Should I or shouldn't I?

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Still alive

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Hi all,
This will be my first foray into milsurps and red rifles. Was wondering about all the hype about SKSs. There are a bunch for sale ( don't know what kind ie. Russian, Chinese, Romanian...) at the local store for $199 and ammo is $6 a box. Checked the CGN and see all types of info about these rifles but nothing about any f- ups, malfunctions, failures, breakages etc. Granted I didn't look through the 1000s of posts but do these guns never fail? I'm more into modern black rifles ( of non- Commie manufacture) and was thinking of getting one for poops and giggles since the price point is so low. Anyone out there have had issues with these rifles?
Should I or shouldn't I join the Red side?
 
YES!!!! pick up a russian sks and you will never regret it. clean it very well to get all the cosmoline out of it right out of the box and buy a case of ammo and have the best time of your life! when shooting surplus ammo you have to clean the rifle after every use but hey you cant beat a rifle and 1400 rounds for under 500 bux! and tons of aftermarket support and mods!

IMO everyone that has a pal should own a SKS
 
Still alive said:
Hi all,
This will be my first foray into milsurps and red rifles. Was wondering about all the hype about SKSs. There are a bunch for sale ( don't know what kind ie. Russian, Chinese, Romanian...) at the local store for $199 and ammo is $6 a box. Checked the CGN and see all types of info about these rifles but nothing about any f- ups, malfunctions, failures, breakages etc. Granted I didn't look through the 1000s of posts but do these guns never fail? I'm more into modern black rifles ( of non- Commie manufacture) and was thinking of getting one for poops and giggles since the price point is so low. Anyone out there have had issues with these rifles?
Should I or shouldn't I join the Red side?
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Absolutely get yourself an SKS and maybe follow up later with a Mosin. I have 4 SKS Rifles.... 2 Chinese and 2 Russian and I have never had a malfunction or problem with any of them! Like an AK they were built ( like many Russian Firearms ) to last and required little maintenance in the field....they are fun to shoot and easy to take care of.
 
Best bang for your buck out there ( IMO ) , there's nothing better than cheap milsurp ammo ! You mentioned you were more into black guns and there are a whole bunch of choices as far as after market stocks that " sportize " the sks and give it a more modern look , if you were going to do that make sure to use a refurb and not a numbers matching one . I just got the new archangel sks stock with the 20 round banana mag and I'm liking it , makes it look like a AK . The way I rate them is Yugoslavian , Russian , Chinese (IMO ) , but there all good, I think I like the Russian best but that's just bc. they made it originally .
 
Wow! That is a lot of positive reviews!! Thanks guys! Couple of questions: what is the felt recoil compared to a .308 from a semi auto or a .223? Also, I've read about the need for cleaning after the corrosive ammo but how soon? Does the gun rust THAT quickly or do you have a day to leisurely clean it?
 
Still alive said:
Wow! That is a lot of positive reviews!! Thanks guys! Couple of questions: what is the felt recoil compared to a .308 from a semi auto or a .223? Also, I've read about the need for cleaning after the corrosive ammo but how soon? Does the gun rust THAT quickly or do you have a day to leisurely clean it?
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if you look at your gun during a minute after you shoot you will see the rust ^^ ,



that a joke , a couple hour after is good , it depend of how much humidity it have , some ammo are more corrosive than other
 
Still alive said:
Wow! That is a lot of positive reviews!! Thanks guys! Couple of questions: what is the felt recoil compared to a .308 from a semi auto or a .223? Also, I've read about the need for cleaning after the corrosive ammo but how soon? Does the gun rust THAT quickly or do you have a day to leisurely clean it?
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Can't comment on the recoil comparison, but you should clean it the same day you shoot it. It will not start rusting as you're shooting. The corrosive primers have salts in them that attract water which causes accelerated rusting. YouTube is full of how to videos on cleanig watch a few and you'll be good.
 
Still alive said:
Wow! That is a lot of positive reviews!! Thanks guys! Couple of questions: what is the felt recoil compared to a .308 from a semi auto or a .223? Also, I've read about the need for cleaning after the corrosive ammo but how soon? Does the gun rust THAT quickly or do you have a day to leisurely clean it?
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The SKS is essentially the AK's slightly older cousin, and it has a very similar pedigree. Like all Russian military rifles of the era, they're basically designed to get thrown headlong through a World War or two and come out in battle-ready condition on the other side. They get great reviews because they're simply a damned good gun.

Felt recoil will be pretty much average for a .30 caliber Semi. Enough to know it's there, but mild enough to go all day if you want. And yeah, you have a few hours to clean up with no ill effects. Just make sure you get good, thorough coverage when you flush it down to avoid any rusty little pockets that managed to hide away from you.
 
How the H___did the Commies clean their AKs and Toks and SKSs during battle in crappy conditions? You would think with corrosive ammo and low budget " serfs" as Collector67 puts it, all these guns would have rusted out during use when they can't possibly have time to clean them thoroughly like we do with ours? Do they just junk them after use and pick up a new one? I can't see rusty barrels being very accurate?!
 
Still alive said:
Wow! That is a lot of positive reviews!! Thanks guys! Couple of questions: what is the felt recoil compared to a .308 from a semi auto or a .223? Also, I've read about the need for cleaning after the corrosive ammo but how soon? Does the gun rust THAT quickly or do you have a day to leisurely clean it?
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Just clean it the same day and you don't have to worry. Just make sure you pay particular attention to the bolt and firing pin assembly and make sure it is absolutely clean as grime build up or leftover Cosmoline left in there that can make the free floating firing pin stick creating a dangerous slam fire situation. It is a rare occurrence but proper maintenance and you shouldn't have any issues. The SKS were built for the Russians, by the Russians to handle the worst conditions Russia and Siberia could throw at it. You will give out before it does. It is a simple design that is easy to take down and put together and goes bang every time. And they will be in existence still shooting long after a lot of us are dead and gone. Should you get one. Yes. One caution though... you get one they have a bad tendency to multiply...
 
Still alive said:
How the H___did the Commies clean their AKs and Toks and SKSs during battle in crappy conditions? You would think with corrosive ammo and low budget " serfs" as Collector67 puts it, all these guns would have rusted out during use when they can't possibly have time to clean them thoroughly like we do with ours? Do they just junk them after use and pick up a new one? I can't see rusty barrels being very accurate?!
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A lot did that is why 99% of the SKS's in Canada are refurbs and the reason they went to chrome lined barrels in 51. Barrels and gas tube and pistons were replaced a lot... we however don't have arsenal factories at our disposal and thus we care for our guns and they last much longer than a military gun would normally...
 
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Buy yourself a russian SKS and you won't be disapointed. Cheap and simple, cheap to feed. How can you beat that? Just clean it well when you buy it and every time after you shoot it, or it will rust. Don't spend alot of money trying to bubba it up with tapco/NC star junk, but you probably will want to anyway. Its a simple design and if you complicate it you will, well, complicate it, and thats just wrong. Its not an AR15, so spend the money on ammo, which is cheap compared to just about everything else. The recoil isnt bad at all. You can learn all you need to know on here at CGN and Youtube. So, buy, clean, shoot, enjoy, clean, repeat. Oh, and buy ammo by the case, none of that 20 rounds at a time sh!t. :cool:
 
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Recoil is mild, slightly more than a .223 and noticeably less than .308. They are bomb proof and only malfunction when some turd goes replacing well designed parts with cheap aftermarket crap. Buy one and shoot the crap out of it. Rust from corrosive ammo will vary depending on temp and humidity. In hot muggy weather it can start within a couple hours. In the winter or if you live in a dry climate it could take days. Best to clean it once you get home. There's a sticky on it but its not rocket science so don't go freaking out over it. Rust needs 3 things: iron, water and oxygen. We can't take iron (in the steel) or water (in the air and a byproduct of combustion) away but we can take the oxygen away. Oiled steel will not rust. Hot water will also dissolve the potassium chlorate (salt) left behind from the primer solution very quickly and wash it away. The heated steel causes the water to evaporate quickly. This will keep rust from starting for a while but if left unoiled it will begin to rust due to moisture in the air. Bottom line: just make sure its put away oiled and you're golden.
 
An SKS is a great bargain for the money , try to get a Russian made one if possiable . It may be wise to avoid the cheap military surplus ammo , as it is very corrosive , and pay a few bucks more for the non- corrosive commercial ammo......and have fun....
 
OK! Off to the store tomorrow! Can of degreaser, Windex and hot water to follow. Don't worry kerfuffled, I won't trick this pony up. I figure no matter what you add to it, it can't turn a $199 rifle into a SIG Patrol. Dark side or Red side(?), here I come!
Thanks for the input gentleman!
 
Still alive said:
OK! Off to the store tomorrow! Can of degreaser, Windex and hot water to follow. Don't worry kerfuffled, I won't trick this pony up. I figure no matter what you add to it, it can't turn a $199 rifle into a SIG Patrol. Dark side or Red side(?), here I come!
Thanks for the input gentleman!
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Good decision! You will not be sorry, these Rifles were built like Tanks. Just be warned though that they can multiply like Rabbits.
 
Gunexpert007 said:
An SKS is a great bargain for the money , try to get a Russian made one if possiable . It may be wise to avoid the cheap military surplus ammo , as it is very corrosive , and pay a few bucks more for the non- corrosive commercial ammo......and have fun....
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I do the same... corrosive is 6.50 a box while the non-corrosive goes for 9.00, I really don't mind spending the little extra for peace of mind.
 
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