I bought one two weeks ago at a gunshow here in MD for $280, and I think I got an OK deal. Like others said, depends on where you live.
Any SKS is a luck of the draw proposition. I've owned almost 20. I've gotten Russians with pretty shoddy work too(rough triggers, canted sights). Right now, my best shooter with the best trigger is a late model Chinese, stamped parts, pinned barrel and all. But my best Yugo is no slouch either.I have a Russian and a Yugo. The Russian is a shooter, the Yugo is more like a conversation piece with a horrible trigger.
I'm sorry I bought the Yugo.
The most common problem with the gas system in the Yugo is corrosion on the gas valve. Been there done that.SKS's are very suceptable to bad/assorted serialized parts, especially in the gas system (aka gas tube area losing pressure and not cycling because of it)
I have a Russian and a Yugo. The Russian is a shooter, the Yugo is more like a conversation piece with a horrible trigger.
Outright lies. My Yugo trigger broke cleanly between 18 and 57 pounds, each and every time! Sort of cleanly, at least.