Storz
Member
Thinking about picking up an SKS for a range toy. The local shops all have several ranging in price from 250-350. What should I look for in an SKS?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Make sure it doesn't have any Tapco crap on it, check the gasvalve on a Yugo, and pop out the triggerpack and make sure nobody dinked the innards.
Those things aside, it's a SKS, about the most bomb-proof module-of-firepower out there.
Black bolt Ruskies are refurbs, all original ones have bolts in the white.If you come across a Russian with the black bolt you might take a close look at those, they were made for guard troops and didn't see much action, but they will most likely be at the upper end of your mentioned price range. Otherwise find a nice Norinco, one with the bayonet lug if possible. +1 Chrome barrel.
I think the best strategy when buying a used SKS is to find the most tacti-cool'd, bubba'd-out one that you can find.
Chances are it's owner bought it wishing it was an AR or AK, spent a bunch of money trying to make it look or shoot like an AR or AK, and will end up selling it at a loss when he can't.
I have seen some great deals on people who just couldn't make the SKS be what they wanted it to be, and sold it just to get rid of it.
Putting it back in stock configuration is a snap: find the next new guy on the forum who has a new SKS and wants to tacti-cool it out, then offer to trade him whatever stock/sights/mags/etc that you have for whatever his mil-spec stuff is.
The SKS is a wonderful little carbine as-is. IMHO unless there's a compelling reason to do so, there's really no reason to modify it. Mine has tech sights (the best SKS mod, hands down), a Kivari trigger job, and a Murray firing pin, and it's just perfect. Tapco stocks, rails, lights, optics, and all of the other junk is just that and does nothing to really enhance the SKS.
Find a Norinco that was actually made as a military rifle (a Type 56 usually distinguishable by the triangle with the "26" inside of it) and not one made as a consumer rifle for the US market (like a Paratrooper or a Cowboy Companion or one with almost no markings at all). Find one that hasn't been altered with aftermarket parts (some work fine - others don't work at all). Find one that hasn't been shot a whole lot of times and is filthy inside like it was never cleaned or it was stored in a barrel of soot for 15 years. Look for one that is still packed in the original milsurp storage condition (still coated with cosmoline inside and out - it means more work getting it ready to shoot but it also means it will be a rifle in very good shape). If you can't find a Norinco get a Yugo without a grenade launcher (who needs all that weight?). There are still some around that haven't been sold in the US market and shot out. It does make a big difference. I looked at one about a year ago and I wanted to buy it but when I tried to pull the trigger the action wouldn't even operate because of all the gunk inside from where it had been shot 100,000 rounds (or some really high number). I didn't buy it. If they didn't take care of the action I can guarantee they didn't take care of the gas tube. It's much harder to get to.
Black bolt Ruskies are refurbs, all original ones have bolts in the white.
The only thing I have used from Tapco that didn't turn out to be great was their replacement bolt, which allows for tactical reloads. I called Tapco, and they said that they discontinued it because they couldn't make the extractor run well. They said if I bothered to have a smith fit it, they would give me credit for it, but I think the reason mine didn't run well was because I had a Kivaari trigger done. I want the trigger more than the closed-bolt reload capability.
But I think I'll try some of the new Pro-mags, if they cleaned the design up a little bit it might be worth the extra ten rounds. Recent great reviews on Midway.