SKS Thumbs up or down?

Thumbs up.

definitely thumbs up. i had a Yugo SKS that was pretty darn near a tack driver. i sold it to a buddy years ago, and have always regretted it. i liked the Yugo because I could shut off the gas valve and have it operating in bolt action mode (possibly more accurate, and it kept me from blowing through ammo $$$ TOO quickly...)

i've heard from others that the Yugos tend to be on the higher end of SKS accuracy. i've only fired 2, so it's not statistically valid or anything, but my Yugo would easily outshoot my friend's romanian.

Thumbs up and I love my two. Norinco and a Yugo.

Two big thumbs up!

Other than something like a Mosin Nagant for under $100, there's not too many other rifles out there that beat it in the Best Value and Smiles per Round categories.

Plus the recoil is very tame. Just enough kick to make things interesting .

Will reload ammo.

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Was going to reload for my father's Chinese SKS, but found that it excels at ejecting spent cases straight up 10 feet into the air, landing 6 to 8 feet in front of the gun. Those cases just disappear in the pile of brass at the range I frequent, so he'll order non-corrosive Russian stuff in bulk when his current supply runs out.

Anyone else experience that?

I have two. A heavily Sporterized Norinco, and an untouched Albanian.

Absolutely thumbs up, I love my Yugo SKS.

jw

Reloading for an SKS or similar semi-auto seems like a loosing proposition. feeding and function means sticking close to ball spec handloads, and I doubt you can save money rolling your own, much less your time invested.

If reloading is a passion, I suggest a bolt action milsurp for even less geld and more reloading possibilities.

Don't wait. If Obama wins, there will be a run on them as people start to realize an assault weapon ban will be coming back and be doubly nasty.

I have a Yugo, had a Norinco. I sold the Norinco because I hardly ever shot it. I hardly ever shoot the Yugo either but I won't sell it. Every firearms enthusiast should have at least one SKS.

I don't know that I'd recommend loading ammo for it. Having to buy brass will probably erase any cost savings you might gain. Any cheap surplus ammo you buy will either be steel cased or Berdan primed brass. Just buy a case of Wolf and have fun.

I like the SKS, but there are not many good upgrades. Keep it stock.

I have a Yugo, had a Norinco. I sold the Norinco because I hardly ever shot it. I hardly ever shoot the Yugo either but I won't sell it. Every firearms enthusaist should have at least one SKS.

+1 for keeping it in original condition, but that's just me. Its your gun. Do with it whatever will make you enjoy it the most.

I don't know that I'd recommend loading ammo for it. Having to buy brass will probably erase any cost savings you might gain. Any cheap surplus ammo you buy will either be steel cased or Berdan primed brass. Just buy a case of Wolf and have fun.

Thumbs up, depending what what you plan to do with it. I contend that the SKS is a great gun, but only if you accept it for what it is- a fixed magazine (usually), medium power cartridge, highly reliable carbine with mediocre sights. Depending on the model of SKS, alterations can be just fine or can violate federal law (like with the Yugo 59/66).

Quite honestly, do not try to get a SKS and then try to turn it into a high capacity AK wannabe; you'll spend more money and get less return than had you just bought a Romanian WASR anyway.

The SKS is what it is. Love it for what it is. If you want something else, do yourself a big favor and buy that something else instead.

I've got two. Had the Norinco since 1994, and have since Bubbafied the bejeebers out of it. The more-recent one is a Yugo. I'm thinking of finding some 7.62x39 blanks and seeing if I can make some tennis-ball tipped practice grenades out of PVC pipe.

They are so fun! You probly wont find enough of the casings to make it worth reloading because they shoot out far.

Would like to do some cuistomizing, stock, scope.

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To keep your SKS legal, be sure you replace plenty of parts with American parts to keep from running afoul of 922(r). More info on playing the silly "10 Items or Less" game can be had from the SKS FAQ.

Don't wait. If Obama wins, there will be a run on them as people start to realize an assault weapon ban will be coming back and be doubly nasty.

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If Clinton, Obama, or McCain wins, we could be facing another nasty cosmetic feature ban. I don't know if you've gotten the memo, but McCain isn't exactly the RKBA poster boy.

I just picked up a Yugo one week ago. I don't know how it shoots yet, but it had the nastiest bore I have ever seen on a firearm.

Will reload ammo.

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+1 on everything but that

the russian stuff is so cheap there's no point unless you want teh uber accuracy.

Check www.sksboards.com for all yer SKS needs.

Another thing on reloading for the SKS:

Remember that the SKS (most models) does NOT have a firing pin that is under spring tension to keep it away from the primer of a chambered round. It is free floating (be sure to clean the FP channel on the bolt extremely well once purchased). That means that the relatively soft primers we see here in most US made ammo are pretty vulnerable. Personally, if I were to use US made ammo in a SKS, I'd have the bolt and firing pin modified with a spring (some folks will do that). You don't want it going slamfire full-auto on you because the primers trigger just from the hit it takes from the FP as the bolt closes.

Yugo SKS. To say its fun to shoot is a major under statement.

Bore sighted at 75 yards. Haven't had to make a single adjustment to it. Will hit the head of the nail everytime.



**The zip ties were there to see if it cured a problem I was having with the gas tube**

No better center fire plinker for the money, I reckon. I have two of 'em, Norincos.

Pimp it out, part of the fun! It's no tack driver, but accurate enough, about 3 MOA, little worse with crappy ammo. There's lots of crappy parts available, part of the problem of pimping 'em. But, I like the stocks I bought and one drill and tap style scope mount. The mags can be jammers. Stick to fixed magazines would be my advice.

I've shot a lot of reloads in mine and have never had a slam fire. CCI primers are a little stiffer, too. And, .308 bullets give me 3 moa accuracy. I don't get any better from any of the mil surp crap I've fired in 'em, most times worse. Main reason I've reloaded for it is to get decent hunting ammo. The hunting ammo selection sux for this caliber.

Hope you don't mind the slight hijack BUGUDY, but threads like this are starting to convince me I need a SKS too .

I am a bit confused by the many offerings and would appreciate advice on which SKS is "best". Thanks to Denver's own AWB, I need a version with a fixed 10-round magazine. So which version with a fixed magazine would be the best for general plinking and (unlikely) defense work. No hunting anticipated, and I'd rather it not have grenade launchers, etc. Just a plain wood rifle.

Of course I prefer cheap, too, but am never bothered by spending an extra $50 for a better rifle.

Thanks!

D94R - As much as I like to keep military rifles original, that Yugo SKS looks great!

Can you run though the modifications for us? Is that a Weaver rail for a Scout scope in front of the chamber?

Thumbs up here also. Fun little guns and they never wear out.

So long as you keep in mind what it is, (a nigh on indestructible utility rifle capable of fair to good accuracy in most cases, excellent in some) then you will not be disappointed.

Big thumbs up!!!
Though I'd stay away from customizing it, big waste of money.