which SKS to buy ??

I have a Russian,Norinco, and a Yugo, I like the Yugo the least because of all the junk on the front end....

>>but I'm personally not a big fan of the grenade launcher.<<

Same here... I hate all that crap hanging off the front. If you just want a good shooter you're better off with a Norinco etc.

It is possible to remove the grenade launcher but there can be problems with the gas valve. I'd suggest having a gunsmith do that job because they will know how to fix the gas valve right. Mine does anyway. I talked to him about removing the launcher from my Yugo. I haven't done it yet because I don't want to risk messing up a good rifle. I think I'd rather just sell it and buy an AR. But I don't really need to sell it so I'm keeping it for now.

I have a mid-70's Chinese and picked up two of the Royal Tiger C&R eligible 1956 Sino-Soviet rifles, all are great shooters but the first year Sino's just feel like they're built better. No complaints on any of them. Never owned a Yugo or a Russian though.

goatman54: I sent you a really long pm with just an idea, which might be worth looking into.

Can you attend gun shows up in MA, or could you visit some in VT, NH, etc and if lucky, have something shipped home to an FFL at a moderate cost?

Another vote for all of the above....

I've got a chinese Norinco.... and really like it. Had it a LONG time.

I would like to get a russian, just because. I've handled the Yugoslavian sks's and they are heavier, but any would make a fine rifle.

Get one with a fixed 10 round mag. It will be a solid, well functioning weapon. Some of the detachable mags are just junk!

I've had a Norinco, Russian and a Yugo, I prefer the Russian.

I agree.... If you feel the need for a detachable hi cap mag just get an AK instead. The SKS was never designed for that.

I have had 2 Norinco sks' and currently have a Yugo. Both function fine, the Chinese are lighter but my Yugo is more accurate. I placed 5th in our club milsurp match against Garands, 1903s, Mausers, and Enfields. I think it shoots pretty good if you do your part.

ive had maybe 2 dozen different ones, mostly chinese and never a russian.they all worked and shot fine. back in the day i purchased a lot of them for 100$ and sold them off for 125-150$. i really never bench rested them so couldnt tell yu much about the accuracy.the very first one i had i shot almost every day. in fact shot a 1.5 foot thick walnut tree in half with it over a 2 year period. id step out the back door and bang a couple rounds off at a plowshare i had nailed to it about 150 yrds away. the plowshare would clang and jump when you hit it.

that same gun and most of the others would would easily smoke a brick at 100 yrds i was buying the cheap white box russian ammo for about 1.50$ a box then.

1958 Romanian

I've enjoyed my 58' Romanian for about 10 years now. This one is all matching and very accurate. Never a problem with it. I use the 10 round fixed magazine most of the time, but also have used the conversion 20 round TAPCO magazines. Have not had problems with either. I got lucky and the TAPCO fit the mag slot without any modification.
I believe the Russian the Romanian and the Albanian are more sought after and supposedly the better quality, but I am sure they are all good. They have survived a long time and are still in use around the world.

You will enjoy the SKS, no matter what you get.

I agree.... If you feel the need for a detachable hi cap mag just get an AK instead. The SKS was never designed for that.

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My Norinco works perfectly with detachable mags. It has for 20+ years. But reloading with stripper clips is just as fast and you can carry more ammo because you don't have to carry the weight of the mags. My Yugo will never get detachables. But the idea they never work is just bunk. If you use a Norinco and USA brand mags you have a very good chance of a rifle that works perfectly.

The SKS is a nice rifle no mater which one you buy. But like its been said the AK-47 mag. fed is the sweet way to go if you can afford it.

I much prefer an SKS over an AK will11. My AK wasn't as accurate as my SKS. The good SKS models are true milsurp. The AK's we get to buy aren't. They're designed to be sold in this country, not to be a weapon of war.

Just to repeat, the Yugo Type 59 without the grenade launcher mess (just a normal SKS) has been sold in the US. I've got one as my only SKS, so can't compare to others.

I have owned a number of SKS,s over the years . The Norinco guns were built by the P.L.A. at the same factories that built military firearms . The MOD.D was a SKS built to take AK mag,s . It was made for the American market as it was not a military item . I may be wrong ,but have never seen it listed that way . The SKS rifles from China are well made and are a good buy . The YUGO SKS is a well made firearm as well . The U.S.A. mag,s that replace the regular 10 rd. mag. can be reliable but I find they must be fitted to that rifle. I have only shot the Russian and Romanian SKS rifles but they seemed well made and shot fine. If I had a choice it would be a Norinco PARA model or the SKS/D model. I have also found that using stripper clips , the system works better than using the U.S.A. magazines . Also it seems the SKS is going up in price . I would also get stripper clips and ammo. Hope this helps , good luck and enjoy the SKS. ITs a great rifle!

I agree, the Yugoslavian sks's are the best shooters. Little on the heavy side. But the gas shut to launch golf balls is a plus

My Norinco is more accurate than my Yugo but the trigger work done by Kivaari probably had a lot to do with that. BTW those type 59 Yugos are hard to find in the US. I know some exist but I've never even seen one.

krupparms said:

If I had a choice it would be a Norinco PARA model or the SKS/D model.

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How about the best of both worlds? When I was looking for an SKS this was my decision, a Norinco SKS-M...Para length and takes AK magazines