Yes, manager and owner are committed, they are moving to a new location ( old target store) they will be adding even more uns and ammo, prices on guns and ammo are reasonable, and lots of it, just gotta talk him into stocking crate of x39! Fredericton New Brunswick has awesome gear too!
Cabela's SKS refurb, worth the $199 (sale price)?
- Thread starter Z06corvette
- Start date
I scooped a mint scoped Norc SKS-D for $160 at a gun show in Calgary a few years back; I shot it, cleaned it, then it went back into the safe until I decided to sell it a couple of years ago for a healthy profit. I was more focused on my AR and precision rifle shooting, and the Norc didn't hold much interest at that time. Now I want to get a wood stocked semi for my wife; she's not much interested in my AR's, and my M305's are too heavy for her to shoot enjoyably which brings me back to the SKS. She's a bit of a traditionalist so a light, wood stocked semi that's cheap to feed will be perfect.
Also wondering if anyone has experience with the Tapco Timbersmith laminate stocks?
A good refurb is as close to 'as-new' as you're likely to find. I got a couple of such last year and they were in great shape...nice wood, excellent bluing and generally unmarked finish, matching numbers...really, you can hardly go wrong with a nice refurb.
It's not rocket science to spot a decent rifle. If it isn't banged up and still coated with cosmoline [or cleaned up with reasonable care for the store shelf] it will be good IMO. Check inside the barrel and action for rust or corrosion, do a function check if you want [and the store clerk won't freak out] and try to get a deal on ammo. Then start shooting, and have fun.
VanIsleCam
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
+1 Tengoo - if I had my druthers I would break it down on the counter and reassemble as I got one that the mag doesn't fit properly though it was a killer deal with the archangel stock separate. They wanted to do a combo but I asked what it would be for a "new one" including cleaning kit etc and the stock rather than the combo and as it was the same price, just got the "new one" and the stock over the combo. But its my worst example - bbq bolt etc. Its really for parts.
I agree that an 'as-issued' non-refurb sks is a great way to go. You get a great shooter and a collectable piece of cold war history. If you search around here a bit you will find lots of info here on refurb markings and indications of refurbishment processes, but to be honest its a lot easier to do when the carbine is in your hands and and looked at with a trained eye.
I was late to the party because I was taking a break from shooting. When I did come back from my break a bunch of my friends told me that the SKS was a great carbine and that I should get one, but I never got around to it because I didn't really know much about the SKS at the time. It was when I shot one of my friends SKS's and I realized what a nice carbine it was despite it being so cheap. Since then I keep adding more of them to my collection - I currently own 6 of them.
I got a 54, because there are a lot and it was my shooter, then a 53, cause it was a good price and a 51 for same reason, then a 49 cause I got a good price and it looked different, then a 55 cause that was my birthday and a 56 cause that comes after 55 and a couple more 55-58 cause good price and black bayo,,,, etc. See where I am going with this,, I have a problem, but I like it!
Oh yea, and like I said before, local CTC has them for $169.99 which is not helping my recovery!
Oh yea, and like I said before, local CTC has them for $169.99 which is not helping my recovery!
I have the same sort of problem but my local drug dealers, I mean gun dealers, want a lot more and offer a lower quality product.
Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland
I agree with another poster. The SKS these days have been complete ####. You really have to look though the garage to find a nice one. They are all good shooters though. Regardless of how bad of condition they are these days. I tend to see more laminated stock versions in better shape than hardwood ones for the current SKS on the market.
There are more laminate I think although most of mine are birch, but I think these newest ones( at least around here,) are kind of cool as there are more non refurb and also there are a bit less BBQ painted ones! I wonder if the BBQ versions were their first attempt at tougher coatings!
It certainly is a tough coating! I have been trying to get one BBQed cleaned down to the original finish with a variety of harsh chemicals
and it is not going well. The cheaper paint on the gas tube comes off easy but that BBQ (perhaps powder coating) on the receiver and barrel
is tough stuff.
So you figure rust and not blueing wear and scratches etc. I haven't seen indications of rust under any finish except what came there from storage occasionally!
Whats with all this bbq paint nonsense. We come up with some funny terms hereYes they are painted, but not just painted. Remove the paint you'll find a nice phosphate finish.
I won't be calling re-furbed SKS "BBQ painted" anymore! It is some sort of plastic powder coat, very tough stuff.
Unfortunately for me - the SKS I chose to strip (refurb '54 Izhevsk) does not have any sort of acceptable finish underneath.
To VIC: The bolt can be stripped of the paint fairly easy with chemicals, acetone or tuolene, but the bolt carrier may be coated in a "bluing".
My local CTC manager is rumouring about a possible 10% off sale, if he can get authorization from his boss, they are moving in a couple months to a bigger place! That would mean $169.99 minus 10% for the sks,, I hope, I would get at least 3 more! I have seen lots at that price that are worth more easily! Crap I almost hope they don't CC is already in crisis mode!!
$153. Plus you get CTC money!!! For anyone local I will keep you posted in case it happens!! It would also mean the same for the higher end SKS!
$153. Plus you get CTC money!!! For anyone local I will keep you posted in case it happens!! It would also mean the same for the higher end SKS!
