Considering Yugo SKS M59/66A1 purchase to add to arsenal...few questions

[y2k600f4]

Considering purchasing a Samco Yugo SKS M59/66A1 to add to the arsenal (looking for a affordable 7.62x39) and had a few questions....

1. Does anyone know what the differnence between the M59/66A1 and M59/66A2 is ?
2. Should I be concerned with the lack of chromium barrel ?
3. Looking like they run ~300 for "as new" (considering shipping, FFL xfer fees etc)....this seems to be the going price especially since all these type of rifles are short in supply.
4. Are these rifles 922r compliant for sporting use ?
5. Is there any other 7.62x39 rifles I should consider in this price range ?
6. Lastly I have read some articles that converting to removable clips is really not a good option with these guns.

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

 

[Limeyfellow]

The basic differences between them is really small.

The main changes from the standard M59/66 to the a1 variation is a Phosphor night sight. The a2 variation has a tritium night sight. The normal version has neither.

If you see a lot of jungle combat, then yes you probably should be concerned. If you are even half remotely normal, then its not so much of a problem. The Yugo SKS' are built to last. More people are concerned at the extra weight of about half a pound than the chromium lined bore.

The price for them have really shot up. You can occasionally get them for say $150-200 by luck. $300 seems a little high for them, and more in a excellent Chinese version. I would look around more and hopefully you can find one for sale. I am glad I picked up a couple for well under a $100 each a while back.

They are all 922r compliant, unless you modify them to accept features such as removable magazines, pistol grips and so on. Then it is a matter of buying a kit to put in US parts to make them legal. It generally not worth it in my opinion and just accept the SKS for what it is. Adding removable magazines is a bit hit and miss and will certainly require you to invest in new parts, at which point you might as well pick up a Romanian WASR or so on.

You struggle to get anything as cheap as an SKS. Perhaps you might be able to pick up a really cheap second hand AK variant.

 

[y2k600f4]

Limeyfellow....thanks for the detailed post !! That really answers my questions.

As far as the price it was from the Samco website....$250 for new condition for the 66A1....all the way down to $190. The 66 version is a little cheaper. $20 for shipping and figured $30 for FFL transfer fees for a total of $240-300.

I really would prefer a Romanian WASR, I missed out on some good deals a few years ago. Now it seems like no one has them, maybe I need to look a little harder.

Thanks again.

UPDATE: Seems like the WASR-10 is near impossible to find....if so the price is $$$. Anybody know any places where they are in stock and "reasonably" priced ? Thanks.

 

[jaholder1971]

Big thing to look for is a badly corroded gas valve. There's a company out there making SS replacement valves but a corroded one means your autoloader is a single shot short stroker until your replace it.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Not trying to hi-jack, but I saw a Yugoslavian SKS at a sporting goods store the other day(I didn't even know they carried guns until then), I think it was a century arms import. The price was about $250.

What specifically on an SKS should I check to see if it's in good condition?(Aside from stock and rifling condtion, and a glance to ensure no rust.)

 

[grimjaw]

2. Should I be concerned with the lack of chromium barrel?

Not really, unless you shoot ammunition with corrosive primers. The barrel might not last as long as a chrome-lined version, but it will still probably outlast your will to shoot it (or in my case, the ability to fund shooting it).

5. Is there any other 7.62x39 rifles I should consider in this price range?

An unconverted Saiga maybe?

6. Lastly I have read some articles that converting to removable clips is really not a good option with these guns.

"Good option" is subjective. It does not always lead to reliable function and can run afoul of legal issues if you don't pay attention to parts count. If you want to play it safe and ensure the rifle is reliable, stick with the factory fixed magazine for best results.

I just picked up one of these myself (I think the phosphor site version) and I'm eager to get it decosmofied and get it sighted in.

jm

 

[Shade00]

+1 to grimjaw's suggestion on the unconverted Saiga, ALTHOUGH you'd be hard pressed to find it in the same price range - if you can get one locally for $350, that's probably $50 more than you're looking at for a transfer on a Yugo SKS. But to me - it's $50 well spent.

As for detachable magazines, don't buy the junky foreign magazines. The 20-round Tapcos have been NOTHING but reliable for me in my Norinco SKS. But - I'm still converting my SKS back to original form, well, just because. I'll get an AK eventually.

As for the Yugo's non-chrome-lined barrel - don't worry about it. The only 7.62x39 left on the market that's corrosive is some of the older Yugo stuff - and that's even hard to come by. Stick to new production and I kind of doubt you'll ever shoot the barrel out.

 

[grimjaw]

What you do get with a Saiga, if you decide to go that route, is a much easier route to mount an optic of some type. It may not be ideal to have a side mounted slightly off center scope, but it beats most options for the SKS. That and the fact that they're not wartime production surplus that may or may not have issues, and that's worth $50 right there.

Just depends on whatever floats your boat.

jm

 

[y2k600f4]

Thanks everyone for the posts.....

With some additional research I think I would like to go with an unconverted Saiga and later on do the conversion myself. Unfortuneately the gun shops I deal with don't carry foreign guns.....and as of yet I of not found an online vendor. The search continues...