Classic firearms ChiCom SKSs with cracked stocks

[TTv2]

$250 (with a cracked stock) for an SKS is not bad. I don't think I've seen an SKS for less than $400 or so in a long time...

I just wondered if anybody had one.

You're right, $250 out the door isn't a bad price for any SKS, but the problem is that it's $25 for shipping, sales tax depending on where you live, plus FFL fees; it's pretty much a guarantee you'll be paying over 300 for an SKS with a cracked stock and likely more than that.

No, I don't think it's a good deal, I think waiting for some to hit gunbroker so you can see the pictures of the gun you're paying for is a better deal.

 

[TTv2]

I had a theory back in the 80s that the dealers put the cracked stocks on the scruffiest metal, knowing that they would have to blow those out at a lower price anyway. That may have been more trouble (labor cost) than it was worth, but I stayed away from the cracked stock specials and lowest-price dealers. I tried to purchase after the first wave had been reviewed but before they hit the bottom of the barrel, and was generally happy with the results.

$250 is an attractive price for a milled/screwed early military SKS if all that is needed is stock work, but waiting for early reviews would probably be the smartest route. I have not dealt with Classic, but have read many expressions of disappointment in rating/descriptions. That is not unusual for this type of merchandise, but AIM and the few others I dealt with never let me down.

I'd like to say good things about AIM, but I can't. The .32 Zastava that I bought from them had a nice idiot scratch line on them from the barrel/frame pin and also has a bent bushing.

IMO it's better to just buy off gunbroker because you get to see what you are buying.

 

[American_Fusilier]

aaaaaaaaand they're sold out...

FFL transfer cost isn't an issue, my FFL will do long guns for $10 (I know right?)

I figured I'd get a new stock on eBay if the one it came in was too badly damaged to shoot with.

Cleaning Cosmoline doesn't bother me either. I've cleaned my share of Cosmoline caked firearms...

I am a tinkerer, and I think it would've been a fun project gun. I really would like an SKS someday. I think about $300 is the most I'd currently pay for one.

Maybe someday. I've gotta keep monitoring Classic's website.

Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts guys!!!

 

[aarondhgraham]

Boy! They went fast,,,
And I had an after market stock all picked out.

There is something about the SKS that I find attractive,,,
In fact it's the only semi-auto military rifle that I have ever liked.

I bought a Chinese version back in the early 90's for $99.99 at a gun show,,,
Cash got scarce a few months later and I sold it to a friend,,,
Thinking I could always find another when I was flush.

Oh well,,,
Another time maybe.

Aarond

.

 

[American_Fusilier]

There is something about the SKS that I find attractive,,,
In fact it's the only semi-auto military rifle that I have ever liked.

I totally understand this. There is definitely something about an SKS....

Though I also like some other milsurp semi autos especially the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I totally understand this. There is definitely something about an SKS....

Though I also like some other milsurp semi autos especially the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine.

Both of those are very fine rifles but I would choose the Garand over the Carbine,,,
Just because it does not have a magazine protruding from the bottom.

That's the facet of the SKS that I like so much,,,
Just that tiny little magwell (is that the correct word?) peeking out from the bottom.

Aarond

.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I'm considering getting just one more SKS - I've got one of those 'Nam fiberglass stocks that looks so lonely... .

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

About 4 years ago I bought a "gunsmith special" from J&G Sales for $250. Turned out to be pretty nice, only thing broken was the take down lever was broken off. What surprised me was, it came with a bayonet and, rarest of all, a complete cleaning rod!

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I'm considering getting just one more SKS - I've got one of those 'Nam fiberglass stocks that looks so lonely... .

This would be the perfect rifle for that.

Enabling - it's what we do.

 

[tarosean]

It's not the '80's, don't expect to find '80's prices anymore.

Yep, 69.00 in 1985 = 165ish now-a-days acording to most inflation calculators.

 

[303 hunter]

I recently saw some of Classic’s $300 SKS’s at a gun show, and they were pretty rough. I’d been looking for a while and decided to keep looking. Found one at the same show for $400 out the door that was in excellent condition. Didn’t want to pay that much but I’m satisfied with the rifle.

I too remember the cheap SKS, as I bought my first at Roses department store for $70 around 1989. They also had Norinco AK’s for $100, and Lee Enfield’s for $40. The days of cheap mil surps are long gone..

 

[Waterboy3313]

I too remember the cheap SKS, as I bought my first at Roses department store for $70 around 1989. They also had Norinco AK’s for $100, and Lee Enfield’s for $40. The days of cheap mil surps are long gone.

Maybe I'm wrong here but for the most part the ammo for the SKS is probably the only foreign milsurp rifle ammo easy to find. I have a sks and a 98k. I always thought it would be cool to have a mosin as well. Living in CA the days of ordering ammo online is more or less gone. Locally the only thing I have found is the 7.62X39. I had to order 8X57 through a LGS and it was quite expensive.

I also found reloading supplies for 8X57 is also getting harder but not impossible to find. I've never looked for 303 British but I assume it's another one that isn't exactly well stocked. I think the popularity and the price of the 7.62X39 makes the SKS one of the best buys.