Romanian AK or Yugo SKS?

[orangeninja]

I saw a Romanian AK for about 309 here and Yugo SKS for 149. ea. The SKS are unisued and new with all the goop on them and the AK is in good condition, all origional, though I doubt its new. Which would you get? Which is the better deal? I was tempted to buy 2 of those SKS deals and make one into a poor man's Dragunov with a Choate Stock and a low power or red dot scope. Any thoughts?

 

[Moparmike]

Make sure the AK is in really good condition and get it. You can pick up a Yugo SKS for $150 anywhere, but a good condition RomAK for $310 is hard to comeby these days. Case in point: NIB ROMAK WASR-10 w/ 2 30rd'ers was $400 out the door (taxes, etc) for me in AR. Get it while you can.

 

[rugerfreak]

If you get a Yugo---no mods can be done.

If you do--it loses its C&R status------then you open the Pandora's box of US parts count and running afoul of the AW ban.

Best to just leave it alone---Un Bubba-ized-------and just enjoy your stock shooter.

 

[liliysdad]

The untouchability of the Yugo is much rumored. You can do anything you want to it, as long as you remove all of the "bad points", such as the GL, Bayo lug, etc. Just no hi-cap mags, no folding stocks.

You do lose the C&R, but it can still be sold as a normal FFL piece.

 

[Cyberdyne systems]

I would get two YUGO's

I WOULD RATHER HAVE TWO NICE YUGOS! THEY ARE NICE ORIGINAL MILITARY ISSUE, NOT AFTER MARKET COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION LIKE THE ROMANIAN AK CLONES

YUGO SKS RIFLES USE TO BE VERY RARE IN THE US AND WOULD COST MUCH MORE THAN THEY DO NOW, THEY ARE REALLY NICE PIECES AND RETAIN MORE COLLECTOR VALUE..THEY ARE THE BEST SURPLUS RIFLE DEAL GOING RIGHT NOW!

 

[Solinvictus70]

SKS

I've seen the Romanian AK clones and honestly looked hard at buying one. Here locally, the .223 & 5.45 rifles are about $350, but the fit and finish are lacking. I bought a Yugo SKS, unissued, about 2 weeks ago for $175, tax and all. The quality of the Yugo rifles simply blew away the Romanian AK clone. Unless the AK clone is a must-have, I'd wait for the sunset and see what hits the market then.

 

[Doug S]

I have a Romanian AK & I'll be off to the gun show shortly to pick up a Yugoslavian SKS. The Romanian is a bit rough around the edges, but if I had to pick between the two in a SHTF scenario I'd go with the Romanian AK. Even though it's rough I think the AK is generally more fun & useful. It is also reliable. I'd go with the SKS if money is more of an issue. It would make a good second choice in my opinion.

 

[buttrap]

I would go with the AK, a SKS is pretty much a dime a dozzen and no a SAR is not a "clone" its just a real AK that has not had the sear pin hole put in the receiver. closest thing to the real deal you can get in the US. Also fit and finish is not a trait in a AK anyway, its all about how well they work.

 

[10mmshooter]

FWIW.....A guy over at AK-47.net posted an article that explained that the Romanian SAR-1 (7.62x39) was actually built for the Romanian military, and that it was only modified with U.S parts for import purposes. That explains the rough appearance. Militaries only expect their rifles to work reliably...not to win beauty contests.
At any rate.....The SAR series of rifles are no longer being imported, and I would expect the prices to climb in the future.
I own one SAR-1 (7.62x39), and two SAR-2's (5.45x39). I have had no problems with any of mine, and they are by far the pride of my firearms collection. I love my AK's, and I wouldn't trade or sell any of them.
SKS's are fun rifles in their own right.....But, IMHO they just will never compare to the AK.

 

[albanian]

I have both of the guns you asked about so I can make a good side by side evaluation. I have 5 Yugo SKSs and 1 SAR-1 so I can only speak for the one AK I have and maybe the one that my friend has because I have shot it a bunch.

Quality:
SKS wins hands down. Much better made gun from top to bottom.

Accuracy:
About the same. The AK I have is pretty good in terms of accuracy.

Reliability:
None of my SKSs have ever jammed but my SAR-1 has jammed too many times to consider it reliable.

Looks:
Subjective but the SKS seems to look better to me only because I know it is better quality.

Value:
$310 for SAR-1 or $150 for the SKS. In this case, the SAR-1 is a slighty better deal. SKSs can be had for around $150 at almost any good gunshow and if you have a C&R, you can get them even cheaper. I think the SKS is well worth $150 and I wouldn't pay more than $310 for a SAR-1 but in terms of market prices, the SAR-1 is the better deal.

Fun:
Lets face it, that what these guns are all about. I got to go with the SKS. It is just somehow more fun to shoot. It has extremly light recoil and feels like you could empty all 10 rds and stay on target. The AK jumps around when you shoot it and my trigger slaps my finger until it stings. It just isn't any fun to shoot unless you shoot from the hip.

 

[Tropical Z]

Definitely the SKS.

 

[Mulliga]

Quite happy with my Yugo SKS. I got it handpicked form SOG for $115 (it was in very good condition, so I'm happy). Wish I had gotten in on the $80 shooter-grades on AIM.

My SKS is tough as the proverbial brick ----house. My WASR-10 is a bit more iffy. For the money, I'd get an SKS.

 

[orangeninja]

this would probably not be a SHTF gun. That would be a nice Remington 870 with all the bells and whistles. I think I may go with the SKS on the accuracy...of which I have heard good things and the reliability. I have not heard of too many AK designs ever jamming, but I've NEVER heard of an SKS jam. Besides, I may one day take one hunting....what would I do with a 40 round mag then?

I probably will remove the bayonett and grenade launcher. I don't need them. I will keep them handy in case I want to put it back to origional condition. I think I might eyeball that AK ONCE more though.

 

[Redlg155]

I'd get the AK purely because of the way things are going these days. You don't want to be in a mad scramble for one if they ever decide to ban future sales of them in your area or even on the fed govt level. The price given to you is an extremely good one.

The SKS is much nicer...but again, it isn't an "evil high capacity rifle". They aren't as threatened as much as the Aks.


Of course if you don't care about it and just want the nicer of the two...get the SKS.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[N3rday]

SKS for quality and price
...but everyone should own an AK of some sort, and the SARs are a good deal for the money.

edited to add: Oh yeah, the SARs have chrome lined barrels. Don't know about the SKSs, they may have them as well.

 

[Bainx]

Get a Yugo or two while they are available at the great price.
I have two and it is hard to decide which is the better shooter.
I would probably grab either of them over my SAR-1 in a SHTF scenario.
I shoot them better and like stated above, the SAR jumps around during rapid fire. The SKS tends to stay on target rock-steady.
Then, get the SAR when you can.

 

[glocksman]

The Yugo SKS's don't have chrome lined bores.

 

[SteelyDan]

Got both, and I think it depends on what you want to use it for. If your focus is target shooting or maybe hunting (which may or may not even be legal with either), get the Yugo. Otherwise, the AK is the winner. It's quite a bit lighter, it holds a whole lot more rounds, it's almost as accurate, it's more evil looking, and it's just more fun for destroying marauding cans or pumpkins or whatever. Having said that, the Yugo is clearly much more solid and much better made, but the cool thing about the AKs is that it doesn't seem to matter; they just keep doing the job anyway.

 

[N3rday]

Just out of curiosity...what SKSs have chrome-lined barrels? anyone know? I have an irrational fear of shooting out my barrel...

 

[glocksman]

All of them except the Yugos.

 

[AV1611]

The only reason to worry about your barrel not being chromed is if you're planning to shoot corrosive mil surplus 7.62x39. Most people shoot newly manufactured Wolf/Barnaul/etc, which isn't corrosive.

AV1611 out...

 

[standingbear]

get the yugo..there are some unissued ones available now and these are very nicely done.I paid 60 bucks for a mint,all matching russian made sks once,they have increased in value 5xs the original price since then.spend the 120 bucks on the unissued yugo an with the money left over you can add a case or 2 of ammo.for collecting purposes and shootability,Id go with an sks.

 

[Bainx]

Un-chromed barrel in the Yugo is a "non-issue", IMHO.
Both of my Yugos are much more accurate than my Chinese [chromed barrel].