My My, how the tide has turned for the SKS...
- Thread starter The Kurgan
- Start date
- Location
- Steel Town
Exactly, and you will never find quality like in an SKS anywhere for under $750. In fact, you need to spend over $2000 for anything half decent these days (wood, blued metal, machined parts, etc.)
- Location
- Steel Town
A few in EE.
Well that's a bit of a stretch! lol
I've tuned up and accurized many SKS' over the years. Most of them out of refurb have poorly fitted stocks to the actions. Yes the stocks are real wood, the actions and barrels are made of quality steels that take a beating and keep on going. Unfortunately the field takedown design itself doesn't lend it to a solid mating and contributes to poor accuracy.
I think this is the number one reason for the SKS' reputation for poor accuracy. However, there's a quick and easy fix for this and it's to cut some pop can shims out that fit under the trigger group behind the rear side of the action and the stock. Once assembled and the shims are added you clip the trigger group back on and your done!. It makes taking it down a little stiff the next time but the payment is better accuracy.
The next thing is the trigger which on some are quite good but most quite bad. There's lots of youtube vids on how to get those triggers tuned up and Wolff makes spring kits to help. Most not all $2000 guns (Colt Python) come tuned up and ready out of the box.
- Location
- Steel Town
Well, we can disagree; it's not a stretch--$2000 doesn't get you much these days unless you know what to look for, and I am mainly referring to equivalent semi-autos. Accuracy wise, my non-refurbs and select refurbs shoot well. I have been doing the pop can routine, where necessary, for 12 years and counting. Yes, the triggers can be tuned, but I have adjusted to them (instead of adjusting them) and I can achieve pretty decent and consistent groups.
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The sks is a hammer, a well thought out tool to equip a conscript army, they just plain work, Not the most accurate and not the prettiest girl at the ball, but when you ask her and take care of her a bit, she’ll preform better then most, even after sitting in a ditch in some country with low Maitnence, it’s simple, simple to use simple to clean and care for and will hit targets at 200 yds all day if you do your part, I’ll never have anything bad to say about them, they were designed to work well in poor conditions and be easily serviceable and they are, you aren’t aiming for moa with these things they weren’t designed for that, they were mo-enemy and they do exactly that
Before OIC, 2k would and or still could build or buy a decent BCL Coyote, a superior VZ 58, numerous kick ass PCCs, a very nice M305, A Stag 10, a HK SL8, FNAR and others.
I remember a time when SKS rifles were rare, and ammunition was barely available.
Then they were disposed of as surplus in huge numbers along with their ammunition.
Because they, and the ammunition, were inexpensive, there were those who equated inexpensive with cheap.
They aren't cheap. They are well made, reliable, dependable rifles.
And some have the added bonus of being uncommon and quite collectible.
Then they were disposed of as surplus in huge numbers along with their ammunition.
Because they, and the ammunition, were inexpensive, there were those who equated inexpensive with cheap.
They aren't cheap. They are well made, reliable, dependable rifles.
And some have the added bonus of being uncommon and quite collectible.
- Location
- Steel Town
One of the SKS's most redeeming attributes, in my opinion, is the fact that if you do your part with basic maintenance, they will probably survive many generations and still function perfectly. I highly doubt most of the mass produced junk being passed off today as modern and "quality" will last 1 generation (and THANK God for that).
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They're actually very cool milsurps. People turn their nose up at them, but for a gas-operated semi, they're robust, and a lot of fun to shoot. When I bought mine at $200, I felt that was undervalued. I think SKS is coming up to its proper value now.
(In 2008, I sold two LE4 for $350 each, and last year bought one in slightly less condition, for $800... lesson = never ever sell a gun).
(In 2008, I sold two LE4 for $350 each, and last year bought one in slightly less condition, for $800... lesson = never ever sell a gun).
- Location
- Steel Town
LoL. I wouldn't sell a Kel-Tec to anybody, as it wouldn't be fair.Unless its a Hi-Point, Kel Tec, or Norinco!
Over the past 18 months, I've had a new roof on the house and deck, aluminum with sheathing, spray on insulation, refinished the bottom floor of the house 1760 sq ft, walls, ceilings, floors ugraded lighting, recpticles, switches, including the kitchen and bathroom, which were the most expensive. Just installed a 16kw Generac and replaced some of the older windows. I did most of the electrical work myself, other than the Generac install. The rest was contracted out.
All of this was paid for with the sale of 21, new in grease, milsurps, that I had accumulated over the past 50 years. The most expensive of them at purchase time was around, but not more than $100. Pretty decent return on invested cash at the time. My only regret, is not keeping more of them. Lack of storage pace and other issues, such as a divorce took their toll. Good thing I had many of them stored where my ex wife never saw or knew about them.
I won't even try to make predictions on the future of firearms or their values in Canada. It's all up in the air, unless firearms enthusiasts get off their proverbial duffs and get involved politically in a meaningful/visible manner. One time efforts won't cut it.
I do know that milsurp firearms have given me a much better return than the gold I bought 50 years ago at $27 per ounce. Same goes for the bulk ammo and powder.
