Do you own an SKS?

Panzercat · Post by **Panzercat** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:55 am

Riddle me this, Batman. More over, do you like it?
Within the $300 range and easy provisions for duckbill mags, I can't help but to be intrigued even if I've never been a huge fan of Bloc firearms.

7.62 Precision · Post by **7.62 Precision** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:31 am

I have several sitting around, most in states of disassembly, but one of my boys has one he claimed after I coated it for marketing purposes when I first started doing coatings.

The Tech Sights for these things are worth considering. The only magazines I have found to be reliably reliable are the TAPCO 20 rounders. I modify the bolt so they can be removed with the bolt closed.

The fact they can load with stripper clips makes them nice for those who live in California. I used to build a lot of fixed, pinned 10rd magazines out of 20 rd TAPCOs for the CA shooters until TAPCO finally followed my lead and started making them themselves the same way, which was a relief to me, since the work involved was too much for what I was charging.

I used to do this with them pretty often:

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:28 am

Good, solid, AK-like shooters.

I used to have one with the big spike bayonet, and it was nice because the place we usually shot was swampy, and you didn't want to set your gun down (even an SKS) in the mud. So, when you went out to set targets, etc., you just opened the bayonet, then stuck it in the ground.

I like the TechSights, too. I believe Williams makes one as well.

firefuzz · Post by **firefuzz** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:52 am

I have a few lying around. Back in the day you could buy a good Russian made one and ammo for less that a C note. A 10 shot, semi-auto .30-30 with $2.00 a box ammo was hard to beat, fairly cheap to lay in a few rifles and plenty of ammo. Easy to accessorize, although I like 'em pretty much as issued and the short, carbine models are the bomb for a trunk gun.

A set of these http://www.mojosights.com/ is money well spent. IMHE the factory mags are the most reliable.

The "duckbill" extended mags weren't really designed to be removed/re-installed a lot, the front end is made of pretty thin sheet metal that deforms easily, then causes malfunctions. If you're going to use one install it then load with stripper clips from the top.

Rob

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 8:29 am

Great go-to guns. I keep several Chinese and Russian jobs in stragetic places, all changed over to in stock 20 round mags or detachable 30 rd mags. I prefer the in stock mags as the bolt needs to be retracted to take out or put in the 30 rounders.

guns are no good without ammo so several thousand rounds are also kept nearby.

One Chinese junker i have has eaten up untold amounts of ammo and keeps running. Never can remember a time when they did not go "pop".

These are the only foreign guns that are allowed to be in my house, except an Uzi.----------6

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:17 am

I have a chinese one that is a good solid shooter, and a Romanian one that is going to become a 6.5 Grendel.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:42 am

I bought a Russian one back in the early 90s. I was very impressed with how well it was made. Never added a different mag...the 10-round one and stripper clips kept it fed fast enough. Great on hogs and armadillos and porcupine

The trigger was yucky, but it was a pretty efficient little piece of machinery. It had the cleaning rod, cleaning kit, flat blade bayonet, and I even scrounged up a manual for it.

But as time went on I got distracted by leverguns and singleshot guns and semi-auto carbines....it languished in the safe.

So, last January I took it to the gun show. I had no idea what level the panic was. I thought I'd ask $500 for it and if nobody wanted it, I'd just take it right back home. Carrying it would give me something to talk about with others. Just as I walked in the door, I had seller's remorse and decided I would take it home, so I decided to ask $600 for it. It sold before I got down the second row, to a dealer who tried to pretend what I had was junk at first. Humph. There went my dang gun.

Got home and realized I had almost 4000 rounds of ammo for it. Then I really had sellers remorse....until I put an ad in the paper and sold it for $400 a thousand. I think I had $280 total invested in it all (and some trading sweat). I got over my seller's remorse right quick. Still miss it every now and then, though.

firefuzz · Post by **firefuzz** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:03 am

Mescalero wrote:I have a chinese one that is a good solid shooter, and a Romanian one that is going to become a 6.5 Grendel.

That will be interesting. Are you planning to scope it? If so how?

Rob

norton_mike222 · Post by **norton_mike222** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:36 am

I picked up a broken stock special last month and while I was originally horrified when I opened the box it turned out pretty sharp in the end.

Added a tech-sight and a skinny front sight post and it's a pretty decent shooter. Ammo can still be found pretty reliably at the local wal-marts for around $5.25 a box so pretty cheap to feed.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:44 am

I have the plastic Druganof? stock for it.
It will have to wear a scout scope type of configuration.
Because I am going to keep it a top feed, as designed.
I will most likely have to break my life long tradition of having NOTHING to do with variables.
As it looks like that is the only way for me to get enough power with a long eye relief scope.

Chris83716 · Post by **Chris83716** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:10 am

I had two of the of them; one stock and the other with the detatchable magazine. They were okay. The short signt radius and crappy sights coupled with the cost of ammo is what made me sell them.

When you could go buy ammo at less than 10 cents a round they were fun toys. Now with ammo as much or more as I can reload .223 for whats the point? I'll shoot my AR.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:38 pm

I had one. Sold it for a tidy profit. I just can't warm up to anything semi-auto.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:46 pm

no and no...

they dont appeal to me at all

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:47 pm

Yo Vance.
$600? Dang! That what I call American capitalism at its best.

Had I know that I would have drove down your way with a truckload of them. Even when things got tight, the most they would go for around here was about 4. About a year or two ago there was this dealer who was at most of our gunshows with cases of these Romanian SKS's for $119. Nobody wanted them.

4c-notes a thou for the ammo was cheap around here. I saw it for 6 and they were getting it. Back in the day (90's?) I bought at least 5k and probably more like 8k for around 80. It was Chinese steel core stuff in these sardine cans. Still have a few laying around.----6

I thought I would throw this picture in for laughs. It's proof positive that Obama and Chris Christie were childhood friends.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:48 pm

.
I bought an ugly Russky version, many years ago for $89 when I saw it hanging on nails in a ceiling joist in a Central Maine convenience/grocery store - where I had stopped in to buy a non-resident hunting license.

It's "poor man's .30-30" monicker was very descriptive.

I bought/installed the 5-shot conversion kit to conform to hunting laws, and used it awhile.

I eventually sold it, mostly because it was much heavier, and cruder, than any of my .30-30/.35Rem leverguns - but also because I didn't want to source a scope-mountable receiver cover. (this was before Williams made the SKS peep sight that replaced the military rear/open sight leaf.

.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:51 pm

I have 2, one Russian, one Chinese and negotiating for another. And they do have levers, if U push the wrong one )parts go flying(

I did that on the one I'm negotiating.
Perry

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:54 pm

six....you crack me up!

shooter · Post by **shooter** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:37 pm

I bought mine in the 90's as well. I think I paid $75 for it. Bulk ammo was cheap back then too. I'm not a real big fan of the gun per se, but for a cheap, rugged combat rifle or truck gun it's hard to beat. I don't have much experience with AK's, but from what I can tell I like the SKS better. Mine has never failed to feed or fire, and I shoot nothing but the cheap steel case ammo through it. It is also surprisingly accurate. It is hard for me to bring myself to buy one these days, since; A) I only paid $75 for the first one, and B) I don't need another one.

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:40 pm

I had a Tula Armory one. Nice and great tough carbine, but when ammo got to be 0ver $4 per 20 I sold it and got a Henry lever in 22 Mag. Same with my stainless Mini-30. That got traded in on a stainles 16" Puma 45 Colt.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:44 pm

Sixgun wrote:Yo Vance.
$600? Dang! That what I call American capitalism at its best. Had I know that I would have drove down your way with a truckload of them. Even when things got tight, the most they would go for around here was about 4. About a year or two ago there was this dealer who was at most of our gunshows with cases of these Romanian SKS's for $119. Nobody wanted them.

4c-notes a thou for the ammo was cheap around here. I saw it for 6 and they were getting it. Back in the day (90's?) I bought at least 5k and probably more like 8k for around 80. It was Chinese steel core stuff in these sardine cans. Still have a few laying around.----6
]

I think I sold my ammo about a month before the peak price. I had about $100 in it all and thought $1600 was a good price, so....

The Yugo and Romanian SKSs were bringing $400-$500

I kinda regret selling that Russian...it was a fine piece. But I comfort myself with new leverguns and Glocks

Nuts around here were scarfing up everything that was black and semi-auto. AR-style .22s (even though no one could afford ammo???) were bringing $500 or more when the retail price was $300???

I sold my Glock 19 (well used) with 2 mags and replaced it with a G17 at the LEO supply store (3 mags) and pocketed $200

Prices are coming down now. Still can't find any rimfire within 100 mile unless you camp out at Walmart and wait for the truck to unload. Cabela's in Allen, TX had some .22 mag and 17 HMR the other day, and it was pricey. Last time I bought 22 mag I gave $4.95 a box and was not happy, since $9.95 would have bought 525 .22 LR.

wolfdog · Post by **wolfdog** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 5:08 pm

Had a couple One Russian, one Chinese. Chinese one shot better traded off the Russian a long time ago, sold the Chinese last year for a substantial profit. I had not shot it for a few years, and someone else really wanted it. Did kill a couple of deer with it and a few pigs back when I still shot it.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:01 pm

RIHMFIRE wrote:six....you crack me up!

Thanks! That pic was sent to me in an email with that caption. (0bama and Christie) I must have laughed for 20 minutes.

The more you laugh, the happier you are and nothing repulse's me more than miserable people. I work and live around some people who are more miserable than a caged coyote and have no reason to be like that. These people in turn make life miserable for other happy people. Geeze, we all all given one life.....be happy.

----6

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:28 pm

Anybody know of a quality highX long eye relief scope?

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 1:42 am

Does anybody own one that shoots. I've had a few Chinese and a Romanian over the years. Most shot patterns not groups. The best one was about 3 to 4"
dead reliable, just not very accurate.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 3:12 am

Mine does, I am surprised yours does not.

7.62 Precision · Post by **7.62 Precision** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 3:20 am

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote:Does anybody own one that shoots. I've had a few Chinese and a Romanian over the years. Most shot patterns not groups. The best one was about 3 to 4"
dead reliable, just not very accurate.

I spoke with the guys at Tech Sights. They said they know guys using SKS rifles in competition. He said that it is not uncommon for some SKS rifles to shoot really bad and some to shoot really good, but fewer that shoot really good. He told me that the guys who are using his sights in competition buy a number of SKS rifles, together or one at a time, and then test each with the better sights installed until they find one that shoots and sell off the rest.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 8:40 am

Minute of upper torso out to 300 meters is pretty good for me considering what they are and the crappy sights that ride on them. -------6

Steelbanger · Post by **Steelbanger** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:10 am

Never wanted one therefore I don't own one. I always thought the guys were talking about dentures with all the upper & lower talk.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:55 am

Looks like they are going for $325-$400 on GB. Maybe it's time to let mine go.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:13 am

There's still a ton of them available. http://www.classicfirearms.com/c-r-eligible/chicomsks

These were imported about 1.5 years ago by CAI. They found them in the Balkans. They are all first or second year rifles. Early Chi-Com made Russians. My son got one right when they became available 1.5 years ago. First year, 6 digit sn, hand picked, all matching, delivered around $200. Most accurate one I have ever shot, for a Chi-com battle rifle.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:24 am

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote:Does anybody own one that shoots. I've had a few Chinese and a Romanian over the years. Most shot patterns not groups. The best one was about 3 to 4"
dead reliable, just not very accurate.

Sixgun wrote:Minute of upper torso out to 300 meters is pretty good for me considering what they are and the crappy sights that ride on them. -------6

Likewise. I shot plenty of varmints with my Russian, although it was no tack driver. I could hit the man-sized target at 300 meters all day long, which is what I assumed it was designed to do.
The only place I faulted mine was the trigger. With a better trigger I think the gun would have been much more consistent. Now that I'm older I would probably complain about the sights. I considered scoping mine but never did....probably for the same reason I won't ever scope one of my leverguns.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:26 pm

Vance,
If you do decide to scope it, don't do what I did. I mounted a scope of some sort on one of those cover mounts. I guess that's what it's called...it replaces the cover on the action.
I was lucky to get 6-10 inch groups where the issue sights always gave me 3-4"----6

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:03 pm

...proof positive that Obama and Chris Christie were childhood friends.

Wow - how did you get a picture of both of them along with Nancy Pelosi…???

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:34 pm

Mescalero weaver makes a 4x28 scout scope and burris makes a 23/4x20 and a 2-7x32 scout scopes Ive tried high power pistol scopes in a scout mount they are not quick to use. danny
http://www.burrisoptics.com/scout2x7x.html

samb · Post by **samb** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:07 am

Yes, I have Chinese one. Terrible trigger! Reliable gun. Once you get used to the trigger it shoots okay.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:36 am

7.62 Precision wrote:He told me that the guys who are using his sights in competition buy a number of SKS rifles, together or one at a time, and then test each with the better sights installed until they find one that shoots and sell off the rest.

That's what I did to get an accurate Mini-14...

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:43 am

Who made the best ones?

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:47 am

The Russians in the 50s

Panzercat · Post by **Panzercat** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:59 am

Okay, I took the plunge.
Looks like just n time because they sold out of them last night.

My friend says i won't regret it. We'll see

veeman · Post by **veeman** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:30 am

I had one breifly back in the mid 80's. Never liked it, didnt trust it, always felt like the bolt was about to fly back and hit me in the face. Kept it about 2 weeks then got rid of it.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:57 am

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote:Does anybody own one that shoots. I've had a few Chinese and a Romanian over the years. Most shot patterns not groups. The best one was about 3 to 4"
dead reliable, just not very accurate.

+1
They served a good purpose when they were cheap. With the prices the way they are now, your better off putting out a couple hundred more and getting the AR. If you don't like the .223 then get one in 6.8.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:24 pm

The Russians were so happy that good 'ole Joe died in '53 that they celebrated the next year by building this rifle both for the death of Joe and the birth of me. Yes, I was even popular back then.

---6

hosehead · Post by **hosehead** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:46 pm

Yep I got a 1954 Tula return in a laminated stock. I paid 80 bucks plus trade on an H&R pardener in the summer I was able to shoot Pepsi cans at 128 yards. But I had the Williams peep sight and was shooting at least 10 rounds every other day. So ya I like em good handy little rifle.

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:02 pm

7.62 precision,
Thanks for the Tech Sights tip,
boy, you sure know how to spend my money!

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:16 pm

Several years back a grandson gave me a new Norinco in a black composite stock. That rifle is a real shooter very accurate for me.

kevind6 · Post by **kevind6** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:05 am

I have a Chinese version that I picked up years ago for $89. The nice thing about it is that ammo is cheap plus I don't feel guilty packing it in the wet, snowy, muddy, or dusty environments, it still functions regardless of the conditions. They make for good truck guns too, where they can double for a jack handle in a pinch!