SKS, what do I need to know?

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Dusty23

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Hey everybody, I'm looking at buying an SKS. It's a Russian made and comes with everything that would have been originally issued with the rifle. The price is $225. Is this a decent price, and what else should I know about this particular rifle? Thanks in advance!

PS-It is new old stock.
 
There are better deals out there in my opinion. Try walking into your local Home Hardware, ya never know. If you are after a Russian SKS they are all for the most part used refurbished not NOS. On the other hand the Chinese military SKS's that are on the market today are Brand new NOS. Do not get caught up with all the Quality hand picked BS some dealers are pitching. Sure some of the Russian rifles do look more pleasing to the eye but others don't. I would recommend a Chinese SKS....New is New. Here are a few links.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...***-Chinese-Russian-and-Yugo-SKS-rifles-*****

http://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/product.jsp?productid=74819
 
Yes, the nice thing about the Chicom SKS's are that they are all matching, unissued rifles. VERY difficult to find the same in a Russian version.
 
collector67 said:
Yes, the nice thing about the Chicom SKS's are that they are all matching, unissued rifles. VERY difficult to find the same in a Russian version.
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Yes but it can be done. And if he is just looking for a shooter a refurbed russian that looks nicer may do just fine. Better yet read up on unissued non refurb SKS's and then put up an add in the EE looking for the right one. They can be had in the $3-400 range. My one and only SKS was of this variety.
 
If you're going to shoot the rifle, I would strongly suggest a new Chinese SKS.

They're typically more accurate, but have slightly less pretty wood stocks, and IMO the less cool spike bayo versus the blade on the russian models.
 
You really can't go wrong with both the Chinese and Russian versions. Big thing to stay away from are the black bolt rifles. Polished is the way to go.
Many of our accessories seem to fit better on the Russian models, although sometimes a Chinese SKS rifle will accept accessories like they were made for it.
It all depends on where, when and how the rifle was built and there is absolutely no way to determine that unless you can borrow it to test it's accuracy
and how parts fit it. It's the luck of the draw here. That's why so many of our customers own 4+ SKS rifles, so they can cherry pick and assign which rifle does
which for their particular purpose. Most important thing to check on any newly acquired SKS BEFORE shooting it, is to check that the firing pin is free moving
and not rusted. SKS's are notorious for slam firing. A very dangerous condition.

Don't make the same mistake these guys make If in doubt, get your gun checked by a competent gunsmith.
 
Dont get freaked out by the unsolicited sales pitch above. I've been trying to wear these rifles since the late eighties. They are rock solid and you only need to take a few small precautions to keep them operating safely. Slam fires are caused by not taking care of your rifle, not worn out parts. Save your money for cases of ammo instead of worthless devices that do little to improve your rifle.

The only things you need to know is to rattle the pin, and get much more ammo.
 
One of my Russians has a black bolt carrier, what's wrong with that? (It's actually my favorite one.)

That's a damn good deal btw.
 
What do you need to know about an SKS?

They are rock-solid and as reliable as a brick.

They are an intermediate-range rifle firing an intermediate-range cartridge. They are okay for man-sized critters out to 300.

The Russian ones, by and large, are refurbs from their War Stocks. Effectively, they are new rifles, just obsolete for Russian military purposes.

They don't need to be dressed-up like a Barbie Doll to be an efficient rifle. The issue stocks likely are better than the commercial plastic ones, even though they might not be "modern". The rest of the RIFLE is a 1944 design and based on an earlier design, so it isn't "modern" either.

Just clean the grease out of it before you shoot it..... and always check for lots of freedom for the firing-pin.

The Chinese ones are newer, some brand-new. I have heard from other shooters, though, that the Chinese barrels can have much more latitude in bore diameters.

As with ANY rifle, you will get your best accuracy with careful handloads.

Hope this helps.
 
There is nothing wrong with a black bolt carrier. It is painted to maybe cover up some pitting or inperfection. I have in the past stripped the paint and buffed the carrier up, there was no need for it to be painted.
 
X2 regarding black bolt carriers. It by no means suggests the rifle is in any worse shape than other refub'd russians.

I maintain that if you're going to shoot it, buy a chinese. If you're going to "collect" it, buy a russian.

I own 4 sks's. 2 non refurb unfired Russian collectors pieces, one refurbed Russian shooter, and one new Marstar Chinese shooter.

If I were new to the game I would buy a crate of ammo and new sks for $75. You can't go wronge.
 
fiddler said:
Dont get freaked out by the unsolicited sales pitch above. I've been trying to wear these rifles since the late eighties. They are rock solid and you only need to take a few small precautions to keep them operating safely. Slam fires are caused by not taking care of your rifle, not worn out parts. Save your money for cases of ammo instead of worthless devices that do little to improve your rifle.

The only things you need to know is to rattle the pin, and get much more ammo.
Click to expand...

Where is the sales pitch here? just letting people know about a dangerous condition that exists for these rifles. Check your bolts and make sure the firing pin is free prior to firing it, that's all.
 
mhowarth said:
X2 regarding black bolt carriers. It by no means suggests the rifle is in any worse shape than other refub'd russians.

I maintain that if you're going to shoot it, buy a chinese. If you're going to "collect" it, buy a russian.

I own 4 sks's. 2 non refurb unfired Russian collectors pieces, one refurbed Russian shooter, and one new Marstar Chinese shooter.

If I were new to the game I would buy a crate of ammo and new sks for $75. You can't go wronge.
Click to expand...

Bolts are painted black because of the poor condition of them. They usually paint them to cover up some sort of imperfections, sometimes rust.
So black bolts are more likely to slam fire then with the polished versions. That's not to say that that all black bolt rifles are garbage, just check the bolt.
If it works fine, there's likely no difference between black or polished.
 
Designed to kill western imperialist pigs at 300yds...rugged, deceptively heavy, eat the cheapest centerfire ammo, and all 'round cool. MAde to be used by anyone who could carry it. MAde in different countries for many years.

If you are looking for something to pull the trigger on, pick one...any one. They are all good, some are better. If you are a connoisseur, and looking for something that might be collectible you're going to have to read until you bleed... Find yourslef a nice Yugo (adjustable gas) or a "sought after" Norinco SKS-D, for 225 and you'll make a buck. Get a "run-of-the-mill, and you may be paying too much.

I think 225 is a touch much, but I'm a miser. These were available re-furbed and still in cosmoline for under 200 bucks less than a year ago...someone else owning it doesn't make it more valuable.

No too much bad to say about them in general. East-bloc good.
 
If you choose a russian, i suggest you to pick a 1952 and up... cauz the barrel is chrome lined inside.
1951 was the transition year some are and some are not.

If you choose a chinese SKS, there is two variations, *civilian* and military.
I heard many many times that the military model is the way to go.
All the chinese SKS are chrome lined.

The most important thing when you have an SKS is to give it a good clean after you shoot corrosive ammunitions.
 
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