SKS/Mosin differences, which one to buy?

Morder

Morder

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I'm a week away from receiving my PAL and I've been looking around at all the advertised websites for a firearms to buy. I obviously set my eyes on the SKS, Mosin and also a 12G shotgun. They are cheap but I also have slight fetish for Russian guns. For that reason I want to pick one up that works well and while the condition of the stock is not too important to me, I'd like if it looked nice too.

I have seen a lot of variations so far and I am very confused on which ones are worth it, I don't know if the condition is just for the stock or for the barrel and whatnot. There are the supergrades, Chineses, hex receiver for mosins, certains are advertised as good condition and some are just naturally more expensive. I just want a great shooting gun, not too beat up and not too pricey either.

I was told I should either get a Chinese SKS since they are mostly unissued or visit a shop and handpick them. There a few little problems, I'm not that interested in a Chinese SKS and since I live in QC there are no good gun shops around me (unless you guys know a decent one). I will have to resort to ordering it online with little choice on what I get.

Right now, I am on FrontierFirearms.ca and I chose both the "SKS silver bolt (good condition)" listed at 259$ and a "Mosin (good condition)" with heavy cosmoline at 249$, I would presume it's in a good condition with a great price to compensate for the fact I have to mass disassemble the thing. I don't know. It's why I'm asking to you guys.
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of Milsurps. Cleaning all the cosmoline from old rifles is part of the fun (and necessary from a safety standpoint, clean the bolt on the sks inside and out as an example) I have done it many times and it's not that hard. From my experience with SKS's all the varieties seem to be similar shooters so pick ones you like, I have a Russian, a Chinese, and a Yugo. I like my Russian best, for historic reasons mainly. Frontier is a good outfit, prices sound reasonable to me but they vary a little across the country, not enough to make any difference though IMHO.
Btw, just love the Mosins and sks's, great guns, a lot of fun for a cheap price.
 
Mosin is probably cheapest to buy and easiest to take care of. Mosin got more character as they all (or almost all) saw some action. Buy in person to check bore and muzzle - most are rusted and/or worn. Surplus ammo for mosin is more scarce lately and price is rising.

SKS - again, I'd suggest buying in person. Current "batch" in stores looks really bad. Find older import from private seller. SKS would normally have excellent bore, but cleaning after hosing corrosive surplus ammo will be a chore that you need to get used to. Surplus ammo can still be found without issues and price is still decent.
 
SKS and Mosin Nagant 91/30s are cheep right now and you have a wide choice to select from.

I would miss lunch and buy both, look at how high the current prices are on Finnish M39s.

.22s will always be around.
 
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Take into consideration the caliber of ammo you will need to buy as well.

Mosins may have a slightly more affordable purchase price than an SKS, but the x54R round they shoot are more costly than the x39 cartridge for the SKS.
Surplus ammo for the SKS is also easier to find right now compared to the Mosin.
 
Start with a SKS .22LR are joke they are not the best rifle to learn how to shoot i started with a SKS cause that caliber is low in recoil mabe not like a .22lr but it give you a little feeling of what to expect wend you will shooting a mosin nagant , 308 or a 30-06 with bigger recoil
 
Sorry if the title came out a bit wrong, I was indeed planning to get all 3 at the same time. My question was more towards which type of SKS/Mosin I should get or on which website. Those listed as supergrade could just have a nice stock but rusty all over for all I know or it could be the opposite. If I had an unlimited budget, I would still pick a SKS over anything else first because I like it and older weapons in general. Ideally I'd like if it had a bore in decent condition since it's gonna be my first firearm. As for the Mosin, it's just an extra for being so cheap.
 
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here some food for thought

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/03/ralph/ralphs-guide-to-buying-your-first-mosin-nagant-9130/

http://www.yooperj.com/SKS.htm
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=77478.0
 
Gain access to the EE, it may take a couple/few weekz, then see whats offered for sale, you can get/ask for extra pics & ask seller any questions you want. Buy from someone with a decent seller rating & you will most likely save over a retail purchase.
 
Ask yourself, why do I have guns? To shoot, no?
Just under 10 cents a shot for .22s, and just over 20 cents a shot for chicom 7.62 x39, there's really no reason not to have these in your collection.
That's the basics. Then, build on that.
 
Do Not buy an SKS !!

You will get the bug , there is no cure , You get one ,, then suddenly you will have 2 then 3 then 5 ...........................................

There are many here with the BUG but we love it !!!

Good hunting
 
if you can find a blued sks with numbers matching, thats the ticket. Almost everything in stores now are painted mixmasters with sanded stocks. You cant really go wrong with russian or chinese. I find the finish on a nice russian ones to be better than the chinese.

you can still find nice mosins, but the more colelctables are the hexagonal receivers. but honestly, if it's for shooting find one with decent wood, nice metal, and a decent bore get it. you wont be disappointed.

The nicest mosins are typically the hungarians or polish ones. but you pay a premium.

As it turns out i have a hex receiver mosin and a solid shooter sks for sale up in the EE right now. Your best bet is to lurk there and pounce on a good deal.
 
Don't mess around, get a good mosin, with a good tight barrel, master the kick and your aim, and move on from there. Get 3 or 400 rds of surplus ammo and practise. Everything you learn after that is a pleasure and a tease. Good luck.
 
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