Which SKS for us?
 

If this has been discussed, accept my apologies. I can't get search to find the term "sks" in "survival prep" so I suspect it doesn't work.

I'm pretty determined to buy a couple SKS rifles for my wife and I to use. I like the fact that the magazine isn't detachable so it cannot be considered an assault rifle under the current laws.

So, the question is... which SKS? These will be used for recreational plinking and SHTF prep. I want at least moderate accuracy, I will pay more for more accuracy. I want lots of chromium so I can shoot cheap corrosive ammo. I would like bayonet lugs for a bipod but that's not a deal breaker.

Optics? I have zero idea about this with 7.62x39. I've only owned one rifle with optics personally, it was a nice change. Again, for plinking and SHTF prep... unneccesary right? I figure there are reasons infantry arms get issued with iron sights.

I used to own an SKS, back in 1992 or so. It was unfortunately stolen because I was too naive to buy a gun safe. It was a russian model I believe, popular opinion was they were far superior to the chinese ones being imported at the time. It's the only one I've ever had experience with. I was VERY impressed for a $100 gun.

Yugos worth checking out? That pistol grip makes it look a little more military than I would like. Low profile is more my style. Are you allowed to switch stocks on these "borderline" weapons?

And in a related question, is there a convienient spare parts kit I should stockpile? I guess I'm looking for an "armorer's kit" that would contain the most common wear and breakage parts for a squad.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

The Russian makes are high quality. Lotsa Yugos avail. I'd stay away from the Chinese for quality reasons.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

If price isn't your primary concern: Russian!

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

I see that not all of the yugos have that pistol grip like I saw. They do seem to be the only reasonably priced ones... for the price of a russian SKS I can apparently get a yugo AK

Thanks guys. Are the people on gunbroker.com and gunsamerica.com just smoking crack? The prices don't seem very good when you have to pay FFL and shipping... time to hit the local shops.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

First, there is no such thing as a low profile gun. A gun is a gun is a gun as far as the law is concerned. I don't know if Colorado has a state assualt weapons ban, but the national assault weapons ban sunset a couple years ago and has no bearing on the current or future legal scene so go hog wild with pistol grips, bayonets, folding stocks, whatever you want.

The main benefits of the 10rd fixed magazine of the SKS that I see are first that you can't lose your mag and second you get to feed it from stripper clips which are far, far lighter than magazines so you can carry much more ammo per pound.

I am very envious of your former $100 Russian SKS. They cost many times that now, but remain a fine SKS variant. The milled Chinese are a good chromed gun, as are the Albanian. Personally I'd not want a stamped Chinese SKS simply because I like milled construction better. The Yugos are not chromed at all, but if you get a new one and either don't feed it corrosive ammo or clean it out thoroughly each time you'd be ok. I've heard of some of the lower graded used Yugos being practically fused with rust, don't know how common that is though.

Optics are a good thing. You've got a realistic 200 to 300 yard maximum range with the 7.62x39 so I don't think I'd worry too much about a high magnification scope. If anything I would mount a 2.5x long eye relief scope or else right now I'm like the Trijicon Reflex II.

http://www.ultimak.com/Rx06.htm

This and similar sights have a reticle, as explained in the link, that can be used for range estimation. As I'm sure you're well aware, a shooter using the 7.62x39 has to be on the ball with range estimation to achieve accuracy due to the ballistic arc of this round. This sight also doesn't use batteries. The only downside is it doesn't last forever, but chances are no other scope is going to last through a decade of hard use without being replace, either. Just be aware incase you buy two to have one in reserve that the tritium will be decaying. I'm not sure about the shelf life of cyalume light sticks. It will always work during the day due to the fiber optics.

As it happens most modern infantry are switching to optical sights for a number of reasons, chief amongst them is speed. Since the reticle is on the same optical plane as the target it is faster and easier to get a sight picture and fire. The rangefinding feature mentioned above is a boon too, regardless of the round you shoot. That said, keep the iron sights and your point shooting skills for backup.

The forum below should be able to service all your SKS needs.

www.sksboards.com

It also apparently has pictures of sexy women with guns, so be sure to tell your wife you only read it for the articles.

Anyway, around here you can get a good chromed SKS for under $400, about as much as a crappy AK. The SKS will be more accurate.

The site seems to be down at the momment. Weird.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

didn't see Maddie's reply before I posted. So that's three votes for russian. Hmm, going to save up the scratch for them then. Double what I was planning on spending but I definitely want chromed bore/gas and milled receivers with screwed in barrels are a plus. IIRC, the chinese use pinned barrels.

Well, the "low key" is for me. Since I posted I've seen some nylon stocks that are just standard monte carlo style... like all the rifles I've ever shot ;)

Yeah, that stolen SKS is a serious bummer. Hell, my buddy and I didn't even go to the gun show looking for 'em, we were looking for .45 ACP pistols. Neither one of us found one we wanted to buy so we're walking out of the show and this guy is standing by a pile of rifles with a sign that had $149 crossed out, then $129 crossed out and finally.... $99!

Of course, that was back when you could just sell people rifles so we bought a couple. Got 'em home and were confounded by the cosmolene. A few phone calls and we got the carb cleaner/brake cleaner (?) trick. The next day we went out and blew up BOXES of the little 30 cal ammo... fun was had by all. Except the cans and milk-jugs.

edit: oh yeah... the point of my rambling. We didn't even realize we got the "good" ones for $100. Chinese were going for $90 mail order at that time, I think.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

That just goes to show you, when it comes to guns and especially surplus guns, buy what you want while it's cheap and commonly available or you'll pay for it later on. Around here(FL) you'll pay between $300 for a milled Chinese to $400-$600 for a Albanian or Russian.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

Thanks for the google tip.

Wow, so much good info from this forum. Now that I've seen the relative prices on the gun auction/classified sites I have a little leverage going to the pawn shops and gun stores locally.

Anyone have an SKS identification guide for n00bs? i.e. "this is russian" "this is yugo", etc. I know enough to tell a stamped reciever from a milled one. I wouldn't know how to tell a pinned barrel from a threaded one though.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

http://www.simonov.net/

(you really should learn to use google. do a simple search. something like "sks rifle")

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/index.asp

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

Have you considered getting a brand new Saiga .308? I was planning on a SKS but I've kind of decided that I want more firepower. It looks like the Saiga is the cheapest route to a .308 weapon.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

google is good, but "sks rifle" for a search produces a bunch of noise with very little signal. I just figured you guys would know about a site like simonov.net, thanks. simonov.net shows up with a "No Respect" editorial on the second page of the results. Not something I would consider a glowing endorsement by google but it appears to be a really comprehensive collection of information and links. Google misses another one ;)

I have not considered .308, mainly looking for plinking weapons. Diversification is always a possibility. I'll go read about them.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

hahaha, NUTS! now I'm looking at saiga in 7.62x39. I should find a place near denver where we can go rent the weapons.

Re: Which SKS for us?
 

I like all my SKS rifles.My first was a Chinese model,(still have it)went through 900 rounds before I had a malfunction.Next came a Russian,very good rifle.Next I tried the Yugo 59/66,like it and bought a couple more as well as the Yugo M59.
Also bought a RomanianM56...shoots ok...No complaints with either model.