Purchasing SKS for first gun, what to look for?(purchased now, pics post 98)

Take it apart right away and check it over. I made the mistake of buying one from a site sponsor (that wasn't the mistake) and putting it into the safe for a year before I tore it down (that was the mistake). Found that the gas tube on the barrel side had some pitting. Couldn't get the piston out because it rotted to the point where they fused together. Eventually got it out, but there is a fair section of the piston shaft that was eaten away. I think it will be fine as it is only the shaft. Just need to sand/smooth it down. Live and learn right?

Cool rifle though! I can't wait to shoot it.
 
it's important you start off with the best and cleanest example, Westrifle is the way to go, they are the main importer and the pictures on the web show exactly what your getting. Guaranteed you start modding as soon as you fire your first shot, so its worth the extra cost. Don't fall for the cheap crap from Lever Arms, its dangerous when its on the third refurb and there is no warranty, 5 feet or five minutes. The last time I was there the attitude was revolting, cheap ammo or not i'm buying online.
 
Funny how some people love lever arms and some people hate them, doesn't seem to be too much middle ground with them seems to be love/hate only lol.
 
Rifter said:
Funny how some people love lever arms and some people hate them, doesn't seem to be too much middle ground with them seems to be love/hate only lol.
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They can be a bit gruff if you play lookie lou, but if you know what you want they are fine to deal with. I bought my first pistol from lever and had a bunch of newbie questions, which they were happy to answer. Some people expect to have their hand held I guess, I can hold my own hand as far as I'm concerned lol.
 
Tight fitting gas tube, little to no play in the stock, mint bore. Doesn't matter which year, but if you plan to use it as a surplus bullet hose, I recommend a chrome lined bore.
If it is destined to be trunk/truck gun, or just plain old fashioned abused, I recommend a laminate stocked variety with a "BBQ" painted finish.
 
thanks guys, I may go to lever to check out their stock, and if I cant find a good one ill just plan a road trip to Kamloops(corwin).
 
Rifter said:
thanks guys, I may go to lever to check out their stock, and if I cant find a good one ill just plan a road trip to Kamloops(corwin).
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Fyi, Corwin Arms doesn't have a storefront. So save yourself the gas unless you already have to head up to the Loops, Martin will no doubt meet with you and hand off an sks etc but you won't have a rack of rifles to dig through. If you strike out at lever ordering from Corwin online is a no brainer, Martin's red rifles are beauties. I picked up an svt from him at the last Burnaby gun show and its a beauty, you might consider that option as well. Email Martin and see if he's coming to the next monthly HASBC show in Langley. Save yourself shipping and get a beautiful sks, Martin's a good guy to deal with.
 
Any country.
Stock/original condition.
Chromed bore.
Good strong bore and undamaged muzzle crown.
Tight fitting stock to receiver. No back and forth slop. Though you could bed it or just shim it with beer cans if you need to.
Oh yes and not more than $250 for it.

All that equals excellent SKS! :rockOn:
 
Cb750k said:
Fyi, Corwin Arms doesn't have a storefront. So save yourself the gas unless you already have to head up to the Loops, Martin will no doubt meet with you and hand off an sks etc but you won't have a rack of rifles to dig through. If you strike out at lever ordering from Corwin online is a no brainer, Martin's red rifles are beauties. I picked up an svt from him at the last Burnaby gun show and its a beauty, you might consider that option as well. Email Martin and see if he's coming to the next monthly HASBC show in Langley. Save yourself shipping and get a beautiful sks, Martin's a good guy to deal with.
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Good to know, thanks.
 
Cb750k said:
Grandview near Rupert sell guns now, the last time I was in there looking for something I checked out the selection of sks they had. One looked like it had been dragged behind a truck all the way from the Ukraine. Do yourself a favour and go to Lever or Reliable, support your local gun store.
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That being said, I bought 2 from that store. One was absolutely perfect, and the other I used to #### around with for fun. Just like supporting your localk gun store, it's also important to support Canadian Tire so they know that firearms owners are their customers too. If we loose canadian tire then all we have are local gun stores. CT often has giant lots of SKS in so you have to go through them to find the cherry ones.
 
^^^Cambodian tire can eat a ####, they stopped selling firearms when the LGR was in full effect. Obviously they didn't want the hassle or weren't in it to support the hunting/shooting comumity. Now that the LGR has been scrapped they're all pro firearm again, #### them. They are in no way a LGS, which by the way continue to support the shooting comumity in my eyes.

If you're in the lower mainland, shop at whichever local Independant gun store of your choice. We've got a few to choose from grime Vancouver to Mission, support them and they'll still be there down the road.
 
skneub said:
Depending on where in Alberta...
rust not so big of a problem where I live.
usualy I just oil it up.
cant rust if it cant get damp.

The 3 on the site here are all good bets.

300 rounds is not even a start for an SKS.

I wore out my wood stock......7000+ rounds
lost track after i bought my second one
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If you shoot with corrosive ammo, it will rust. Hygroscopic salts will do that to you. And oiling doesn't get rid of the salts, it'll just cover them up and create localized rust spots. Cleaning well with hot water is your best option. Like, bathtub full of boiling water and throw that sucker in. lol

Rifter said:
Which lower mainland Canadian tires carry firearms? I don't think I remember ever seeing them there.
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Grandview carries them. They seem to be the first, and actually have a gun counter set up. PoCo and Mission also sell guns, but its small in comparison. Last I checked, the Coquitlam store did not carry any, but they were rearranging their sporting goods section, so perhaps they were working on getting some new cabinets in or something?...

Its up to the store whether they carry 'em or not, each one is individually owned so the owner/management gets to decide if they wish to carry firearms or not. I wonder if there is anything else the management decides to stock or not.
 
Cb750k said:
^^^Cambodian tire can eat a ####, they stopped selling firearms when the LGR was in full effect. Obviously they didn't want the hassle or weren't in it to support the hunting/shooting comumity. Now that the LGR has been scrapped they're all pro firearm again, #### them. They are in no way a LGS, which by tge way continue to support the shooting comumity in my eyes.
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I feel the same way about Canadian tire for different reasons. I didn't actually plan to purchase there was just curious as ive been in a good dozen in the lower mainland and never seen a firearm.
 
Rifter said:
I feel the same way about Canadian tire for different reasons. I didn't actually plan to purchase there was just curious as ive been in a good dozen in the lower mainland and never seen a firearm.
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Its a new thing for most stores that do carry 'em... Being in Surrey probably doesn't help. With their problems lately with violence and crime, I could see a Canadian Tire getting a lot of bad publicity over bringing in guns to sell. Hell, my car got broken into on Christmas infront of my moms house in Surrey. That place sucks these days...


Was it commonplace for Canadian Tire to sell guns pre-LGR? I was only a kid in 1996, so I didn't know they EVER sold guns and was blown away when I found out about the gun counter at the Grandview store...
 
Suther said:
Was it commonplace for Canadian Tire to sell guns pre-LGR? I was only a kid in 1996, so I didn't know they EVER sold guns and was blown away when I found out about the gun counter at the Grandview store...
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Oh yeah, I remember going to CT as a kid for fishing gear with my dad and always checking out the ammo and guns on the way out. Then all of a sudden no more guns.
 
The customer service I received from the staff at the Canadian Tire on Grandview was excellent. I was allowed to look over as many SKS's as I wanted, in as much detail as I wanted. I pulled out three I liked and was given a "bulk" buy discount.

Lever wouldn't even let me field strip the gas system for a look, said that they couldn't have me dis-assembling the rifle into little pieces. Told me it wasn't necessary anyway as the rifle had a warranty. I pointed out the sign they have that says surplus arms are sold as is with no warranty and their receipts say as much too. This wasn't my first time at Lever but it was definitely my last. I can not in good conscience recommend Lever to anyone.
 
"Lever Arms lost their import license a while ago, and the ones they have in stock are second picks from dealers who can still import."

Well say what you will about how they service is, or used to be, that is just an outright lie.
There is a thread over in green/black shotguns all about the shotgun they developed and imported.
 
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