My first SKS purchase~walk me through it!

It is not that easy to find a good SKS around Toronto these days.
I'd like to be able to find a perfect example with all matching numbers, I would pay up to 300 dollars, unfortunately this is no longer possible.
Many stores sell them for $200-$250, but don't even dream of all matching numbers for this price.
Bulls Eye in London is very good, but it may be a very long drive depending on where you live.
(Actually, just checked their web site and they're out of stock on the cheaper ones, all they have left is $300.)
Marstar just ran out of the "super-grades" last month, they were $250 plus shipping, so close to $300. But even that was online, so you wouldn't know what you'd get.
 
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fdr said:
It is not that easy to find a good SKS around Toronto these days.
I'd like to be able to find a perfect example with all matching numbers, I would pay up to 300 dollars, unfortunately this is no longer possible.
Many stores sell them for $200-$250, but don't even dream of all matching numbers for this price.
Bulls Eye in London is very good, but it may be a very long drive depending on where you live.
Marstar just ran out of the "super-grades" last month, they were $250 plus shipping, so close to $300. But even that was online, so you wouldn't know what you'd get.
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Weimejack has some, try cabela's too!
 
bobdbldr said:
Weimejack has some, try cabela's too!
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Thanks! I'm aware of Cabela's but it's too long a drive for me, and no fun driving for 2 hours one-way, only to find they don't have what I'm looking for.
Weimajack requires access to EE which I don't have.
All I was saying it's not like some people have said, that you just "Walk into any big store and pick whichever one you like".
Around Toronto, you have to spend many many hours to find a good one.
 
fdr said:
Thanks! I'm aware of Cabela's but it's too long a drive for me, and no fun driving for 2 hours one-way, only to find they don't have what I'm looking for.
Weimajack requires access to EE which I don't have.
All I was saying it's not like some people have said, that you just "Walk into any big store and pick whichever one you like".
Around Toronto, you have to spend many many hours to find a good one.
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Agreed. There is a Cabela's an hour north of me in Barrie, but I didn't see anything promising when I was in there last. Granted, I wasn't looking that close either. May give them a call...see if it's worth heading up there to look them over.
 
fdr said:
It is not that easy to find a good SKS around Toronto these days.
I'd like to be able to find a perfect example with all matching numbers, I would pay up to 300 dollars, unfortunately this is no longer possible.
Many stores sell them for $200-$250, but don't even dream of all matching numbers for this price.
Bulls Eye in London is very good, but it may be a very long drive depending on where you live.
(Actually, just checked their web site and they're out of stock on the cheaper ones, all they have left is $300.)
Marstar just ran out of the "super-grades" last month, they were $250 plus shipping, so close to $300. But even that was online, so you wouldn't know what you'd get.
Click to expand...

You could try Arnies Guns in PA Saskatchewan. I stopped in last week and he has quite a few on the wall. While I didn't pay a lot of attention to price or condition they looked to be very nice as I walked past them. I'll post the link with contact information if you do call ask for Phil one of the owners or James the manager they are both great guys and will give you straight information. http://arnies-guns.com/
Chuck
 
OP if you do happen to get to a store and get your hands on one, i have a checklist that may be of some use to you.

first, i do the ####, point safe, pull and hold down trigger, cycle the bolt, reset trigger thing recommended by the rcmp.

Then check:
Rifling and bore (rifling strong, bore nice and shiny)
Crown in reasonably good shape
Safety function
Sight alignment (sights not canted)
Recoil spring strength (should be stiff. Bought one with a weak spring once, resulting in stovepipes)
Stock to action fit (should be very little wobble of action in stock)
Lastly, numbers match.

Pretty sure that's it. If I can think of anything else i'll edit.
 
Chuck McCann said:
You could try Arnies Guns in PA Saskatchewan. I stopped in last week and he has quite a few on the wall. While I didn't pay a lot of attention to price or condition they looked to be very nice as I walked past them. I'll post the link with contact information if you do call ask for Phil one of the owners or James the manager they are both great guys and will give you straight information. http://arnies-guns.com/
Chuck
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Thanks, Chuck, but I live in Ontario, so going to PA to buy an SKS is very problematic for me. :)
 
Bushbum40 said:
OP if you do happen to get to a store and get your hands on one, i have a checklist that may be of some use to you.

first, i do the ####, point safe, pull and hold down trigger, cycle the bolt, reset trigger thing recommended by the rcmp.

Then check:
Rifling and bore (rifling strong, bore nice and shiny)
Crown in reasonably good shape
Safety function
Sight alignment (sights not canted)
Recoil spring strength (should be stiff. Bought one with a weak spring once, resulting in stovepipes)
Stock to action fit (should be very little wobble of action in stock)
Lastly, numbers match.

Pretty sure that's it. If I can think of anything else i'll edit.
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Before going to store, it is recommended to find one and practice how to disassemble it.
At the very least, learn how to do it from pictures, this is a good one:
http://www.gunpics.net/russian/sks/sksdis.html

This was a must-read for me:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...SKS45-ID-FAQ-Collectibles-update-feb-8th-2011
 
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fdr said:
Thanks, Chuck, but I live in Ontario, so going to PA to buy an SKS is very problematic for me. :)
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I was actually thinking they might be able to ship you something at a reasonable price. The last gun I shipped to the Ontario area was around 30-35 dollars with 700 dollars worth of insurance. What they would charge I have no idea, but its just one more option you can think about.
 
Hey guys~update! Ended-up picking a Russian, hardwood, 1954. Found a few at a small, local dealer I didn't know even had them. There was lots of cosmoline of course, and, liberal use of what I'm guessing was a cold blue pen. Looked like a kid had scribbled on the metal in various places with a black marker. lol Anyhow...got it all off. Appears to have been an attempt to cover some very superficial scratching. Looks way better now. It will be several weeks before I can shoot it, but I'll update the thread with some photos when the time comes. The indoor/iPone photos are fairly crappy.

Anyhow, thank you all for the tips...this appears to be a very clean specimen. Only think I may add to it is a vented hand guard. I really like the look of those. Have 120 rounds of non-corrosive Barnaul to try out with it.
 
fdr said:
Congratulations on your first! SKSs tend to breed, you know... ;) Have fun!
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Thanks fdr! :) You know.....a few months ago, I got my new varmint gun, scope, reloading components...the combined value would have bought about 10 SKS rifles. Planned to spend this Ontario long weekend working-up the first hand loads but instead...I've been tinkering with this 1954 Russian. It's sitting in the gun vise 10' from me...I like just looking at it too. :) I mentioned this to a buddy who's been encouraging me to get one for some time...his reply; "It's fun eh? No stress".

Exactly.

The novelty may wear off, or it may not. Just glad I go off my a** and finally got one. The temptation to get an SKS-D is there for sure...but I'm fighting that.

Thanks to everyone who chimed-in, greatly appreciated. Very supportive group here. I'll be sure to report back, and turn to you guys if there are any issues I need to get sorted out.
 
riversrest said:
I think I've never seen one BBQ painted. It seems more like a Russian version of Duracoat or similar. It's tough, you can't get it off even with paint stripper and it is less susceptible to scratches and fingerprints.

If choosing a SKS from a selection in a store I would not only go by first exterior looks but would also check if the receiver sits tight in the stock, if the gas tube fit is good,...
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Wrong. Bbq SKS's can be stripped with Circa.
 
.22LRGUY said:
Thanks fdr! :) You know.....a few months ago, I got my new varmint gun, scope, reloading components...the combined value would have bought about 10 SKS rifles. Planned to spend this Ontario long weekend working-up the first hand loads but instead...I've been tinkering with this 1954 Russian. It's sitting in the gun vise 10' from me...I like just looking at it too. :) I mentioned this to a buddy who's been encouraging me to get one for some time...his reply; "It's fun eh? No stress".

Exactly.

The novelty may wear off, or it may not. Just glad I go off my a** and finally got one. The temptation to get an SKS-D is there for sure...but I'm fighting that.

Thanks to everyone who chimed-in, greatly appreciated. Very supportive group here. I'll be sure to report back, and turn to you guys if there are any issues I need to get sorted out.
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Skip the D model, they are not military and are a "cheapened" SKS variant made from spare chinese parts.. Fro the price just buy a Type 81 when they get here.

The SKS is perfect for what it is, as it is, when you buy it. Adding to it only diminishes it's reliability to no real gain in value or performance. YMMV.
 
Wolf's Den has some, just north of Toronto. Any refurb will have a chrome lined barrel as most are replaced during the refurb. If you just want to plink, a refurb is fine, BBQ paint or blued, it's going to shoot exactly the same.
 
Reddcarr said:
Wolf's Den has some, just north of Toronto. Any refurb will have a chrome lined barrel as most are replaced during the refurb. If you just want to plink, a refurb is fine, BBQ paint or blued, it's going to shoot exactly the same.
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Well, it's a good plinker I've discovered, and my nephew swears the SKS will now be the next gun he buys. Just puts a big smile on my face. :) Been awfully tempted to get another...though I'm not sure why. lol Maybe a super-grade/Weima-gun. I'd love a Yugo, but don't think I can justify all the extra $. Actually, I probably could...just can't see myself doing it. However, if you have a nice Yugo you'll let go for $300 and a cup of coffee, please PM me. :) I'm great company. lol

I picked-up a front target sight (smaller post) from HiCal, a bolt buffer, sight adjustment tool, stripper clips and a vented handguard. Can't bring myself to mess with the gun's original wood at this point. Planning on picking-up a spare gas tube for that.
 
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