SKS - Yes or No

I think it all depends on the circumstances.
If you are defending your home, detachable mags are deffinitelly better for their capacity as you know all the shooting angles and positions without being hindered or snagged, since you have dry practiced many times.

If you are in the dense forrest and/or looking to stay low to the ground or deliver shots from the prone position, perhaps utilizing the "hit and run" tactic, the SKS might be the better choice.

Also in favour of the SKS is the fact, that as long as you have loose ammo in your pockets, you can just keep throwing handfulls through the bottom trap door and keep shooting.

Once your AK mags are empty and assuming you still have them (if you didn't perform any fast reloads, in which you flick out the empty with the full one), you now first have to load them before you can use them again...anyone who loaded a 30 round AK mag knows it is not very fast compared to feeding the SKS.

The SKS is old school machining...it is simple, tough, reliable and it is built to last.
Deffinitelly one of the better surplus choices out there...if not THE best surplus gun out there that is still available to Canadians.
 
bearhunter said:
Use both of them under stressful conditions and compare then.

The Aks were awkward to say the least and more of a spray and pray type firearm on the field.

This is just IMHO of course. Some people find the pistol grip stock appealing. I've shot a lot of issued AK47s and never found one of them to be acceptably accurate, beyond 25 yards, unless they were custom built one offs, usually on machined receivers.

If an operator learns how to properly use the strippers under stressful field conditions, there is little if any difference. Not only that you need a lot less ammunition to take out a target.

I'm not talking about paper targets on the range.

I had the choice between FNs, AR10s, HK G93, AK47, SKS and numerous other firearms to carry in the field. I chose the SKS because it was the best of the lot for the terrain and purpose at hand. Weight was a big factor but the next factor was being able to use the rudimentary sights from up close and personal to 100 yards and expect to get a first round hit, in a decent location to nullify the threat.

You can go on and on about the advantages of a large capacity magazine, but when projectiles are coming your way, with enough velocity to ruin the rest of your life, you want to be able to keep as low a profile as possible, while returning fire effectively.

I've seen AKs jam when being held by the magazine or tipped on their sides.

I've also seen AKs used by holding the rifle up in the air and pointed in the general direction of the incoming threat. This was just a waste of ammunition, unless the shooter got extremely lucky.

I liked the AR10, but they were few and far between in my circumstances, also liked the HKG93, but the ammunition was HEAVY. I could carry twice as much 7.62x39 and still be able to carry another two liters of water or food, which could easily be the difference between living and dying.

The AK is a decent platform and I'm not going to say it isn't. It's just not as decent as many would hope for when push comes to shove under real world stressful conditions.
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I don't think I could justify grabbing an SKS over an AR10, as much as I trust the platform to perform.
 
For me, SKS is a no. I’ve tried a few over the years. Not into cleaning after shooting corrosive surplus and not into spending the premium on non corrosive. I found I could feed a .223/556 rifle for less by reloading and was able to achieve 3x the accuracy. Sure they’re cheap, but there’s a reason for that. If you’re into collecting, then it would’ve been a decent investment a few years ago. At $450, they must be getting close to the ceiling for a bbq painted sks. Surplus ammo will surely dry up at some point I would think as well.
 
bearhunter said:
The AK is a decent platform and I'm not going to say it isn't. It's just not as decent as many would hope for when push comes to shove under real world stressful conditions.
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Pretty much every OPFOR military in the world disagrees with this tho, the proof being that they still use the AK platform, where as guns like the SKS are only used as sloppy seconds haha
 
Murray 3-D said:
Pretty much every OPFOR military in the world disagrees with this tho, the proof being that they still use the AK platform, where as guns like the SKS are only used as sloppy seconds haha
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Yup. Some of the comments like "flipping out mags with a loaded mag" just scream "I've seen it on youtube". Literally no one does that except in a pretty poor situation.
 
BigRobb said:
For me, SKS is a no. I’ve tried a few over the years. Not into cleaning after shooting corrosive surplus and not into spending the premium on non corrosive. I found I could feed a .223/556 rifle for less by reloading and was able to achieve 3x the accuracy. Sure they’re cheap, but there’s a reason for that. If you’re into collecting, then it would’ve been a decent investment a few years ago. At $450, they must be getting close to the ceiling for a bbq painted sks. Surplus ammo will surely dry up at some point I would think as well.
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You can get non corrosive non premium for a reasonable price, steel cases etc

Brass is premium

Value of a dollar goes up, but some people decide they don't like something and they just don't like it.
 
J.Hancock said:
I don't think I could justify grabbing an SKS over an AR10, as much as I trust the platform to perform.
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Another thing to think about is magazine weight. If you are under supplied, doing recon, and roasting in the heat on a certain continent water is more useful and will save you.

Mags like to get caught up on things. Also they can bend and break if you take a fall. The sks is not the holy grail and is obviously a bit outdated but definitely under rated.

I’m not pretending to be an operator. Never have been one never will.
 
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Jmcc said:
Agreed

i never use corrosive
Barnaul and Norinco go on sale often i usually pay about $0.40 each

yes corrosive is cheaper at 0.25
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At $.40 I struggle to see the draw to a 3-4moa rifle.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed owning them. Clays or cans in a gravel pit are a blast at 50 yards or less. I just found it became cheaper and quite a bit more accurate to reload for a more modern rifle for the way I like to shoot. I think that everyone should own one at some point, and even shoot corrosive though it like it was designed for. The experience breaking it down and cleaning it will be invaluable down the road. I just found a better way for me. I still think as a collector piece, the nice blued, number matching pieces are pretty cool.
 
I must've got EXTREMELY lucky. I got my 1954 russian in 2021 for 350$,all matching, no visible wear, sharp rifling and I've hit 1/2" groups at 50y with the irons and using 0.40$ non-corr Norinco ammo. I only take it every 3-4 range trips since i still prefer to shoot 22's for a few hours but how can you call yourself a Canadian and not own one?
 
Jahnj0584 said:
I must've got EXTREMELY lucky. I got my 1954 russian in 2021 for 350$,all matching, no visible wear, sharp rifling and I've hit 1/2" groups at 50y with the irons and using 0.40$ non-corr Norinco ammo. I only take it every 3-4 range trips since i still prefer to shoot 22's for a few hours but how can you call yourself a Canadian and not own one?
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I had many SKS, they are used rifles, unknown round count, please keep this in mind. There are good and bad ones. Also, comparing a 22 rifle (like an AR15) to a 30 caliber rifle with surplus ammo when it comes to accuracy just doesn't cut it. How much was an Ar-10 when you could buy one? Haha.

You don't like corrosive ammo? The Barnaul in bulk is 40 cents a round. How much is a .223 round again?

.
 
BigRobb said:
At $.40 I struggle to see the draw to a 3-4moa rifle.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed owning them. Clays or cans in a gravel pit are a blast at 50 yards or less. I just found it became cheaper and quite a bit more accurate to reload for a more modern rifle for the way I like to shoot. I think that everyone should own one at some point, and even shoot corrosive though it like it was designed for. The experience breaking it down and cleaning it will be invaluable down the road. I just found a better way for me. I still think as a collector piece, the nice blued, number matching pieces are pretty cool.
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Some day ill have time to reload, but that day isn't today, or tomorrow :)

Assuming I'm not reloading and I'm not using a restricted, what other inexpensive options do you recommend (honest question, i always want to hear what else i may be missing)

Only thing Ive found so far is PCC in 9MM. i am enjoying my Ruger.
 
Jmcc said:
Some day ill have time to reload, but that day isn't today, or tomorrow :)

Assuming I'm not reloading and I'm not using a restricted, what other inexpensive options do you recommend (honest question, i always want to hear what else i may be missing)

Only thing Ive found so far is PCC in 9MM. i am enjoying my Ruger.
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There is nothing. PCC in 9mm for me as well but that's not sharp shooting as others may say.

If I want to shoot accurate, I just take my $300 Norinco bolt action which will outshoot most of the semis in .223 out there, especially when you bed it. No problem shooting MOA with a half decent scope. Or just take almost any bolt action for that matter. Semis are not sharp shooters.

Then there were the VZ and CZ, but those are gone.

.
 
Jmcc said:
Some day ill have time to reload, but that day isn't today, or tomorrow :)

Assuming I'm not reloading and I'm not using a restricted, what other inexpensive options do you recommend (honest question, i always want to hear what else i may be missing)

Only thing Ive found so far is PCC in 9MM. i am enjoying my Ruger.
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Wk180 is probably the best option at the moment. At $1200 though, it’s a bit of a leap from an sks. Cost and ergonomics/accuracy wise. I haven’t looked lately, but I’m sure .223/556 is still between $.40 and $.50 a round. $.30 if you reload. (Assuming bulk powder and range brass).
We’re all different though. Personally, I’m an accuracy nerd. I don’t necessarily always shoot groups, but besides my levers and shotguns, most of my rifles have optics on them. Ghost rings on everything else. Just my preference. I enjoy the sks for what it is to me. A collection piece. 5 rounds off a stripper clip sucks!
I wouldn’t tell anyone not to. I actually like them. Just no room in my safe. No judgment at all!
 
I have seen the prices for used ones hovering at the 450 mark for russian blued matching which is lower than last year.... and they aren’t selling quickly either.
 
BigRobb said:
Wk180 is probably the best option at the moment. At $1200 though, it’s a bit of a leap from an sks. Cost and ergonomics/accuracy wise. I haven’t looked lately, but I’m sure .223/556 is still between $.40 and $.50 a round. $.30 if you reload. (Assuming bulk powder and range brass).
We’re all different though. Personally, I’m an accuracy nerd. I don’t necessarily always shoot groups, but besides my levers and shotguns, most of my rifles have optics on them. Ghost rings on everything else. Just my preference. I enjoy the sks for what it is to me. A collection piece. 5 rounds off a stripper clip sucks!
I wouldn’t tell anyone not to. I actually like them. Just no room in my safe. No judgment at all!
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223 or 5.56 is hovering at .68-80 cents a dollar...
 
Murray 3-D said:
Pretty much every OPFOR military in the world disagrees with this tho, the proof being that they still use the AK platform, where as guns like the SKS are only used as sloppy seconds haha
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Well, OPFORs from all over the world usually have decent supply and repair systems in place and like many gunnies, they like to be trendy.

The SKS, just like the Garand M1 are highly effectife and serviceable in the field.

On the civilian field today, in Canada, an M1 Garand may actually be preferrable because its enbloc legally carries 8, instead of being limited to 5, like the M305.

J Hancock, I liked the AR10. I didn't like the weight of the ammunition, along with the magazines, which I never found to be temperamental. They were steel in comparison to the AR15 extruded aluminum types. AK mags were also very reliable if they were in decent condition. My issue with the AK was the length of the magazine, balance change during use, inaccuracy and just, for me personally, its awkwardness.

The SKS and as much ammo as I preferred to carry for it in a chest rig, allowed me to carry an extra two liters of water and that was very important. Dehydration after a quick stressful encounter was a guarantee. No water to replace what was sweated/urinated out extremely quickly would leave an individual foggy minded and maybe even with fuzzy vision, if water wasn't ingested in large enough volume quickly.

Those that have been there know exactly what I'm going on about. The weapons platform isn't that much more effective, just because is looks cooler.

If for some obscure reason I had to make a similar choice today, I would make the same choice all over again.

Circumstances change, but for a person on foot, with questionable at best resupply, you don't go with excesses that will only hinder the outcome in your favor.
 
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