Hello. I have a SKS French Tickler in perfect , unfired condition and a refurbished laminate Russian all matching , unfired in Canada. I want to keep one for collector value and one to use for regular range time. I do not know which to use for shooting and which to go for corrosive shooting. Please advise.
Chinese or Russian?
- Thread starter corneluncc
- Start date
Unless the Russian has a 'New barrel' it's just 'unfired' by you. There were up to millions of either made, so the 'collector value' is mostly 'your value'. I've had both, sold the Russian after a couple years of use (got back all my $$) but now have the FT and it's an OK shooter. Still, it's an SKS so the value is the current market - up a couple Cs from what I paid last year, but now it's got almost 500 shots, so . . . ? Used are selling for $6-800 in my area, plus I have "shots fired" records and borescope vids. It was like a mirror when I bought it, and the bore still looks fine.
I'm not a 'collector', so if you have your FT 'cleaned of Cosmo' that's prob reduced the value a bit ? IDK, JMO. How long are you looking to 'Hold Your Investment' ?
I'm not a 'collector', so if you have your FT 'cleaned of Cosmo' that's prob reduced the value a bit ? IDK, JMO. How long are you looking to 'Hold Your Investment' ?
I'd keep one and sell the other and buy crate or two of ammo 
SKS will only go up when the Commie liberals ban more guns or talk about banning.
I prefer the Chinese SKS personally. Cheaper and most are heavy chrome lined for Corrosive ammo.
I'd rock the Chinese personally
SKS will only go up when the Commie liberals ban more guns or talk about banning.
I prefer the Chinese SKS personally. Cheaper and most are heavy chrome lined for Corrosive ammo.
I'd rock the Chinese personally
A lot of the french ticklers were new and unused so they would make the best shooters
A lot of the Russian ones are half wore out
Personally I like the Russian ones the best but the Chinese FT would prob shoot better and be more accurate
A lot of the Russian ones are half wore out
Personally I like the Russian ones the best but the Chinese FT would prob shoot better and be more accurate
I agree with derek & deathrawt - I put mine in a Tapco stock, since I also have 5x mags for that. The Bore when I got it was like a mirror as it was 'un-issued' in Cosmo. After a 'first shot' to 'feel' where the irons are hitting, I get 3-4 MOA at 100 & 175-yds. All to expect from an SKS w-irons, for me.
Buy 3 or 4 more. Shoot the ugliest one you end up with ( see next post)
Id say buy 8 but they aren't $189.99 anymore for a non numbers matching refurb.
The French tickler is still a buy at the going rate... Once they are gone... that's it
Id say buy 8 but they aren't $189.99 anymore for a non numbers matching refurb.
The French tickler is still a buy at the going rate... Once they are gone... that's it
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To the best of my knowledge the only collectible laminate Russian SKSs are so called "letter series". Their serial number is followed by a Cyrillic letter: 1956-Д=D in English; 1957-И=I in English and 1958-K=K in English. All other laminate stocks on SKSs from other years of production are non-original, refurb stocks, without any special collector values. Just shooters. So check yours.
Thank you
Russian are chrome lined after 51 or 52 and most refurbs have new barrels if they were out of spec. And if replaced were chrome lined. Either one may or may not shoot well and there are lots of videos and info here on cgn to help them shoot less crappy. Excellent firearms even at present prices.
