First let me say I'm a SKS user, not a collector. I presently have 3 Chi-Com SKS carbines, 16" barrels.
I bought these guns in the 80's & early 90's when there were much less expensive than they are now. I have give 4 to 6 as presents to young men in the family. Some liked them some didn't.
My SKS has a Butler Creek stock, an ATI (drill and tap) scope mount and a 1.5 to 5 Simmons scope. It is mounted in a way where I can still use stripper clips on it. This is the rifle I keep at my back door, (for varmints and such), and my inclement weather hunter.
My wife is basically stock except for a red Chi-Com fiber glass stock. I'm sorry I haven't seen a Chi-Com stock that even made good fire wood.
The third is my "travel gun". When I take a trip over 100 miles it and a pouch of loaded stripper clips come with me, on top of my CCW handguns.
I use to have and ATI folder on it. The stock made a very compact package, but I COULDN'T KEEP THE GUN ZEROED. I could see the receiver move as I pulled the trigger. I used mild jug pieces to shim it all over to no avail.
I've recently put a Tapco stock. I LOVE this stock. It's longer collapsed than the ATI, but it feel so solid and so "right", that I may put the Tapco on ALL my SKS's.
The Russian ammo is OK, IMO. I've never had a miss fire. The cheap Russian HP rounds are better hunters than the Remington SP rounds. IMO again. However Russian ammo in not the most accurate. Lapua, and winchester ammo will cut you group size in haft if you do your part. I've recently bought some custom loaded ammo by Precision. It's loaded with virgin brass an uses the V-Max bullet. While zeroing I was shooting clovers leafs at 50 yards. I haven't shot game with it yet, but the gun store talk is good, we'll see.
Bottom line, the SKS is a solid dependable rifle. IT'S NOT A MATCH RIFLE. But it will serve well as a shooter, hunter and protection weapon. Plus it is just fun to shoot.
