LynnMassGuy
Member
I am considering buying a Yugoslav SKS 59/66 for $200. The gun will mostly be used for target shooting with my Dad. Does anyone have any experience with this rifle?
Considering a Yugoslav SKS 59/66...
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No4Mk1
Member
Plenty of experience. Here are a few thoughts in no particular order....
1) $200 is a bit steep. These can be had for significantly less.
2) The Yugo 59/66 is a fantastic specimen of the SKS family. Well built, fun and cheap to shoot.
3) The SKS in general is not what I would call a "target" rifle in terms of accuracy. They aren't as innacurate as many suggest or believe, but they aren't tack-drivers. More what I would call a "plinker".
If you want a fun/cheap to shoot inexpensive to purchase rifle you can't go wrong. I would only suggest that you look around a bit more as better deals can be had on these than $200.
HTH!
Lee.
P.S. Welcome to the forum!!!
1) $200 is a bit steep. These can be had for significantly less.
2) The Yugo 59/66 is a fantastic specimen of the SKS family. Well built, fun and cheap to shoot.
3) The SKS in general is not what I would call a "target" rifle in terms of accuracy. They aren't as innacurate as many suggest or believe, but they aren't tack-drivers. More what I would call a "plinker".
If you want a fun/cheap to shoot inexpensive to purchase rifle you can't go wrong. I would only suggest that you look around a bit more as better deals can be had on these than $200.
HTH!
Lee.
P.S. Welcome to the forum!!!
iamkris
Member
Agree with No4Mk1. You might want to set your expectations for the rifle as a "plinker vs. something to cut cloverleafs in a target.
I have an arsenal refinished "unissued" Yugo 59/66A1 that I got from AIM Surplus for $149 shipped. If you don't have a C&R you need to tack on transfer fee to that.
Your most worry free route will be to go with an "unissued" or excellent condition. The only troubles I've heard about them come mostly from those that get the shooter grades that have an X% chance of being poorly maintained. That means a dark bore (not chrome-lined) and/or a corroded gas valve which will effect cycling reliability.
Mine is 100% reliable, eats everything I feed it, minute of pie-plate accurate a buncha fun to shoot.
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Hey does Lynn MA still have a GE Aircraft Engines plant? I used to work for GE in Cincinnati in the 80's and used to go to Lynn on occasion...helicopter enges from there as I recall.
I have an arsenal refinished "unissued" Yugo 59/66A1 that I got from AIM Surplus for $149 shipped. If you don't have a C&R you need to tack on transfer fee to that.
Your most worry free route will be to go with an "unissued" or excellent condition. The only troubles I've heard about them come mostly from those that get the shooter grades that have an X% chance of being poorly maintained. That means a dark bore (not chrome-lined) and/or a corroded gas valve which will effect cycling reliability.
Mine is 100% reliable, eats everything I feed it, minute of pie-plate accurate a buncha fun to shoot.
-------------------
Hey does Lynn MA still have a GE Aircraft Engines plant? I used to work for GE in Cincinnati in the 80's and used to go to Lynn on occasion...helicopter enges from there as I recall.
Sharpshooter223
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If your wanting something to target shoot with... from personal experience that is a bad choice. sks's are fine for 25 and 50 yard shots but when you get around 100 yards they go all over the place. The ammo is cheap but it all depends on what your wanting. I am VERY satisfied with my two .223's the ammo is very cheap and they both are awesome rifles. For something to just target shoot and maybe some varmit shooting I would get a 223 or maybe if your into the longer range target shooting and maybe some large hunting I would recommend a .308. but if your just wanting something to mess around with a yugo sks is a mid grade sks and a fun gun to own and i've seen them as low as $110.00 in Shotgun News.
Beetle Bailey
Member
Agree with what has already been posted. $200 is a bit steep and you should look at getting an "unissued" one for about $180 at most. Also, try doing a search in this forum, as there are a lot of SKS owners on THR. Good Luck!
(edited for grammar)
(edited for grammar)
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What is all over the place? All three of my SKS rifles (two yugos and an albanian) will do 3" groups at 100 yards with Barnaul or Silver Bear. That's certainly as good as most milsurp rifles. I can keep 50 rounds inside of an 8" shoot n see with the SKS's somewhat limited iron sights. How on earth can you bitch about that for under $150?
Greg L
Member
AIM has them on sale (shooter grade) at the moment for $90 delivered. Even with transfer fees and 1000 rounds of ammo you should still be under $200.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Specials_.html
Greg
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Specials_.html
Greg
Sharpshooter223
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well sorry to me 3" groups is way all over the place. It's a fun gun but just not something for accuracy.
LynnMassGuy
Member
I appreciate all the info folks. It is helpful and appreciated. I'm gonna see if they will knock a few bucks off and hopefully pick one up Saturday.
After transfer fees & shipping, it tends to get closer to the $199 that we see around here. Transfers can run anywhere from $30-$50 from what I've seen, then add $20 to ship. A C&R FFL would bring the price down and make it more attractive for an out of state purchase.
LynnMassGuy, where are you shopping? Four Seasons? Collector's Gallery?
LynnMassGuy, where are you shopping? Four Seasons? Collector's Gallery?
LynnMassGuy
Member
cwalker3
Member
Like everyone else has said, $200 is a bit much for a Yugo, but unless you have a C & R license, you're stuck with buying from an 01 FFL and paying what they charge. I paid $300 for my first Yugo when they first hit the states a couple of years ago and I'm not dissatisfied. I was so impressed with that one, I've bought a few more since for about half that much. They are battle rifle accurate, for which 3" groups at 100 yards is great. I've gotten 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards with one of mine.
Sharpshooter223, keep in mind that we are talking about a milsurp rifle that costs under $200 and is capable of 2"-3" groups at 100 yards. What .223 caliber rifle do you have that fits those specs?
Sharpshooter223, keep in mind that we are talking about a milsurp rifle that costs under $200 and is capable of 2"-3" groups at 100 yards. What .223 caliber rifle do you have that fits those specs?
jrhead75
Member
Agree with cwalker3. $200 is a little high these days, but I paid $250 for mine at a gunshop a while back, and I'm perfectly happy with it. When my C&R gets here, I might just jump on some of the cheap ones myself. If you don't have a C&R FFL, $200 is not out of the ballpark by any means. And with ammo going from $1.54 to $1.79, depending on the sales at CTD, it's hard to go wrong.
Doesn't matter what you buy, you'll always find it cheaper two weeks later!
Doesn't matter what you buy, you'll always find it cheaper two weeks later!
Due to recent financial restriction, I just put one of those puppies into Lay-Away at the local gunshop.
A friend just got one and cleaned up the bore to shiney condition. Good stock and all matching numbers for $99. Last time you could by a good condition SKS for that price was about 10 years ago.They also have the "unfired" version for $160 but, it ain't in no better condition, really.
You just gotta have an SKS or two in your collection for plinking value.
A friend just got one and cleaned up the bore to shiney condition. Good stock and all matching numbers for $99. Last time you could by a good condition SKS for that price was about 10 years ago.They also have the "unfired" version for $160 but, it ain't in no better condition, really.
You just gotta have an SKS or two in your collection for plinking value.
Sharpshooter223
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Ah.. I still remember the gun shows where you could pick up a Chinese sks for about $65 and a Russian was only about $140.. good times
LynnMassGuy
Member
I picked one up for $139 in pretty decent shape. Gonna break it down, clean it all up and shoot it this weekend. Thanks for all the info!
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