Mosin-Nagant or SKS?

[Dionysusigma]

Funds are running low, and while I'd like to get a 1903 or an M3 eventually, I'll have to settle for something else (read: MUCH cheaper.)

So, AimSurplus's new deals on SKSs and Mosin-Nagants got my attention, and I'd just thought I'd get y'alls opinion on which you'd rather have. If a specific Mosin, mention why...

BTW, either would just be used for plinking/ target practice/ maybe HD. For what it's worth, I have an AK in 7.62x39 so ammo for the SKS'd be interchangeable--but I've had some good experiences with Mosins until I *hmph* traded my M44 some time ago.

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I have a Mosin M38, a Hungarian M44 and I have a Yugo SKS coming in the mail. I also have very limited funding. The problem I see with an SKS is ammo. You'll be burning up a lot of it. But I burn up my share of ammo with the Mosins. Since you already have an AK get a Mosin. Prices are low enough that you can get two or three. With a C&R license and some careful money management you can probably have an SKS and all the Mosins you want. The best deals on Mosins right now are probably at Aztec International. As of Friday AIM was selling shooter grade SKS's at $79.95 and excellent grade SKS's at $99.95.
If you get the Yugo SKS prepare yourself for a cosmoline removal party.

ZM

 

[DMK]

I have a pretty good collection of both Mosins and SKS. I love both rifles and they both shoot cheap ammo, but I think the SKS is generally more fun to shoot. It's semi-automatic and has a lighter recoil. On average, accuracy is about the same for either.

 

[hillbilly]

For something like $175 you can easily get BOTH!

Scrap up a little extra money....go give plasma or something, or quit eating fast food hamburgers for a month, or cancel your cable TV for two months, and get both a Mosin and a Yguo SKS.

hillbilly

 

[OEF_VET]

Get another M44. You know you regret getting rid of it. You've got an AK, so you've got the lightweight, 7.62x39mm, semi-auto rifle thing taken care of. Now, take care of the heavyweight, 7.62x54R, bolt-action rifle thing. You know you miss it. Come on, take care of that longing feeling in your heart. Replace the rifle you regretfully traded away. Make amends for your sins.

Frank

 

[LynnMassGuy]

You gotta' have at least one SKS variant and one Mosin Nagant!

 

[cool45auto]

I'll second that. ^^^

 

[Cosmoline]

Since you already have an AK, I say go for a 91/30 or M-39 Mosin rather than an SKS. Ammo is just as cheap. The longer Mosins, esp. the Finns, are in a different accuracy class than the carbines.

 

[longtom4570]

I have an SKS and two M44s one is Romainian and the other is Hungarian one is the wifes the other is mine. Go with a Mosin and then decide rifle or carbine, me i would go for carbine

 

[LynnKCircle]

Mosin or SKS

I have both, and will say that the Mosin M39 is hands down an all-over better rifle. Mine happens to be a Finn, so it is super accurate, but right now it seems a lot of distributors are practically giving away reconditioned Russian M39's.

But pros and cons:

The Yugo SKS is more fun to shoot, but less fun to clean.
The Mosin M39 is more accurate than the SKS by far.
The Mosin M39 has a lot more recoil, but a slip on recoil pad takes care of much of that.
Ammo is about the same cost for both, but the Mosin is far more likely to be corrosive. Still, swabbing with Windex right after shooting and a normal cleaning following that means no problmes.

If I had to choose which rifle to sell, it's no choice -- the SKS goes.

Now, as for the carbine: mine is a Russian M44.
Surprisingly accurate for a short-barrelled rifle -- still more accurate than the SKS.
Kicks like a mule BUT add two things and preceived recoil becomes about the same as the SKS: good quality lace-on recoil pad and the screw-lock muzzle brake from Pacific Leather and Canvas (or is it Canvas and Leather?).

I've put a lot of work into mine -- got what was essentially a beater from SOG so didn't feel bad about bubbaizing it. Refinished the stock with potassium permaganate so it looks like the baby brother of my Finn M39. Sawed off the bayonet lug and ground down the remaining metal to make a ring and reblued it. Put on one of Darrell's Scout Scope Mounts and the above mentioned muzzle brake and recoil pads. All together I have something on the order of $240.00 invested in it, but it was a lot of fun doing. So, suppose I needed money and someone offered me either the money I have in the Scout Rifle M44 or the money in the SKS?

Hard to say, but I'd still probably sell the SKS.

BUT you may think differently. Get which one YOU feel best about -- and the Yugo SKS IS an interesting LOOKING rifle. With a little imagination you can picture Hans Solo carrying one.

 

[Mike Irwin]

As cheap as they are?

BOTH!