SKS or Mosin?

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Hamiltonian86

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Hello all,

New to shooting and can't decide which rifle to buy first, an SKS or Mosin.

I'm going to be using it at a range target shooting only.

I know the 7.62x54 is a little more money than the 39, that doesn't fall into consideration at all.

In the end, I'll own both of them, but to start, which one am I going to be satisfied with the most, and have the easiest time learning on?

Any comments or advice is appreciated.
 
x2 on the SKS. Trade Ex is selling Chinese SKS for $250 right now, and have been said to be more accurate than their Soviet counterparts. They're lighter, more compact, semi-auto, more fun with ammo more readily available than the Mosin's. The x54 is a fun round to shoot though, but the bolt action really needs to be worked for it to function with ease (at least for the two that I've owned).
 
If you new to firearms in general you can't beat a bolt action. Easy to clean and take care of. Downside is the 54r round has a lot more of a whomp than the 39. So you will shoot less than you would with the lighter 39 round. Surplus ammo is corrosively primed so a thorough cleaning is essential. The SKS is a fairly simple rifle to disassemble with lots of U tube videos. Lots of areas that have to be looked at to ensure a good effective cleaning even before you shoot the SKS. But ultimately its up to you, easier to care for but hard on the shoulder or a little more technical but easy on the shoulder and crap load of fun to shoot. Any chance you have a buddy with firearms experience to help you out?
 
If you're a new shooter, especially if you're young with good eyes, you'd be doing yourself a huge favour by starting with a bolt action .22 and iron sights first. Then save a bit more and get the SKS :cool:
 
Pop said:
If you're a new shooter, especially if you're young with good eyes, you'd be doing yourself a huge favour by starting with a bolt action .22 and iron sights first. Then save a bit more and get the SKS :cool:
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This is where I started, a savage mk II. Shot it with iron sights for a bit then added a scope after a few months. Way more accurate than a sks, way more trigger time than a mosin (due to recoil and ammo cost)

If I were to guess, the accuracy potential (and crap sights) of most sks will leave you frustrated pretty quick when you can't do better than 3-4" groups at 50 yards.

Plus, you don't have to be a nazi about cleaning it after. You can find non corrosive 7.62x39 for cheap enough, but not x54, and I personally don't like corrosive ammo because I'm a busy person and its hard to find time to go shooting, let alone have time to scrub my gun immediately after.

My gun order was 22lr, sks, 12ga pump, Lee enfield sporter, 270win hunting rifle.
 
I have two SKS's and a Mosin sniper, enjoy them all but tend to use the Mosin as I am older and even the 3x old vintage scope helps me see my targets better at 100 yards. Younger guys tend to like the semi aspect of the SKS from what I have seen and they are a lot of fun to shoot. Bolt action on my Mosin is butter smooth as I have polished and worked it in so well, I also put in a Timney trigger which provides a great improvement in accuracy for me. For the SKS, I have had the Russian, Yugo, and Chinese versions (gave the Chinese to my buddy's son) and found them all good.
 
I agree with the .22.
I have an sks, a couple mosins and a bunch of other toys and I find myself shooting the rim fires more than anything else. Its good fun and a cheap way to improve your skills.
 
OP, I'd get the SKS first. The ammo is cheap and plentiful, the rifle is reliable as a claw hammer, and the recoil is light.

The Mosin Nagant is known for many things, but lack of recoil is NOT among them! :d:d

I always recommend new shooters start out with light-recoiling rifles, so that they don't develop a flinch from anticipating a hard "kick" when squeezing the trigger. In that context, a .22LR is probably the best to start out with, but I find most bolt-action .22LR's boring after a while (unless it's gopher season ;))
 
shredder said:
OP, I'd get the SKS first. The ammo is cheap and plentiful, the rifle is reliable as a claw hammer, and the recoil is light.

The Mosin Nagant is known for many things, but lack of recoil is NOT among them! :d:d

I always recommend new shooters start out with light-recoiling rifles, so that they don't develop a flinch from anticipating a hard "kick" when squeezing the trigger. In that context, a .22LR is probably the best to start out with, but I find most bolt-action .22LR's boring after a while (unless it's gopher season ;))
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Ya know, after getting other stuff, the 22 got boring, but when it was all i had i could shoot it for hours and not get bored.
 
Like everyone else said get both! But if I had to choose one to get first it would be an SKS.

Light recoil
Cheap to buy
Cheap to shoot
Reliable
And accurate enough for you to practice with and improve

Honestly everyone should be handed an SKS and crate of surplus when they get their PAL.
 
I am younger and have good eye sight so I do plan to only shoot with iron sights. I have found a 22 I like in a cz (453 I think) bolt action, but have shot them in the past and find them a little boring after a while. I do plan to get one, but kinda like the idea of a big woop. Shot a Barret .50cal in the summer and loved it, so I'm sure the Mosin wouldn't bother me.

Does anyone have any experience shooting a mosin @ 200yds or more? Wondering how the sights work on them at that distance. I have a line on a 1934 hexagonal receiver Mosin that has a very smooth bolt on it.....

Urg, I can't buy both right now, but by the summer can get another.
 
Sights on my Mosin are pretty much bang on. Once I figured out I was setting the slider in the wrong spot I can now hit the 400 yd gong 80% of the time.
If you want more oomph than the SKS there is always the SVT40. Fires the same round as the Mosin but is semi-auto. Only draw back is you will deafen the shooters either side of you because of the muzzle brake. These are drying up FAST though.
 
sigrunes said:
Buy both now while they are still relatively cheap. You won't regret it. If I had to choose I'd go with the SKS though.
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This^^^


there is little surplus left that will ever hit the Canadian market.


Having that said, 7.62x54 will shoot in a Mosin, svt40, M38, and M44
 
I'd get both, Tradex has a good deal right now. If not I'd go with the Mosin first, especially a sniper if you can find a nice one.
 
I picked up my first mosin last night at the local CT for 199 plus tax. A 1939 izah....however you spell it haha. Looks and feels very nice compared to some I've seen. No regrets. Solid piece of 88 year old history!
 
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