Time for us SKS faithful to speak up. Understand that I am not an 858 hater. Just keeping it real. In fact I tried to trade one S&W 686 for a CZ858 last year.
Apples and oranges, different flavor, some people prefer one over the other, but both nutricious and good for you.
Same with 858 and SKS. They are both functional and utterly reliable.
People say the SKS is cheap. Yes, it is cheap to buy, right now here in Canada. But it is not cheap to buy in the USA or other countries. I saw an Eastern European website that advertised CZs for cheaper than you could buy SKS's here.
It is not cheaply made. Compare the SKS receiver to the CZ/VZ 858 receiver. You are looking at a machined steel forging vs. a steel stamping. Which one is cheap? Correction as pointed out by Fat Tony below: Both have machined receivers. The receiver covers are cast or forged/machined in the SKS and stamped in CZ858.
Look at the metal finishing. SKS is blued, the other is painted. Which one is cheap?
Look at the stocks. SKS is solid birch or laminated birch and the other is pressed wood chips...wood scraps similar to fireplace kindling. Which one is cheap????
Now, if we just remain objective and say that the CZ is more accurate, no argument there. The CZ looks cool...well, that is totally subjective. One likes mag fed? Well my 5/20 Tapco'd Russkie Tula works fine, and can take strippers as well, and looks good with one. But for practical use here in canada, a 5 round flush magazine is all one needs, anything more is purely for looks.
For me, stripper clip loading is as fast as detachable box loading/unloading. Remember, to reload the SKS fixed mag, all you need to do is pop in a fresh clip and push down. To reload an empty CZ, you need to remove the empty mag, find a fresh one and then ram it home. Which process do you think is faster? If we are talking reloading 20 or 30 rounds, I agree, the mag is faster, but we are not.
The CZ is lighter by a lb or two, for carrying all day, I guess that's good for some people...some won't really care.
I would've bought a CZ858 a few years ago, but when I handled one at LeverArms, I said NO THANKS.
Today if one were to build new SKS and new 858s, which one would cost more? The answer to that question is the true measure of cheap.
If I wanted to shoot cool shooting military look alike weapons, yeah I'd go for the CZ. But, bin der dan dat with M1A, and selective fire M16A1s and Thompson submachine guns. For now, I am perfectly happy shooting, cleaning and just plain looking at my cheap to buy but well-designed and built Russkie SKS.
For all that's been said about 858's and SKS's one should really have and enjoy both.
) in every meaning of this word.
