a question on SKS

coyotebc

coyotebc

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British Columbia
First off I know basically nothing about sks
I see Cabelas is advertising Russian laminate stock sks for $259
My local Canadian Tire has sks for $229, but I don't know what type they are.

Does anyone know what type of sks Canadian Tire is selling and if so which is the better deal

Thanks
 
Odds are they are basically the same gun, different price. Hard to tell for sure without pix, but the are almost guaranteed to be Russian surplus, mid-50's, mostly arsenal refinished. Laminate stocks are a little more stable, less subject to humidity, but it doesn't make much difference. These are shooters, cheap, effective and reliable. They tend to be minute-of-deer accurate. Ammo is cheap and readily availabe, but most is corrosive, so youhave to clean with hot water and soap after each use, to remove the salts from the priming compound, otherwise you'll end up with a very rusty pile of metal.
 
If you want something a little nicer, look for a "super grade" for about $100 more. That will pretty much guarantee a very good+ bore and bluing. Otherwise, inspect the bore and gas tube for signs of rust or wear. If they are clear, chances are it will be a good shooter. I prefer the laminate stocks for shooting and durability, but a nice solid birch stock is fine. An original solid birch stock in its original Russian-red colour is actually very appealing. Look for one that is all-matching. Don't worry so much about the magazines, as they all seem to be mismatched/force-matched these days. I would also make sure the gas tube/handguard fits snuggly. Some are pretty wobbly. Lastly, don't expect precision accuracy, but from my experience (and take it for what you will), the 1949-1952 seem to shoot a bit better. I tend to pick 1952's for chrome lined bores and the fact that they're still an earlier manufacturing year--as shooters.
 
At my local canadian tire they are selling ones in pretty good shape. The most important thing with any surplus is condition. Don't just buy anyone off the rack. Take a close look at each one, any store worth buying from will let you field strip a 200$ sks. Look inside the action for any signs of corrosion. Corrosion on the inside of the action is a sure sign of it elsewhere. If you see any skip it. If it is free of any rust inside and out, look down the barrel. With the bolt removed getting a good look at the barrel is easy. Compare its condition with the others and pick whichever guns have the shiniest bore with the deepest rifling. Then from these pick whichever one is in the best shape overall. Even if you don't care about dents in the stock having it look as clean as possible will help you resell it. Imo never buy a surplus gun online if you don't have to. If your canadian tire won't let you look at them properly, take your business elsewhere or come back a few days later. At big box stores alot depends on individual clerks, when it comes to what they will let you do.

Seems picky but you will be more happy with your purchase if you got the cleanest, most accurate sks you could.

Also if it comes right down to it, dry fire the guns and pick the one with the trigger you like most. The one i bought looks like crap, but it had the best bore, smoothest action and most familiar trigger pull of the bunch. I learned to shoot on some really crappy triggers but i got used to them and now i prefer it as the break on a cheap trigger with lots of creep is easier for me to predict.
 
Along the same lines, I have seen the term "unissued" kicked around. Apparently that doesn't mean "new", as it can be unissued since refurbishment, correct? How can you tell the difference?
 
1899 said:
Along the same lines, I have seen the term "unissued" kicked around. Apparently that doesn't mean "new", as it can be unissued since refurbishment, correct?
Click to expand...
Alot of dealers will say unissued and mean since refurbishment or some will mean mever issued. Doesn't really matter. Condition on either can be great or terrible. An unissued gun may have been sitting in a flooded warehouse for 60 years, burried in concrete (chinese) or thrown into a pile and left under a tarp. A refurbished may have been shot hundreds of times without ever being cleaned, or mishandled since. See the other posts on page one about condition and what to look for.
 
Referbished...

1899 said:
Along the same lines, I have seen the term "unissued" kicked around. Apparently that doesn't mean "new", as it can be unissued since refurbishment, correct? How can you tell the difference?
Click to expand...

I don't think you really would be able to tell the difference.
IMHO unissued should have all the original marks in the wood and lack referbishment stamps on the parts. If those are missing than to me it's referbished, issued since or not.
Here's a link to help:
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS.htm
 
MotorwayRacer said:
I don't think you really would be able to tell the difference.
IMHO unissued should have all the original marks in the wood and lack referbishment stamps on the parts. If those are missing than to me it's referbished, issued since or not.
Here's a link to help:
http://www.yooperj.com/SKS.htm
Click to expand...

I have a refurbished and the original marks are there.

Should also mention that refurbished rifles have much darker blueing and an english information stamp on the barrel. Hidden under the gas tube, which i think is a classy move.
 
Thanks for the link. So really the only way to get a "new" one in "new" condition would have been the Yugo versions offered by Marstar a while back?
 
Bought a couple of sks from the local ct a couple years ago. Both were BBQ painted non laminated. They were my first sks i owned. I Looked through the bore and the crown was tidy. Didn't strip them down or anything to inspect anything else. When I took them home to clean One had rust spots here and there under the stock, the other had a really rusty action spring. The gas tube also seemed to not seal that great. Long story short they both have been super reliable and good shooters, I'd even say the rusty spring gun is more accurate. And I've never felt guilty about neglecting them. So be picky if you have options but Grab one while they are cheap!
 
Caogelsbu said:
I have a refurbished and the original marks are there.

Should also mention that refurbished rifles have much darker blueing and an english information stamp on the barrel. Hidden under the gas tube, which i think is a classy move.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily, the marks are Russian export marks, I have a couple non refurb with the Molot marks as they call them. it is hard to tell for sure if a rifle I'd refurb but the original marks and no refurb marks are a tell tale sign, some of my non refurb are issued, so they have been used, but lightly enough to nor warrant refurbishing so the armouries put it back in service without having to refurb it! If you are looking for a good shooter, finding a really nice refurb may be your best bet, especially if it has a new barrel etc. Good luck!
 
bobdbldr said:
Not necessarily, the marks are Russian export marks, I have a couple non refurb with the Molot marks as they call them. it is hard to tell for sure if a rifle I'd refurb but the original marks and no refurb marks are a tell tale sign, some of my non refurb are issued, so they have been used, but lightly enough to nor warrant refurbishing so the armouries put it back in service without having to refurb it! If you are looking for a good shooter, finding a really nice refurb may be your best bet, especially if it has a new barrel etc. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Oh that is neat. I always thought most of them were getting refurbished for export. Had no idea they were being refinished for service. The more you know.
 
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