Chinese SKS $300 at Classic-worth it?

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TTv2

TTv2

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They're on sale thru the weekend and come with the folding spike bayonet. While I already have an AK, I have so much 7.62x39 ammo that a second rifle in x39 would be cool. I have been waiting for a single shot in x39 from Midland, but at the rate they're going with spare barrels I'll be collecting social security checks by the time they come out with it.

The Ruger American would be another option, but I don't have a Mini-30. The CZ rifle would be another option, but it would be a much more expensive option.

The only things I'd look at changing to the SKS would be to add a rear sight from Tech Sights, maybe a folding paratrooper stock, but that's not a guarantee.

IDK, what do you fellas think? Are the Chinese SKS rifles worth the $300?

EDIT: Total price after taxes/shipping and ffl transfer is going to be closer to $400.
 
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$300 is a very good price for SKSes these days. Even if it comes out to about $350 after shipping + FFL, you'll still be money ahead compared to your average pawn shop. Even money at worst.

Personally I like the SKS more than the AK, so if you like your AK, you're probably going to love this one.

And also, as far as mods to make to an SKS, I think this is the only essential one. It's just a 1 inch chunk of tire rubber, and it's not meant to reduce recoil so much as increase the LOP. My Norinco SKS stock was originally way too short for me, and I'm 5'7". Putting on that buttpad made the LOP perfect, and it was like shooting a whole different rifle. It might be the best $10 I've ever spent on guns.
 
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Yes. An SKS is a good solid semi auto rifle for $300. And I agree with your idea of a second rifle in the same caliber. I’ve heard some folks say they’re inaccurate but that hasn’t been my experience. I had a mid 60’s Chinese and still own a very early Sino Soviet that was really rough when I got it. Neither would win long range precision contests but if I pointed one at something I’d generally hit it. Personally I’d leave the stock and sights alone and just learn to shoot it like it is.
 
I guess I disagree. I love the SKS. I love how rugged and even primitive it feels, and I love it for less than $200. I know the going rate for one is much higher, but they're not worth it. Same way a mosin isn't worth $250.
The SKS was a great value, not a great gun. Now that the price has gone so far up, the value has gone down.

But I'd rather have a Norinco than a Yugo, and the Russians are nicer than either.
 
Norinco's are great! They have chrome lined bores and your in good shape if you are paying under a nickel these days. At $300 you shouldn't be disappointed.
 
I have two SKS rifles and like them a lot. In 223 I would rather have a Mini-14 but in 7.62x39 I would take the SKS over the Mini-30. I have the short barreled Paratrooper and a 20" carbine and while many prefer the shorter barrel I like the slightly longer barrel better. For $300 I would get one if I didn't have one. Go for it. And a big yes on the extended buttpad.
 
To update, the total price this will cost is going to be $350-$375 with taxes/shipping and depending on if I choose to pay $25 to get the best cosmetic looking one out of 10. Add in the FFL fee and it's going to be closer to $400.

IDK.
 
I have two Norinco's I bought in '94 when they were $100 each, one for me and one for the wife and will hang on to them simply because they are simple, durable and dead reliable "apocalypse" rifles. One hasn't been shot so much and the other has approximately 2k rounds through it. The only time it acted up was when I tried the Chicom 20 round box mag. I ditched those, went back to the stock 10 rounder and it feeds everything, steel or brass.
 
If it’s still worth it to you at $400 go for it. I think they’re really cool rifles. At that price you’re getting within $100 of a budget AR so it depends on if you really want another 7.62x39 rifle or just a relatively inexpensive semi auto rifle.

Like was stated earlier, the SKS likely won’t ever go down in price. Who’s to say what the future holds for all of these + / - $500 AR’s. I don’t know any other military style semi auto rifle you’ll get for that kind of money. The wood and steel, and the history of the SKS still appeals to me. Seems like you’ve got to have at least one in your collection. I only have 1 now and I don’t see myself ever getting rid of it.
 
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I have bought and sold several SKS and AK's when they were cheap. The only one with any semblance of accuracy was a Saiga. I considered them too front heavy and inaccurate at the time. But now that I am older I regret selling lots of guns. They work just fine for close range hunting and are rugged and fun to shoot. For that money I prefer an AR for several reasons but if you want it get it. Might as well scratch that itch when you can. I doubt that they will ever be cheap again. I kinda wish I had kept one. I wouldn't give $300 for one but if you want one.
 
I mean, the good thing about the SKS is that if I didn't like it and wanted to sell it, I probably wouldn't lose any money.

You know what? As "Mean" Gene Okerlund once said at SummerSlam 1989 when the sign fell down behind him... fugg it. I'm off work from Dec. 20th to Jan 6th, I got time to clean the cosmoline out, it's a cool rifle, and money only goes down in value over time.

Also because I think I'm gonna grab a Beretta 81BB from Classic as well, thus I would not pay any extra shipping to get it.
 
I have two Norinco SKS's in my safe , one being a 16inch Paratrooper ..
I also have a Ruger American Ranch
in 7.62X39 ....
I really like the 7.62X39 round ...
 
Holy cow! I would vote NO. I had a Norinco back when they were $90 and I didn't feel it was a great deal for that money. YMMV but it's hard to fathom how one could be worth $400!:eek:
 
Ratshooter: my Mini 30 had a FTFire at least once in 20-30 rounds using Wolf (we know why...).
In ‘08 or so there were no true OEM mags available and some misfeeds were quite common also, using “Promags”.

My Chinese SKS never had a single issue using Russian ammo-because These rifles were built to be reliable.

I dont like to advertise this, but this (plus the failure of my new AO M-1 Carbine) converted me to semi-auto rifles which were designed in Russia .
 
Phaedrus/69 said:
Holy cow! I would vote NO. I had a Norinco back when they were $90 and I didn't feel it was a great deal for that money. YMMV but it's hard to fathom how one could be worth $400!:eek:
Click to expand...

Simple really. Worth is very subjective in this context, but the SKS rifles are now "worth" $400 because they will sell for that in the current market. Maybe it isn't so much that they aren't "worth" $400 now, as much as it is the perception that you have of them based on when the market was flooded with them and drove the individual consumer price down. Supply and demand with consideration of past perceptions of value.
 
Classic Firearms had a table at the last Raleigh, N.C. gun show, and the SKS rifles looked pretty good. If I hadn’t already bought the 91/30 from them, I’d have bought the SKS. If they’re still available at the January show, I’ll have one for sure.
 
It's a good rifle, though I would no longer spend anything on one, that's just a personal preference. There's nothing special about them.

One thing to note since no one has brought it up, you mentioned putting on a different stock. If you do then you should look up 922r compliance.

It's up to you to follow it or not, but you should be aware of it.
 
SKS rifles around here go for between $400-$500, which of course is what a decent AR is. I guess if you want a SKS, that's a good deal. I still have the one I paid $75 for in the 90's, which to me seems closer to what they are worth. I had a mini 30 for a while, it shot about like SKS, except with a more expensive rifle.
 
I bought one from Classic Firearms earlier this year when they were $249. I had to pay about $25 for shipping and transfer for $25 so I have $300 in it. Note, at that time I didn't have to pay tax either, more recent purchases have been taxed. Spent an afternoon cleaning and shooting and cleaning all that cosmoline off, I didn't mind a bit. Picture is when I first opened it.
SKS_new.jpg
 
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