You could do a lot worse...

[The Red Hot Rider]

...than a SKS...in my humble opinion.

I have been thinking about a truck gun for a long time. I have almost forgotten my trust old $299 sks.

I took it out of the gun cabinet tonight and fiddled with it for a while. I have several stripper clips. The gun is minute-of-pie plate at 100 yards with iron sights. It has the "oomph" of a 30-30 (or close to it), and I would not cry too hard if it were stolen. AND, ammunition is real cheap.

It can feed and cycle steel or brass with no problem, and it feeds Wolf hollow points with no problem. I have personally tested the hollow points on milk jugs, and, at least on milk jugs, it does a LOT more damage than solids.

In addition, with a fully loaded magazine, you can push the rounds down into the magazine a little further and ease the bolt down. This would let me carry a fully loaded magazine in the hatch of my SUV with the bolt down on an empty chamber. If 4-legged or 2-legged trouble arises, all I gotta do is ratch the action and I am ready to roll. Also, I can load up a bunch of stripper clips for easy access in the hatch.

My only concern is the possibility of slam fires with the SKS, but that can be an issue with my M1A as well (and I sure as Hell aint gonna store that for some thief to get hold of).

SO, I think I have decided to roll with the SKS. I wish I had thought of it a long time ago.

I know this is no epiphany. I am just thinking out loud here on the forum and wondering what my forum friends use for truck guns.

1911 in the glove box...SKS, Pardner Pump 12 gauge and cheap 22lr rifle in the hatch with extra ammo, jug of drinking water, some tools, a good pocketknife, a first aid kit, a lighter, and a clean hanky...what more could you need?

 

[jim243]

what more could you need?

20 round box magazines for the Mini-30

Jim

 

[The Red Hot Rider]

nice gun. Is it in 7.62x39?

 

[TonyAngel]

$300? Wow. I had no idea that the price on them went up that much. I bought mine when there were selling for $99.95 out the door.

 

[Warp]

The SKS is incredibly reliable and durable. I very nearly decided to make mine a truck gun recently, but will be giving it to my dad instead. I got mine in Excellent condition, still soaked in cosmoline, for $135 shipped/transferred. That obviously wasn't recently.

I think I'm going to make a Mosin Nagant my truck gun. And I'll put the bolt somewhere different than the receiver.


Did I read your post right, though? You keep FOUR guns in your vehicle??

 

[Ignition Override]

Your SKS' accuracy should really improve with the addition of a Tech Sight. Imagine the longer sight distance, by itself.
There are two versions for an SKS, and the higher-priced model (extra $10 or so) is fully adjustable. The original rear sight can be put back in if you ever decide to switch back.

My Norinco is now a different gun with this sight. The only regret is not buying it until late in 2010.

 

[allaroundhunter]

nice gun. Is it in 7.62x39?

Yes, the Mini 30 is chambered for 7.62x39

Sent from my HTC One X

 

[TonyAngel]

1911 in the glove box...SKS, Pardner Pump 12 gauge and cheap 22lr rifle in the hatch with extra ammo, jug of drinking water, some tools, a good pocketknife, a first aid kit, a lighter, and a clean hanky...what more could you need?

Do you really keep all of that in your truck? It would be ironic to catch a guy breaking into your truck, only to be shot by one of your own guns.

 

[Nugilum]

The Red Hot Rider, I hope you live in a region where the LEO's are understanding with the number of weapons you maintain in your vehicle...

 

[Badlander]

In the free states you can carry what you want!

 

[splattergun]

Keep the bolt/ firing pin clean and you should have little worry of slam fire.

 

[The Red Hot Rider]

In the free states you can carry what you want!

This is absolutely true in Kentucky, especially in the eastern end of the state where I live. It's actually where the Hatfield McCoy feud happened. LEO's here wouldn't think a thing about a car with 4 guns in them. They would just figure you were on your way to go shooting on a local strip mining job or something along those lines. We like our guns and 2a in KY.

 

[Sky]

The Red Hot Rider, I hope you live in a region where the LEO's are understanding with the number of weapons you maintain in your vehicle...

I was coming back from a long hot day at the range and was speeding and starving. I had a total of 7 guns in the car. Highway patrol nabbed me with radar while negotiating through some corners which I had actually slowed down for..

Did the hands on the steering wheel thing and had my CHL and drivers license ready for him when he approached the car. Long story short we played with a couple of the guns ( we were in the boonies, he really liked my AK) so he gave me a warning ticket and his card....I should call him and see if he wants to go shoot at the range with me and try some of the guns he was interested in but can not find his card and do not remember his name?? Sorry!!

I am with you on liking the SKS 2 Norinco and 1 Russian and I feel mine are plenty accurate with the ammo flavor they like. Just about any weapon can malfunction and give an undesired result; clean, inspect, and enjoy.

 

[snakeman]

a norinco sks goes for 400 here!

 

[ErieLurker]

Up here, if you shell out 285 bucks for 1440 rounds of 7.62x39mm, you can get a Norinco SKS for 75 bucks more:

http://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/product.jsp?productid=74819

Or $189 just for the SKS itself:

http://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/product.jsp?productid=75210

Hehehe...

Sorry, I just couldn't resist doing a little taunting of our Southern neighbours. Given the rest of our firearms laws (other than being allowed just about any barrel length for a shotgun), up here in the Frozen North we have to be grateful for small mercies.

 

[happygeek]

ErieLurker, does Canada not have all the silly import restrictions the US has? Canada is still importing SVT-40s as well right?

 

[bigfatdave]

An SKS makes a fine utility gun, and these days ~$300 is about normal. I got in a bit cheaper myself, but I'm amazed they were ever going for $99

I wonder what an SKS would cost to produce today, if it were a new sporting rifle? Assuming Yugo or Russian standards, I'm guessing it would cost a bit more than a mini30, if it were made in the US.

 

[csa77]

a norinco goes for 400 here aswell. a yugo can behad abit cheaper, but sks's in general have risen alot in price in the last 20 years
in the early 90's you could buy a norinco for under 80$ and it came with sling, bandolier, stripper clips, oiler , cleaing kit and 2 different top covers- one scoped one not.

 

[ErieLurker]

happygeek wrote:


does Canada not have all the silly import restrictions the US has? Canada is still importing SVT-40s as well right?


Sorry happy, missed your post; haven't been around for a few days. And for some reason my panel's not working just right (still! - probably cause I'm using an old browser).

For whatever reason, up here Norinco (and maybe the odd other foreign manufacturer) avoids some of the import restrictions that are imposed in the U.S. They only tried to smuggle assault rifles through Canada (or at least its territorial waters) years ago, and didn't try to offer undercover RCMP any portable SAMs or tanks like they did your boys. Maybe that made the difference!)

Lots of quirks in national laws. Can't take our AR's anywhere but the safe or an "approved" range, and AK's are prohibited, but VZ-58's are common enough and can be taken hunting. I thought I saw a special a few months ago on the SVTs, few hundred bucks I think. And of course we can get our nearly USGI-milspec Norc M-14's for 400 bucks (just loc-tite the rear sights!) and have shotguns with just about any barrel length we want. It just is what it is I guess.