Did I do ok on this SKS.. I honestly don't know. (pic heavy)

[hexidismal]

So.. not to be too cynical here, but most of the time when somebody posts a "did I do ok" thread, they already know.. hehe. Here's a case where I actually don't, so I could use some help. I don't know much when it comes to SKS rifles, with all the variants and condition and such. Or 7.62x39 ammo for that matter. I got wind of a very local guy who needed some quick cash for a hunting trip selling an SKS + ammo, so I paid him a visit and here's how I made out.

I paid him $280 cash
That included apprx. 800 rounds of mixed bulk 7.62x39 which all came in a surplus 5.56 ammo can. Mostly boxed and sealed, a little bit loose. I was hoping someone could tell me what I've got from the headstamps/logo. Here's a pic of the JHP and some FMJ

The majority of the ammo is JHP, and the headstamp looks like this.

Boxes in the 'battle packs' have this logo, and also say Made in Russia.


The FMJ Ammo has brass which basically matches the color of the bullet and is headstamped only with the numbers 31 and 94

Ok.. on to the gun and accessories.

The SKS is Chinese, that's about all I know about it. The bayo and launcher adapter have been removed as can be seen in the pic.


It came with the Tapco T6 collapsible stock in black, which is in very good shape with a few minor marks here and there. It also has the original stock complete, which has seen some better days but the laminate is still decent and the numbers do match the bolt. I should mention that all the numbers on the gun match. It came with a detachable 30 round mag. I did know that these mags can cause some problems.. when I asked, the guy I bought it from said he had fired about 5 full mags through it and it hadn't jammed on him. It also has the original 5 round fixed mag along with it. It came with a Leapers dust cover mount with scope rings. It also has the original dust cover. It also came with some cheap chinese 4x28 scope. Maker is "In Trac".


Ok, heres the issues its got. The bore looks very good to me, nice and shiny, no bulges or anything like that. The gun does have some bluing wear here and there. Also , and this is the big thing... right in front of the upper handguard there are some sort of.. gouges in the metal. Heres some pics of that.



There are some minor spots of slight rust pitting on some spots, but it's not too bad.

SO.. between the ammo, the gun and accesories.. how was the price ? $280 too high, good deal, or just right ? Also like I said, any help identifying the ammo and its worth would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
-JT

 

[DMK]

You did pretty good actually. You got a Norinco SKS with a bunch of crap stuck on it, but you got all the original parts too, so it's all good. Plus you got a good stack of ammo to go have some fun with.

Good haul. Seriously.

If it was me, I'd put the original parts back on there and sell the cheap gunshow scope and all that black crap on Gunbroker (especially the crappy hi-cap detachable mag!). But that's just me and I'm biased and jaded when it comes to SKS accessories. Maybe you like it that way and maybe the scope will hold a zero and the mag might actually feed rounds for you. Your call.

It also has the original 5 round fixed mag along with it.

The original mag holds ten rounds, probably eleven actually.

 

[DropOut]

I just bought an SKS this weekend with my father but have been looking into them for a while.

And yes, you made away with a very good deal!

Just consider the ammunition - I can't find a box of 20 7.62X39 for under five bucks a box (maybe my town is crazy, but that's about how much it sets me back).

800 rounds / 20 rounds (per box) = 40 boxes. At five bucks a box (5 x 40 = $200) JUST on ammunition.

An average SKS in and of itself shouldn't be much more than 200, 230, maybe 250 depending on condition (I've even seen them for like, $180). Yet on top of the gun you got both stocks, TONS of ammunition, scope, AND a detachable 30 round magazine.

That whole deal probably would have cost much more at your average gun shop. Good job mate!

And yes, the original Chinese SKS holds 11 (if you keep one in the chamber). I forgot to include that this is similar if not the exact model I got over the weekend for $230.

You did very well.

 

[DMK]

And yes, the original Chinese SKS holds 11 (if you keep one in the chamber).

Holds twelve if you include one in the chamber, but that's really awkward to do with an SKS.

Try it one day. Put one round in the mag, then load a stripper clip of ten. Eleven rounds, all in the mag.

(Unless it's just my SKS that goes to eleven. )

 

[esmith]

Considering all the junk (I use that word non derogitory, sp?) that you got with it, you did a good job. That tapco stock is around $70+, the ammo saying its non-corrosive could be $150+, the high cap mag and scope mounting systen could be around $30. So you got lets say $250 in ammo and accessories, that means you got the original sks for $30. Smokin deal in my book.

 

[DropOut]

Holds twelve if you include one in the chamber, but that's really awkward to do with an SKS.

Try it one day. Put one round in the mag, then load a stripper clip of ten. Eleven rounds, all in the mag.

Wow, really? I just got mine, so I'll check it out!

 

[MRIman]

Sell all the extra crap,and put her back in the wood stock with the
10 rd mag.
YOU DID GOOD!!
With the OEM stuff,you can "bring her back to life"!!!
I'd buy that deal once a week if I could!!!

MRI

 

[Wolfgang2000]

You got a Chi-Com SKS with the ammo and the add on stuff. The ammo alone makes it a good deal. I see that the bayonet lugs were cut off, and I don't see a cleaning rod. Other than that it looks good. It will be a great shooter.

 

[tnieto2004]

Looks like a really good deal to me

 

[DWARREN123]

I do not believe the Norinco's come with grenade launchers. Pretty good deal in my opinion.
I like the Norinco's in original configuation.

 

[dstorm1911]

Ya did good, the copper washed ammo is norinco surplus and is corrosive primed so be sure to clean accordingly if ya live in a humid climate as the salts will draw moisture resulting in rust (corrosion) its actually very acurate ammo, the other is Russian surplus

The stock isn't laminated I think what ya are reffering to is the amber shelac its painted with it can be smoothed out with a rag and denatured alcohol the alcohol will reconstitute the shelac so that it can be spread and buffed etc.. to even it out.

The neutered bayo lug indicates a late import after the Bush ban of 89 took effect or a california gun, look at the barrel/reciever juncture is there a shoulder with a flat on each side of the barrel against the front of the reciever or does the barrel go directly into the reciever with no interuption? a shoulder will indicate an ex military version with threaded barrel the other is a commercial with pressed in barrel, its most likally the pressed barrel but ya never know...

the marks on the barrel look like he either clamped in vice grips for some reason or that he used a metal bipod mounted to the barrel like the USA surplus scissor types

 

[Oohrah]

Lot of free advise with some ??? Use it good health cause you did
well ! The stock may aid your shooting as the orginals are a little
on the short side. For me scopes are good, providing it has the type
of mount that secures the dust cover from moving vertically. There
are ways to remove the play between the dust cover and the action.
Don't load any more rounds than the magazines are designed for.
I have some of that Norinco made in China. The boxes are marked
non corrosive as are the Russian stuff. If the rifle is Norinco, it will
have a chrome bore for easy clean up. The metal seems to be high
carbon stuff and you should keep a light preservative coating on it to pre-
vent rust. If you are not a scope user, there are replacement sights
much better than the original military.

 

[wideym]

You got scammed! Just send it all to me and I'll give you your $280 back.

Seriously you got a good deal. Of course these finds always happen to other people never me! Sometimes I think you guys post these finds to torment me. Like my cousin, bought a Colt Gold Cup from an older neighbor for $250 last month. NIB and it was the first time he talked to the man.

 

[68'chevelle]

The SKS was used in the Korean war right? Any way like DMK said If it was me, I'd put the original parts back on there, but it's your call, good job

 

[woad_yurt]

You did well! Welcome to SKS-land. I have 2 Chinese ones (stock except for peep sights) and they're my favorite rifles. I tried the hi-cap mags, however, and they never fed correctly. But, all in all, ya did good. The ammo is almost worth what you paid for the whole deal.

 

[Zedicus]

You Scored dude, Nice Deal, can't even buy the 800 rounds for that.

& on the Mag's I've heard pretty good things about those ones.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Here are a few things you need to do RIGHT NOW.
1. disassemble the rifle completely and clean out the firing pin channel.
2. If it is what I think it is, the Norinco ammo is steel core (slightly armor piercing). Keep it as it is getting hard to find.
Don't throw away the scope and mount just yet, you never know and I have found that a few of them actually work very well. The Tapco stock is pretty nice and is worth at least $50 to someone, don't throw it way. The after market mag may work fine, if you want to keep a detachable mag you might want to get some Tapco 5rd mags to look nice at the range and for hunting. Keep in mind 922r (the ten parts or less thing) while deciding what to keep on the gun if keeping detachable mags. Go to surplusrifle.com to get a step by step disassembly guide.

Edit to explain: The firing pin channel can have left over cosmoline or other gunk in it which can cause the gun to go the bad kind of full auto on you, meaning it keeps firing even if the trigger is released or not even touched in the first place. I did away with any chance of this by installing a spring loaded pin available here http://www.murraysguns.com/sksown.htm

 

[Arkie]

You got all that for $280?

Well way to goooo!!! Not bad at all. Like everyone else said, you bought the ammo and almost got a free SKS out of it.

Have fun with it!!!

 

[E121FX]

Uhhh, can you say DanG!?!?

$280.00 bought in NY... Had to be a crack sale!!!
Congrats... and I didn't read far, but hope its better than its price on the range.. They go for about that and maybe a little more up here minus all the dang doodads and ammo you got there... The furniture alone is worth the amount you spent..

Seriously... have a blast with it!!!

 

[dstorm1911]

Dick, when we used to import that ammo (btw its not all the same) we were always asked if we wanted the original paper wrapped and string tied or did we want to pay an extra $0.02 per 20 rnds to get it boxed and marked non corrosive........... My partner always paid the extra 2 cents as it sold better...... same ammo in either case different packaging. Marking as non-corrosive is a favorite when repackaging surplus ammo over seas they can't see why Americans care but since they will pay more for the words the attitude is its worthwhile to print the words on the box...... Cina was very big on marketing old milsurplus,

then again ya can just ALWAYS trust whatever is printed on a box from Asia (they don't use lead based paint on childs toys either) and not bother cleaning accordingly........ a chrome bore does absolutally nothing to protect your gas system, your bolt face, magazine etc... roll the dice myself...... after 35 years of collecting milsurps.. I always take the extra 5 seconds to flush out mercuric salts regardless what it written on the box.......

The pic is of a gas block on a chrome lined Romanian G kit AK that had a few boxes of that NON-CORROSIVE ammo fired through it and then wasn't cleaned properly as for corrosive primed ammo........ your gun, your choice

 

[bang_bang]

I have a SKS that would look identical to yours if your wood stock was put back on. Mine even has the Bayonet lug sawed off (My grandfather said that it got in the way). I believe that you got a steal on the rifle. $280 with 2 stocks and a bunch of goodies, someone got burnt bad in that deal. Good buy!!

 

[Caimlas]

Not a bad deal, not bad at all, by current prices. You saved maybe $100-150 off of a fair price, and $200 or so off of "gun shop prices". Shop I know would sell that SKS for $250 easy (they're selling cosmoline-covered Yugo SKSs for $239), and another $200 or so for 800 rounds.

Shoot it a bit, and figure out how you like the rifle and which stock/accessories you like. Sell or use the rest elsewhere and recoup your costs, or sell it all outright (but pieced out - you'll get better prices).

 

[hexidismal]

Thanks for all the replies everybody. Hmm.. since the reviews seem very positive, I guess I did alright after all.
See.. I didn't even intend to come away with gun initially. I know most of you all understand how that can happen sometimes.. hehe. I'm getting an AK style rifle in trade for a shotgun next week, so.. when I heard this guy was looking for the quick sale of an sks and the ammo.. the lights went on and I thought I might make him an offer to have some ammo for my future AK. I knew he was looking to get $300 for the whole package with the gun, and I figured I'd offer him maybe $100 for just the ammo or something. It was hard to say since I hadn't seen it, had no idea how it was stored, etc. When I got there, I saw the SKS did have those damaged spots , but it also had that Tapco stock, and I knew that wasn't cheap. Gun stores around here are normally expensive, but for some reason the only store I know of that would carry an SKS somewhat locally actually sells the Yugos in the cosmoline for between $180 and $200. As some of you know, I'm about 99% all about handguns. Show me a pistol or revolver and I can tell you exactly what its worth.. and I can SMELL a deal on a handgun..hehe. But Chinese mil. rifles ? Not so much. So that store price on the Yugo was about all I had to go on. With no bayo/adapter, the damage to the metal in those spots, and the fact that although the bore seems good.. its clearly a well used rifle... I was figuring the rifle would be worth maybe $150 + maybe $50 for the used tapco stock. And since I wasn't there for the rifle in the first place, I wasn't planning on paying what it was worth. (It seriously cut into my BHP savings fund). And since I was planning on offering $100 for the ammo. I thought the $280 would have been just about right for what it was actually worth. BUT.. paying actual value for a rifle you didn't really want when you're saving up for something else isn't really great .. you know what I mean ?

Since everybody seems to think I came out well ahead though.. I'll stop worrying about it and just enjoy the thing. Besides, since I'm getting an AK anyway , I guess it'll be nice that it has a cousin in the safe with it.

If it is what I think it is, the Norinco ammo is steel core (slightly armor piercing). Keep it as it is getting hard to find.

As far as the ammo. Very little of it was the brass/brass FMJs. Maybe only 30 loose rounds or so. Almost all of it was the stuff in the boxes pictured above. There was also some other loose rounds of some other JHP, just a few though. I counted it all, and it came out to actually 780 some odd rounds. Close enough to 800.

Oh yeah, by the way.. I think an above poster somewhere mentioned not seeing a cleaning kit. The cleaning kit was there in the original stock. And the guy also included this book since he had it specifically to know how to disassemble this gun. That was nice of him.