sks or 858

Here's a little "chart" I made.

alexD92 said:
Lets see:

VZ58:
- Factory folding stock √
- Factory pistol grip √
- Factory detachable mags √
- Removable bayonet √
- Light weight √
- Quick to put apart/together √
- Cheap ammo √
- Cheap mags √
- Quality aftermarket accessories √
- Awesome √
- Wish it was an SKS X
- Cheap price X

SKS:
- Factory folding stock X
- Factory pistol grip X
- Factory detachable mags X
- Removable bayonet X
- Light weight X
- Quick to put apart/together X
- Cheap ammo √
- Cheap mags X
- Quality aftermarket accessories X
- Awesome X
- Wish it was a VZ58 √
- Cheap price √

I own two Russian SKS and one CZ-858. The Czech rifle gets all the range time.
Click to expand...
 
I haven't read about an SKS gremlin ;) At least not with the military production SKS, the commercial junk ones are another kettle of fish.
 
I have shot both. I liked the ergonomics of the CZ, but the sights were paitned the same as the rest of the gun cuasing reflection, and it was no faster to load by replacing the magazine than just using a stripper clip through the top. I have not tested the accuracy of the CZ, but the SKS's I have shot mostly shot 1" at 50 yards with milsurp. We just had a baby and I cannot go buying a gun for the cool factor alone anymore, so I picked up a SKS instead and I do not feel like I made a bad decision.

Also people complain about the wieght of the SKS; try carrying around a scoped Ruger #1H in 375 through a couple weeks of deer season and you will find it light as a feather :).
 
I think they are both good. The VZ is outstanding. But it does cost quite a lot more. The SKS is a really great value in Canada right now, has lots of history, and they are built like Soviet tanks: massively over-built! They will outlast the ammo supply!

Originally I was going to get a new Chinese SKS. I bought the VZ instead. But later this year, a Soviet SKS is very likely to be bought too. No Tapco stocks for me, laminate wood and fibre/peep iron sights for me thanks!
 
I think i am going to go for the sks, based on my budget... I have a nice 303 LE I would use for accuracy shooting, but its expensive to shoot... so its my hunter. I want something I can bang around in the bush when out hiking, logging, and land clearing. eventually I will probably try to make it look tacticool, but not if I can find a nice izzy. Im sure the weight issue will be minimal and solvable with synthetic stocks. Im more concerned about the 1200 rd crate.... sounds like a heavy backpack:evil:

I never thought I would say this but... vote conservative?
 
Hahaha Dejavu anyone? lol I've said this before somewhere and should just copy and paste it but, I'll tell you this much it doesn't matter, because you are going to buy both eventually. Trust me you may not think it now, because you may not buy both immediately but eventually you will. I had the same dilemma when I start out.. SKS?... CZ858?.. I ended up buying an SKS for 240 bucks, loved it! A year later I ended up buy a CZ858 for +700 bucks.. loved it even more! And guess what.. next week I am buying ANOTHER SKS! Why? I don't know but I am! That's the beauty of it lol If a woman goes shopping for clothes and shoes to make her feel better, then I can buy myself an SKS to make me feel better too!
 
not to mention when the zombie apocolypse hits, you will be everyones best friend. no but seriously there are some fairly inbred deer on the islands nearby.... do you think hunting with a bayonette would be inhumane? I am kidding , but it is a thought. probably not too humane
 
who has the best crate price right now? best I could find was 1200rd for 239 shipped but I forgot where it was
 
Good call. Start with the SKS and then see if you want anything additional after banging through a few hundred/thousand rounds.

The gun is better built and more accurate that it should be given its price tag.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it yet, but:
SKS = chrome lined barrel (on all but Yugos, and pre-1951 Russian models)
CZ 858 = non chrome lined barrel

SKS's are therefore more corrosive friendly. There are also an absolute breeze to field strip.

Parts are inexpensive, readily available, and the aftermarket community for them is absolutely massive.

I own 3 SKS's. Two are unfired non reburbs, a Tula, and an Izzy. They are beautiful and have become my safe queens, and the other is a 54 Tula refurb. All 3 of them COMBINED cost less than 1 CZ-858.

3 SKS's cost = $640.71 with taxes to my door
1 CZ-858 = $785.35 PLUS shipping

With the price difference you're 1/2 way to a crate of surplus!
 
When I asked the same question a few months back, most told me to go right to the CZ858, and I'm glad I did. While I like shooting the SKS (a buddy bought one), the 858 being shorter and lighter is much more shootable. There's some personal preference in this of course, just my two cents. To me it's worth $400 more.

For the arguement that you can get 3 SKSs for the price of one 858... how many guns can you shoot at the same time? One. Outfitting your buddies in case of a zombie apocalypse? Yeah, hands down a case of SKS'! But for your personal fun rifle? I'd put the extra bucks into a single rifle.
 
Wasn't it Townsend Whelen that said only accurate rifles are interesting? I sold my SKS right after I got my cz858. I have no interest in spray and pray guns. SKS's are great if you're looking to outfit an expendable army for super cheap though.... ;)
 
SKS's aren't really that heavy, but VZ's are really light! Also, SKS has that weight quite far to the front, even more than a long barreled semiauto trap shotgun.
 
.... If you're willing to pay an additional $250 per inch of accuracy at 100, then by all means buy the 858.

Or spend $177 with taxes and shipping and get a Mosin Nagant and then perform some DIY accurizing and you'll come out ahead of even the best 858.

Really its all personal preference. The 858 is absolutely a superior rifle, but is it 270% more accurate as one would hope if you "get what you pay for"?
 
I'd go with buying both, I held an 858 for the first time today, it is quite light and felt much slimmer than the SKS. Accuracy wide the guy at the gun shop swore the 858 was much more accurate, I love my SKS, but I can easily see an 858 in the near future. Can't go wrong with the fact you get 4 mags, the only thing I don't like about them is the bluing or paint, whatever you can call it, it looks grey.
 
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