Reliability .. SKS vs AK

[Wolfgang2000]

D storm you are absolutely correct. But VC used the SKS with good results in the beginning of the Viet Nam war. But as the AK became more available it replaced the SKS. But even at the end they were still picking them up off the battlefield.

 

[Anteater1717]

The SKS has a far more complicated FCG, closer tolerances between bolt carrier and receiver rails equaling easier to dust/dirt foul.

Don’t you mean clearances?

Fill your SKS receiver with fine sand (your really gonna have a hard time getting that fixed 10 round mag cleaned out...

Not really you can clean a magazine in about five seconds, by just dumping the rounds and wiping down the inside with a rag.

don't forget to get the dust and sand out from under the bolt hold open as it only takes very miniscual amounts there to lockup the mag follower trapped under the frozen bolt hold open in the SKS rendering your rifle inoperable yea its been tested

I don’t know about your SKS but mine has a fairly large gap under the bolt hold open. That gap would have to collect a lot of sand to render the rifle inoperable. Also, I’m curious who tested this, and what country was the tested SKS from?

 

[stubbicatt]

Sargent York would laugh at the accuracy of these things. Even he couldn't hit squat past 200 yards. ROFL

Odd. Using a Yugo AK clone I was able to hit gallon water jugs at about 300yards nearly all day with the iron sights. A buddy of mine, a rancher nearby I watched move a 12 inch stone around in a dry river bed at easily 300 yards with one of those Chinese SKS rifles in the early 90's. The rifles are plenty accurate, if you get a good one.

I like the conventional rifle feel of the SKS over that of the AK, but your preferences may differ. Either of these rifles is very robust and capable of lasting a very long time.

 

[MCgunner]

Best I've gotten out of a SKS is 3 moa with tailored handloads. That's good 'nuf to 150 or so, minute of vital area on a deer. But it's no Remington 700. I prefer normal rifles without pistol grips, too, why I don't care much for the AR, but at least those things are accurate. Keep 'em clean and they work. I've heard it said that the AK was for conscripts, the untrained, the farmer who gets a rifle shoved in his hands and is told to march. The AR is for professionals, you know, like the American military, people who can shoot and are trained in how the thing works and how to keep it working.

For my purposes, for range fun and hunting, I'll take the SKS. The AK is just a gun I never really cared for too much. I'm sure it's fun at the range, but I got my SKS rifle for 75 bucks and my paratrooper carbine for 115. It was really the price that got me, I just couldn't turn it down, LOL!

 

[KBintheSLC]

I've heard it said that the AK was for conscripts, the untrained, the farmer who gets a rifle shoved in his hands and is told to march. The AR is for professionals, you know, like the American military, people who can shoot and are trained in how the thing works and how to keep it working.

There is some truth in that the AR requires meticulous cleaning and lubrication to function properly... only feasible for an organized military. However, AR's will quickly fail in less than perfect situations... such as rebel militia, or civilian survival weapon scenarios where cleaning and maintenance is not possible.
Also, the fact that AK's are affordable makes them better for arming the average T, D, & H. However, the AK works just fine even for folks who are trained. I have seen MOA AK47's. Depends on the build. Also, they will keep shooting long after the AR's are rotted out.
I never recommend AR's for anyone besides organized military, and plinker shooters. AK's and SKS's are far superior in "worst case scenario's".

 

[elmerfudd]

I've heard it said that the AK was for conscripts, the untrained, the farmer who gets a rifle shoved in his hands and is told to march. The AR is for professionals, you know, like the American military, people who can shoot and are trained in how the thing works and how to keep it working.

Personally, I think that's one of the biggest gun myths out there. The AR requires much more cleaning and maintenance to keep it serviceable. The AK requires much more training and practice for it's user to become truly proficient with it. Both have been widely used by conscripts and elite forces. Asshats will continue to neglect their AR's and spray unaimed bullets with their AK's and professionals armed with either one will still be formidable.

 

[556A2]

In my personal experience the AK series is more reliable than the SKS (with exception of WASRs). They are both great rifles, but the AK is the better rifle IMO.

<Slight Hi-jack> I've never seen quality AR that need meticulous cleaning to function. I've had a bolt carrier hang up after 350+ rounds in 1 range trip, but was fine after a drop of CLP in the chamber.

 

[MCgunner]

The AKs I've fired were closer to 5-6 MOA shooting Norinco crap ammo. My SKSs are 3.5 or so MOA guns with same ammo. I can't imagine an AK shooting 1 MOA even with match ammo unless it was built as tight as an AR15 and then it'd give up that vaunted sand box reliability. The AKs I've fired were Chicom. Country of origin might have something to do with it. My SKSs are Chicom so it was apples vs apples.

 

[dstorm1911]

MCgunner, try an AK thats been "Americanized" you will find that the accuracy difference between an AK and an SKS totally comes down to how comfortable you are with each, I've ran both through the shooting machine we had and when locked into a mechanical fireing fixture A Norinco SKS and a Poly tech legend are literally identical with the same ammo fired at the same time of day under identical conditions, however the AK popsicle pistol grip etc.. all combine to be a "distraction" for some shooters..... When setup with a longer stock and more ergonomic Pistol grip the AK can actually be very accurate, the sights are barrel mounted which takes much of the stamped receiver versus milled receiver issues out of the equation, the loose BC tolerances don't have as dramatic effect on accuracy as the only variance effected is the bolt lockup which is negligable on a properly headspaced rifle, just like a properly tuned 1911 will be loose when out of battery the key being a totally consistant lockup when in battery and the only thing effected here is the fact that the sights are mounted ontop of the 1911s slide so if the slide is not in the exact same position from shot to shot neither will your sights be. With an AK having its sights mounted on the barrel the only variable left is the shooters comfort level unless you are using a receiver mounted optic in which case you will see a benifit from a heavier stiffer receiver, if headspace is correct the bolt will have no choice but to locku identically from one shot to the next regardless how loos the BC rides in the receiver........... An AK is not like an AR where the rear sights are receiver mounted so everything behind the rear sight mount on an AK is a non issue the only effect of receiver tolerances is on how smooth the action cycles. a heavier AK ie; milled will usually be more accurate when fired from field positions simply because the extra weight makes it wander less on target for most shooters. A truly competent shooter will get equal accuracy from either rifle only limited by quality of ammo........... at least I can and a mechanical shooting machine can...... ANY Shooting form errors in technique will be greatly magnified by a lighter shorter rifle while they are better concealed by the heavier longer barreled rifle, if your not steady the heavier rifle will act to dampen your instability while the lighter one will exagerate it

 

[Ignition Override]

Let's hope that it will still be legal to buy both an SKS and AK in two more years, if Obamanation is elected and his puppet strings are pulled by
Nancy Pelosi ("Hanoi Jane wannabe"), Biden and Schumer etc.

I envy you guys who bought several of either type or a combination.

 

[benzy2]

Yeah the AK will shoot 1 MOA, the AR jams when you look at it, the SKS jams if dust blows wrong in the wind. Right.

 

[benEzra]

The SKS is extraordinarily reliable; the AK is even more so.

The AK functions better if the lubrication dries up, is a bit more tolerant of dirt in the action, and the firing pin is less prone to sticking under adverse conditions.

 

[Mike2]

Looking at from sheer economics, I would rather have 4 or 5 sks's than one AR variant. Now, that being said, economics ain't everything. I have a couple sks's, ak variants and several AR's. I want them all..........nuff said.