Moral Dilemma! Should I shoot it?

[Phil DeGraves]

Would you enjoy shooting it? You only live once. Would you have wished you had shot it when you are on your deathbed?

 

[Cosmoline]

Personally, I dont think any sks , unless it was the first one ever made, of any particlular origion, will ever be worth anything.

Early SKS-45's in mint condition that were never rearsenaled are quite rare. The going price on them is already twice as much as the more common Yugos and Chicoms. Prices for the laminated rearsenal jobs are over $300, and for a mint one in original wood I'd expect at least $450 or $500.

Here's one that sold for $475:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63204118

Here's a laminted one that got 19 bids and ended up at $355:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=61026315

 

[Sistema1927]

So, maybe it is worth $475. Wow, I would hate to think of the agonizing attendant to a new $800 S&W revolver or 1911!

Shoot it, or as others have stated, somebody else will.

 

[CZguy]

Shoot it. Life is short enjoy it.

 

[Hokkmike]

I guess I would shoot it. I know a lot of guys who keep guns around for "investment reasons" only to never enjoy them, pass on - then have their kids sell them for a fraction of the cost. It is a special gun, but not THAT special. Have fun with it.

 

[nwilliams]

In response to Cosmoline, it doesn't have the arsenal referb mark above the date [/] that was the first thing I looked for when I got it. As for the squared off 90 degree gas tube I wish it did but its later model and has the standard angled one.

Thanks for the replies all! I'll have to consider it a bit longer but I agree shooting it may be just the right thing to do.

 

[mustanger98]

Having a gun and not shooting it... that's like having a girlfriend and not kissin' her.

 

[mattw]

Its an SKS, not a Garand. I'd shoot it. Shooting it doesn't mean its going to fall apart or rust away, just take care of it.

 

[The Rifleman]

All Firearms are shot at the factory to verify that they are in good working condition.

Shooting any firearm is not going to ruin it. Unless it is something like a origional Liberator 45. The only gun that could be built faster than you could load it.

One in it's origional box, unfired is probably worth thousands of dollars....

 

[Hutch]

Shoot it. The chance that any commercially available SKS is truly unfired are about a zillion to one, against.

 

[Clipper]

I won't own a gun I can't or won't shoot...Not even my special edition M-12. I'm even bringing back a currently shot out Mauser C-96 from 7.63 and converting it to 9mm so I can shoot it more per ammo dollar...

 

[____hoot____]

Damn, I bought a case of those unissued ones for 105$ a piece in 1993. Haven't been shooting much anymore, and certainly didn't know until I found this forum a couple months ago that they were that pricey now. I did keep the most accurrate one , but sold all the rest off to family and friends over the years. Haven't even shot that one in 13 years as I have a Norinco for blasting. Didn't know that they had stopped bringing them in, afterall it isn't an evil "black rifle". Maybe someday after we take this country back we will see some more, bet there are still some new in the box in Russia. I would shoot it, just to make sure she works[might have to touch-up the lips to make sure she feeds right] and to get her sighted in for your ammo. Then clean her up really good. Never know if you might have to use her in a pinch.

 

[Legionnaire]

"Handsome is as handsome does." Shoot it!

 

[DogBonz]

Shoot it...

Maybe not a lot, but to not shoot it would be an insult to it, the designers, the folks who made it, those who carried it in battle... Guns are made to be fired, just take good care it.

 

[Dave R]

Stock is in almost perfect condition with the excception of a couple tiny scratches.

There's your ticket. If it was "never shot", I might resist. But its already got some scratches. So shoot it. Kindly and sparingly, but shoot it. Keep it in good condition to resell or pass on.

 

[hank327]

Shoot it, clean it and enjoy it.

You won't hurt it by shooting it. That's what it was made to do.

 

[Sunray]

"...no way to know..." Exactly. It's highly unlikely it has never been fired. Either way, Russian made SKS' tend to be more valued by SKS lovers. Not as many around. I doubt that shooting it would detract much from its value.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

No, let the next owner appreciate and enjoy it.