SKS

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Angio333

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I'm considering getting either an AR, AK, or a SKS. At this time, I have only seen SKS rifles at gun shows, but never fired one. Does anyone have any good web sites with info on SKS rifles?

How much should I expect to pay?

What are some things I should be careful of before buying a SKS?

I do have another quick dumb question...are the stripper clips reusable? I never seen or used a gun that used one.

Thanks in advance.
 
As for the websites, here are two of the best:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/index.asp

http://www.simonov.net/

Prices can be anywhere from $80 to $400+ depending on country of manufacture, rarity, condition, etc. I'd say $150-200 is average.

The sites above will help with things to watch out for. Most important, I would think, is a good bore - most everything else can be replaced.

Yes, stripper clips are infinitely reusable... they just go from full to empty after the rounds are stripped into the magazine. Toss 'em in your pocket and fill it back up later!
 
I picked up my Yugo SKS about 6 months back for $119 at Dunham's. They are great rifles for the price and you can often find excellent/very good condition rifles around with very little difficulty.

The one issue Yugo SKS's have is that sometimes the gas valve is corroded which causes cycling difficulties. Mine had no issues whatsoever, but it's the most common problem with them. Thankfully it's fixed by a simple $20 replacement part that just drops in. Besides that, I haven't heard about any regular problems with the Yugo variants.
 
I just posted this a couple of days ago, so it's still current, and it does address part of the question:

At a gun show in Pasadena, Texas last weekend some folks had Norincos there, with the paras at $229 and the long ones up to $199. The long ones had been $179 at these same peoples' booth a couple of weeks earlier. They were very good, but not excellent, and they all had ventilated metal or Zytel handguards. Was a ventilated metal handguard ever OEM on a Norinco?

These same folks had lots of tacticooled Chinese (ATI stock, hi-cap detachable mags, etc.) Norincos for $249 - claimed they were 922 compliant.

Another group had a shipping case full of good condition shooter's grade Yugos for $149.

The guy who'd been at another show with good shooters for $145 two weeks previously had 3 for $140. Scattered around the hall were a few loner Yugos at prices ranging from $185 to $235, there was an Albanian for $359 and a good condition Russian for ~$500.

I was in a gun shop this morning where they had a case of good, but not new/unissued, de-cosmo'd Yugos for $249. That seemed high, but those guys are in the business, so I guess they must have an idea as to what will sell.

Samco lists the following:
Shooter's Grade: $119.95
Very Good Condition: $129.95
Special Select Condition: $139.95
Excellent Condition: $159.95
New Condition: $179.95
New Condition with Consecutive Serial Numbers $209.95
Order 2 pieces or more $5.00 OFF

I have no idea if they are really there and available or not, and I guess they might involve shipping and an FFL transfer if you don't have a C&R.

Atlantic Firearms lists new/unissued for $229.

Impact Guns lists "Good with cracked stocks" Yugos for $184.99, Good condition Yugos for $199.99 and "New" ones for $299.99. All are "out of stock."

At a gun show one month ago there was a table selling so-so Yugos for $109; I talked to one of the guys there at noon on the first day and he said they had 13 left of the 30 they'd started with three hours earlier.

Just a snapshot for you.
 
where are you located Angio? if your in one of the other more restrictive states, expect to see significantly higher prices. in MA anything but crap doesnt start till 150.

also the Samco prices are wholesale, not what your gunna see in a store
 
Expect a lousy trigger pull at least in a Yugo. I have one in exc. condition but the trigger is heavy and gritty. The surplus rifle site will give you help in fixing it and it works. That being said it is a nice rifle, works every time and with practice can be loaded with stripper clips quickly. Take the stripper clips and using a stone or fine tooth file remove the burrs, the rounds should move the length of the clip without hanging up or binding. Jim.
 
The SKS is perhaps the best buy semiauto surplus rifle going. I was especially pleased today to hit my steel target at 550yds today offhand on my fourth try. Granted its not a tackdriver, but it's tons of fun to shoot and easy on the pocketbook.
 
Skip the SKS. I have one. It's very heavy for it's size.

Get a Saiga instead. Or an AK.
Click to expand...

I have a Saiga, and while I like it just fine, I can't say that it is a featherweight. Probably your right that it is lighter, but I have never thought of that as a particular advantage between the SKS and the Saiga. Actually, I have never thought about weight period between the SKS and the Saiga...
 
If your budget allows for a decent AR, you might well be able to acquire an AK and an SKS. Then you'll have two rifles that use the same ammo.
 
I prefer my $65 Chicom Norinco SKS to My YUGO 59/66. I have a S & K scout sight mount on it and have one of the few Receiver sights from Belarus to try out to see which I like better.(The ones that Centerfire had (now Out of stock) )

Centerfire systems have Yugos with cracked stocks whose owners on my C & R list say are merely "dinged" and are good shooting quality for about $89-$129
(C & R)

The 59/66 will need bayo and muzzle brake taken off and possible retrofitted with a lighter one brake. Otherwise, The Yugo is awful heavy

I didnt help mine by adding a Blue Star Bipod.

But I like them because they are SLIM, and carry well, and produce 30-30 type ballistics, I cant SEE past 10 yards anyway, tho the tables say it's POA is at 250 yards.

With my cast bullet reloads I can hit a 3" target spinner at the 10 yard berm

FUN!

And you can shoot prone without that godawful AK type magazine messing with you.

yodar
 
$ 65 Norinco

Loooong Loooong ago 1999 iirc at a Orlando LEO gun store since closed.

Yodar
 
SKS weight: 8.8 lbs
Saiga weight (.308): 9.0 Ibs
Saiga weight (.233): 6.6-7.0 Ibs
Saiga weight (7.62x39): 6.6-7.0 Ibs

So its not really that much heavier. You cut off the bayonet and a bunch of other features and alterations you could knock over a ib off its weight. A Norinco paratrooper SKS would be even lighter. A non sporter AK would weigh just as much as the SKS if not heavier.
 
Hoppy590 -- Ohio

Doc2005 -- I had a similiar thread discussing "AR vs AK vs SKS"
 
I own a sks but if you have the money buy one the first two rifles. the sks can be customized to the extreme. and if you do purchase one make sure the gas piston functions properly they are know to lock up with rifles that have not been cared for. And forget the stripper clips and get the banana clip kit. Its a fine gun for around 250 dollars but dont buy chinese!!!
 
SKS weight

LImeyfellow I am sure you are right, its really the BALANCE! My RINC' is very easily handled and the change in weight distribution od a 59/66 thru parts removeal (I dont NEEED a grenade launcher) and bayo will possibly make it more HANDY

yodar
 
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