SKS or Mosin Nagant?

jeffQC1

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Hello everybody.

In short: I want to choose my first rifle, so i need something cheap, easy to use and maintain, yet solid and with good perfomance.¸

I already know two guns perfect for that role: The SKS, 7.62x39 semi-automatic rifle and the Mosin, 7.62x54R Bolt action rifle. Both rifles are cheap, fairly accurate, simple and ammo is cheap dirt compared to others calibers.

I would pick one of these only for entertainement and fun purposes. Having fun shooting 2 liter cans, some paper or cardboard targets and other junk. No hunting, cause i would feel terrible to kill an animal. (I'm not vegeterian, if your asking). Peoples here and there recommanded me a .22LR rifle, but i am reluctant cause i already shot that and its kind of a "Meh" feeling when i shoot thoses.

I'm a gun nutz, so i already have extended knowledge in that matter. I love guns for their amazing mechanical properties and also for the of sheer fun of shooting one.

The SKS ammo is easier and cheaper to find, but it still much more fun to shoot than an .22LR. However the semi-automatic action means i little bit more complex to use and not as accurate than the Mosin. Also, i heard the SKS is pretty loud even with good earing protection.

The Mosin would be my top choice. I already understand is mechanism and field strip and due to the bolt action, could be more accurate. However, i heard bad things about the poor conditions of some mosins when delivered. Ammo is a little harder to find and cost slightly higher Could be wrong tho.

Which one, in your opinion, could be the best for me?
 
Sks all the way! More as accurate as the mosin, more handi and more fire power.

Btw I have had many over the years, I have 2 sks, one mosin 91/30 and on mosin m44.
 
I have an sks. You take them to the range. Pop pop pop. That gets old fast. 3moa at best with surplus.

My mosins shoot teeny tiny groups. I tend to shoot them more than the sks. It's a more refined experience.
 
I have an sks. You take them to the range. Pop pop pop. That gets old fast. 3moa at best with surplus.

My mosins shoot teeny tiny groups. I tend to shoot them more than the sks. It's a more refined experience.

Point to concider most mosin shoot like crap! Some shoot good.
 
At the prices they are buy both now. Sks would be my choice if I had to pick 1 though. Semi auto , cheap readily available ammo and a breeze to clean and trouble shoot.
 
I second the SVT 40, get one while you can. yes they are more money but you will get it back if you decide to sell it later on.
 

Yeah- way more accurate than an SKS and more fun than a Mosin. But Claven2 has a good point- if you want to actually work on some marksmanship skills then go with a Mosin (preferably one that someone has already verified as "capable of teeny, tiny groups).

milsurpo
 
If it was me, I would get an SKS and install an aftermarket peep sight like the High Tech that mounts at the rear of the reciever, or the HiCal which replaces the rear stock sight. Both work well, although the High Tech is easier to use and adjust, but it's also more money.

Then you can shoot all day long for cheap and actually hit stuff. Hitting gongs at 200 yards is no problem, although they are never going to be precision rifles.

The SKS is dead simple to disassemble and clean every 1000 rounds or so if using non corrosive ammo.

All guns, even 22LR are loud enough to damage your hearing, so whenever I shoot just about any centerfire rifle I use plugs and muffs.
 
You will be able to reach farther and more accurately with the Mosin... and it doesn't get any easier to clean then that... also you won't waste as many rounds.. thus cheaper...

SKS are fun... and have there place... like for covering fire.

Do you want to challenge your skills, or not?

Get both, just prioritize the oder in which you buy.
 
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I have both the SKS and Mosin and like both of them. Obviously, they are very dissimilar guns but each one is a big fun to shoot. My advice is to buy both. It would still cost you a measly $400 plus minus. I guarantee you would be extremely happy.
 
I'm a fan of each and own them both. I actually just recently picked up another SKS for my dad (57 year old anti-gun guy, I took him shooting and he loved it. He just received his PAL recently). For lots of cheap fun I prefer the SKS. It's robust, simple, durable and plenty accurate for fun casual shooting. My Mosin is for sure more accurate but not as enjoyable to shoot. Also Tech Sights for the SKS are a fantastic investment, I love mine.

For what they cost I'd just buy both. They each have their merits and they are pretty cheap to buy and feed. If you do a bit of shopping around you'll still end up spending under $400 for both
 
Boringly reliable for sure.

So are all the other X39 guns, well maybe not the Rasheed...lol... But the Cz858 is 100 times more fun, the Vz52/57 is a dream to shoot.

Never said the SKS wasnt reliable, Just said it was booring and there's plenty of better and more fun guns in X39
 
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