Hi, Looking to get opinions on which SKS to go with. Marstar appears to have a new unissued Chinese (military grade) SKSs selling for the same price as refurbished Russian models. I'm not into collecting SKSs. I would like to buy one merely for the enjoyment of shooting it. For my purposes, which is the better deal for me? A new Chinese, or a refurb. Russian? Thanks guys.
Russian refurb. vs new PRC SKS
- Thread starter "J" man
- Start date
My Tula refurb and my military surplus Chinese shoot pretty much exactly the same. The Russian rifle is smoother to take a part and the fit and finish is a bit better, but they both go bang whenever I squeeze the trigger and as I said, accuracy is pretty much the same with your standard corrosive surplus. I've never fired any commercial, high quality ammo out of mine due to the price, but maybe one day.
I bought an unfired, brand new Chinese and just last weekend christened it with a crate of czech ammo. I went with my buddies, who brought their SKS's also. There were some russian ones (refurbs) and a couple of chinese commercial grade ones. Mine was the only military one (compared side by side, the wood is a bit heavier on mine and it just feels more robust than all the others) Mine shot about 1/2" better at 50 and a little less than an inch better @ 100 than ALL the others with the exact same ammo from the same crate. I'd say, if you want to buy a shooter, the chinese military grade one will be at least as good as the Russian ones, and you will be the only owner. So round count will be much easier to acertain. I even got a trade offer for a hunting rifle from one of my friends. I told him to go pound sand.
Thanks for the opinions. I'm glad you're happy with your PRC SKS sgt.rock. I was leaning with the PRK myself because of it being new (no offense to the Russian refurbs, I'm just not too attached to the history and/or collection aspects of the SKSs). I'm assuming you picked yours up from Marstar. If so, is the trigger stamped or milled? And does it have lightening cuts in it? Thanks.
I actually got it about 2 years ago (and put it directly in the safe) from some dealer that I don't remember - but I know it wasn't Marstar. I've only bought one gun there - a Pedersoli Billy Dixon 45/70 and the service was top notch. Just took it out last weekend for the first time as I keep getting sidetracked with gun projects.
I'll have to take a look at the gun this morning when I get off work (doing three 12 hour night shifts this weekend, so not off until 730am.) I found mine a lot easier to hold steady offhand. I'll let you know today.
I'll have to take a look at the gun this morning when I get off work (doing three 12 hour night shifts this weekend, so not off until 730am.) I found mine a lot easier to hold steady offhand. I'll let you know today.
I'd hate to bother you to check your SKS over for the details sgt., especially after a busy day of work. I only asked because I wanted to know what Marstar is offering right now, and I assumed that you got it from there. From what I've heard, the military grade Chinese rifles are quite exceptional (even the late models with the spike bayo and stamped parts) compared to the commercial grade stuff. I would love to find a jungle stock for it, then I wouldn't worry too much about being rough with the ol'lady.
This is true. The Chinese put more love into the SKS than the Russians ever did. The Russians tossed the SKS aside for the AK in all but second line service as soon as they had enough AK's to do so. The Chinese embraced the SKS and used it in some capacity or another until for much longer, probably well into the 80's, maybe the 90's. I'm not saying Russian SKS's are inferior, they're certainly not, but what I am saying is that the military surplus Chinese ones are excellent rifles.
As for the commercial ones, I don't know. A friend has an SKS-D that runs flawlessly and appears to be built well, but we've all heard the horror stories.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
Russians used all milled parts and mostly blade bayonets, Chinese made use of stamped parts, spike bayonet and some pinned barrels. Photos from the latest pics at Marstar look like stamped trigger guards. I've owned both and they shoot fine.
The Chinese pretty well took all the R&D that that Russians did and made their SKS' with all the best of the Russian SKS ideas except the laminate stock. The catalpa is good wood but if they laminated it, the Chinese SKS would be amazing. They are very well built and will run alongside a Russian all day.
I personally don't think the line between Chinese civilian and military SKS rifles is drawn as clearly as most people assume it is.
For instance, the early type D Chinese SKS's were military surplus, that were refurbished for the civilian market, and included non-military parts & configuration. So I personally wouldn't call them military rifles at that point. More like a civilian market refurbs, frankensteined from a mix of military parts. Certainly they aren't original military rifles. The later ones even more so.
I think there's a lot of guys out there with Chinese SKSs in their collections that they thought were military rifles, and they really aren't.
For instance, the early type D Chinese SKS's were military surplus, that were refurbished for the civilian market, and included non-military parts & configuration. So I personally wouldn't call them military rifles at that point. More like a civilian market refurbs, frankensteined from a mix of military parts. Certainly they aren't original military rifles. The later ones even more so.
I think there's a lot of guys out there with Chinese SKSs in their collections that they thought were military rifles, and they really aren't.
Is there a way to differentiate between a true Chinese Milsurp vs. the hodge podge civvy models?
OP-I have one of the Chinese SKS, and it shoots the same way I understand all the other types shoot...short range fun
Serial numbers/markings on the rifle.
The Chinese military ones also have a beefier stock.
I own Russians and chineses, not much difference in grouping at the range but i also own 3 Yugo 59-66 Tiger stripe stock, i've got 12 years ago from Marstar and those are the best shooters of all the SKS i have, i was told that since the barrel had no chrome, it was improving accuracy... JP.
