Best SKS dates?

Rob_man587

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Hey everyone I found a nice SKS I want to buy but I want to make sure I get the best bang for my buck.
The year I'm used to seeing is 1954r I found a 1952r is there any differences or is one a better quality or are they basically the same?
The 52 looks like it may have been issued but I cant be sure.
Also is one year more accurate then the other or is it random. Thanks for reading

Cheers rob
 
Anything after 1951 have the chrome lined barrels and they don't rust as easily, other than that they are all the same quality wise, but some batches look better cosmetically with bluing rather than bbq paint. Overall they are all pretty good for the price.
 
There are three major areas for consideration for Russian SKS'. There is 1949- early 1950 these have a standard barrel (not chrome-lined) but have spring-loaded firing pins (as opposed to free floating), not too common at the moment though. There is the middle late 1950-1952ish where there was a standard barrel (not chrome-lined) with a free floating firing pin. Then there is the 1952-1956ish (or whenever they stopped production) where they have chrome-lined barrels with free floating firing pins.

If I was to buy another SKS (strongly considering it) it would be a 1949 (with all the early features) or a late production with a chrome-lined barrel as it makes cleaning much easier. The 1949 would be a collector piece (still being shot sometimes but only with non-corrosive ammo), the later dated one a shooter/collector (being shot with corrosive ammo as it would have the chrome-lined bore). If I were you I would buy the later ones with a chrome-lined barrel if you primarily want a shooter.
 
Are you collecting or looking for a shooter? If it's a shooter don't worry about the year, look for a nice condition refurb. Chrome line or non chrome isn't a real issue for me, same with blued or painted flat black. I have both and they get cleanend after I shoot either of them, if you're collecting then that's a different story. Why anyone would buy a gun like an sks to collect it is beyond me but different strokes for different folks, they were meant to be shot as far as I'm concerned.
 
I'm buying for a shooter, I did however purchase a 1954 refurb that was completely painted including the bolt. I am in the process of stripping the paint off the bolt. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet so I have no idea where she fly's haha.

As for the 1952 I was hoping to collect every year but this may be a far cry seeing as its a pain to get all said years.
I do however like to use my fire arms as much as possible that's why I wanted to know if there was any accuracy difference in the years.
 
Hey everyone I found a nice SKS I want to buy but I want to make sure I get the best bang for my buck.
The year I'm used to seeing is 1954r I found a 1952r is there any differences or is one a better quality or are they basically the same?
The 52 looks like it may have been issued but I cant be sure.
Also is one year more accurate then the other or is it random. Thanks for reading

Cheers rob

I would go with the '54 for "bang for buck" (chrome bore, sprung safety lever)

Although I have found the early receiver ('49 to early '52) rifles to have better balance.
 
There are three major areas for consideration for Russian SKS'. There is 1949- early 1950 these have a standard barrel (not chrome-lined) but have spring-loaded firing pins (as opposed to free floating), not too common at the moment though. There is the middle late 1950-1952ish where there was a standard barrel (not chrome-lined) with a free floating firing pin. Then there is the 1952-1956ish (or whenever they stopped production) where they have chrome-lined barrels with free floating firing pins.

I have a 1951 and it is chrome lined.
 
Should be no difference. May I suggest cleaning and possibly deburring the firing pin channel on your 1953.

THERE is the first model spring loaded firing pin,.
second model machined on two sides
3rd. model machined on 3 sides.............................F.W.I.W. POPS . Keep your firing pin and channel clean and dry.....clean after each outing ...have fun
 
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