SKS from Cabelas

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Gibson35

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Hey,
Can't quite find the answer I am looking for so if this has been beaten to death, I am sorry.

I want to buy a Russian SKS and I have searched all over Canada's main representors of the rifle, all claiming various conditions and prices to suit. Now I am noticing that some can be had for 200-250 dollars. These are your refurbished or fair condition rifles and they all look the same, not bad but not great. I intend on using it, it will not be a queen, but I for sure want one in good mechanical condition.

So, if they all look the same, and that's my price range, Cabelas and Wholesale Sports are close by, what am I looking for? I mean obviously the barrel and I have inspected a few, but other then that, what are the things to look for?

The ones I looked over seemed to have not been fired much, if at all. I mean the face of the bolt isn't scuffed, the ramp into the breach isn't scratched, everything looks to be ok, but is this just par for the course on a refurb? Or is it truly a low round rifle?

If someone could explain lets says the top five items to check, that would be great.

Oh, forgot to mention, these are numbers matched through and through, but the stocks had standard nicks and scratches.

Thanks
 
Pick out one that appeals to you based on "looks" (shiny lacquer, no obvious blemishes, blued?) and then take it apart and look for rust.
WSS may not want to let you take it apart unless you promise to put it back together, so watch a few videos, it is easy but remember to put safety
in the "on" position, up against the stock, to remove the trigger group.
The springs especially seem prone to rust and check the cleaning tool compartment in the butt. I got a great SKS from WSS for $200.
 
If you strictly want a shooter that's going to last and be dependable , not worried about originality or collectabillity then my 5 things to check/have would be:

1. Good condition laminate stock

2. Chrome lined bore

3. Good rifling or pristine bore

4. Good condition crown

5. Good condition bolt or bolt face , like new no obvious wear

A nice richly blued rifle is nice too and a trigger without much travel or creep if you can find one.
 
Thanks guys. I guess I already knew all of that. To cover my butt I guess I thought there was something else that I should look for specific to SKS that I didn't know, but this seems straight forward.

WSS will price match and that where I saw them for 200 bucks (sale $239.00) as well.

I just don't wanna get bit on one that was shot a lot and then had parts re painted or blued to cover the wear.
 
if you want a really nice one get a nonrefurb one off the EE from Wiemajack. your going to pay but you'll have a handpicked one. try Canadian tire ib your area if you don't want to spend much .
 
Try moving the stock forward and back while holding the barrelled receiver, the tighter it is( no movement between stock and receiver ) the better chances of a slightly more accurate rig!
 
I would say due to the condition of the SKS's I have bought online recently I would order localy or from westrifle. Make sure you see it before you buy pretty much or you may be unhappy.

Some things to look for its the Crown, Check internals for rust, Check the metal finnish, and see if # match, wood stock is easy to refinnish so don't give it to much thought.
 
When I bought mine I looked at a few things. However, I didn't care about about the stock at all because there are so many after-market stock kits and wanted a shooter not a wall-hanger or a collectors' item. So, I bought a parts gun that was never fired (or very very lightly) but the stock was in very rough shape. I just recently fixed the stock instead of buying a new stock and it shoots great.

5 things I checked when I bought my mine were:
-Action(no rust!)
-Bolt Spring (no rust!)
-Bore (no pitting or rust!!)
-Trigger Assembly (Springs should not have rust on them!!)
-Gas Piston System(no pitting/rust on piston/inside)

Basically make sure no rust on springs and no rust/pitting in the bore.
 
On top of what others mentioned..... added bonuses (for me) would be if it has a spring loaded safety, a metal tab on the gas tube lever so it can be actuated using a finger ... and possibly a spring loaded firing pin.

THE NUMBER ONE hot place on the SKS for rust is on the outside of the gas tube, under and near the wood on the hand guard. Mind that area, cus the pitting found there will often be DEEP, and theres not a lot of metal thickness in that area...
 
I would also suggest calling Martin at Corwin Arms, give him an idea what you want - amazing service! Wiemajack has very good rep too, for the extra $30-$40 you will not regret getting them to help hand select something for you, many out there are low quality and you are rolling the dice at the big box stores as many of the staff don't know/don't care to help you out on a low margin item.

Enjoy blasting away with you ultra cheap to feed centerfire rifle! And clean her top to bottom if you use corrosive ammo!
 
Unless Cabelas changed their policy, if you have any issues with your SKS, your screwed. Keep that in mind if buying online sight unseen. I ordered one a few years ago, when I got it it looked like someone attacked it with a hacksaw. When I contacted Cabelas and told them that it had been butchered, I was told there was no returns because it was a surplus rifle. It took some serious fighting with them to get an exchange.
 
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Wow, thanks everyone. This is good info. This is exactly the "specific" to stuff I was looking for.

Can someone tell me what a worn out bolt face on an SKS would look like. Pics help.

And, how often are crowns damaged on these? Again pics help.

Thanks again
 
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If it was 5 years ago and were still getting Ukrainian imports, I would say none of this would be an issue. Their guns were always refurbed to factory fresh standards. With the new Russian imports, check the items already mentioned and you should get a fine shooter. But I haven't seen a Russian import yet that is as pretty as the Ukrainian guns. Buy and shoot!
 
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