allisd17
Member
Interesting. My x39 AR needs .311 bullets. I thought only the Mini-30 was chambered in .308
Has anyone bought an SKS... Lately
- Thread starter Ascot500
- Start date
adcoch1
Member
A lot of 311 bore guns will shoot 308 bullets just fine. It's always worth a try...
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I have shot 308 through my RAR 7.62x39. Accuracy was good too. I just worry about gas cutting using 308. I like the better selection of 308 bullets available too. I always slug my bore when getting a rifle.
Dr T
Member
I got my Chines SKS in the mid-80s before NORINCO flooded the market.
It is made better than the NORINCO guns. As I recall, one of the motivations for the design of the AKs is that the SKSs were too expensive to produce because they required a lot more machining (this was before computers drove the machine tools). Mine is nicely finished and nicely blued. It also shoots once you sort out the front sight (minute of milk jug offhand at 100 yards is pretty good for me with a radically short LOP).
An interesting rumor that was floating around in the late-80s to early-90s was that NORINCO was a cover operation for Chinese intelligence and the SKS sales were made to generate hard currency to fund their efforts in the Americas. I have never heard of this rumor ever being confirmed--or denied.
I think that is an interesting, elegant, and simple design. That is probably why they work so well in adverse conditions.
But I also really don't like or trust the safety.
It is made better than the NORINCO guns. As I recall, one of the motivations for the design of the AKs is that the SKSs were too expensive to produce because they required a lot more machining (this was before computers drove the machine tools). Mine is nicely finished and nicely blued. It also shoots once you sort out the front sight (minute of milk jug offhand at 100 yards is pretty good for me with a radically short LOP).
An interesting rumor that was floating around in the late-80s to early-90s was that NORINCO was a cover operation for Chinese intelligence and the SKS sales were made to generate hard currency to fund their efforts in the Americas. I have never heard of this rumor ever being confirmed--or denied.
I think that is an interesting, elegant, and simple design. That is probably why they work so well in adverse conditions.
But I also really don't like or trust the safety.
Ignition Override
Member
Dr T: That rumor about SKS revenue helping Chinese intelligence agencies might have allowed a US President (former Navy 'VP' pilot) to further justify his ban of guns imported directly from China?
Norinco is state-owned, so it is true that its revenues, more so than a non-state-owned business, do support the Chinese government and its agencies.
That said, the Bush import ban was focused on the import of firearms that did not meet a "sporting use" test and was the result of William Bennet (the 'drug czar' at the time) lobbying Bush directly. It certainly stopped the import of some rifles coming in from China, but not based on the country of origin.
There is an import ban on Chinese firearms/ammo, but it was enacted later when Clinton specifically targeted China. The public reason given for that ban was to punish China for the Tiananmen Square incident.
www.baltimoresun.com
That said, the Bush import ban was focused on the import of firearms that did not meet a "sporting use" test and was the result of William Bennet (the 'drug czar' at the time) lobbying Bush directly. It certainly stopped the import of some rifles coming in from China, but not based on the country of origin.
There is an import ban on Chinese firearms/ammo, but it was enacted later when Clinton specifically targeted China. The public reason given for that ban was to punish China for the Tiananmen Square incident.
Ban on Chinese guns may have wider import
BEIJING — President Clinton’s move yesterday banning U.S. imports of Chinese-made guns strikes at the source of one-third of all firearms and more than half the rifles brought into the …
www.baltimoresun.com
Well, if you don't like SKS pricing, try buying a Swede model 96, a No4 Enfield, a Finn M39, or just about any of Paul Mauser's creations. 1993 is gone and it ain't coming back! Put yourself in the shoes of a younger person just entering the shooting world- if you want one of these classics, you have to either pay the nice man what he's asking or forget about it.
crstrode
Member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2008
- Messages
- 362
If they had an SKS, they will live longer - and have more fun.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Back in the ancient days of the 90s when you could get sub-$100 SKSs and cases of surplus ammo for $70, they were a good value for a barebones semi auto rifle.
Nowadays, there's no logical reason to by an SKS, unless you just want to have some kind of Commie gun, but don't want an AK.
theotherwaldo
Member
Picked up a good, functional WASR-10 about fifteen years ago. Fun, but never made me want another AK.
Since then I've gathered up a Chinese Type 56 Bubba job, a stock Type 56, a SKS (M) and a Yugo M-59.
I prefer these to the AK.
-And I prefer any of my AR's to my SKS's.
Since then I've gathered up a Chinese Type 56 Bubba job, a stock Type 56, a SKS (M) and a Yugo M-59.
I prefer these to the AK.
-And I prefer any of my AR's to my SKS's.
Coyote3855
Member
Three years ago, a friend of a friend sold me a Russian Tula and 1500 rounds of ammunition for $350. I told him he had it underpriced. He said it was his dad's gun, he had no use for it, and was happy it was going to someone who appreciated it. I had one of the $69 Chinese ones and a Yugo. Those went away as I am downsizing my collecction.
Col. Plink
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2009
- Messages
- 1,775
My profile pic is my Yugo M59 with checkpoint marks from the Serbian civil war. Had a Kivaari trigger job done, wish they had a better scoping option (short of permanent alterations); would love to find out its true dispersion. Shoots great with a Williams peep sight, still have original 10rd perm mag, original stock switched out for Choate folder. Got a Chinese Vietnam-era 200rd chest rig for stripper clips. Ready to rock.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
OK....going back to the original question, yes, I bought a Chinese SKS a little over 2 years ago from Atlantic firearms. It was a hot mess, absolutely crammed full of 3/4 lb., by actual weight, of grease.
Clean up was a nightmare, but worth it. I also had to refinish the stock. Probably the best thing I ever did was replace the front sight with an aftermarket example-
I regulated the sights and have so far only shot out to 200 yds., but the rifle is very reasonably accurate at that range-
I have dozens of rifles but this is hands down one of my favorites.
35W
4 inch groups at 200 yards with an SKS is quite good. That's a keeper.
Miami_JBT
Member
Where are you finding SKS Carbines for under $400 these days? A entry level AR is now a $350 PSA special.
Offhand McFlan
Member
My first rifle was a Norinco SKS. Long since sold it and now have an Izhmash AK-47 that I built up from a Saiga import. If I got another SKS it would probably be the paratrooper model, and maybe converted to take 20 rounds. I actually still have tons of the stripper clips left.
Nature Boy
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2015
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- 8,272
A fact that people may not realize, all businesses in China are state owned. There’s no such thing as private property in the PRC.
Even foreign companies with entities doing business in china aren’t allowed to own the property or buildings that they operate from.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
You made the right choice.
On purely technical merits, the Garand is the better rifle, but they are both fun...and historical.
v8stang289
Member
Around 2006 I bought a Norinco SKS and 500 rounds of Romanian steel case sp ammo for $125.
In 2012, I sold the rifle and what was left of the ammo for $275.
I didn't really shoot it anymore, but I wish I'd have held onto it.
In 2012, I sold the rifle and what was left of the ammo for $275.
I didn't really shoot it anymore, but I wish I'd have held onto it.
Terry G
Member
"I coulda bought those SKS's for ........ You should have!
Well, sort of. There are businesses that are owned by the central government and some that are operated by the provinces, but there are also some that are privately owned as well. China Bohai Bank is province operated. Alibaba is privately owned. Norinco is owned by the central government.
Truth be told, we're in much the same situation in the U.S. If you can't carry it with you, you don't really own it. The state charges "rent" to the people they allow to live on their properties in the form of property taxes. The "rent" is generally pretty reasonable, but make no mistake, if you fail to pay it, the government will evict you.
Nature Boy
Member
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- Apr 21, 2015
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Nah, it’s not even close to the same. I can buy property, have title and dominion over it, pay for the house that sits on it and in time turn around and sell it for a profit. I can choose to reinvest that profit into anything I choose. The PRC limits what you’re allowed to withdraw from an ATM machine.
You can’t own property in China. China will grant you land, even provide the capital to build a factory on it, but they will tell you what to build and when to do it.
People often think that cheap goods coming from China are due largely to cheap labor, but that’s not really accurate. Western efficiency in manufacturing largely makes up the difference in the cost per hour. Their true advantage is in the low cost of capital. When a business entity doesn’t have to pay for land or the factory that sits on it, it significantly reduces their overhead costs.
Of course, there’s nothing free, even in communist China. When the PRC “grants” you land they hold all the cards and pull all the strings.
I’ve done a lot of business there, traveled there, even built a factory there. I know the differences, first hand
People in China can buy and sell the right to use real estate; it's just explicitly stated that the state owns the real estate while here we pretend that we own it and call the "rent" we pay to the government property taxes. Quit paying your "rent" to the government and you'll find out pretty quickly who actually owns "your" real estate. The true owner will either take it away from you or force you to pay your rent. 
As far as dominion goes, the government can, if it wishes, tell you what kind of buildings you can or can't build on "your" property, they will increase your "rent" based on the improvements you make to "your" property, make you tear buildings down if you don't follow their rules, tell you how buildings must be built, tell you what kinds businesses you can and can't run based on the area, or even just take "your" property away from you if they need it for something else. I'm not saying that there's no difference between here and China--that would be a stupid claim. But if you look closely, there are more similarities than most people want to admit.
As far as dominion goes, the government can, if it wishes, tell you what kind of buildings you can or can't build on "your" property, they will increase your "rent" based on the improvements you make to "your" property, make you tear buildings down if you don't follow their rules, tell you how buildings must be built, tell you what kinds businesses you can and can't run based on the area, or even just take "your" property away from you if they need it for something else. I'm not saying that there's no difference between here and China--that would be a stupid claim. But if you look closely, there are more similarities than most people want to admit.
