SKS 7.62 or .308

[JimmyN]

I was looking at some Norinco SKS rifles at the gun show last week. I almost bought one but was undecided because of caliber. I could have chosen either a 7.62 or .308, but didn't know which would be the best choice.

It seems from research I've done that the .308 is a great round, but is getting harder to find and is more expensive. I wanted to see what the opinions were on this so next time the opportunity arises I'll have already made a decision.

 

[JWarren]

I've never seen an SKS in 308 Win or 7.62 X 51 NATO. It was my understanding that you get 7.62 X 39, or you don't get an SKS.

John

 

[ZeSpectre]

Same here. 7.62x39 or bust. Never seen anything else that is still an SKS. (course I'm not expert on the matter).

 

[Andrew S]

Sounds like your vendor was confused. The SKS only comes in 7.62x39. He may have seen the 7.62 and thought 7.62x51 which is the NATO chambering of .308.

 

[possum]

no .308/ 7.62X51 in an sks. you can get .308 saigas, but not sks's. don't worry that is a common misconseption among people, even in the military i hear that all the time, they believe our 7.62 will work in ak's and sks's. and yes i kindly correct them, and explian the whole thing to em.

 

[benEzra]

They do make Saigas (straight-stocked AK variant) in .308/7.62x51mm, and a dealer who didn't know much about imported rifles could probably confuse the two, but all SKS's are 7.62x39mm.

7.62x39mm is the same bore diameter (roughly speaking) as .308 Winchester--they're both .30 caliber--but 7.62x39 is ballistically comparable to .30-30 Winchester, not .308 Winchester. With the x39, you're pushing a 123-grain bullet at around 2350 fps, or a 150-grain bullet at 1950-2000 fps, IIRC.

 

[1911JMB]

Regardless of guns, both rounds are getting more expensive and hard to find, but thats true accross the board these days.

 

[mr.trooper]

Except that its not.

Wolf never realy left here...and we have had several shipments come in since the "shortage"

Last time i checked every store in town still has 308.

 

[270Win]

Surplus 7.62x51 is beginning to also dry up, though.

As is 5.56 NATO and the notorious shortage of x39.

A few rounds are definitely making an increased presence, though, like 5.45x39. I've been lately seeing that stuff EVERYWHERE.