Russian SKS

If you want one to shoot then get a yugo or norinco for less. The russians will be worth more later down the road because they are russians.

I wouldn't pay that much for an sks, my norinco was $100 but if you want it then get it!

I've seen "new" Russian SKS's run $400 to $600 locally. There was one at a recent gun show that was selling for $650 but it was supposedly an unfired 1949 - the very first year they came out. I didn't linger too long since I knew I wasn't gonna buy one for that price.

Are they worth that much? I don't know, maybe. Would I pay that much for an SKS? No, not really. Maybe if I was some kind of specialty collector and knew exactly what I was getting, but if I'm just looking for one to shoot then I'd just get a decent condition shooter instead.

Well, $400 isn't too terrible for a Russian. They have such a good reputation because some of the early ones have chrome-lined bores. However, if you can find a Romanian SKS with good wood, it's the same gun for all intents and purposes. The Romanian ones are exact copies of the early-production Russians. Chromed bores and excellent fit. My 1958 Romanian is a real gem. A beauty to look at and a joy to shoot. I paid $275, though I admittedly got a steal and the deal fell right into my lap.

All SKSs seem to be going up in price again

I continue to hear about the $100 SKS prices from a few years back, but I think those days are LONG gone.......

Sort of like .50 cent per gallon gas that was around when I was younger. Its cool to talk about but I dont see those prices anymore.

I think people are starting to see that its a VERY dependable and inexpensive fun gun to shoot. I dont see many semi-autos going for $300 any more, with the exception of some of the VERY cheap AKs

I have a Norinco that I paid a little over $300 for, and feel I had a decent deal.
I do sometimes pay a little more to see what I cant see on internet deals, which on Norincos can be had for $50-75 less.

(It was in pristine condition and the bore and workings were spotless)

From what I have seen at gun shows, (500 ish) and on the internet, the prices that
you are getting for the Russian SKSs are good prices, especially if they inspect well.

Offer him $800 for the both.......

I say go for it

$400 is not out of line. $450 is pushing it. I paid $300 for my Russian during the obama gun scare.

Russian SKS's are the top of the line SKS IMO. If they are unshot the price isn't bad. If they are shooters, the price is a tad high. But that doesn't take into account inflation.

I agree with other posters the the days of $100.00 SKS's are gone. The reasons are simple.

1st except got some Yugo's no more are coming into this country. Supply and demand.

2nd As stated above DEMAND! There is a demand for the SKS that out weighs the supply. They are a solid, fairly good shooting rifle. People that have them don't want to get rid of them. Then add in the locals that restrict weapons with detachable mags, but accept the SKS.

If you can afford them, I can think of worst investments.

I just traded off a Remington 870 home defense shotgun for a norinco sks with 3 stocks, original wood, plastic folder and a camo hunting stock, and also a different rear cover that allows for a sight. I would say both of the firearms were worth about $400 give or take a few bucks.

Dude, unless you're a collector walk away from those. Norincos and Romanians are still under $300 all day long everywhere I look: gun shows, gun brokers, etc. etc. You don't need a $400 collectors item; get a $250 beater and shoot the hell out of it. I've got about 10-12K rounds through my Norinco and it's still running great. Those Russians aren't notably better in quality to justify how much more they cost; it's just that they're now being collected, ya know?

Actually, the Russians use forged receivers, with screw-in barrels. As was mentioned, they also had chromed bores. Many were available with laminated stocks, to boot. They also tend to have a little bit smoother trigger.

My Norinco uses a pinned barrel, but has a chromed bore. The wood is some sort of Chinese Birch, and the trigger isn't as refined. It was also the Chinese models that had slam-fire problems, and missing safety springs.

I currently own Russian, Chinese (including a Model D), Romanian, Yugoslavian Model 59 and 59/66, and Albanian versions of the SKS. The Russian guns feel the most solid, and accurate.

That's the going price for a Russian in my area these days.

Not bad prices imo, if the condition is very good.

I paid $165 plus $10 tax for my Russian SKS. Top of reciever is stamped 1952r.
In Feb, 1994.

LNIB is worth that today. There are some really nice Russians out there. The last one I got literally did not look fired. I tried to clean it but couldn't find a spec of anything anywhere. Perfect and worth it. Forget about the $59 SKS in 1978. Nobody sells rifle or gas for what they used to go for.

Get a Saiga and dont convert it, just as cheap as a cheap SKS, and a better, more modern design, lighter

If function / use is the main reason ^ what he said may not be a bad idea.....

Never really thought of it that way. You get a very similar rifle, the benifit of detachable mags.........

Everyone should get a Russian , in fact, that s my first centerfire rifle in 1995.

my dads chinese SKS was a better rifle than my russian was and I had a damn nice russian. He shot a coyote at 100 yds open sights with his and I know I would have been damn hard pressed to hit one with mine. You can find almost unfired chinese SKS rifles that would be the one I would get.