Are the days of finding a nice SKS for $350 over?

[KYamateur]

I've been shopping for an SKS rifle. All I can find for $350 are beat up pieces. I watch gunbroker but nice ones are listed for $500+ even though they don't sell. That kind of defeats the purpose. Seems like these things were everywhere until I finally got around to shopping for one. I have a VZ58 and a CZ 527 bolt action and thought the SKS would be a nice pick up to shoot the same ammo. At those prices it seems like I may as well spend $700 and get an AK.

 

[juk]

Only a few years ago you could pick up a pretty nice one for under 200. I wouldn't pay over 300 for one unless it was a genuine Russian. Like you said, once they hit a certain price point, it makes no sense to NOT spend a little more and get an AK.

 

[wally]

it makes no sense to NOT spend a little more and get an AK

Depends on if 1.5-2X more is "only a little". An SKS will generally shoot about half the group size off sandbags as an AK will.

I don't shoot my SKS collection much, I have good ones and beaters, but the one that seems to shoot the best had a firewood quality stock (since replaced) and no matching numbers.

 

[KYamateur]

I would give maybe $400 for a very nice SKS. However anymore and I will just wait a little while and shell out the extra on an AK. I like the SKS rifles with the original 10 round flip down mags.

 

[mljdeckard]

Check the pawn shops. Remember, SKSs are only 'new-ish' to begin with.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I remember buying SKS's for $85 at the local hardware store...along about 1990 or so.

That's some pretty nice appreciation...I still have 3 of them.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I sold a like new SKS a while back for $275 and, thought I made out like a bandit.

 

[jmr40]

The last, only one, I bought was under $200, and that was with 1,000 rounds of ammo. The rifle was $69, ammo $125. That was years ago and I was still glad to get rid of it. I never really liked the rifle, but at that price couldn't go wrong. If I'd kept it I could make a much better profit now than I did by selling it when I did.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

It's like Nagant's. I remember buying a sweet M44 for 69.00 several year's ago.Glad I bought my SKS's before the market got stupid.

 

[Captcurt]

Sign of the Times.

I have been getting $375 to $450 for Norincos. I you can find a nice one for $350 you better buy it. Most distributors are getting $325 wholesale.

 

[yzguy87]

What's up with the higher prices? Is the price increase due to all demand on the consumers part or are importers just not bringing in as many as they used to?

I bought a yugo 59/66 in February 08 for $245 and thought it was a decent deal.

 

[brbdwyr]

What's up with the higher prices? Is the price increase due to all demand on the consumers part or are importers just not bringing in as many as they used to?

Yes and Yes.

On a side note, all these "I remember When" posts are pointless. I remember gas at $.80 and soda at a quarter, but I don't keep dipping in the barrel of memories about it.

The SKS is a battle-proven semi auto that shoots a respectable round. If a 10/22 is fetching $300, why shouldn't an SKS?

To the OP: yes, you can find them for under $350, but it's tough and those days may be gone. I passed up a Tula refurb last month that had a $395 price tag on it and I'm still kicking myself. As one poster said, keep an eye on pawn shops.

 

[improperlyaged]

You can still find good ones for less than 300, you just have to be patient and look around a bit.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=728415

Got me a Romy for 260 OTD

 

[GoWolfpack]

Are the days of finding a nice SKS for $350 over?

Unless import laws get a major overhaul, yes. You may find somebody willing to part with one for less, but the average market price for one in good condition is going to stay over $350 for a very long time.

 

[TIMC]

I got a Norinco couple months ago off gunbroker for $350 so they are still around.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

The price overall is coming down but is going to stabilize around $300-350 for Norincos and $400+ for Russians(my wag!). I sold a Norinco with less than perfect finish for $475 a few months back and he told me he would have gladly paid the $525 that others were asking.

 

[improperlyaged]

Its hard to imagine them going for so much, in my area they are still around 275 to 325.

 

[ball3006]

I think I paid 100 bucks for my like new Albanian and Russian a few years ago. chris3

 

[Quick Shot xMLx]

They don't appear to be showroom quality but Atlantic is selling Chinese SKS for $300. That appears to be about the "new normal" price.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/com...e-56-sks-7-62x39mm-rifle-detail.html?Itemid=0

 

[husker]

No. but you have to look around. They pop up from time to time on face books Nebraska gun exchange for 3 bills

 

[tarosean]

Dang this was a 60 dollar gun 20yrs ago.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

ever once in a while you luck out, a friend of mine bought a tricked out one with Archangel typle stock, laser, red light, rails, a so so UTG scope and ammo for $500, not my cup of tea, but a helluva deal if you are looking for one.

 

[Black Butte]

I remember when Romanian SKSs flooded the market and you could get them with the attached grenade launcher in near unissued condition for $100.

 

[barnbwt]

I recently got a Tula '51 and a few dozen rounds for 450$ plus tax. Other than needing new varnish the stock's great (just needs some lotion) and the mis-match parts are in as-new condition and everything fits great and is clean. I'd pay 30$ just to not have to bathe the rifle (and myself) in solvent to get it working like those "deal" rifles

Is it more than an SKS is "worth?" Probably. But not by much, it's a solid gun, I don't see it getting much if any cheaper in the future, and now no one can say I don't own an SKS . And, I haven't seen a real-deal Russian model recently --just a really crummy reweld for 300$ and heavily cosmo'd Yugos which just don't do it for me-- so it's perhaps slightly uncommon around here.

It'll play well with my VZ58

TCB

 

[zoom6zoom]

Dang this was a 60 dollar gun 20yrs ago.

and minimum wage was under four bucks. It's all relative.