Sks
- Thread starter pipboy
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Most sought-after SKS is probably Russian. Chinese SKS made for the military are okay, but there are some export-only variants made to lower standards. Best bang for the buck has to be Yugo M59/66. Price range is between $100 for a shooter-grade to $150 or slightly over for excellent/unissued.
Don't Tread On Me
Member
SKS: There's a lot to choose from. If you want cheap and decent, get the Yugo's that are unissued. These have been refurbished but never served time. You can get these for under $200. You can spend up to $350ish and buy a Nornico SKS that accepts actual AK magazines..so there are many choices.
AK Sight IN: Buy the "C-tool" sight tool. It is basically a C-clamp designed to push on the front sight posts barrel. This is the only way to adjust windage. The handle of the tool fits the post itself and allows you to screw it in more or out to adjust elevation. You do nothing to the rear sight on an AK. Now, you could buy an adjustable rear sight for the AK but that's another story altogether. The AK has different marks. From "D" to 100 - 800. If you are zeroing the rifle at 50 yards, you can set it to 200 and zero it. That will give you a nice 0-200 yard trajectory..which is zero at 50, zero at 200..and about 4-5" high in the middle. You could just set it to the "D" which is a generic all-purpose battle zero and zero it there and call it good. The AK isn't going to be a rifle that you actually set the rear elevation at 500 and try to make hits with. So I wouldn't worry about it calibrating at every 100 yard increment on the sight.
The sight tool shouldn't cost more than $8
AK Sight IN: Buy the "C-tool" sight tool. It is basically a C-clamp designed to push on the front sight posts barrel. This is the only way to adjust windage. The handle of the tool fits the post itself and allows you to screw it in more or out to adjust elevation. You do nothing to the rear sight on an AK. Now, you could buy an adjustable rear sight for the AK but that's another story altogether. The AK has different marks. From "D" to 100 - 800. If you are zeroing the rifle at 50 yards, you can set it to 200 and zero it. That will give you a nice 0-200 yard trajectory..which is zero at 50, zero at 200..and about 4-5" high in the middle. You could just set it to the "D" which is a generic all-purpose battle zero and zero it there and call it good. The AK isn't going to be a rifle that you actually set the rear elevation at 500 and try to make hits with. So I wouldn't worry about it calibrating at every 100 yard increment on the sight.
The sight tool shouldn't cost more than $8
You can get a cheap Yugo for $150 or less.
Depending on what state you live in, Russian SKS rifles can be reasonable. I have read posts from guys in North Dakota who say Russians go for $250 up there. If you live in an area where you can find one, it might be worth saving up and going with the better quality.
Depending on what state you live in, Russian SKS rifles can be reasonable. I have read posts from guys in North Dakota who say Russians go for $250 up there. If you live in an area where you can find one, it might be worth saving up and going with the better quality.
cracked butt
Member
Yugo SKS is the way to go. Buy one in EXc or unissued condition, they are fairly accurate, despite the terrible trigger. The $100 shooter grade yugos are a great bargain for a plinker, but I wouldn't expect the accuracy to be as good as an unissued one.
Technosavant
Member
I'm not sure I would expect great accuracy out of a SKS.
But for the record, that C clamp sight tool works on both the AK and the SKS. The Yugo SKS has a wider front sight (you need to open up the notch on the tool, but only by a smidge- a couple minutes with a metal file), but it isn't a big deal.
But for the record, that C clamp sight tool works on both the AK and the SKS. The Yugo SKS has a wider front sight (you need to open up the notch on the tool, but only by a smidge- a couple minutes with a metal file), but it isn't a big deal.
Seven High
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Tapco has the heavy duty C clamp sight adjustment tool for under $20.00.
Lennyjoe
Member
Or you can get a C&R and have them delivered to your door.
I paid $120 each delivered about 3 years ago.
I paid $120 each delivered about 3 years ago.
cracked butt
Member
Only matters if you aren't into cleaning guns after you shoot them.
and ive hear very mixed reviews of norinco whats the deal with that
The fit and finish on the Norincos generally isn't up to that of other, especially Russian, SKS's. Not that we're talking about Colt-style blueing in the case of almost any SKS, but there you go. The Norincos were often sold commercially to begin with, so some have not been used by the military and are not "proven", if that matters to you.
I like them because you can get them 'pre-sporterized' by the importer, as in the case of the polymer-stocked one pictured, and avoid running afoul of the ATF. The only modifications I've made are to switch fixed magazines (10 for 20), and add the Tech Sights. I don't find the Norincos to be any less inherently accurate than the Russian versions if they're in good shape, although sometimes the triggers need work.
Some people just don't like the fact that they're Norinco (communist Chinese).
jmm
The fit and finish on the Norincos generally isn't up to that of other, especially Russian, SKS's. Not that we're talking about Colt-style blueing in the case of almost any SKS, but there you go. The Norincos were often sold commercially to begin with, so some have not been used by the military and are not "proven", if that matters to you.
I like them because you can get them 'pre-sporterized' by the importer, as in the case of the polymer-stocked one pictured, and avoid running afoul of the ATF. The only modifications I've made are to switch fixed magazines (10 for 20), and add the Tech Sights. I don't find the Norincos to be any less inherently accurate than the Russian versions if they're in good shape, although sometimes the triggers need work.
Some people just don't like the fact that they're Norinco (communist Chinese).
jmm
Yugos have to be the best bang for the buck. At around $100, there is no better used surplus gun for the money IMHO. They are much better quality than the Chinese SKSs. All SKSs are good but I rank the Chinese as the bottom of the barrel. Some will differ but that is mostly because they don't know what they are talking about.
Chrome lined bore is not a big deal. It helps in cleaning or if you shoot corrosive ammo but you are not going to wear out an SKS. They are one of the most solid semi-autos you can buy.
Expect about the same accuracy out of an SKS as an AK. Niether are tack drivers but with good sights or optics both can be plenty accurate for plinking and wood range hunting. They are not going to be small game getters at long range but they will work for pretty much anything less than 100 yards. You will be able to keep all your shots on a pie plate at 100 yards off hand with a little practice. That is about as much as I expect out of them with stock sights. With a scope or red-dot sight, accuracy gets much better. With a decent SKS and a red-dot scope, I can get 3-4" groups at 100 yards with out too much trouble from a bench. That is with Wolf cheap ammo as well. 3-4" may not sound that great but it is actually not bad.
Chrome lined bore is not a big deal. It helps in cleaning or if you shoot corrosive ammo but you are not going to wear out an SKS. They are one of the most solid semi-autos you can buy.
Expect about the same accuracy out of an SKS as an AK. Niether are tack drivers but with good sights or optics both can be plenty accurate for plinking and wood range hunting. They are not going to be small game getters at long range but they will work for pretty much anything less than 100 yards. You will be able to keep all your shots on a pie plate at 100 yards off hand with a little practice. That is about as much as I expect out of them with stock sights. With a scope or red-dot sight, accuracy gets much better. With a decent SKS and a red-dot scope, I can get 3-4" groups at 100 yards with out too much trouble from a bench. That is with Wolf cheap ammo as well. 3-4" may not sound that great but it is actually not bad.
MCgunner
Member
I've seen AKs that couldn't hold 6" at 100 yards, most are 4-5 MOA guns. I have fired many SKSs, own two Norincos, and they hold about 3" at 100 yards pretty regularly. I've not seen one much worse and haven't seen one any better. In my experience, the SKS is more accurate, but it's not going to win any bench rest matches. However, I have deer hunted and killed a deer with one of mine, a Norinco rifle. The other one is a new production paratrooper carbine.
I like the chrome bore if I'm shooting ammo I don't know if it's corrosive or not. It makes the gun more resistant to corrosion, but for practical American shooter purposes, it's not necessary. Probably was desirable in South East Asia about 35 years ago, though.
I bought mine to play with, dress up. I put a 5 round mag on the rifle, scoped it, case deflector, ambi safety, cut off the bayonet lug, this and that. The other one, 16" barrel paratrooper, has a folding stock, ambi safety, 20 round Chinese mag with big commie star on it , flash hider, laser sight, just a few do dads. It's fun to shoot at the range and the ammo I've bought is cheap. I gave $75 for the rifle and $115 for the carbine, but I've had these things since about 1990. There's no real value in the things other than shooters. Some guys think dressing 'em up is blasphemy, but I rather think that's the cool thing about 'em. There's as much after market for the things as for AKs, maybe more!
I like the chrome bore if I'm shooting ammo I don't know if it's corrosive or not. It makes the gun more resistant to corrosion, but for practical American shooter purposes, it's not necessary. Probably was desirable in South East Asia about 35 years ago, though.
I bought mine to play with, dress up. I put a 5 round mag on the rifle, scoped it, case deflector, ambi safety, cut off the bayonet lug, this and that. The other one, 16" barrel paratrooper, has a folding stock, ambi safety, 20 round Chinese mag with big commie star on it
, flash hider, laser sight, just a few do dads. It's fun to shoot at the range and the ammo I've bought is cheap. I gave $75 for the rifle and $115 for the carbine, but I've had these things since about 1990. There's no real value in the things other than shooters. Some guys think dressing 'em up is blasphemy, but I rather think that's the cool thing about 'em. There's as much after market for the things as for AKs, maybe more!mr.trooper
Member
Albanian is the way to go man.
Lennyjoe
Member
All 3 of them there Yugo's in my picture shoot accurate as heck at 100yds with open sights.
I'd like to have a Chinese or Russian but the Yugo is a great buy for the price and an outstanding starting point for your SKS collection.
I'd like to have a Chinese or Russian but the Yugo is a great buy for the price and an outstanding starting point for your SKS collection.
I have a Romanian and a Russian. Russian fit and finish is better, but the price tag reflected that. Romanian is not as refined and there're more tool marks inside the gun. However, when shooting them, I can't tell the difference. Accuracy-wise, they're equal.
Romanian on top, Russian on the bottom:
Romanian on top, Russian on the bottom:
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