SKS or M1 Garand?

[greyling22]

personally, I wouldn't buy any semi-automtic rifle right now. prices are unreal. I don't remember them being this high during the actual gun ban. 350+ for an sks? over a grand for an AR, sheesh. that said, I think the sks is more fun to shoot, but the garand is less inflated $$ wise.

if you're going to shoot it, get an sks. if its going to be a safe queen, get the garand. that's my opinion, other people have a right to theirs. neither is a bad gun, though the sks was a better deal when it was cheaper. these days I would look at a mini-14 or something for similar money. (a $250 30/30's a better gun than either for most everything but impressing people)

 

[AnthonyC.]

I would take 1 garand over a stack of 50 sks's.....

Actually, I would probably take the sks stack and sell them all, so I can buy a few garands.....

 

[FlyinBryan]

the garand is far superior.

far more power
far more range
way more accurate

sks rifles are nice and i actually prefer tham to the ak47, but they are not even in the same league where quality is concerned.

 

[Wesson Smith]

Personally, I don't see how anyone can say that the SKS is more fun to shoot than the Garand. To me, it's not even close!

 

[Silverado6x6]

Garand by all means, 7.62x39 will be almost impossible to find, unless we had an invading army that used it then I would say yes because you can use the enemies ammo.

However I am more partial to the M14 and the .308.

 

[greyling22]

"Personally, I don't see how anyone can say that the SKS is more fun to shoot than the Garand. To me, it's not even close!"

it's all a matter of opinion. I don't particularly like heavy recoiling rifles (and yes, I know there are heavier kickers, it's all subjective. I prefer 357 to 44mag, 9mm to 45, 20 ga to 12, etc)

 

[FlyinBryan]

you must have never fired one or something.

recoil between the two are in the same ball park.

mine kicks less than my brothers 16g shotgun.

its one of the garands trademarks.

big bullets, big velocties, vs. impact on the shooter.

their power vs. recoill is truly amazing. nothing like a mosin.

as a matter of fact, they feel very much like an sks.

accuracy between the two cannot be compared.

when shooting groups with the two rifles, the sks will shoot circles around the garand (pun intended)

 

[Slamfire]

An original 1950s Russian SKS is about on par quality wise with the Garand.

I have a couple of Russian SKS's. They are the better built than the Yugo's or Chinese, but I think the Garand has better worksmanship.

I was able to trade enough parts to restore my CMP South Store HRA back to original condition. It took a bolt and an operating rod.

My HRA is a far better rifle than any SKS I owned.

The SKS was a deal when you could buy Chinese SKS's for $79.00.

The Garand will always be a great deal, no matter what the price.

 

[dscottw88]

I Have both, and I think everyone should. The SKS is (relatively) cheap to feed and is the perfect bush/trunk gun that fits the role perfectly. Its accurate enough to get the job done, which isn't inspiring, but its not made to be a tack-driver. Its made as a cheap rifle that'll take down foes out at 300 yards. With that said, If I could only have one, I'd take the Garand. It's probably one of the most beautiful rifles ever made. Powerful, accurate, versitile, and reliable, it does everything it's asked to and more.

 

[greyling22]

true, I've never shot the garand, but I figure it behaves just like the m1a it fathered. if that is the case, to me the recoil on the sks is perceived to be less. your results may vary.

 

[Bentonville]

dscottw88, nice foot. Maybe could use a pedicure on those nails tho',
I'd take the M1, no hesitation at all. I love the smell of linseed oil when I oil my stock.

 

[KyJim]

I'll take an SKS over a Garand any day.

Not because its the better rifle. But because I could buy 3 Russian SKS's for the price of a single Garand.

How do you shoot three rifles at the same time? Using this logic, we should all stick to slingshots since they are much cheaper and rocks are plentiful.

 

[JShirley]

the garand is far superior.

It is rare to find a weapon that is "superior" to another in general, and that is not the case here. The M1 has greater range, but the SKS has it beat in volume of fire that can be reasonably expended, as well as the amount of ammunition that can be carried. If I had plenty of funds, I'd love to have another M1, but I mostly kick myself that I don't still have any of the five or six SKS carbines I've owned. Especially the Paratrooper that I installed a 20-round mag in. I'd take that over a M1 for most tasks any day of the week, even at the same price.

John

 

[mudriver]

I think a lot of folks here have some crappy SKS's. My '54 Russian shoots under 2" at 100 (as good as I can shoot iron sights) with crap ammo and is a ball to shoot. My M1 is also a very nice gun and shoots a little better (I don't shoot Wolf out of it, though).

Unless you can get a good SKS (not sure where you would find it) a CMP Garand is a better gun.

 

[RP88]

...find an...SKS...

If Samco still has their stock, then I'd say look there.

 

[Marathonman]

"Probably wouldn't shoot it much. Kind of the same for the SKS, but don't know anything about them.

I shoot a lot of pistols and AR..."

I have a couple of 1911's. Thought I would never find anything more fun than shooting them.

Then I bought an M1. Holy Smokes! It's a beautiful rifle, great history, built like a tank, excellent furniture and as fun as heck to shoot. I have now done two CMP competitions and am having a great time.

Try shooting 200 yards with iron sights. Fun fun fun

Go with the Garand!

 

[P-32]

true, I've never shot the garand, but I figure it behaves just like the m1a it fathered. if that is the case, to me the recoil on the sks is perceived to be less. your results may vary.

Having grown up shooting match grade M-14's, It is my opinion the M-1 Garand does kick slightly less compaired to the M-14.

I would rather own a M-1 any day over a SKS. M-1's are part of our history. M-1's are robust and have a great and fully adjustable sighting system. The only real down fall IMHO is you just can't dump any ol '06 cartridge in the chamber as the gas system is port pressure sensitive. But Greek '06 at the CMP is pretty cheap and it shoots well to boot. Boxer primed too.

I would look at the CMP web site and get the paper work done to order your choice of M-1 grade. I would buy as much rifle as you can. The last M-1 I ordered was a correct grade H&R. I about passed out when I got it. The rifle was shot little, has a LMR barrel which is the best of the best and is worth about $2500.

Find a SKS that will do that.......

 

[Griff56]

Well, I have never shot an SKS, don't recall that I ever have seen one. So my opinion probably doesn't carry much weight.

The questions asked another question though. What do you plan to do with said rifle. If it is just a safe queen, that is one thing. If you want to shoot for accuracy and group control or just spray and pray.

I own a CMP M1 that is a beauty. I have never shot it since I had it reworked but I plan to do so in the near future. The last time I fired an M1 it was for Uncle Sam. That was some time ago. I do however own other rifles and another 30-06. Recoil is not an issue to me and I am not
a big man but I like big guns. I personally think a rifle that fits you and shoots to POA is a blessing what ever it is. My advise is to decide what you want to do and then make your decision based on that.