Why is it that I hear that an SKS is a good gun but they are so cheap and unmentioned
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If the supply of an item outstrips demand, it drives down the price of an item.
Its easy to sell 10 "items" at "$100" each when 20 people want them. Its hard to sell 20 "items" at "$100" each when only 5 people want them. There are right now more SKS's on the market then there are buyers for SKSs, hence they are/were cheap and easy to find.
Its easy to sell 10 "items" at "$100" each when 20 people want them. Its hard to sell 20 "items" at "$100" each when only 5 people want them. There are right now more SKS's on the market then there are buyers for SKSs, hence they are/were cheap and easy to find.
I would happily buy an SKS if they were still $100-150 as they were at the start of this decade. In fact, I wish I had.
I would consider one (and did, once) at $200.
But $300-350 is far too close to the various AK clones that I've found to be generally more entertaining to plink with (a bit less accurate, perhaps, but none of the rifles in question should be seriously considered for target shooting) and more impressive to look at.
Of course, that's me.
I would consider one (and did, once) at $200.
But $300-350 is far too close to the various AK clones that I've found to be generally more entertaining to plink with (a bit less accurate, perhaps, but none of the rifles in question should be seriously considered for target shooting) and more impressive to look at.
Of course, that's me.
used both of them in combat ...
generaly ak is first choice, but we used both ...ak to shoot bullets, sks to shoot tromblon mines
i remember it took me a while I decided to carry only sks and 120 rounds
but when I hit a wood stick about 2" thick from 80yards ( more than once), the choice is made, to try it in dangerous zone
if you have guys around to protect you, you can do more damage with sks than ak
simply because you can hit with it
sks ... open space
ak ...urban/wood
generaly ak is first choice, but we used both ...ak to shoot bullets, sks to shoot tromblon mines
i remember it took me a while I decided to carry only sks and 120 rounds
but when I hit a wood stick about 2" thick from 80yards ( more than once), the choice is made, to try it in dangerous zone
if you have guys around to protect you, you can do more damage with sks than ak
simply because you can hit with it
sks ... open space
ak ...urban/wood
Cons:
Mine can't keep its shoots on a 8.5x11 piece of paper @ 50 yards. I do have very cheap ammo though. I gave about $0.60 a box of 25.
I remember when If you bought a can of ammo they gave you the rifle. There is no way I would give $200 for one. They are heavy, ugly, & & don't shot well. If I needed something to defend myself relly bad I would hope I could find something to build a sling shot first.
Pros:
If you swing it hard it would hurt the person you hit with it.
Mine can't keep its shoots on a 8.5x11 piece of paper @ 50 yards. I do have very cheap ammo though. I gave about $0.60 a box of 25.
I remember when If you bought a can of ammo they gave you the rifle. There is no way I would give $200 for one. They are heavy, ugly, & & don't shot well. If I needed something to defend myself relly bad I would hope I could find something to build a sling shot first.
Pros:
If you swing it hard it would hurt the person you hit with it.
lobo9er
Member
anything you can do about the triggers?
I know what supply and demand is, my question was what was meant by this answer, which I felt didn't address the question. I interpreted his question as "how can such a cheap gun be so good?" Now, I see that he read it as "how can a good gun be so cheap?"
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I've got a ' 51 Russian. Won't be parting with it, it's a nice old milsurp rifle. It's nice that it shoots a modern round and doesn't really have anything wrong with it design-wise (they're super reliable).
I think the AK is superior. The SKS is just too heavy for what it is. AK's aren't much more. BUT if you like how the SKS looks on your wall or feels or whatever, it's a fine gun.
I think the AK is superior. The SKS is just too heavy for what it is. AK's aren't much more. BUT if you like how the SKS looks on your wall or feels or whatever, it's a fine gun.
My first Russ SKS 1950 have a weird trigger feel . But it shoots good. The best smooth triggers are the Chicoms and Yugos . It breaks like glass or close to it. Kind of scared sometimes if you accidentally drop the gun. I prefer heavy triggers for safety sake.
The SKS is a fine weapon made to be used by people who do not know how to take care of it. It's value lays in the fact that it is normally not possible to injure it unless you are plain careless. It shoots a round suitable for most encounters and can actually be used for hand to hand combat. Do not try to make it an AK and you will learn to love it.
Ignition Override
Member
I 'second' what "svaz" said.
You need to read about the possibility of "slam fires" in some SKS (soft primers in US-made ammo).
"SKSboards" will also have tons of info. If you don't want the extra weight with the grenade launcher and possible corrosion (if used in the Balkan War) on Yugos, you can easily buy a Norinco.
You need to read about the possibility of "slam fires" in some SKS (soft primers in US-made ammo).
"SKSboards" will also have tons of info. If you don't want the extra weight with the grenade launcher and possible corrosion (if used in the Balkan War) on Yugos, you can easily buy a Norinco.
I don't know what you mean by "unmentioned", I always see a thread about SKS within the first 2 pages of most boards' rifle sections.
Why are they so cheap? Well, as its been said before, the soviets replaced them with the AK only a few years after the SKS had been introduced. As the soviets and their satellites believed in producing lots of rifles in big factories, they ended up with lots of SKS. Which meant that when the AK came into service there were lots of SKS moved out of front line service. When AKs became plentiful enough they replaced the SKS in second-line use. So, there were alot of SKS that weren't used and placed into storage.
Soviets fall, new government decides to get rid of unused surplus, we get a flood of commie weaponry. Since the cost of making the SKS had long been absorbed by the commies, price you pay for them is pretty much only wholesale price (low), import costs, and retailer profit. Since pretty much every importer/retailer is selling SKS, competition keeps the price from going getting too high.
Why are they so cheap? Well, as its been said before, the soviets replaced them with the AK only a few years after the SKS had been introduced. As the soviets and their satellites believed in producing lots of rifles in big factories, they ended up with lots of SKS. Which meant that when the AK came into service there were lots of SKS moved out of front line service. When AKs became plentiful enough they replaced the SKS in second-line use. So, there were alot of SKS that weren't used and placed into storage.
Soviets fall, new government decides to get rid of unused surplus, we get a flood of commie weaponry. Since the cost of making the SKS had long been absorbed by the commies, price you pay for them is pretty much only wholesale price (low), import costs, and retailer profit. Since pretty much every importer/retailer is selling SKS, competition keeps the price from going getting too high.
Cmdr. Gravez0r
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Lots of good info here.
Only thing I will add is that the SKS is a GREAT $200 rifle and some are quite accurate. All of its shortcomings can be remedied with aftermarket parts but IMHO that is a waste of time and you may never be quite happy.
If you need a >200 yds lead hose then get a WASR in the $400 range from classicarms.us. If you need something a little nicer/more accurater then you may want to invest in a low-end AR or a nicer AK like an Arsenal or a yugo underfolder. But now you are in AK territory which is not my dept. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Only thing I will add is that the SKS is a GREAT $200 rifle and some are quite accurate. All of its shortcomings can be remedied with aftermarket parts but IMHO that is a waste of time and you may never be quite happy.
If you need a >200 yds lead hose then get a WASR in the $400 range from classicarms.us. If you need something a little nicer/more accurater then you may want to invest in a low-end AR or a nicer AK like an Arsenal or a yugo underfolder. But now you are in AK territory which is not my dept. Good luck with whatever you decide.
maskedman504
Member
lobo9er said:
www.kivaari.com
The trigger job is $65. I got one done on my Yugo and after my Dad fired it, he sent in his Russian for the same work. Clean two stage with a crisp break and virtually no creep. Plus he improves the safety of the gun. Here are some others' testimonials.
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=85&t=3150
762minigun
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There is nothing wrong with the SKS rifle. Just don't drag it through the Tapco Forrest.
dgvc63
Member
Tapco problems?
I'd be interested in hearing why one shouldn't "drag" an SKS through the Tapco forest?
I'd be interested in hearing why one shouldn't "drag" an SKS through the Tapco forest?
Big Russ
Member
I got a chance to look at a Chinese SKS a while back in Alabama. Seemed like a decent little rifle at first glance but I didn't bother to pick it up and take it home... Regretting that now though - had a scope mounted on it already and it wasn't going anywhere fast.
Average Joe
Member
Its a great rifle for the price, buy it.
I bought two Norinco SKSs new in about 1992. One is the standard infantryman's issue with the ten round stripper and folding triangular bayonet, the other one is the shortened "D" model with the AK-47 detachable mag setup. ...and IIRC, I paid about $200 each for them... I think they're great. It's not a boutique firearm, but it was never meant to be. Simple, reliable, cheap ammo, devastating at short range, (and great fun to shoot) is reason enough to own one or two of these dandy utility chestnuts.
Les
Les
Harold Krisna
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I think he meant the tapco forest is all the AR style stocks now available. I personally love it!lots of goodies for the SKS today!
Dr.Mall Ninja
Member
For 200 dollars you can't go wrong with an SKS, id buy it.
Badlander
Member
SKS is A fine rifle for what it is. A cheap battle rifle that works every time. I have nothing against them. I even owned one for 10 or 12 years. Never shot it. It's just nothing I want in my collection.
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