fresh stripper clip takes more time than going for a fresh shell, but less time than fully reloading the shotgun.

Both have advantages/dis. I guess a better example is fire two/reload two/fire two/reload (etc) I just have never seen a method I like to reload a SKS without having a unloaded gun for a while. You either fire the last few/reload or dump them on ground/reload. Either case it might be a good thing if you left the bayo on to defend yourself while reloading.
(I was offered a SKS for $200 in Nov. I'm sorry I didn't grab it if they are going for $400 now. ) I have a "Sarah Brady" SKS. (bought on her birthday in (IIRC) 1994) Gun shop had sale on them in "honor" of her birthday. We filled out card they said they would send to her. (very polite. Wishing her happy B Day, telling what great deals we got at the sale because of her birthday,etc) Just first name/no names. I am sure it burned her up IF it ever made it to her.

I don't know if I'd want a 12 ga for anything over about 40 yds.

My 12 ga is my HD weapon. My SKS is my go to SHTF weapon. Keep in mind, I got it for $100, and accessorized it with things like a tech sight for much less than $400 total, but it is certainly accurate enough for combat. I can carry a LOT more SKS ammo.

Depending on your choke, shot, and barrell length, you may be able to hit targets to about 60 yds. with most shells. Its best to do a check of the pattern your particular shotgun does with a particular ammo to know for certain.
A 12 gage pump will handle just about any self-defense situation better than an SKS or anything else for that matter within 40-60 yards (range depending on the gun/ammo combo). It excells at point and shoot tactics and hunting. With slugs of course the range is extended, but unless you have sights, by 100 yd. a rifle (SKS, etc.) is usually the better weapon to have.
I've hunted with nothing but a 12 gage for over 30 years in Lousisiana never felt the need for something else. Now that I'm in wide open Texas, the rifle is the weapon of choice.

I have both and love both of them. It doesnt matter which to choose if I have ot defend myself.

SKS's are around $250-300 max. Get a C&R license for $30 and have them shipped to you!

I love the 12 ga and the SKS, but they are different animals.

With the SKS you have an incredible anti-personnel and hunting round, and a weapon that is rugged, reliable, and fairly accurate out to a couple hundred yards. 10 rounds of semi auto and fast reloads.

12 ga. is also great, but for close quarters or less than 100 yards with premium rifled barrel, slug, and sights or scope. Typically 5 rounds of pump and slow reloads.

I'm a long ways away from the Talledega National Wilderness, therefore
I rely on my Remington 12 gague 870 Marine Magnum, Colt CAR-15, and
an assortment of handguns to protect me, my family, and my pets~!