Shot a Yugo SKS

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R.H. Lee

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for the first time yesterday. It was already dark, so no chance to check accuracy on paper, but it was good enough for potatoes @ 30yds or so.
The owner constructed it from 2 rifles, using the best parts from each. The thing seems indestructible; a perfect weapon to repel invading hordes of Turks or Mongols or whatever (zombies?).

A Russian SKS may come available to me in the next few months. I may wait and see. In the meantime Is there a currently a good source for unissued versions of this weapon? I live in California, so the "evil features" menu is limited.
 
I believe a Yugo M59 SKS is legal in California. The M59/66 version is not due to the grenade launcher. You might have a hard time finding a M59 version though.
 
Yeow! Found one today in Santa Maria. 59/66, muzzle brake instead of grenade launcher, matching serial nos. on bolt, receiver, magazine and stock. Barrel marked "Model 59/66 Yugo 7.62x39 C.A.I Georgia VT"
Barrel looks pristine. Cost $250 out the door. 10 day waiting period.
 
If you have a C&R FFL, can you get them shipped to your house or is there some kind of crazy Cali rule against this? I know that you can get the CA legal Yugo for a few bucks more than the standard. I think I have seen prices in the $150-175 range for the CA legal versions. They are still C&R but I have heard that CA residents can only have C&R guns that are 50 years old or older. Is this true?
 
In order for it to be C&R it needs to be unmodified.
In order for it to be Cali-legal, it needs to have the grenade launcher replaced with a muzzle brake.

I just paid for a Cali-legal used/issued Yugo. In 8 days and a few hours I'll be allowed to take it home.

I've found some dealers that have some on order (that whole "check back with us in a few weeks" BS). Try www.entreprise.com , www.interordnance.com and www.coledistributing.com (which has "good" condition rifles).
 
If you have a C&R FFL, can you get them shipped to your house or is there some kind of crazy Cali rule against this? I know that you can get the CA legal Yugo for a few bucks more than the standard. I think I have seen prices in the $150-175 range for the CA legal versions. They are still C&R but I have heard that CA residents can only have C&R guns that are 50 years old or older. Is this true?
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gearbox is correct.

A C&R rifle must remain unmodified from original config to be considered C&R.

And since most SKS rifles were made after 1954, you cannot have one sent to you, even if it is an unmodified CA-legal version because it is less than 50 years old.

A CA resident's best bet is too buy one from a local dealer.

If you are intent on getting one via C&R, you can drive out of state and buy a CA legal version (unmodified C&R) and drive it back into the state. If you know of any dealers in Nevada or Arizona that sell Albanian SKS rifles for under $200, let me know. I'll probably drive out there myself to pick one up.
 
Plus the C&R license, unless you are in business actually making money dealing guns, would be a PITA. Inspections from the ATF, state sales tax authority, local zoning regulations, not to mention being a target for burglars.....:scrutiny:
 
Your not a dealer when you have a C&R licence. You don't have to deal with any zoning regs or sales tax reporting. You also cannot use the licence to deal (make a profit). ATF inspections also do not have to occure at the address of the licence. You can bring your bound book to them for an inspection. Inspections are random and not yearly or anything.
 
Sasche-

I stand corrected, it is a collectors license and the holder is prohibited from dealing.

Thank you.:)
 
The Yugo's are the cheapest SKS's on the market today. You can usually get them for under $200.00 (including DROS), look around, $250.00 is too much! I take it that you are from South Kali, since you mentioned Santa Maria, so I can't help you since I'm in the central valley close to the Bay area, I know of a gun shop in Campbell, or is that San Jose that has a Yugo for $98.00 sitting in their shop right now. Sportsman on Union AVE.
I would have bought it, but I already have a couple of them.
Have you looked at Traders? One of the guys on the Calguns board was saying that Traders has them for $169.00.
 
Hi Rascal-

$250 is on the high side from what I'm hearing. I live in Atascadero, Central Coast of PRK. Rangemaster in San Luis Obispo had 2 SKS last week for $189 each. I bought this one from Rangemaster in Santa Maria $199. Everything including DROS and tax and the mandatory trigger lock added up to $250.

Looks to be in good shape, though. I'm looking forward to picking it up next week :)
 
I may be wrong, but I thought Yugo SKS's were C&R by definition, much like Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. II's. That means that, as long as they're unmodified, they don't necessarily need to meet the 50 year requirement.

Now, does removing the grenade launcher and adding a brake negate the C&R status of the rifle? I dunno.

Have to agree that the SKS is a hoot to shoot.

I paid $250 for mine here in L.A. It was in unissued condition and had the tritium night sights. A bit pricey, but this particular shop has excellent customer service, so I wanted them to have my business.
 
Atascadero

I hear there is lots of good piggy hunting that way. :)
At under 150 yards, that Yugo would do its job if you do yours on piggies under 200 pounds. :D
Your'e gonna love shooting your SKS, and cheap to shoot too. A thousand rounds for about $85.00 at the guns shows.
Please be sure that you clean it out real good before taking it out to shoot. That Cosmoline gets everywhere. I have found that brake cleaner works very well for getting cosmoline off the metal. Oh and be sure to clean the firing pin very good also, since it is a free sloating firing pin.
Here is a link to how to take your SKS apart. It has alot of very good information, especially if you have never taken one part before.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/maintenance.asp
 
Rascal, thanks for the link. Looks like it's gonna be a chore cleaning out the cosmoline.
 
OK. Spent about 5 hours last night disassembling and cleaning cosmoline.
Mineral spirits works ok but not great. Takes some time to melt the cosmo and still leaves a sticky film. Washed some parts in orange degreaser and hot water. That worked better. I've got the stock wrapped in a black plastic trash bag laying in the sun and will wipe any cosmo off it later today.

Will try some WD-40 followed by Gunscrubber or brake cleaner, then oil the moving parts with Mobil 1 or CLP.

Should the gas piston and chamber be reassembled dry, or should they get some light oiling?
 
Rumor has it Brakeclean (sp) works well for removing cosmoline out of the action. Just remember to lube afterwards;)

Most places are out of SKS's as of lately. Found some good condition ones for $99 but I elected to get 3 on backorder from SOG in excellent unissued condition for $129 each.

Century Arms has some cali legal SKS's in good condition for $129 but thats not for me. They have muzzlebreaks instead of the grenade launcher.
 
Century Arms has some cali legal SKS's in good condition for $129 but thats not for me. They have muzzlebreaks instead of the grenade launcher.
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Lennyjoe- I just got one of these. FWIW, the bore is real shiny, the gas piston/rod looks to be new, and everything is in really good shape. Mine has an "I" before the serial number indicating it was manufactured in 1972.

The muzzlebrake looks cool. Of course I am in California, so I have to like it.:)
 
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