Should I get an SKS?

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MattE93

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Look for opinions. I currently own a Savage MkII .22LR, K98, Mosin M38, and a No.4 Mk.1, while I love all of them I am looking to branch out into the world of semi auto. I wanted something that wouldn’t break the bank as the K98 and No.4 while fun are expensive to fire.

I was lucky enough on my last range trip to try out a Scorpion Evo 3 in 9mm and loved it, however, I don’t really want to drop $1600 on a rifle and optic right now.

I am considering getting an SKS, putting a no drill scope mount and cheap ACOG or red dot on it. I like that I can shoot it for .24$ a round instead of the $1.50 8mm and .303 cost me and I am looking for my first semi auto to have a little variety at the range. Those of you that have one, do you find them lots of fun to shoot?

My other options are to save up for the scorpion evo 3 if you think I’ll outgrow the SKS fast, or I was also looking at a Jericho 941 in 9mm.

Thank you for any thoughts!
 
MattE93 said:
Look for opinions. I currently own a Savage MkII .22LR, K98, Mosin M38, and a No.4 Mk.1, while I love all of them I am looking to branch out into the world of semi auto. I wanted something that wouldn’t break the bank as the K98 and No.4 while fun are expensive to fire.

I was lucky enough on my last range trip to try out a Scorpion Evo 3 in 9mm and loved it, however, I don’t really want to drop $1600 on a rifle and optic right now.

I am considering getting an SKS, putting a no drill scope mount and cheap ACOG or red dot on it. I like that I can shoot it for .24$ a round instead of the $1.50 8mm and .303 cost me and I am looking for my first semi auto to have a little variety at the range. Those of you that have one, do you find them lots of fun to shoot?

My other options are to save up for the scorpion evo 3 if you think I’ll outgrow the SKS fast, or I was also looking at a Jericho 941 in 9mm.

Thank you for any thoughts!
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Don't just get one SKS: get 2... :cheers:



A KwikRail might be a far more stable scope-mount option... :yingyang:



Another option may be a JR-type carbine, if you're intent on a 9mm carbine; my thoughts are that the SKS will go up in price, whereas the 9mm carbines will go down in price as "subsequent generations" and more used product comes on the market.... :canadaFlag:
 
cyclone said:
Don't just get one SKS: get 2... :cheers:



A KwikRail might be a far more stable scope-mount option... :yingyang:



Another option may be a JR-type carbine, if you're intent on a 9mm carbine; my thoughts are that the SKS will go up in price, whereas the 9mm carbines will go down in price as "subsequent generations" and more used product comes on the market.... :canadaFlag:
Click to expand...

I agree, and the magwedge rail or the NcStar razor mount from coronel mustard, a business partner on here, can't spell the name haha, it's a small one that can use a red dot sight
 
I have two, 53&54 Issy's. One I kept original. One with the tacticool look. I replaced the original gas tube with a gas tube mount and mounted a 4x pistol scope. Four years and not bored yet. I don't fire anything but my reloads through them,mostly cast. As Cyclone said buy TWO. I liked the round so much I also bought a CZ carbine in 7.62x30 also.
If ammunition is so expensive you should discover reloading. All my practice ammunition is cast bullets so price is well below factory ammunition prices.
 
Any thing I need to know about Chinese versus Russian or anything like that. A few local places have Chinese shooter grades for around $195, are they good enough for a fun semi auto. One store occasionally has Russian consignment ones
 
Sks is hands gown the best bang for the buck. I doubt you would ever get tired of it. You said it cheap ammo, and reliable semi auto. If you're only buying one, get a Russian.
 
I go along with the get 2 school of thought given the current prices and availability don’t be in a rush to get one or more try inspect them first yourself rather than take some store’s opinion. Ammo is more expensive than it was a couple of years ago but still goes on sale especially in your area you have choices. The SKS is a solid piece of work and a joy to have. Not too much kick and you can easily go through a 100 rounds without feeling it. I shoot iron sights as I don’t want to screw around with a scope as they don’t always fit well.
If shooting corrosive ammo, aka the cheap stuff, then clean it after every trip to the range. In my mind that is part of the equation when I got ammo for 18 cents a round I knew there would be a catch lol!
Enjoy!
 
I like to buy expensive firearms but one thing i never grew up is my addiction for the SKS. i actually have 14 spreaded tru my grandkids.

Russian are very well made, i like the chinese and Yugo are my favorite, i was sailing tru EPPS site and they have chinese SKS very good condition for a fair price, i will pick one up for pleasure.
 
Well it looks pretty unanimous! How is the 7.62x39mm round out of an SKS? I love my larger calibers but my shoulder can only take so much 7.62x54r out of my M38
 
Yes, you should buy at least one in your lifetime.

Russian or Chinese, doesn't make a whole lot of difference. Yugo are rarer, and stupid expensive. The 7.62 x 39mm is a lovely little .30 calibre round, and still cheap like borscht for corrosive. Barnaul non-corrosive is a bit pricier, but if you don't want to regularly get intimate while cleaning it's a good investment. Recoil is very manageable, being a semi-auto certainly helps.

Big box stores like Cabela's only have the Chinese made ones in stock, possibly the plastic stocked ones may be Russian/Chinese? Pick yours out in store yourself, and inspect it as much as they'll allow you to - being familiar with how to disassemble them helps (and it's tool free, which is lovely for your peasant canon fodder).

In conclusion, buy one and much ammo.
 
Maybe I’ll go look at some tomorrow and pick one out. There are about 10 for sale locally at various stores. I am going to get into reloading for 8mm and .303 but wanted something cheaper! I shoot lots of .22 and only a little high caliber. I wanted something that would give me more trigger time on a harder hitting round both for fun and to work on my flinch.

Are optics controlled by ITAR, or am I free to bring one home? I’ll be in the states over summer and would like to save some money.
 
Yes get an SKS ! Russian would be my first choice. These are surplus, refurbished, ex military so quality is all over the board. Your best approach is to go to a brick and mortar store , handle and inspect for fit and function. Choose the one that has the best wood, finish ( blued preferably not painted ), best rifling and overall best condition. Expect to spend anywhere from 250-400$ depending on who and where you get it from. Surplus ammo abounds. It would be safe to say that all crated, spam-canned ammo is corrosive, as long as you clean the rifle after use it's not a problem.
Research it online, there's a huge amount of info on these things out there. All your questions will be answered.
Aside from all that, it's a fun,sturdy rifle. Pick a good one, keep it clean and it'll outlast you.
 
The only problem with SKS's is that they're like Dorritos... You can never stop at just one.

May as well break the seal and start now, the price of them isn't going down.
 
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