Why buy an SKS? Why not?

[Ignition Override]

If you only want to own military-style rifles (along with Mosins) which shoot reliably, using the lowest-cost ammo, is this a better value in the long-term than simply buying another 1200 rounds or so of Wolf for a Mini 14 and/or 30?

How much are typical Yugo and Norinco SKS prices expected to climb in the next year?

 

[chris in va]

I had a Yugo. Didn't care for the extra grenade crap, sold it and bought a Saiga.

But I guess if you're into that military thing, why not. Just get something like a Norinco that doesn't have the extras.

 

[aka108]

Had a Mini 30 for awhile and sold it. Worst rifle I ever owned. The Norinco "Paratrooper" I've had for years is more accurate by far than the Ruger and outshot the Russian models that I've also sold off. The Norinco is a keeper.

 

[Atla]

Because your to cheap to buy an AK

 

[Technosavant]

Why get one? It is a very reliable, reasonably accurate, and fun carbine. The price is right, even if you do have to strip cosmoline.

However, as the prices have risen, the quality of the deal has gone south. Much north of $200, and the Saiga in 7.62x29 is an even better deal- more handy, fewer parts, better optic mount solutions, and if you want to turn it into an AK, you'll get better results.

I love my SKS, but it seems like the high quality ones are drying up; looks like $190ish for a very good, and $200ish for an excellent. Compare that to about $300ish for a brand new Saiga that won't require a couple hours of degreasing- it is cheaper, but I'm not sure you're gaining anything in accuracy or reliability, and the Saiga handles better.

If you want an SKS, I'd get on it. Otherwise, look into the Saigas.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

The SKS is probably the best value out there in semiauto military rifles. They are inexpensive and shoot (for the time being) relatively inexpensive ammo in a serious caliber. They are rugged and reliable. In my experience, reliability is on par with an AK. Accuracy is nothing to write home about but it's good enough for plinking, defense and hunting medium game out to a couple hundred yards.

The three biggest limiting factors WRT to accuracy are (a) ammo, (b) the sights, and (c) the trigger. All three can be fixed.

For a modern military arm, the lack of a detachable mag is a con, but we're not in the military. For a civilian defense rifle, it's a viable option. Get a bunch of stripper clips and practice your reloading.

The grenade launcher on Yugo SKSes adds a lot of weight out at the front. I have one, but prefer the handling of the Norinco that I've had since May 1988. It's a much handier rifle.

 

[JoeLad]

I have a few. I do know people who poo poo the SKS since it's "not as accurate" as their AR15s. It's much more reliable, tho.

 

[res45]

I have the Mosin M44 carbine best $75 I ever spent on a rifle 100 yd. 3' groups no problem with my reloads and the irons. I also own two SKS rifles a 1970 unissued YUGO 3 Yrs. old $150 & 1965 /26\ Chinese 6 Months old I bought NIB they are both great shooters,easy to maintain. I have done a couple things to these two rifles to improve them.

I changed the front sight post to a Techsight post its half the .dia of the original posts it gives you get a finer aiming point,I saw no need to change the rear sight set it in the battle position,zero mine at 50 Yds. and I can nail anything out to 150 Yds with no problems. Last but no least find a good brand of ammo your rifle likes,Golden Tiger is the best in my rifles followed by Brown Bear. I also reload for the 7.62 x 39 mm and that really makes the SKS shine.

I put a Choate drill and tap mount on the YUGO this winter my old eyes are needing the help of a scope now,if your going to scope the SKS don't go the cheap route do the drill and tap it's solid and get a good quality optic. I use a Bushnell 3 x 9 x 32 on mine and with my reload I get 1" groups at 100 Yds on the YUGO,the Chinese the same with the irons at 50 Yds. ammo does make a difference.

As far as the grenade launcher on the YUGO I really never saw a problem with that I like the added weight it give the rifle balance and helps on the follow up shot if needed,it has less muzzle climb than my Chinese but I wouldn't take anything for either one of them. If you eve get into adding the detachable magazines go with the Tapco 20 rd. mag it just plain works all the rest are a crap shoot and more expensive to boot. One other thing if you get a YUGO go ahead and get yourself an extra gas valve from CNC Worriers for $12 shipped. If you have fail to eject issues or stove piping cause buy a gas leak that will take care of it 99% of the time. Clean your SKS throughly the first time then clean it again, My rule of thumb when it comes to upgrades on the SKS less is more.

O just one more thing 50 yd iron sight targets.

 

[DMK]

There's nothing wrong with the Yugo SKS. Some folks get the cheaper, well used ones and have problems with the gas system because they were shot with corrosive ammo and the grenade launcher valves have rusted or pitted. get one in unissued condition and clean it well, you won't have these problems. Also keep in mind that Yugu SKS don't have chrome lined barrels, like other the SKS varients do.

The Yugo 59/66 is a bit bulkier. It has a fatter stock and has the grenade launcher device on the muzzle. The regular SKS is a bit handier. I've found that a Yugo 59/66 is a very well made rifle though. The two 'unissued' condition examples I've owned shot better than the other SKS variations I've had.

SKS or Saiga, you can't go wrong. To me, it seems like the difference between an M1A/M14 and an M1 Garand. Both are good, although each has their own die-hard fans.

 

[Pilot]

If you can find a Russian SKS for a reasonable price get it. They are a real military collectible, shoot great and a lot of fun. Its a good all around battle rifle.

 

[res45]

Nice rifles there DMk where in NC Albemarle area here,is that one of Rick's AR style Flash Hider you have on the 59/66.

Chinese


YUGO

 

[theotherwaldo]

Right now I'm in the middle of stripping the cosmoline out of:
-a WASR 10
-a Yugo M59 SKS
-a Mosin-Nagant 91-30
-a SMLE No.4 Mk.1
-and some CZ and Tokarev pistols.
I'm gonna need some more brake cleaner, sawdust, and plastic bags.
Then I'll make my own comparisons.

In the meantime, tell me more... .

 

[MaterDei]

Why? Inexpensive, fun, history

Why not? Beats me

 

[res45]

K1 kerosene or just plain old Boiling HOT water works great also,a nice stiff tooth brush and a high pressure air hose to get it out of all the little tight spots.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Now with pics

My Norinco SKS, bought in May 1988:



I added an ambi safety, since I'm left handed. I haven't seen these for sale in quite a few years:



(Crude inletting done by me with a Swiss Army Knife. )

My unissued Yugo:

 

[res45]

Nothing but a little time and some fine sandpaper and stain to fix that inlay job there Dave Nice rifles

 

[DMK]

Nice rifles there DMk where in NC Albemarle area here,is that one of Rick's AR style Flash Hider you have on the 59/66.

Thanks! The muzzle device is actually a CETME flash hider that was drilled and tapped all the way through, so it screws all the way down and protects the threads so it doesn't function as a FH any more. I believe I got it from Centerfire Systems, back about 5 or 6 years ago.

 

[res45]

It was hard to tell in the pic, it looked allot like this one.
http://brakes.ricksmuzzlebrakesandgunstuff.com/index.htm

 

[bakert]

My Norinco that many told me was a POS, soft steel, etc,etc. has worked right well for a number of years and quite a few thousand of rounds through it. Pretty accurate too in spite of a less than perfect trigger.

 

[woad_yurt]

I've owned a Yugo SKS and now have 2 Norincos. I like the chrome lined barrel and the lighter, slimmer qualities of the Norinco. But, they're all pretty good. I think that if the SKS was never sold for $89 a while back, most folks wouldn't gripe at a $250 price tag now. If I could only have one centerfire rifle, it'd be my Norinco SKS. As far as I'm concerned, a Chinese SKS is the handiest, most user friendly, most reliable thing rifle ever. They just do what they're supposed to do without complaint.

I removed the bayonet & put a $28.00 rear peep sight on my shooter. The peep sight makes a world of difference in target aquisition and I can't see myself participating in a bayonet charge any time soon. The extra lightness w/o the bayonet is nice. Other than those 2 changes, I think that a Norinco is perfect as is.

Oh yeah, some possible reasons for not getting an SKS: Quadraplegia? No money? Death? That's about all I can think of. For most of us, however, there is no reason.

 

[amprecon]

I wanted one, bought a para, wanted an AK instead so sold the SKS. Didn't want an SKS anymore. Then one was offered for $100, now I have one again and It's my beater gun.

 

[stubbicatt]

I have a nice Tula laminated SKS. Shoots great, doesn't jam. Is accurate enough!

 

[chupacabrah]

I have a saiga....but my next rifle will probably be an SKS. So I suggest having/getting both

 

[EdLaver]

Before Saigas were sold, SKS's were a great purchase. But now, with Saigas on the market with better quality, ergos, same cartridge, and almost the same price...why get an SKS?

 

[res45]

I don't think the Saigas are of any better quality than a SKS in excellent condition, there stamped out plastic rifles,my stock Chinese or YUG0 in 7.62 x 39mm feels like a real rifle.