The Coolest Looking SKS Ever

[Sunchild2071]

Calibre magazine reviewed the type 81 last month. While they did like it, it was no more accurate than a sks.

To bad I'll be under the dirt. 50 plus year old SKS shooting equivalent to new Type 81. Wonder how the 81s will be doing in 50 years, even not in service use.

No track driver's, but my SKSs can bring home meat, ethically. At least will be able to see the Type 81 range reports somewhere between now and 2019, I would hope.

 

[aka_ryan]

In my opinion the coolest looking ones are those that stay faithful to the original design. The farthest I like is a soviet optic mounted on them, but even at that, I'm pretty happy with how mine is right now and don't think it needs any modifications.

Interested to know what scope and mount is this, thanks! Looks great!

 

[WmMcLeod]

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! of course, I read up above and sure enough, you were "The One" who dragged that elitist "nyet rifle is fine" trash into an otherwise fun thread. ~sigh~ it's always someone

Seriously though, stores should ask people what they plan on doing with their SKS.

If the answer is to Bubba it by cutting the stock or what not, they should be automatically denied the sale and redirected to the Remington section, lol!

 

[762mm]

You mean like their preference for used tvs or appliances?

If said appliances have significant historical value and/or are collector pieces, most certainly.

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! of course, I read up above and sure enough, you were "The One" who dragged that elitist "nyet rifle is fine" trash into an otherwise fun thread. ~sigh~ it's always someone

The thread is still fun, it's not my fault you don't have a shred of humor in you.

Also, irreversibly defacing historical items is kind of like first buying and then bulldozing Stonehenge or the Sphinx. Just because you buy something that's older than you are doesn't mean you should turn it into worthless junk the next day. Others might want to cherish the original item one day, long after you and I are gone. That rule only applies to permanent mods, of course.

I like to see myself as a custodian of old and antique firearms. There was a time when I was young and dumb where I did some bubba'ing myself to a few milsurp rifles that have lost a lot of value today because of it. If I could go back in time and give the younger me a good steel toe boot kick in the ass, I certainly would!

So, I don't blame guys for doing it, I'm just letting them know that they'll more than likely regret it in 10-20 years. Modded milsurp rifles are like modded 4-cylinder rice burners: most kids grow out of it eventually when reality sets in.


Remember: reversible mods only and keep all the original parts!

 

[762mm]

is it superior?

The Type 81 is superior not only to the SKS, but also the AK-47 (Type 56). The Chinese government has lost permission from the Russians to manufacture more Type 56's sometime in the 1970's and decided to re-design the rifle to correct many of the quirks of the original AK. They found that the SKS bolt system is better and more reliable than the AK, but also that the ergonomics of the AK and removable mags were better than an SKS. This is why the Type 81 is a hybrid of both - it retains the most desirable features of each rifle.

Also, the Type 81 is designed for a longer service life than the famous AK-47, which should tell you a lot about the design. In short, it's meant to be tough as nails and extremely reliable. Accuracy in all three (81, 47, SKS) is pretty much on par: sufficient for their intended purpose in all three cases, but nothing extravagant.

It all comes down to what you need it for. If you like participating in fast competition shooting and want a com-block rifle with the best ergonomics, the Type 81 and the Vz-58 are the only choices. For general camping and deer hunting, the SKS will do just fine. Then there are the collectors who want at least one of each.

 

[Kjm1971]

I found a barrel and receiver, no stock , gas tube, piston or bolt carrier, and bubba'd the hell out of it. Its an abortion of tacticool junk, mismatched gubbins, and krylon paint. I quite like it. Was no value in finding OEM stuff for it when they are a dime a dozen. I even carved it up and put a mag adapter in it. The rust pitted receiver and mismatched bits meant it had no future value as anything but a plinking toy.

 

[762mm]

I found a barrel and receiver, no stock , gas tube, piston or bolt carrier, and bubba'd the hell out of it. Its an abortion of tacticool junk, mismatched gubbins, and krylon paint. I quite like it. Was no value in finding OEM stuff for it when they are a dime a dozen. I even carved it up and put a mag adapter in it. The rust pitted receiver and mismatched bits meant it had no future value as anything but a plinking toy.

That's fine, none of us will probably live long enough to see a beat up and rusted SKS action fetch any significant value (unless it's Albanian or North Korean).

I was talking about guys buying Russian arsenal-refinished SKS's for $250 and modding the f##k out of them with a Dremel to make them look like an AK or M4. The end result is that it's still just an SKS with a bunch of plastic sh*t on it, but with zero future value or desirability. One less original example in the World, basically.

Go in the EE and see how many of these abortions are for sale.... and no one seems to be buying them, as "btt's" (back to top) are endless. I'd much rather spend $350 on a very nice original condition SKS than $300 on some POS in a Tapco stock and a cheap Chinese red dot. Why? Because in 10 years the original will run $1000 and the Tapco red dot one will still be $300.


Always think investment when you buy your firearms!!! That way you never lose money and the guns you buy are actually future revenue generators, kind of like putting the cash at a bank that gives you a sweet interest rate.

 

[Kjm1971]

That's fine, none of us will probably live long enough to see a beat up and rusted SKS action fetch any significant value (unless it's Albanian or North Korean).

I was talking about guys buying Russian arsenal-refinished SKS's for $250 and modding the f##k out of them with a Dremel to make them look like an AK or M4. The end result is that it's still just an SKS with a bunch of plastic sh*t on it, but with zero future value or desirability. One less original example in the World, basically.

Go in the EE and see how many of these abortions are for sale.... and no one seems to be buying them, as "btt's" (back to top) are endless. I'd much rather spend $350 on a very nice original condition SKS than $300 on some POS in a Tapco stock and a cheap Chinese red dot. Why? Because in 10 years the original will run $1000 and the Tapco red dot one will still be $300.


Always think investment when you buy your firearms!!! That way you never lose money and the guns you buy are actually future revenue generators, kind of like putting the cash at a bank that gives you a sweet interest rate.

I don't disagree, I actually want to get rid of the bayonet lug and such, but won't carve up the front sight, or rear sight for that matter. One day I'll find one someone else already attacked with the grinder, and pop off the original one and leave it in a box for the day I need one for a decent gun.

 

[762mm]

I don't disagree, I actually want to get rid of the bayonet lug and such, but won't carve up the front sight, or rear sight for that matter. One day I'll find one someone else already attacked with the grinder, and pop off the original one and leave it in a box for the day I need one for a decent gun.

That's pretty much called "reconstituted" guns. Arsenals all over the World were famous for doing it: putting together serviceable rifles out of mismatched parts from many guns. If you can source all the missing original parts for a few bucks today, you'll end up with a valuable rifle in the future. Not as valuable as a matching example, but still a lot better than a Bubba special with worthless commercial doo-dads on it.

In the States, the Norinco SKS used to be a cheap beater rifle before the Chinese firearms import ban of 1993 and no one gave a rat's ass about that rifle. It was cheap (as low as $50 new) and it worked. Guys used to cut them up, put all kinds of crap on them, etc. After the ban, the rifle got progressively scarcer, to the point where today it's worth about $1000 for nice examples (US). We can still get them here in Canada for less than a quarter of that price. You can bet your derriere that a lot of US SKS owners who cut them up in the 1990's to install rails or other junk wish they hadn't. BIG mistake!

Likewise, there are a lot of guys in Canada who bought Bubba specials of valuable historical rifles like Enfields at gun shows, etc and who are looking for original parts today, but can't find them (the goal being to increase the value of their historic firearms). Something as stupid as a cut down original stock (aka "sporterized stock") can cut value on a collector gun in third or even more. It's crazy when you think about it (because technically it's still the same gun and it still works), but it's 100% true.

The important thing to keep in mind is that when these milsurps were being "sporterized" , they were as cheap back then as our SKS is today. That's why people did it then and are also still doing it today. History repeats itself though, so be warned!

 

[jaroslav]

Let them Bubba all Russian SKS. Then my original SKS with all matching s/n will be high priced. Also sporterised SMLE with a scope makes cheapest moose rifle.

 

[fat tony]

The Russian SKS barrels are stepped,at least the one I stripped.They do look tapered bcz the steps are covered by the front sight/ bayonet standard, the gas port, and the rear sight / piston trunnion.

 

[enefgee]

I can remember seeing a Russian SKS for $1500 (1980's dollars). I knew a guy who traded an L1A1 for a Chinese SKS, at the time it was a sharp deal because the SKS was $250 while you could get a decent surplus L1A1 for $150. Values change, but it's always better to have an original rifle in original condition.