Russian vs Chinese Military - what to get

I look at it this way - chinese are new, russian are used.

There are some manufacturing differences between the two which is namely reducing manufacturing costs. The Russian ones are fully milled everything. The Chinese ones started stamping SOME parts like the trigger guard and welding them on instead of milling from a solid block of steel but overall all the important parts on the military ones are milled on any I've seen(the SKS-d is a civilian version for export made in the 80's I believe and has things like a stamped reciever...this is not military). The biggest difference comes in the later ones where the chinese started to pin the barrels on rather than threading them. Theoretically I'd say the pinned barrel is more accurate due to perfect mating with the receiver and the only functional difference should be if one wants to swap the barrel out as the pinned will require a press while the threaded doesn't. Also all Chinese ones have a chrome bore, only late manufacture Russian ones are chrome lined.
 
Freyr_255 said:
I look at it this way - chinese are new, russian are used.
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There is a fair crack of new old stock Russians around. I had two, but sold them off. And there are reports of used Chinese SKSes in some of the batches.

I am unsure about the current Westrifle batch. But the previous batch was of amazing quality. Even the refurbished rifles showed light use. Just a stock and gas tube/hand guard replacement for the most part. My two Izzy refurbs retain the original barrels and are mint. No sign of wear.

I have yet to buy a Chinese. Waiting for an early production example.:ninja:
 
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The last 3 I picked up from Westrifle's last batch were outstandingly immaculate. I haven't fired them all, but I don't always pick them up to shoot them.
 
Freyr_255 said:
I look at it this way - chinese are new, russian are used.

There are some manufacturing differences between the two which is namely reducing manufacturing costs. The Russian ones are fully milled everything. The Chinese ones started stamping SOME parts like the trigger guard and welding them on instead of milling from a solid block of steel but overall all the important parts on the military ones are milled on any I've seen(the SKS-d is a civilian version for export made in the 80's I believe and has things like a stamped reciever...this is not military). The biggest difference comes in the later ones where the chinese started to pin the barrels on rather than threading them. Theoretically I'd say the pinned barrel is more accurate due to perfect mating with the receiver and the only functional difference should be if one wants to swap the barrel out as the pinned will require a press while the threaded doesn't. Also all Chinese ones have a chrome bore, only late manufacture Russian ones are chrome lined.
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There are quite a few Russian ones that were just put in storage unfired... I wouldn't consider those to be used
 
nufros said:
There are quite a few Russian ones that were just put in storage unfired... I wouldn't consider those to be used
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Yes and that is generally not the mainstream ones people order for the same price as a chinese nor would I expect to get one. I'd call it luck of the draw. Far less luck in ordering a chinese as none are used.
 
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I have one of each and I will be buying more of them, but they will all be Russian.
The chinese is fine, but the stock is crappy and just doesnt look as nice overall.

Find a good unissued Russian or buy both, but I think you will prefer the Russian.
Not too many people end up with one Russian and a bunch of chinese...
 
Everyone seems to like the russian stock, ive got a virgin one if anyone is interested?its never even seen daylight I bastardized my sks right of the box lol
 
Brendan10 said:
Why do you need three of the same gun? I want to buy more of them
to but I'm not sure why. Please explain what happened in your brain.
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Some people collect. Different years, different variants, different arsenals. What might be the same gun to one gun nut, might be something totally different to another.

People have more than one SKS like others have more than one 1911, or shotguns, or cannons. Never too many cannons.
 
rabbitprooffence ask's the impossible question that only Big Chief GunRunner
at Marstar knows and he aint telling, just chuckles all the time

My take on it is we know these are brilliant guns that are practically free and at
some point they will be worth some "Real" money, this is my banker brain working,
plus with interests rates what they are these might be a better bet than a RRSP,
at least Goldman Sachs cant steal your SKS but they can make your money
worthless.
 
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I am trying to figure out how anybody could say the Russian guns are pretty. Has to be the ugliest thing I ever bought except for a Stevens shotgun with a plastic stock. I will someday know ho it shoots if I can get all the stuid grease off of it.
 
Brendan10 said:
Why do you need three of the same gun? I want to buy more of them
to but I'm not sure why. Please explain what happened in your brain.
Click to expand...

I have 3 Russians... Three '53 Izzy refurbs.:eek: Why do I have three of the same arsenal? Beats me, I like them '53s I suppose. Probably should get a '53 Tula one day.

Oh yeah, who here on CGN picked up one of those '54 Izzy with the black bayonet this morning from Westrifle? I was sleeping on it and someone snagged it! I will trade you a '53 Izzy for it :p

It's a nice one. Not fired here in Canada. Comes with a shiny bayonet, and the bolt carrier has not been filed to sh!t.
 
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When cleaning my SKS today for the first time I noticed a silver ring around the bore of the rifle. It's a 1953 Tula I am told but could it have had a chrome lined barrel put on it when they overhauled it. The barrel is the only thing on it that has a different serial number.
 
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