Ugly SKS

[gunny1022]

Put off forever buying a SKS because they are UGLY!. Finally saw one advertised for $89.00 for a "shooter grade" and did it. Big Brown Truck came and unwraped a NEW UNISSUED rifle. The stockpuller that day made a mistake to my benefit. The more I play with it the more it is the shooter of choice. More accurate than my AK, and the Yugo is quality made.

 

[vanfunk]

Way to go! $89 for a quality firearm is a bargain indeed. Looks like Christmas came early for you! Enjoy it
vanfunk

 

[dfaugh]

Congratulations!

I had more or less the same happen to me (but you got an even better deal). Dunham's had them on sale for $129.99, so I went and looked....The ones they had out were all beat up, but I hadn't gone expect a pristine rifle. BUT, the "kid" behind the counter says "there's a couple more out back. if you wanna look at them". Both were obviously unissued (or at least unissued since they were re-arsenalled), but on one the upper handguard didn't match well, so I bought the other. Been kicking myself ever since that I didn't buy both.

 

[ordonnanzgewehr]

I've had both Chinese and Russian SKS's, but I have the highest regard for the Yugo version. Got a very good condition, near unissued one last year for $129.00. I like it aloooot! Get'em while you can....

 

[CornCod]

After a few months of shooting the SKS you get over the "ugly" aspect really quickly. I have been shooting SKS's for 15 years and they look great to me now!

 

[MCgunner]

The more I play with it the more it is the shooter of choice. More accurate than my AK,

Not exactly saying much with that statement, LOL!

I have a couple of Norincos. I think they're a lot better looking than a friggin' AK after all. I dressed mine up so they're more fun to play with and not as fugly, either. That's the fun thing with an SKS, personalizing it. Can turn a cheap rifle into a not so cheap toy, but I don't have more than $250 in one gun nor $200 in the other, so they're still pretty cheap. The $250 one includes the price of scope, scope mount, aftermarket sporter stock, and case deflector as well as ambi safety and five round magazine. That's a lot of customizing, but the gun didn't cost me, but 75 bucks...

If you get down on the SKS's mediocre 3 MOA groups, all you have to do is realize it's more accurate than a Ruger mini 30 and then check out the price of said Ruger. You cannot fault the function of the SKS. It's 100 percent reliable, or at least mine are.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I'm a recent inductee to the world of the SKS and I really thought it was a butt ugly rifle too until I tore my first one down. Intelligent mechanical design goes a LONG way towards making something "beautiful" in my eyes. About the only thing I can't figure out is why they stopped putting return springs in the firing pin. One small part that increases the safety factor by about a bazillion percent.

 

[MCgunner]

In a military use, my thinking is a firing pin return spring isn't necessary and is just one more thing to break and cause a malfunction. I'd prefer it had one, but I've not had a slam fire even with handloads and CCI primers. Primers in the milsurp ammo are pretty hard by comparison.

 

[meef]

Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder.

Let me tell you, when I be holdin' either one of my Norincos (either the 10 rounder or the AK mag one) and blasting at some attacking water-filled milk jugs a hundred yards away - these babies are beautiful to me!

Very accurate, little to no recoil, rock-solid reliable, way durable, easy to work on, relatively cheap to shoot - hey..... Beeeee You Teee Full!

 

[Simonovfan]

Amen. I never thought of them as ugly, but after owning different models over the last 15 years, I think they're a good looking rifle. I agree with the above poster, that they are a wonderfully engineered rifle. I am amazed when I strip it down at how simple it is and yet how well engineered it is. Plus, how many rifles out there are almost entirely milled out of solid steel? Not many. I am happy with the 4" groups out of mine. That's good in my eyes for a "combat" rifle, that is meant to fight, not win trophies.

I think the disrespect comes from the fact that they aren't overpriced, like some other rifles out there. There is elitism and snobbery in the gun world just like every other hobby out there.

 

[MCgunner]

With a proper load, I can stretch my SKS's hunting accuracy to 200 yards, which is about the limit of it's power on medium game anyway. It'll shoot 6" groups at that range, minute of deer shoulder. Best to keep shots inside 150, though, especially with factory 123 grain stuff.

My SKS is just mostly a fun rifle, though. I shot a doe with it, once, but I have better hunting rifles. It's just a lot of fun at the range with surplus ammo. Actually, I have two of 'em, one sporterized and one tacticool 16" paratrooper. They're mainly play guns, but have field applications they CAN fill. I don't think you can complain considering the price and reliability and toughness. EVERYone should own one.

 

[possum]

congrats, that was your lucky day. i have a norinco and, i am happy with it, i don't know the last time i shot it though, i keep getting new stuff and, you know that takes priroty!
yeah they are ugly, but they work. sks's are like me they are ugly but they are good at there job!

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Just took my new Yugo to the range yesterday. Shot as good as these old eyes can with iron sights. Fun little commie gun--not ugly, it is mean looking, as it should be.
Bought the only thing that bothers me is the thought of that rod ramming the bolt back right at eye level
That just does not seem right.

 

[gunny1022]

Understand placing a non-gunsmithing scope on the SKS is not successful. Noticed Tapco has a handguard with Picatinny rail for $15.00. Do you think a red dot unit in the scout position would work?