best site to order russian SKS from - quality opinion

I got a great one from Cabelas back in November for $189.00 with free shipping, a 1953; others, not so lucky. Canadian Tire has a good selection running $225-269; look at them and pick a nice one, or go to any other dealer where you can handle and look at them first hand. There is a lot of junk kicking around.
 
I was thinking of ordering the sks+1200 rounds from canadaammo for $589, but maybe I'll pay the extra $80 to pick one out if there's that much of a chance of them sending me a crappy one :(
 
I've picked up dozens of rifles from Westrifle. I'm happy to pay a bit more for premium rifles. They bring them in, and they keep the best ones for themselves, the remainder is what goes to places like cdn tire and cabelas.
 
Hi,

anyone have any recommendations on a specific site that has the best quality SKS's? or is it pretty much a crapshoot wherever you get them from?

Enfield303 just posted here about getting a nice one for $189 at Cabelas. His thread is down the list just 2 threads below yours.
He refinished the stock and made one very nice looking rifle. Here's a link to his thread, I'm sure he won't mind answering your questions.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1514385-Found-a-nice-SKS-at-Crapbelas-for-189-99-Here-is-the-plan
 
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Honestly it's super hit and miss on the quality that even reputable vendors have in Stock these days. There are still many good rifles to be had, but just as many "bad" ones. I would only order online as a last resort. If there is no store locally that carries them I'd try the EE. Might be worth paying a few dollars more for a known good rifle.
 
Cabelas has the laminate stock SKS for $240 right now. I dunno if that's a good deal or not, anyone know? I'm not much of an SKS guy. I don't even know what is meant by laminate stock... is that a fancy way of saying refinished or something?

http://www.cabelas.ca/product/78682/russian-sks-semi-auto-rifle-w-laminate-stock?productVariantId=230148&ps=True&pl=hp&cm=17-bigweekendsale-russiansks
That is not a bad price, depending on quality for sure! Laminate is like a good quality birch plywood as opposed to the birch stock which is solid birch, both look nice, I prefer a really nice red birch stock!
 
I've picked up dozens of rifles from Westrifle. I'm happy to pay a bit more for premium rifles. They bring them in, and they keep the best ones for themselves, the remainder is what goes to places like cdn tire and cabelas.

Thing with westrifle is how they pin the mag with a weld!! drives me up the wall when its done that way... just as well carve your name into the stock with a knife..
 
I've picked up dozens of rifles from Westrifle. I'm happy to pay a bit more for premium rifles. They bring them in, and they keep the best ones for themselves, the remainder is what goes to places like cdn tire and cabelas.
I bought many rifles from Westrifle, happy every time, but they don't supply CDN tire, North Sylva does, at least in the east, you have to pick through them to get good ones but they are there, for shooters, most are fine, I have only seen a half dozen or so out of hundreds that I would consider not worth the $200.
 
I've actually had a really good experience at Canadian Tire stores. Some have over 30 from which you can choose which one you like the most
 
I've actually had a really good experience at Canadian Tire stores. Some have over 30 from which you can choose which one you like the most

I got an unissued, all matching, blued, '52 for 170 dollars at Crappy tire with a 50 off promo card a while ago.Most of them were refurbished, parkerized, mismatched ,garbage but a few were real gems.Ask to see a few of them.Even at 220 it is great deal.The nicest one they had was on display, and I talked them into reluctantly parting with it.
 
I got my 1954 Tula from Westrifle. Decent shape, all matching numbers, original stock (slightly beat up). Tons of cosmoline. As far as I could tell, the carbine had seen a few rounds and then it was put in storage. The barrel looks good. The only downside is a slight amount of rust in the chamber - I'll try polishing it out later.

They got a new shipment the week after I got my SKS. There were a few REALLY nice ones, but they were gone in 3 days.

Local CT, Cabelas, and McAdam store had either pre-1953 with non-chrome barrels or deeply refurb Frankensteins.
 
to bad corwin arms doesnt carry them anymore, those were beauties.

He just posted a few from his "secret stash" of ones from earlier imports (none of the import markings, all matching, no BBQ paint, beautiful arctic birch stocks in excellent shape).

https://www.corwin-arms.com/catalogue/firearms

A bit above average price, but far above average quality.

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