WK180 or SKS ??? Pros/cons

SKS or WK180 ???

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If you're made of money and daddy lets you take the AMG G-Wagon to school, buy a real "soldier's gun" like a Bren2, Tavor, APC223, SL8 or the like.
If you're like everybody else, just get an SKS. It's a solid, reliable, (now relatively) cheap, reliable, fun, reliable and reliable gun. Reliability is important. A broken rifle isn't a rifle, it's a paperweight. There's really no excuse for how bad the canadian 180's are in terms of quality control and reliability.
I would even recommend the Norinco guns like the T81 or T97, because while they're also cheap, they're based on a military design and the kinks have been worked out, and Norinco has made probably hundreds of millions of rifles and knows how to make stuff right when they give a damn. Even if there are some examples of shoddy work (crooked T81s), the rest of the gun probably won't break for no reason, or it'll be a single lemon out of a bunch. The WK's seem to all fail.

I really wonder how much people in Canada actually shoot their guns compared to people in the US, if what i see on Youtube is to go by. Guys will run a few thousand rounds through their AR before giving their opinion, while here people with WK180's will shoot 100 rounds and start telling you about how great the gun is a feels and they didn't have any problems. Yeah no wonder you didn't have any problems yet, you've shot like 5 real mags out of it. I'm really disappointed, because i was telling people we should make canadian metal 180B clones like 15 years ago and we managed to screw up this simple task.
inb4 it's not that simple, this is Canada, we make satellites, airliners, tanks, ships, precision parts and nuclear reactors, we should be able to do better than the Khyber pass.
 
There is no point in buying a cheap gun if you shoot a lot. Even 7.62x39 surplus is not that cheap anymore. Just look at the EE how much people are shooting their rifles. Also, those WK may have problems, but nothing that can't be fixed, heck even an original AR180B had "lots" of problems.
 
421SuperDuty said:
...If you're like everybody else, just get an SKS. It's a solid, reliable, (now relatively) cheap, reliable, fun, reliable and reliable gun. Reliability is important. A broken rifle isn't a rifle, it's a paperweight. There's really no excuse for how bad the canadian 180's are in terms of quality control and reliability.....
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I agree with most of this and everything else in your post. Truth is, reliability matters A LOT less if you don't really shoot your gun much (or at all), which is what the vast majority of the Canadian market is about. And unfortunately, there are plenty of excuses for the state of the Canadian 180 clone designs. Note, we're talking about the 180 designs in general (individual rifles can and will work well, possibly even for the long term, and those lucky owners have every reason to be satisfied with their individual rifles).

Canadian 180 designs really don't have to work well in order for the manufacturer to maximize profits. So why would they bother? I'm guessing they've done the math, and are trying to saturate the market before the whack-a-mole ban hammer closes the 180 option down.

On the one hand, I can't really blame them for trying to run a profitable business in a difficult industry. It probably won't even hurt their brands that much in the long run because where else are Canadian gun owners going to get Canadian solutions for Canadian problems?

On the other hand, I now know just how much I can trust their standards when it comes to design and manufacturing (not much at all, for my purposes). For lots of people though, the current Canadian 180 designs are more than adequate.
 
Ya I thinking I’m leaning more and more towards the SKS now as well they’re proven to be well built and reliable and for what they were made for at those times they are built better then all new rifles in the same price market. All though why do you guys think I should stay away from the aftermarket stocks for it ?? I’m sure a lighter stock would add more recoil as the wooden stock would help absorb some of it. Like I do like the tapco interfuse stock that allows the bayonet to stay attached to the rifle.

I just hope when conservatives win the next election they turn over the silly rules the liberals have laid in place …. aka handgun freeze, ar15 prohibited (I’d love to own and use one) as well as all the others they’re wanting to eliminate cuz they look scary ��

Would I be wise to get a Chinese over Russian ??
 
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I just read thru all the same answers to see if there was a good alternative suggested. I have an SKS in Tapco and it's NOT lighter that wood, about 1.5# heavier - solid plastic I guess. Maybe ATIs are lighter ? I still will keep my Tapco with maybe a red dot on the front rail this winter? The other reason I posted is to suggest a T97 instead of the WK. About the same price and way more reliable, tho tough if you really have LOP issues. An SKS from GPost or EE runs about $5-700, T97 can 1K-1.3k, and the WK is $1k-1500. And as for ammo, .223 is ca 80c/round for 1K tax-inc from Tenda. X-39 is about 34c/round, I can do all that math with my shoes on.
 
The only stock I would put on a SKS is the Archangel stock. Then have the barrel cut to 18.6 inches, take off the bayo and front sight and move it further towards you (or leave it off and thread it for a muzzle brake). Then slap a magwedge or similar mount on and a LPVO. SBI mag release and tapco magazine. Of course this will cost $$ or DIY.
 
BrownR said:
Ya I thinking I’m leaning more and more towards the SKS now as well they’re proven to be well built and reliable and for what they were made for at those times they are built better then all new rifles in the same price market. All though why do you guys think I should stay away from the aftermarket stocks for it ?? I’m sure a lighter stock would add more recoil as the wooden stock would help absorb some of it. Like I do like the tapco interfuse stock that allows the bayonet to stay attached to the rifle.

I just hope when conservatives win the next election they turn over the silly rules the liberals have laid in place …. aka handgun freeze, ar15 prohibited (I’d love to own and use one) as well as all the others they’re wanting to eliminate cuz they look scary ��

Would I be wise to get a Chinese over Russian ??
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the current lot of chinese sks rifles in stores are the ones I'd be buying right now. From the posts on this site I have read they appear to be unissued production. Someone can correct me if I am wrong there.
It's too bad none of the importers pressed china to make more D models but I guess the Type 81 rifles filled that spot for a rifle in x39 with a detacheable magazine.
There are nicely equipped SKS-D rifles in the ee for less than a 180 rifle. That's where my money would go.
 
45ACPKING said:
the current lot of chinese sks rifles in stores are the ones I'd be buying right now. From the posts on this site I have read they appear to be unissued production. Someone can correct me if I am wrong there.
It's too bad none of the importers pressed china to make more D models but I guess the Type 81 rifles filled that spot for a rifle in x39 with a detacheable magazine.
There are nicely equipped SKS-D rifles in the ee for less than a 180 rifle. That's where my money would go.
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All SKS have a milled receiver, it is too expensive to manufacture.

SKS-D in general are of low quality. Good for collectors.
 
fritzhanzel said:
All SKS have a milled receiver, it is too expensive to manufacture.

SKS-D in general are of low quality. Good for collectors.
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not to be abrasive but...you have no idea what you are talking about LOL
I have owned probably..... at the very least 20 or so SKS-D rifles since the early 90's just to put my opinion into perspective.
Most of my friends back then owned them too and we also had plenty of standard fixed mag models as well.
As with anything from china of that era, some were lemons , both D's and fixed mag versions.
Some shot really well but most were average.
Now the triggers all needed attention and sights were rarely zeroed and needed that stupid tool....... issues shared by all SKS's
Some folks have difficulty rocking the mags into the D models correctly, something I never suffered from.
Some pinned mags would put heavy pressure against the closed bolt and some attention to detailing the mags needed doing.
Where I have seen guys have issues with D models is when they put them into aftermarket stocks as the forward lug that the fixed magazine assembly engages is not featured on the D model and nearly all those plastic stocks rely on engaging that lug to keep the action snug in the stock. I tried several of the commonly used tacticool stocks on the D model and had nothing but problems. Put it back in it's wood stock and she goes bang every time. I would do a trigger massaging with upgraded springs and firing pin return spring mod..... but I would do those with any type of sks I owned.
Before I accept anyone posting the SKS-D's are somehow inferior ...... I'd ask just how many SKS rifles have they owned and shot the living hell out of. I'd ask if that person owned the D models when full capacity mags were legal? How many cases of ammo did you get the chance to shoot thru how many SKS-D rifles?
While it's been years since those days, I was in my 20's at the time and we went shooting on crown land every chance we got which was every 2 weeks with cases of x39 and .303 brit.
I've got lots of pics from those days adorning the gun room wall and photo albums. If SKS-D rifles were ####e, why all these years later would I still view them as a trusty companion? I hate junky firearms and as a gun owner I wouldn't waste my time on junk. I think anyone who knows me or has seen my collection would readily agree.
I don't expect to have people share my opinion but it should come from a place and person that has owned more than a couple SKS rifles and who has shot thousands of rounds thru said rifles...... for over 30 years and counting.
 
Yeah, I have seen you trying to sell your overpriced SKS-D on the EE on and off.

The rest is self explanatory.
 
Honestly buy both, a wk180 for target shooting and an sks to burry in the yard with 2000 rounds of ammo lol, in all seriousness a 180 will probably be more accurate than an sks and an sks will definitely be cheaper, less so the more stuff you tack onto it but pound for pound 7.62x39 is cheaper than 5.56
 
Ya Im thinking of a sks as I’ve seen some decent ones for 375-650 that are matching numbers and good shape, and some accessories. Just have to find the one that speaks to me :) and go from there lol
 
fritzhanzel said:
All SKS have a milled receiver, it is too expensive to manufacture.

SKS-D in general are of low quality. Good for collectors.
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Yes. Very-very low, can't shoot at all without ammo.
This is surplus ammo, iron sights, no mods to rifle, and at 100 yards front post covers the whole target sheet. Should I post Bren 2 and X95 with 6x optics pictures for comparison?


 
Evanguy said:
Yeah that ain't a bad price at all..it jus kills me knowing the pre OIC prices though. The $200 shipped sks days are gone
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I know what you mean. But I wouldn't feel bad at all if I got one of those nice condition "new old stock" Chinese SKS rifles from the latest batch for $480 with free shipping. It's a different kind of value proposition from the "For $200, how bad can it be?" days.
 
fritzhanzel said:
Yeah, I have seen you trying to sell your overpriced SKS-D on the EE on and off.

The rest is self explanatory.
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LOL funny guy.
every sks I've ever listed has sold for asking or for a trade that benefitted me.
The last one I listed I decided to keep simply because I was literally done with tire kickers and guys that say I'll take it or make an offer I accept and then make up some story as to why they suddenly have to back out of the deal LOL
I don't use the EE much these days for anything really and my patience with selling/buying here has long been worn thin.
When I listed that rifle I was in a bit of a cash pinch between the hunting budget, a sudden home repair and an 1800.00 mechanic bill. I had also listed my truck for sale at the time and it sold, more than satisfying my financial pinch. So the rifle went back in the collection with her sisters. You will never see me list another one.
The last SKS I sold was a D model with no stock but otherwise complete. It sold for cash +trade that put me above in value compared to the asking price.
Truth is I have owned and shot dozens and dozens of SKS rifles in the various models. Nothing wrong with the fixed mag models if that is your thing and I'm not comparing the two for reliablity and quality. My personal preference is the original D models , big deal....... seems to get a few people feathers ruffled that those are my preferred model...... I'd just ask those people to kindly get over themselves LOL

Here's a blast from the past.....early 90's just as things were transitioning to the PAL/RPAL system and when being on crown land with full cap mags and an Englis Bren Mark II was our way of having fun after the work week. No fixed mag SKS rifles in sight. Myself (far left) , 2 of the other guys in the pic and the guy holding the camera bought a pallet of SKS rifles from Allan Lever, among other toys hehehe

The "B" Team LOL
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I wouldn't buy an SKS, unless your motivations are historical. It has nearly every disadvantage against the 180 platform in general.

For all the praises of durability, remember that the SKS is a cheap, bargain surplus rifle. There is a variance in service histories, mismatched serialized parts, use of corrosive ammo, storage conditions etc. The last SKS I shot had an issue where it fired an automatic burst! (I guessed cosmoline caked in the sear/trigger mech?)

I bought a Wk180c gen 1 for 1000 CAD on the original pre-order in 2018. It was quite accurate and reliable for shooting targets at a range. Then I sold it to a friend who needed something non-res after the OIC and he still has it.

Think about the shooting experience: you want to shoot with iron sights or an optic? Stripper clips or box mags? Pistol grip or wood stock? These are completely different rifles.
 
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