Excuse my ignorance, but why should I buy an SKS for 400.00?
I have a shotgun (Remington 870 12 ga). I am wondering if TSHTF and I need to defend property or the constitution ...
wouldn't a 12 ga loaded with 00 buckshot and/or slugs do me well out to 100 yards? I have heard the SKS is only about that accurate. 10 rounds SKS 7.62X39 versus 7-8 rounds of 00 buckshot or slugs...hmmm...
I'm on a limited budget of 400.00
$400 for SKS... UFTA it better be a SKS-D with lots of ammo/mags with it.
IMO there is a lot of info I would need before I could suggest what. Do you have any other firearms? Do you have any training with any weapons systems? Where do you live? Will you get any training? etc,etc,etc.
The 12 guage pump has been the baseline Home defense gun. You call 911 and stay behind a couple locked doors and blast anyone who breaks down door and exposes themself to you.
TSHTF you won't have 911.. You may want to distance yourself from possible threats. If they become real a SKS will penetrate "soft" cover much better then buckshot/even slugs. Also handle most cheap soft body armor.
If you have no guns I would get the 870 (hopefully used if you know someone familiar with them) for $200 area or less. A box of bird shot from wally world $24 for 100 rds (good practice) Slugs (dang near a buck each)
and a box of lead buckshot (no idea current prices) Learn how to load/change ammo in chamber on demand. (Frontsite has a free online vid of their shotgun class/shootoff.) (The Police/vs non-leo challenge. The Officer who flubs the selection of slug over buck was imo the most useful.)
One advantage of the 870 vs SKS. If you fire 4rds with SKS you have 6 left and no easy way to reload without taking rifle OUT of service for a period of time. The 870 (standard mag) with 4+1 you can fire 4 and reload with gun on target/ready to fire that last rd