SKS, The best "bang for the buck"

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longhorngunman

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OK, I know there have been similar threads about this, but I'm laying it out like I believe it is. And don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying the SKS is the best by any stretch of the imagination. I have an RRA entry Tactical which is better, also cost about eight times as much. My father has an AK47 which is probably overall superior to the SKS but not for twice as much or more. My Cetme is a good bang for the buck, but still three times what I gave for my Yugo 59/66. I've just decided that dollar for dollar the SKS's are an incredible value for their low price. Heck you can get an unissued basically brand new one for $150. My fathers M1 Garand is an incredible firearm marvel, but not 5 times better than the SKS.
The SKS, good design, semiauto, probably the only gun more reliable is an AK or a bolt-action, actually very well made, no stampings a milled reciever and thick stout barrel, decent accuracy, shoots probably the cheapest cartridge around short of a .22, a moron can figure out how to take it apart, clean it and put it back together. And the number one reason is, it's got that kickass bayonet folding underneath it all the time for more intimate encounters with two or four legged creatures. :evil: Heck my AR didn't even come with a bayonet! Feel free to agree or disagree.
 
SKS = 200 yd rifle

M-1 = 1000 yd rifle.

Kinda is 5X better IMHO.

Just kidding! I paid $59 for my SKS in '93 and consider it one of the better values in my firearms collection. Cheap to feed, too!

Besides, if you loan an SKS to a friend and if they screw it up/lose it you can probably still be friends. Don't think that would float if somebody screwed up a Garand.
 
Or you can get a Mosin Nagant M39 or M44 for less that $80 and have something that shoots as well as an M1.
 
I agree completely. I gave $180 for my Yugo SKS, which seems like it was a bit high, but never regret it. You can't touch a brand new, semi-automatic centerfire rifle in America for that.

Now, back when there were good rack grade Greek M1's being sold for $295, that was the best deal in guns. But they still wern't new.
 
I agree that the SKS is one of the best bangs for your buck currently but with news of M1's, M1 carbines, and some other lend/lease firearms (C&R)potentially coming back home in the near future, at what point will a Garand be a better value than a $150 Unissued SKS? - Would the Garand need to cost sub $300?
 
The only reason that the M1 isn't 5x better than an sks to me is because its so darn expensive to feed- I only reload for it and mostly only shoot it in matches. The SKS is a great plinker, my Yugo is pretty accurate, and best of all its dirt cheap to feed.

Or you can get a Mosin Nagant M39 or M44 for less that $80 and have something that shoots as well as an M1.
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M39 probably. If you have a M44 that's as accurate as my M1, I'll eat it. :neener:
 
If they got good M1's back into the $300 price range, I'd go back to saying that it was better. The best overall M1 I owned (and stupidly sold to my dad's friend after he shot it) was off the $295 rack at the CMP store. That was a much better deal than the unissued SKS, for one thing, you will never lose money on a CMP M1.


Mind you, I said GOOD M1's. I can buy Danes all day at $325 a pop, but the barrels are so junked, they need a $200 new barrel.
 
but with news of M1's, M1 carbines, and some other lend/lease firearms (C&R)potentially coming back home in the near future
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Whoa, did I miss something here? I thought L/L guns couldn't come back! Did I miss this thread somewhere else?

Unfortunately, it'd sure be a kick in the pant for Auto-Ordnance if $200 M1 carbines showed up on the market...
 
Yeah I wanna know about these M1's that are suppossed to be coming back to the states. :) That would be great, might as well tell us the government is gonna give out M14's as well :scrutiny: . And yes if you could get a "Service Grade" Garand under $300, then I'd say that might beat out a SKS. Heck I'd buy several of both. I use my SKS for my truck duty gun at the moment. Keep about 6 stripper clips on hand for it. That should suffice until I could make it back home and get to my real Evil Black Rifles :evil: . I don't know if the M44 can shoot with a Garand but they are an excellent firearm for the money also. I bought one from Interordnance when they were having a special on them $55 bucks shipped to your door. Ahhh, having a C&R license sure is nice. Hard on the wallet though. I think an addiction to milsurp rifles and getting a C&R license is about like the government giving crack pipes to crack addicts. :neener:
 
Or you can get a Mosin Nagant M39 or M44 for less that $80 and have something that shoots as well as an M1.
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I'd love to know where you can get an $80 M39 :cool:

I love my SKS's...definitely one of my better purchases and it always goes to the range with me.
 
There are supposedl allies that still have US weapons, as we sold them, they were not originally allowed to be returned. IIRC, Britain, Denmark and S. Korea all have some of these.

I'm hoping for some 45's, myself.
 
Maybe the best semi for the money, I love mine. Cheap and never an issue.

Would agree with Snakeater though the the K31 is much better for accuracy and finish. I was tired, hot, and sweating bad, yet still quickly emptied a mag standing at 75 yrds in a group that I could cover with my hand. It's sweet as one could ever dream of and less then $100 all day long!!! :D
 
The SKS is indeed the premier rifle for those who want a decent fighting rifle, but are strapped for cash. The rifles are tough and reliable, and loading with the strippers is quick once practiced. The real bonus for the SKS though is the ammo. At current prices it's less than 10¢ per round, so you get lots of practice cheap.

If you're strapped for cash, or just like Russkie guns, they're great. Think of it this way, for the price of a single Mini-14/30 or AK, you can have TWO SKSs, 1,000 rounds of ammo and enough stripper clips to hold every round.
 
Oh I'll agree the K31 is one fine firearm, heck I have three of em in the stable myself. :D Probably would rank it as the best bolt action for the money. Only negatives is it does not have semiauto capabilities and the ammo is alot more costly and hard to come by. Also the K31 is such a sweet rifle I just couldn't toss it around in my truck and let it get abused. The commie guns don't seem to mind it though.
 
I have two. A Chinese (thanks, WA) and a Yugo 59/66. My experience is that they are utterly reliable and accurate enough to be consistently deadly out to 100+ yds. They are short and light (the California-legal Yugo is a little front end heavy; it's got the muzzlebrake welded on so I won't be tempted to launch a grenade) :rolleyes: and quick on follow up shots.

They were designed for peasants to hold off invaders until the regular army arrives, so they are built like tanks and easy to operate. 7.62x39 ammo is inexpensive and plentiful; I use the Russkie (usually Wolf) steel cased stuff.

The only little problem is the sights; they look somewhat fuzzy to my aging eyes. I'm considering a mojo replacement.

Plus, you've got a bayonet!
 
Best bang for the buck?

Sure, the SKS is on the list. Same with several of the Mosin-Nagants, and Mausers. I'd also add a 30-30 Winchester 94- highly reliable, simple, can load on the go (no need to wait until empty), powerful caliber, quite accurate at short and medium range, lightweight, handy, quick to get onto target, etc.
 
nd it's ok to cover you while you save up for an AR, but that's all it is. Since the AR's are what win the Service Rifle and the HighPower Rifle matchs, and they really kick .30 caliber butt at 600 yds, why would you prefer the Garand for such matches?
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Buying equipment doesn't win you matches. A good shooter with an M1 will clean up on a fair shooter with an AR-15 at any range, especially at 600 yards.
 
There are good, less expensive bolt actioned rifles around, but for a semi-auto the SKS is an incredible bargain. NOTHING comes near it in price, and the ammo is plentiful and dirt cheap compared to other semi-autos.

I've used both the AK and SKS in Vietnam...except for a close-in mass assault, I much prefer the SKS...longer sight radius, same ammo. And, although you can get 20 and 30-round aftermarket mags for the SKS, I've found them to be in the way for bench and prone positions (another reason I don't care for the AK)...I much prefer the 10-round mags.

Inexpensive mounts and scopes are available for the SKS. Short scopes that come short of the action are best, as the SKS ejects vertically. But, you can use a long scope if you mount a case deflector, $5 from CDC.

The SKS is not a tackdriver...I get 4" groups at 100-yd. But I can ring the 360-yd gong with every shot, and the rifle is a hoot to shoot! And my choice in teaching "newbys" to shoot centerfire after basic training on .22s. ;)
 
If you think an SKS is the best bang for the buck, you should have bought it in the mid 70's they were running $79 for a Norinco in a crate, you pick your own. I wish I bought a whole crate, now that would be a real bang for the buck, at least I got one at that price....who knew?
 
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