458lott
CGN Regular
- Location
- lower mainland b.c.
what are the differences in the Russian and Chinese sks? does one have better quality over the other.
russian and chinese sks
- Thread starter 458lott
- Start date
Honestly, You aren't going to see any major differences between the two.
IMO the Russian has a nicer wood used for the stock, Shiny bolt and nicer style bayonet.
However these three features don't affect the guns performance is anyway.
Most Chinese SKS are unissued and have chrome barrels, Which can be nice.
Both are going to preform flawlessly and can handle the 7.62x39 easily.
IMO the Russian has a nicer wood used for the stock, Shiny bolt and nicer style bayonet.
However these three features don't affect the guns performance is anyway.
Most Chinese SKS are unissued and have chrome barrels, Which can be nice.
Both are going to preform flawlessly and can handle the 7.62x39 easily.
fenceline
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
If you read both Stickies in the Red rifle forum you'll have a good idea. The Chinese SKS sticky, and the Russian SKS sticky.
Andurp
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- New Brunswick
Oh look, this thread. Again.
I would suggest using the search function in the red rifles form to find a ton of threads asking this very question - I know I've posted in at least five of them, so they're there.
Short and sweet: Chinese will be unissued. They will look a bit less shiny, but they will preform just as well (occasionally better) than the standard Russian refurb in terms of both accuracy and reliability. ALL Chinese ones will have chrome lined bores, while maybe 95% of the Russian ones will, as they didn't chrome the barrels until 1950, IIRC. This doesn't really matter as one should clean their rifle as soon as possible after shooting corrosive ammo anyway. For first time SKS buyers, I recommend the Chinese one. It's unissued, and you're the first person to use it. It's a great feeling, holding a piece of military history and being the first one to ever shoot it and clean it, being the first one to find out it's quirks and how it groups and what ammo it likes to eat. My first SKS, which was also the first rifle I ever bought, was a Chinese SKS from CanadaAmmo. It's gone through about 11 thousand rounds thus far, with only one malfunction. I would highly recommend CanAm and the Type 56 rifle.
After that, I recommend looking into Russian ones, as there's a whole other set of history there for you to enjoy. Russian's are more collectable, but I can see that changing in 10-15 years time when the Russians have all dried up and the Chinese ones are still around a bit more commonly.
Both will outlast you if you clean them. I however am not as sure that they will outlast this stale topic and the threads that come with it.
I would suggest using the search function in the red rifles form to find a ton of threads asking this very question - I know I've posted in at least five of them, so they're there.
Short and sweet: Chinese will be unissued. They will look a bit less shiny, but they will preform just as well (occasionally better) than the standard Russian refurb in terms of both accuracy and reliability. ALL Chinese ones will have chrome lined bores, while maybe 95% of the Russian ones will, as they didn't chrome the barrels until 1950, IIRC. This doesn't really matter as one should clean their rifle as soon as possible after shooting corrosive ammo anyway. For first time SKS buyers, I recommend the Chinese one. It's unissued, and you're the first person to use it. It's a great feeling, holding a piece of military history and being the first one to ever shoot it and clean it, being the first one to find out it's quirks and how it groups and what ammo it likes to eat. My first SKS, which was also the first rifle I ever bought, was a Chinese SKS from CanadaAmmo. It's gone through about 11 thousand rounds thus far, with only one malfunction. I would highly recommend CanAm and the Type 56 rifle.
After that, I recommend looking into Russian ones, as there's a whole other set of history there for you to enjoy. Russian's are more collectable, but I can see that changing in 10-15 years time when the Russians have all dried up and the Chinese ones are still around a bit more commonly.
Both will outlast you if you clean them. I however am not as sure that they will outlast this stale topic and the threads that come with it.
Last edited:
Yukon1911
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Classified
The first and obvious difference is the Bayonet, Russian is a blade most of the time and the Chinese is a spike. This is most of the time as the some of the Russians came with a spike, but they are rare.
A buddy of mine and I have bought chinese and Russian and they both shoot great. We have since found unissued IZZY Russians that we like but my go to gun is a 1954 Tula, it really shoots nice and I got it at Canadian Tire! I really like this page for SKS information. It will point out more differences than you care to know.
http://yooperj.com/SKS.htm
Phat Eagle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Fraser Valley, BC
I own both Chinese and Russian SKS... Several, actually... Sure, Chinese are generally unissued, but I feel the Russians are far better construction... Let alone the history... Find yourself a nice Izzy, or 55/56 Tula, and call it a day!
762mm
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Carneystan
x2
Once you feel the difference if a real Ruskie, there's no going back to Chinese. The fit & finish of the Chinese ones just feels substandard in comparison... however, the nicest made SKS's out there are probably the Yugo ones (if you can find one).
rayisametalkid
Regular
- Location
- Cold Lake
i've got a russian (52 tula if memory serves me correctly), and i've shot the chinese, both shoot well, but the russian stocks are far better carved and shaped IMO, i've also heard the cream of the crop so to speak are the yugo ones.
Canada tail
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Get both. Chinese ones come as new Russian ones come used. The bayonet is the major difference.Neither is designed to accept scopes. I find the Chinese is more consistent to fire A tight group. The russian has a shiny bolt
They cost around the same so yeah. Get both
They cost around the same so yeah. Get both
Klebelenator
Regular
- Location
- Red Deer, AB
I have both and enjoy them both. I find the chinese a little lighter. Great inexpensive guns!
The Chinese one seems easier to clean cuz they come unused, but I have both, they are both great
