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Who makes the best SKS?

E.WilliamsE.Williams Member Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭✭
edited August 2002 in General Discussion
Yugoslavia,Russia,China,Albania..etc.I am looking for a cheaper alternative to my dilemma I posted with "The .30 Carbine" I had good arguments for both .223 and 7.62x39 but most of the rifles I see in .223 are $500.00+ and I can get a SKS for between $125.00-$350.00 (to use some of Offerors best vs. good enough logic) depending on the maker and that was the point to my dilemma was a lighter cheaper more utility oriented rifle to give my M1A a rest.I think the SKS would be a good compromise.I am really interested to hear about the Yugo's since these are the cheapest I am running across next is the Chinese because I know where one is for $199.00 w/30 round mag.Is it still legal to put a folding stock on a SKS?Thanks fellas.

Eric S. Williams

Edited by - E.Williams on 08/21/2002 08:53:47
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Comments

  • The firearms consultantThe firearms consultant Member Posts: 716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Eric, The SKS is a very handy rifle. Of all the examples I've seen, I think the Russian is the best. If you can find one with the laminated wood they look good too. I have two. One is the Russian and the other is a beat up Chinese that I brought back from Viet Nam. I have a 5x32 Chinese scope on the Russian and it makes a great plinker. The ammo is cheap as you know.
    John

    I might not always tell you the truth, but I will never lie to you!
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  • 96harley96harley Member Posts: 3,992 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I like my Russian laminated. The barrel is threaded and the reviever is forged.
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have never seen one that was junk,Imsure there plentiful but about all I see are not as well taken care of as they should be,but they still done what they were designed to do and that is fire.I have a Norinco and a Russian and I like them both.Ive been hearing good reviews on the Yugoslavian sks that is now plentiful.

    Best!!

    Rugster


    Toujours Pret
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  • thesupermonkeythesupermonkey Member Posts: 3,905 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The yugos are a bargin.
    You can get one in like new condition for 200.
    I'd jump on it. I love mine...


    Don't worry about the bullet with your name on it, worry about the fragmentation grenade addressed 'To Occupant'.
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  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    I have a short-barreled Chinese that I put a folder on and it's a great-shooting little weapon.

    Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The SKS's were $125 guns for most of their lifespan. The fact that they are more now is a testament to their popularity and the ease with which you can add things to 'em to make them a little more sexy. I never felt I needed a bayonet, personally, and a lot of them were sold with bayonet attached. And of course I was in love with the classic AK "format" for a while. But even then the SKS impressed me.

    Frankly, once you pick one up and find what a natural pointer it is (the sights really are quick to acquire) compared to the AK, you'll be in love. They are definitely pre-AK technology and were not a Kalashnikov invention, but they sure are a good shooter and a bargain. Get one with exchangeable mags and you may be happier. A lot of the early ones came with fixed mag and were top loaders. Then they began modifying them to accept AK mags in order to compete better among the AK fans. It worked. They sold a lot more with interchangeable mags. You can, I believe, modify it yourself after purchase if you feel the need. Am I right, guys?

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    By the way, E, you are discovering what a lot of us have discovered over the years. If you're looking for the kind of rifle/carbine you are looking for, and the wallet is a big part of the equation, there isn't as much in semi-auto .223 at the right price as there is in 7.62x39. Luckily, both are comparable for one's shooting needs.

    It's easy to say save and buy the best, but what do I shoot in the meantime? I'm still trying to find that .308 semi-auto with interchangeable mags. There's a guy right here in town with an Armalite AR-10(T) carbine that is a beaut. All I have to do is come up with $1750. You can buy a whole motorcycle for that. What was the price on that G-3 Carbine, again? Even the "Quest III" bolt action starts to look good in .308 (go ahead, smack me, I'm just making a point).

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • thesupermonkeythesupermonkey Member Posts: 3,905 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    offeror,
    I could be mistaken but I believe the Ak and Sks use the exact same sights, no?

    The Sks's that have been home-modified to take Ak mags are a crap shoot. The mags are sometimes wobbly and you can have feeding problems. You could buy a Model D or Model M sks that was factory made to accept Ak mags, but these run 300+. 300 dollars will buy you a brand new Romanian Sar.

    If you're interested in modifying your sks here are some things to consider.

    It's only an assault weapon if it has a detachable magazine AND two of the other black-listed features.

    No-detachable magazine, you can do whatever you like... HOWEVER you cannot construct a weapon that can not be imported. Which means you have to have to correct number of us made parts if you're going to reconfigure your rifle in order to comply with 922r.

    I've been reading up on the sks laws. I'm in the process of converting a Model D Sks I have into bull-pup configuration. I'll post some pics of my progress if anyone's interested.

    Munkey



    Don't worry about the bullet with your name on it, worry about the fragmentation grenade addressed 'To Occupant'.

    Edited by - thesupermonkey on 08/21/2002 11:41:05
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  • E.WilliamsE.Williams Member Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It would be ok if a gunsmith did the conversion prior to your purchasing it?And lets say I didnt want the bayonet or the grenade launcher the only thing I wanted was the detachable mag and the folding stock will that slide in under the law?

    Eric S. Williams
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  • E.WilliamsE.Williams Member Posts: 1,101 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    With the question about the gunsmith converting for the mag is just to verify that wouldnt be considered a home conversion,in other words I dont have to send it back to some factory or special armorer to get a reliable mag converstion a qualified gunsmith can do it no sweat?

    Eric S. Williams
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  • dads-freeholddads-freehold Member Posts: 1,361 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    greetings, the sks is one of those bright lites that was out shined by a younger brother. i have two chineese with chocate stocks and they shoot fairly well (the scopes need to be set) but the iron sights are preety aucurate. stay away from the plastic mag's most if not all are junk. i have a couple friends in my militia unit that have russian guns and altho the tooling is a little better the aucuracy isn't. one has the standard laminated stock with std. steel mag , the other has two w/ chocate stocks, one of those will accept the std ak mag and the other takes the dic mags like mine. we have fired them together many times and found no real(other than superfisial) differences. and altho i like my guns i prefer the ak, and heres why, sks are loose by our std's but dirt mud and sand effect the action of the sks not the ak. field stripping the sks can be a chore esp if you forget the break down tool, with the ak all you need is your hands. i have to admitt the sks looks better w/ the chocate stocks and good scopes.for the price you can't beat them.i also have to say that the sights on all my sks;s and ak's appear to be the same but i have never tried to inter change them so i don't know for sure,and i also don't know if thats true of the russian guns. i like this post lot of good info here in this group. respt submitted dads-freehold
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  • michellemichelle Member Posts: 26 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    there is a norinco for sale on Auction arms. Check out auction #3101242. i would buy it but i just got one. i paid alot more, and didnt get ammo for the price
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  • thesupermonkeythesupermonkey Member Posts: 3,905 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Dad,
    Which breakdown tool are you talking about?

    You lift the lever (the one on the right of the rear receiver) 90 degrees. Pull the pin outward while applying a little forward pressure on the end of the dust cover. The dust cover lifts off, the spring slides out and the bolt carrier assembly can then be lifted out. If you want to disengage the trigger group you need a screwdriver or some tool to apply pressure, but you would still need a drift or something even for the AK, right?

    The model D has several variations. I believe the bolt carrier has been modified, the trigger group has been altered and the mag well was changed a bit. When I get home tonight I'll compare them more thoroughly. I think I know a place where you can order model D parts but to be perfectly honest if you're going to pay a gunsmith to alter it, you might as well just save yourself some trouble and buy the Sar-1. It will probably end up costing the same in the end. Either way, if you're going to buy an Sks or an Ak, you can rest assured it will be money well spent. They are fantastic weapons, and I doubt you'll find many people who'll disagree. I own a like-new all matching yugo, a model D sporter, and the Sar-1 and as inexpensive as they were, they are more reliable than any other weapon in the same class.


    Don't worry about the bullet with your name on it, worry about the fragmentation grenade addressed 'To Occupant'.
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  • CWatsonCWatson Member Posts: 964 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have to agree with the other posters,never seen a "junk" sks unless it was abused by its owner.Mine is a Ruski,got it at Turners in Pasadena CA 8-9 years ago paid $69 unissued with bandleer and cleaning kit,and folding banet,and no wait,crap why did I only buy one?Heck my brother bought one at the same time and never shoots,think I'll trade him a kegg of beer for it:-).I picked the Russian over the Chinese simple for historical reasons.CW

    A near miss is still a miss!

    Wasn't me.......!
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Incidently, the Russians are classified as curios and relics, therefore the rules are a little more relaxed with respect to modifications as I understand it. I copied the regs. from the ATF and will try to dig them up when I get home to clarify.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • dads-freeholddads-freehold Member Posts: 1,361 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    greetings, supermonk' both of mine came with atool to remove the reciever cover, i would post a pic but for two reasons , one i'm in cal visiting #i son and altho he has the technology on his system i don't have the tool with me, and two my systems in mesa and denver are anacronisms, alas woe is me. respt submitted dads-freehold
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  • beantolebeantole Member Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Russian is best. Trust me. Get a Russian.
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