Phaedrus/69
Member
Old Mini-14s might be the only semiauto rifle that sucks more for the money than an SKS!
I had one, too, and it was minute-of-barn-door accurate on a good day.
A few points of note on the SKS and the market
- Thread starter Kano383
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Old Mini-14s might be the only semiauto rifle that sucks more for the money than an SKS!
I had one, too, and it was minute-of-barn-door accurate on a good day.
Mosin77
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I did not buy an SKS for years. They just didn’t appeal, but neither did anything semi-auto. $275 was too much when a much more interesting Mosin could be had for $89. $400 was a good price in a panic… but for that I could get a Mosin AND a Mauser.
Then I finally bought one and discovered the thing is just plain fun to shoot. I don’t know that I would pay $700 for a mint one… but a friend of mine has a gorgeous Yugo he wants 679 for…. and I think he’d sell it to me for less. I’m really tempted.
Then I finally bought one and discovered the thing is just plain fun to shoot. I don’t know that I would pay $700 for a mint one… but a friend of mine has a gorgeous Yugo he wants 679 for…. and I think he’d sell it to me for less. I’m really tempted.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Only problem with the Yugos is erosion of the grenade launcher gas shutoff valve causes short piston stroking, jams, and in extreme cases, complete failure to cycle.
There used to be a couple outfits selling stainless replacement valves, but I dont know if they are still available.
Mosin77
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Good to know, thanks!
The only thing that made the SKS desirable was the cheap price back in the day. That was the appeal, a cheap, fairly powerful semi auto blaster for less than $100 that shot cheap ammo.
They are crudely made by peasants for peasants, not particularly accurate for the most part but they were cheap blasters. They made ideal stash away or truck guns.
I still have 5 left out of about a dozen I once had. Never paid more than $70-100 for any of them. They were worth that but wouldn't buy one at today's prices. They're fun to play with but nothing special.
And I'm one of those guys who bought my two Chinese SKSs for $69.99 40 years ago along with a case of ammo each for about the same price.
I will agree with the fact that they aren't being made anymore so the prices will never go down, only up and up.
They are crudely made by peasants for peasants, not particularly accurate for the most part but they were cheap blasters. They made ideal stash away or truck guns.
I still have 5 left out of about a dozen I once had. Never paid more than $70-100 for any of them. They were worth that but wouldn't buy one at today's prices. They're fun to play with but nothing special.
And I'm one of those guys who bought my two Chinese SKSs for $69.99 40 years ago along with a case of ammo each for about the same price.
I will agree with the fact that they aren't being made anymore so the prices will never go down, only up and up.
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GunnyUSMC
Member
There are a lot of firearms that aren’t made any more, but that doesn’t mean they are all worth a lot of money.
The SKS is a cheaply made rifle. Other then being functional and shoot a semi cheap ammo, they are not all that great of a rifle. With that said, I have one. It’s one out of ten that I bought around 30 years ago. It was the best shooting one so I kept it and ended up selling the rest at a profit. I have even had a Russian SKS, but I really had no need for it and sold it to a friend.
Is the current selling prices to high? Not for some. But for me, there are better guns that I can spend my money on.
The SKS is a cheaply made rifle. Other then being functional and shoot a semi cheap ammo, they are not all that great of a rifle. With that said, I have one. It’s one out of ten that I bought around 30 years ago. It was the best shooting one so I kept it and ended up selling the rest at a profit. I have even had a Russian SKS, but I really had no need for it and sold it to a friend.
Is the current selling prices to high? Not for some. But for me, there are better guns that I can spend my money on.
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AR15's are just too cheap nowadays for most people to want to shell out a lot of money for an SKS, even if they are becoming harder to find. Besides, their historical appeal is pretty low.
I like them well enough, but I'd put the money somewhere else.
I like them well enough, but I'd put the money somewhere else.
Mosin Bubba
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I got my SKS for $280, and I think that's fair. On the positive side, they're completely indestructible and shoot really cheap ammo with pretty much zero recoil. On the negative, they are 6 MOA type accurate, can't easily be scoped, shoot a short ranged cartridge, and have the same size and weight as your average 30-06.
Mine has a home in my safe as a blaster, but I wouldn't go above Hi-Point money for it, because that's basically what it is. Plinker and truck beater are the two best uses for it.
FWIW, I like them better than most AKs.
Mine has a home in my safe as a blaster, but I wouldn't go above Hi-Point money for it, because that's basically what it is. Plinker and truck beater are the two best uses for it.
FWIW, I like them better than most AKs.
ThomasT
Member
Here is a thread I started when I very first started posting here. The best information on the SKS is in post #5.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/has-anyone-wore-out-an-sks.318230/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/has-anyone-wore-out-an-sks.318230/
denton
Member
I bought my SKS because it was cheap, $150, and Tula ammo was $.08 per round. To me, it was basically an adult 10-22. My, how things change.
Swampman
Old Fart
Forged receivers, almost all parts made from milled steel, plus a hardwood stock.
Yep, all the signs of a cheaply made piece of junk...
(I'm speaking of military grade weapons here, not the Chinese "low budget specials" built for commercial export to civilian buyers).
Ugly Sauce
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The SKS is still a serviceable rifle. And there are better ones for sure. I'm glad they are hard to "modernize". I don't think they handle well with plastic stocks, long lengths of pull, and doo-dads hung all over them. I like the looks, simplicity and reliability of a box-stock SKS, and would not want any optic on one, just something to break, or malfunction. Yep, I bought my Russian SKS "back in the day" for $130. I believe it was an unissued rifle. I don't think I'd buy one now, but I sure will never sell the one I have.
marksman13
Member
Don’t bet on legislation not reaching the SKS. If a ban happens, the SKS will be on the list.
Second, the SKS sucks. It is probably the only semi auto rifle that I despise more than the AK.
Second, the SKS sucks. It is probably the only semi auto rifle that I despise more than the AK.
Speedo66
Member
Don’t forget the chrome lined barrel.Forged receivers, almost all parts made from milled steel, plus a hardwood stock.
Yep, all the signs of a cheaply made piece of junk...
Swampman
Old Fart
The only SKS I still own is a 59/66 Yugo, so no chrome lined barrel.
Considering how thick they slathered it on the bayonet, that's probably a good thing...
OP
OP
Kano383
Member
Sucks... For? If the idea is to print 1 MOA at 500 yards, well, these are the wrong rifles.
Now, give a mix of rifles to a band of semi-literate soldiers and let them loose in the bush, under rain and dust and sun, firing a couple or a dozen mags a day, and see if after one week that 1 MOA Tactiwonder is still in the race...
If I was on my own with no support and no toothbrush, a SKS or an AK would be at the very top of my list, and I'd probably copy-paste them down for a few lines just to make sure that that's what I would get...
marksman13
Member
The SKS sucks at pretty much everything and the AK is not far behind it on the suck meter. The ergonomics suck. The fixed mag on most SKS sucks. The sights suck. The SKS is pretty much a 2x4 with a barrel and action stuck on top of it.
Terry G
Member
If you don't like the SKS, say so. Don't sugar coat it. Seriously, the SKS rifles from China and Yugoslavia are solid rifles that will work under hard use and little care. They are accurate enough for a combat rifle and make good 100 to 150 yards Deer rifles. With ten round stripper clips they can be loaded quickly ant the 7.62X39 MM round is good enough for fighting, that's for sure. I like both. Two Chinese (One Paratrooper which it wasn't) and four Yugoslavian SKS's/ The Yugoslavian ones are heavier and more accurate. Fun to shoot and I wouldn't consider them poor for combat.
wesmonster
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I’m a fan of the SKS. Tough & reliable. Shoots el cheapo 7.62x39 and takes strippers. Mounting optics is a challenge and the irons are pretty basic but it’s a solid design and most examples I’ve seen still have a good looking bore.
I used to say a Ruger American Ranch rifle in 7.62x39 was a better value back when msrp was $430, now they’re $630. That’s a long ways from my first Norinco I bought NIB for $99 back in the 90’s.
As for collectibility, I don’t see any notable service history. A PPS43C has way more history and costs the same. But that’s in the eye of the buyer.
I used to say a Ruger American Ranch rifle in 7.62x39 was a better value back when msrp was $430, now they’re $630. That’s a long ways from my first Norinco I bought NIB for $99 back in the 90’s.
As for collectibility, I don’t see any notable service history. A PPS43C has way more history and costs the same. But that’s in the eye of the buyer.
Speedo66
Member
Ever notice they never had to put a forward assist on an SKS?
That “2x4 with a barrel and action stuck on top of it” keeps working like an Energizer Bunny. That doesn’t suck.
marksman13
Member
Ever noticed the the AR doesn’t need a forward assist? In 37 years, I’ve never used one, including my military career. There’s a reason Stoner didn’t include it in his original design. By all means, keep shooting your 2x4s, but the rest of the world has moved on to more effective weapons.
Terry G
Member
I have used the forward assist on a M16A1 because of dirty ammunition. I haven't needed it for the Colt LE 6920 yet, but it's nice to have. I like the SKS's rifles. A very sturdy design and makes a good 100 to 150 yard Deer rifle. I was going to say there are a lot of them around here used for Deer because of the low cost but that's no longer the case. I can get pretty fair accuracy out to three hundred yards with the Yugoslavian SKS and that's with old Military ammunition. Sure there are better rifles but that doesn't mean you cant enjoy the SKS.
marksman13
Member
I’m mostly just carrying on because SKS and AK fans get so worked up. I can’t think of a rifle I dislike more than the SKS with the AK running a close second, but I have no problem other folks liking them.
OP
OP
Kano383
Member
The rest of the world??? Well, I'd hate to hurt your feelings, but the "rest of the world" still seems to be running mostly AKs... And the rougher the place, the less maintenance and spares and supply lines are available, the more the AKs. They must be onto something...
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