SKS Questions

S

sailor723

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I'm a newb when it comes to long guns (I've been considering a pistol caliber carbine lately but almost exclusively own handguns). I recently added a cheap 3-9x scope to my Ruger 10/22 (my only long gun) and have been having a lot of fun with it. I was in my local CT and saw a SKS done up in polymar furniture w. ajustable stock and detachable mag (Tapco maybe?) on sale for 279. Looks like it might be fun for the 100yd range and a good way to try the whole centre fire thing without forking out 1k+. With Canada Ammo's 1200 round non corrosive 7.62x39 deal it would be fairly cheap to shoot as well.. So, some advice please....

Is 279 for something like thisa good deal?

How do you tell if the underlying SKS is decent

What optics would make sense?....cost? .....I don't want $500 optics on a sub $300 gun but would like some magnification as these 50+ year old eyes aren't getting any sharper. Can you get a scope that will stand up to centrefire recoil on the cheap?

As i say I'm a newb when it comes to this so any and all advice would be appreciated.
 
The SKS is at it's best in it's factory configuration. You will be tempted when you first get one to trick it out, and later realize that you could have spent that money on something better suited: CZ/VZ for a semi or a bolt gun for accuracy.
Get a $200 Russian SKS and shoot the heck out of it before spending money on mods.

I've read a few reports on accuracy dropping in a Tapco stock vs the factory wood.
 
Research the SKS stickies at top of this forum for identifing factors.

Optics have hard time holding zero on the rifle without installing a $110 magwedge full length rail.

I believe the NC ammo you speak of is 1000 for $250.

I suggest buying Corrosive as it is cheaper and you get more. Also, being a novice to the platform, you will greatly benefit education wise from the full strip and thorough inspection the rifle needs when shooting surplus.
 
And if you do get a magwedge mount you can't use stripper clips anymore, you have to load it one by one through the open action.

As stated, just get one that's not modified and try it out.

If you want to get a centerfire rifle for cheap wholesale sports has the savage axis on sale, AND savage has a mail in rebate for another $55usd back. $235 for a rifle with a scope that'll shoot circles around an sks.
 
That price is pretty good actually... I own two SKSs one I left old school and the other I did an Interfuse stock a tapco mag... I got a good deal on the rifle $149 then the interfuse was $120 and the mag was $30... so as you can see it cost me $300. I'd get it if I were you, and maybe get one old school too one day... fun shooters. You can get crates of 1200 - 1400 round for $199 to $250 ish
 
Suther said:
And if you do get a magwedge mount you can't use stripper clips anymore, you have to load it one by one through the open action.

As stated, just get one that's not modified and try it out.

If you want to get a centerfire rifle for cheap wholesale sports has the savage axis on sale, AND savage has a mail in rebate for another $55usd back. $235 for a rifle with a scope that'll shoot circles around an sks.
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This gun has a detachable mag. How would stripper clips figure into that?

The Axis is a bolt action isn't it? .......for a range plinker/fooling around gun i really would prefer a semi. (plus ,I'm a lefty)...................

although, it does look like a good deal. Do they make the Axis in a lefthand bolt?
 
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EL34/6L6 said:
Research the SKS stickies at top of this forum for identifing factors.

Optics have hard time holding zero on the rifle without installing a $110 magwedge full length rail.

I believe the NC ammo you speak of is 1000 for $250.

I suggest buying Corrosive as it is cheaper and you get more. Also, being a novice to the platform, you will greatly benefit education wise from the full strip and thorough inspection the rifle needs when shooting surplus.
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nope...1200 for 299 (according to the Canada Ammo banner ad on this page).... 7.62x54R is 1000 for 249

I don't have much interest in shooting surplus......I'm not really interested in immediately having to do a full strip and clean everytime I fire a few rounds.
 
CanAm has a package deal, an sks and 1200rds of non corrosive ammo for $399 with free shipping. It's a pretty sweet deal at around $440 and change after taxes, no you don't get to hand pick the rifle but the sks is pretty much a refurb anyway. The one they sent me was in pretty nice condition, bore especially.
 
My choice:

Buy two.

One to keep stock, and shoot stock. Practising fundamentals with iron sights is a skill unto itself, and the SKS is a good, inexpensive way to get into it. You'll be surprised at how small a gong you can ring out to 200 meters with an SKS and open sights.

The second as a "tinker" rifle. Keep it original at first. Then maybe get a BC Tactical mini rail to replace the rear sight and put a Red Dot on... Or go in for a Magwedge rail and some basic rings, so you can try out different kinds of optics. Over time, collect the full Barbie SKS accessory kit, with one or two different replacement stocks, different rail assemblies and configurations, grip configurations, etc... You can pick off the toys one at a time without breaking the bank, and it's a relatively inexpensive way to figure out what type of rifle configuration works best for you.

Ammo is cheap, and the recoil is light. So you can get lots of practice in without hurting your shoulder or wallet.

Also, unlike .223 (5.56 NATO) rifles, you can actually hunt with 7.62x39. So if a buddy calls and asks if you want to go on a deer hunting weekend, you just need to buy your tags and a box of hunting ammo, make sure you're zeroed on the new ammo, and you're good to go.

It's a great all around rifle, I would mark it as a good substitute for the traditional 30-30 lever in terms of power, accuracy, range, durability, etc. at a fraction of the cost of a 30-30 lever.
 
sailor723 said:
nope...1200 for 299 (according to the Canada Ammo banner ad on this page).... 7.62x54R is 1000 for 249

I don't have much interest in shooting surplus......I'm not really interested in immediately having to do a full strip and clean everytime I fire a few rounds.
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Yes...the Norinco stuff is $299, but thought there was controversy sounding it being NC, but no, that was apparently the x54. Founded or unfounded not sure.
There is also 1000 case of x39 at Canada Ammo for $250 in case you didn't notice.
I'd go with the SKS/ammo deal if I were you. Forget the plastic stock.
 
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That's have been a lot of threads about the non corrosive ammo and the consensus is that it's really just "less corrosive".
 
welder01 said:
+ free shipping!
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Yes, Canada Ammo deal as well has free shipping.
Really interested in the quality of these SKS' vs when CA ones because there have been a lot BBQ painted ones from there. Could be just the quality of current imports too though. The kicker will be if they are willing to pick out a blued year of your choice.
 
The store bought hunting ammo is largely non Corrosive, but there was a large shipment of Chinese surplus a year or so ago that was billed as non corrosive. It wasn't. I didn't buy any and always clean My guns after shooting so I wasn't affected. But listen carefully and you will still hear the sobbing and snivelling of those who ended up with rusty guns because of it.
 
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