Why is the SKS so Underated, Plenty for hunting

[dickydalton]

Is that really true with respect to the SKS being the most used deer rifle in Wisconsin and Minn? (see post 17) With all of the hunting rifle choices available I just cannot imagine that the SKS is the most used rifle in the deer woods in those places.

I don't live there and so I'm genuinely asking and not trying to be argumentative.

It might be true. Remember that the Twin Cities has a rather large SE Asian immigrant population and at deer season many of them go hunting. The weapons of choice seem to be lever actions and SKSs. One local gun shop said that they buy them before season and sell them back after the season is over.

 

[dvdcrr]

Anybody know who makes (or even if they still make) the little black plastic pg that you simply bolt up behind the trigger gaurd?

 

[garrysks]

The SKS is my main deer rifle. I have shot many deer with it, a couple at distances that I won"t mention. Steel-cased ammo at 5$-6 a box is a lot better than 30-06 at $25.

 

[Cee Zee]

They're worth every penny whether $86 in 1990 or $400 in 2014.

That may be true but it doesn't take that much money to get one now. You can buy a Norinco for $270. That's for a Chi-com model too which means it's all milled parts with a threaded barrel instead of a barrel that's held on with a pin. Actually the pinned models are generally reliable as heck anyway but the threaded models are considered to be stronger.

Like I said before it isn't the same great deal it was in the 90's but it is a far cry from a bad deal. It's still a lot cheaper than a decent AR. The ammo is also cheaper.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Norinco sks rifles can come BOTH with a pinned or threaded barrel depending on which facility it was made in.

Norinco does not automatically = threaded bbl


I have bought Stevens 200's for as little as $210 NEW why in the world would you walk past one of these in the quest for a hunting rifle to grab up an unwieldy club of a gun and play the game of accuracy "Russian roulette" that is ANY chi-com manufactured firearm?

$270 sks
$30 shipping
$20 transfer
$50 scope mount or tech sight
$70 CRAPTASTIC Chinese EER scope
$30 trigger "kit"
No thank you

 

[chicharrones]

I have bought Stevens 200's for as little as $210 NEW why in the world would you walk past one of these in the quest for a hunting rifle to grab up an unwieldy club of a gun and play the game of accuracy "Russian roulette" that is ANY chi-com manufactured firearm?

Because someone may only have the funds for one centerfire rifle which that person wants as a multi-purpose carbine. Yet, for some reason that person prefers an auto-loader over a lever action .30-30 or a hunting specific bolt gun.

That was me in 1992. My SKS was my first rifle and I couldn't foresee myself affording another centerfire rifle in the immediate future. It went hunting with me and I thought of it as my home defense gun at the time since I had yet to own a handgun or shotgun.

While an SKS can't do any one thing especially well, it can a few things well enough. Geez, I feel like I'm rewriting the ad copy of a Ruger GSR.

BTW, was that new Stevens for $210 bought in the last year or so and did it have sights or did you have to add glass?

 

[JTMcC]

If you have an SKS and you enjoy hunting with it then good on you.
It isn't the ultimate, it isn't even somewhat ideal (to most folks). But good, go out, shoot it, hunt with it, glad to have you in the fold.

The current innexpensive bolt guns (may) be a lot better low cost choice for most hunters buying new today, maybe not depending on your situation and what you want out of the gun. Maybe someone gave it too you? Maybe you just like it?

Personally I just like to see more shooters and more hunters and they don't ALL have to carry the identical gun that I carry (that would be boring, huh?).
Maybe you've got a gritty old bad trigger, maybe your cartidge isn't a supermag 7mm, maybe you inherited an old rifle, maybe you got a deal and use what you can afford at this point in your work life, maybe you just like to be different.

Who knows, not me for sure. As long as you support the RBA, shoot and hunt responsibly, then good for you.

So if your favorite hunting arm today is a SKS, you shoot responsibly, you enjoy the hunt and you hopefully harvest & eat the game animal, then who in the world am I to tell you what particular firearm to carry afield ?????

Go get some, have fun, feed the family, regardless of what projectile launcher you choose or can afford today. We need all we can get in this anti world.
Your gun doesn't have to make ME happy, just you. It doesn't have to be "the best via the internet", a hard, good hunt is just that, regardless. I have no SKS, and don't desire any but if it makes you happy then go head on.

Burn powder, hunt hard, enjoy doing it, use a sensible caliber with the appropriate bullet for the intended game animal. That's really all there is too it in my opinion.

Happy shooting/hunting.

JTMcC.

 

[T.R.]

There are many snobs within the deer hunting community. Each one of these hunters pretty much has their own agenda for rifles and cartridges. The notion of hunting with a communist-era military carbine just does not do it for them. Additionally, many snobs within the hunting community look down on the 30-30 cartridge because of various reasons.

But you'll find that rural folks often have different views on their hunting rifles. SKS carbines are quite popular in some parts.

Good hunting to you.

TR

 

[Panzerschwein]

Well, I for one think that the SKS is probably a more battle proven design than the M1 Garand, and is more reliable. Heck the SKS is STILL being used, not so for the Garand.

The Garand is also prone to damage of the operating rod, the SKS, not so much. The Ruskie rifle is simply a more robust and modern design that has proven itself for nearly 70 years of armed conflict on every continent save Antarctica. If I could only choose to carry ONE into modern combat, without a doubt it would be the SKS. It's lighter, shorter, has 2 extra rounds, is powerful enough for the job, and is more reliable.

So while the SKS might not be the best rifle out there, any nay sayer can't honestly say it beats out old M1 Garand with a straight face.

The SKS is simply a superior rifle to THAT old war horse, which was good when it was first introduced but has now been made obsolete.

 

[tubeshooter]

I have and like the SKS, and I think it's a good deal (even now at about $300) and all...


...but whoa Nellie Cooldill, you have opened up a tub of something there!

 

[sappyg]

Well, I for one think that the SKS is probably a more battle proven design than the M1 Garand, and is more reliable. e.

The OP is asking about using the SKS as a hunting rifle. Not a battle rifle.

I used one (SKS) on a hunt quite some time ago. Wouldn't have used it if it couldn't perform.

There were better options then and now but I would use one again if that was what I had or wanted to use.

 

[Cee Zee]

Norinco sks rifles can come BOTH with a pinned or threaded barrel depending on which facility it was made in.

I don't think anyone said otherwise. But the particular lot of rifles being sold at the link I posted are all threaded rifles because they came from the early production runs where the Russians were involved. All those early "Chi-com" Norincos were threaded. Later models obviously weren't.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

7.62x39 ammo loaded with bullets effective for hunting is hard to come by...unlike .30-30, .308 or .30-06. I'm thinking 'Core-lokt', 'Silver Tips', 'Bronze Points', etc. If the bores were .308, there would be any number of bullets that would work well; but they aren't. Even for a handloader, the pickings are sparse at .310-.311 with bullet weights 150 gr. and under.

The question you ask about the SKS, could also be asked about un-converted 7.62x39 Saigas. They too were a bargain...not so long ago.

 

[armoredman]

There's 9 selections. although some are out of stock right now.
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=15997
Yeah, it's not a big name in hunting, which is why I general make my own ammo.

BTW, here's three more, though they are listed as self defense ammo. Interesting. Of course, all out of stock right now, naturally.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=16000

 

[orionengnr]

Under-rated?

When SKSs were for sale for $69 each (buy them by the crate full if you like) they were a great deal. Especially when x39 ammo was dirt cheap.

Wish I had bought several crates full of SKSs and several tons of x39 ammo back then. But...I didn't.

These days SKSs are the price that AKs used to be. No way am I going to pay $400-600 for an SKS.

Likewise, cheap surplus x39 ammo is a thing of the past. I can reload 5.56, .300BLK or even .308 for the price of steel cased Russian crap ammo.

IMHO, that ship has sailed...unless you bought an AK or SKS and a bunch of ammo 10 years ago.

FWIW, I own a Ruger Mini-30. I haven't fired it in 10 years. I am looking for a set of x39 dies and a supply of brass Berdan primed cases. When those stars align, and I can hand load for it, I will. If all that happens, I may even buy an x39 upper for my AR.

In the mean time, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Willie Sutton]

Well, I for one think that the SKS is probably a more battle proven design than the M1 Garand

Please give warning before posting jokes like this, as cleaning the coffee off the screen from laughing with a mouth full is really time consuming.....


Willie

.

 

[Cee Zee]

No way am I going to pay $400-600 for an SKS.

They don't cost that much. You can get a Norinco still stored in cosmoline for $270. That's a long way from $600.

Please give warning before posting jokes like this

You do remember that war in Vietnam. Did you notice who won? It wasn't the US. We had abandoned the M1 by then while early on especially the VC liked the SKS and used it effectively. I'm not going to say the SKS is a more proven battle rifle but I'm not doing a spit take at my computer screen at the though either.

 

[R.W.Dale]

They don't cost that much. You can get a Norinco still stored in cosmoline for $270. That's a long way from $600.

How much to ship it and transfer it?

For that price you aren't even getting matching # you're getting a used n most likely abused mix match gun.

Academy has NEW savage axis rifles for $250 not even on sale. Another $30 for scope rings and a mount and a $70 bush bell banner and you have a gun that will shoot and kill circles around any SKS ever made for less money by the time you scope the sks too.

 

[Cee Zee]

Wrong on the numbers not matching. The shipping price is no different than any other gun you buy and get shipped and the transfer fee is whatever your favorite shop charges. I can get it done for $25. You really shouldn't make assumptions and use them to bash a price you haven't even checked out. Here's the link. Check it out for yourself.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/chicomsks

BTW I bought a Yugo from that same dealer not long ago for $250 and it was in almost perfect condition. It had almost no rounds through it at all. And all the numbers match. They don't have any currently but they still get them from time to time and the price is still low. There are still examples around at decent prices. I would bet you will never find a Yugo that's as clean as the one I bought from that dealer. It's like brand new except for being stored in cosmoline for decades.

 

[TimboKhan]

The SKS is a perfectly acceptable hunting rifle, and they can still be bought pretty commonly for under or at $350.00.

I would agree absolutely that they are not the perfect rifle, and it is true that one can buy used a perfectly acceptable hunting rifle at or around that $350 mark. If I was in that situation knowing what I know now, and I wanted a hunting rifle, I probably wouldn't pick an SKS.

However, as a few others have said, a good SKS can be so much more than just a hunting rifle. Hunting, defense, plinking, solid truck gun, or even just blasting away for fun. I don't know many rifles that are as cheap even at todays prices (and again, $350.00 is my max price) that are also as versatile and as fun to shoot.

And that, friends, is the key to me when it comes to the SKS: They are fun to shoot. Look through this thread and there are a number of people who say "the SKS was my first rifle" or some variation thereof. How many people got into hunting and shooting because of the SKS? I don't have any proof of the following statement, but I think for a certain generation of shooters, that SKS was one of the top (if not the top) choices for a whole lot of people when they got into centerfire rifles or even rifles, period. I mean, they don't beat you up, they were super cheap and plentiful, they aren't hard to shoot with relatively good accuracy (though I am not claiming they are super accurate rifles by any means), and ammo was and still is cheap so that means they got (and still get) shot a lot.

So, yeah, to a certain extent I do think they are underrated. They are judged sort of unfairly by what they can't do, as opposed to what they have done. They are not the perfect rifle, but boy, they are pretty far off from being the worst choice! And, speaking of choices, I will tell you the truth, as much of a Ruger fan as I am, I would choose an SKS exactly 100% of the time over a Mini-14/30 for a utility/truck rifle.

With all that being said, when it comes to milsurps I have always wanted to take a Mosin hunting. I love, love, love Mosins. I have other and better milsurps, and definitely better production hunting rifles, but there is just something about a Mosin that trips my trigger. I regret not taking my Mosin with me on my hog hunt a couple of years back. Next time I go, it is going with me.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Wrong on the numbers not matching. The shipping price is no different than any other gun you buy and get shipped and the transfer fee is whatever your favorite shop charges. I can get it done for $25. You really shouldn't make assumptions and use them to bash a price you haven't even checked out. Here's the link. Check it out for yourself.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/chicomsks

BTW I bought a Yugo from that same dealer not long ago for $250 and it was in almost perfect condition. It had almost no rounds through it at all. And all the numbers match. They don't have any currently but they still get them from time to time and the price is still low. There are still examples around at decent prices. I would bet you will never find a Yugo that's as clean as the one I bought from that dealer. It's like brand new except for being stored in cosmoline for decades.

You think you're addressing some sks milsurp newb don't ya? I've had milsurps and sks variants you've probably never even heard of "cowboy companion" I've done everything under the sun to try to get one under 3moa and stay there to no avail. I've killed deer with a 7.62x39 farther than you probably even think possible. I've shot groups with the round best measured in TENTHS of an inch. I probably know my way around an sks as well as anyone here.


This is not a yugo and nor is it 2005. I've seen some of these used ex PLA norinco's "well cared for" is not a term I'd use to describe one.

If I'm wrong on the # matching then why is the seller charging $20 extra to hand pick you a numbers matching gun. Appearantly I've read more of the fine print than you did partner.

Either way at $90 in 1991 or the better part of $400 today an sks makes a crummy hunting rifle at any price. A great deal on the purchase price doesn't change the rifles shortcomings for hunting.

I've done both and I'd rather have a $100 single shot 12ga carry round hunting than a sks. An sks was my SECOND rifle I was given as a kid to hunt with. As I grew older and and became more aware of my options the sks quickly lost its appeal to me. I've owned a bunch of em over the years the only good use I found for one was turning money into noise and as trade goods

 

[TimboKhan]

I am also double posting so as to respond to this:

Well, I for one think that the SKS is probably a more battle proven design than the M1 Garand, and is more reliable. Heck the SKS is STILL being used, not so for the Garand.

The Garand is also prone to damage of the operating rod, the SKS, not so much. The Ruskie rifle is simply a more robust and modern design that has proven itself for nearly 70 years of armed conflict on every continent save Antarctica. If I could only choose to carry ONE into modern combat, without a doubt it would be the SKS. It's lighter, shorter, has 2 extra rounds, is powerful enough for the job, and is more reliable.

So while the SKS might not be the best rifle out there, any nay sayer can't honestly say it beats out old M1 Garand with a straight face.

The SKS is simply a superior rifle to THAT old war horse, which was good when it was first introduced but has now been made obsolete.

I don't know that I want to come out and say definitively that I agree with everything in this post, but...

Honestly, I agree with a lot of it. I won't go so far as to say that I think the SKS is a better rifle, but I do think there are some valid points made. And, for those of you laughing at both of us at this point, consider that within the context of this post that hardly anyone breaks out the M1 to go hunting with. I also think that if you take the battle aspect out of the discussion, you can make the case that the SKS is the better all around rifle based on all the reasons I listed in my first post. Ammo is cheaper, the SKS is lighter, the manual of arms is simpler, and it doesn't beat you up as much. An M1 isn't a bruiser exactly, but it does have more felt recoil than an SKS, and thats just simple fact. So, while on the surface of it I disagree, and while I don't agree with every point made, I will say that after thinking about it I can see where the argument can be made that it is the better choice within the context of this thread.

Also, just for the sake of not being laughed at too hard, I will make no claim whatsoever that the SKS is accurate on par with an M1. The M1 wins that category hands down.

 

[Cee Zee]

You think you're addressing some sks milsurp newb don't ya? I've had milsurps and sks variants you've probably never even heard of "cowboy companion"

Yeah you da man, man. You know everything. I know squat. Except I know where to buy an SKS for a lot less than you do. And I probably shot a Cowboy Companion before you were born. In any case I learned not to argue with someone who isn't listening a long time ago. And that wasn't in the fine print when I read it. He plainly describes the rifles as battle worn. But that doesn't change the fact that I bought a different rifle, a Yugo, for $250 from that place not long ago and much later than 2005. It looks like a brand new rifle. I'd post you some photos but I don't want to discuss anything with you friend. You already know everything anyway. So you know what it looks like, when I bought it, and what I paid for it. I can't believe your attitude pal.

Welcome to my kill filter.

 

[TRX]

Back in the '80s I used to see ads for SKSs, three for $100, or even cheaper. Ammunition was scarce and expensive, they were strange-looking, I didn't like carbine-length rifles anyway, and why have the mag sticking out the bottom like that if it wasn't detachable. I sneered.

It wasn't until long later that I learned what a fine rifle Simonov had wrought, and since too many others realized that first, I'll have to pay an extortionate amount when I finally buy one.

 

[Hullraiser]

Very good reviews and pics from customers. It's hard to beat a semi auto in a decent caliber for under $300 and built like a tank. To me the ammo is still cheap too. I never paid much attention to them when they were $90, but now still have around 10 various models.of them.