How dependable can the SKS be?

[DMK]

Great guns but make sure you try them out first with a couple hundred rounds before you trust your life to it.

Of course, this applies to any firearm.

Excellent advice though.

 

[gearbox]

I'm just a bit worried about getting a lemon.
I would like a pistol grip angle, but that dragunov stock is fugly. I'm not sure if it is legal in California, as it may or may not be a "pistol grip." Anyone know if the bayonet works with dragunov-style stocks? Would an aftermarket stock affect reliability?

How can one be accurized easily/cheaply?

And where can i find these $80-$100 deals? The places I've seen in Cali has been around $170 for a Yugo.

Is there a difference of quality between Yugo vs Chinese vs Russian vs Romanian?

 

[railroader]

gearbox, by cali law pistol grip stocks are legal if you have the stock 10 round mag. I don't think you can use the bayonet with the aftermarket stocks. Here's a good place for a nice choate dragnov stock at a good price. http://www.cjweapons.com/aspcart45/default.asp?page=305&start=1
Part of the reason the yugo sks's are high in cali is because they have to be converted to be sold here. The grenade launcher has to be removed or disabled. This kind of limits your options on the good deals because those cheaper rifles usually have the launcher attached. As for accurizing mine shoot about 1" to 2" at 50 yards. The one thing I have done is a minor trigger job, polishing on the trigger group parts and lighten the hammer spring slightly. This makes the trigger better which helps you shoot better.
As for quality I have 2 yugos and a chinese. The yugos are alittle better quality but they shoot equally well. One thing, the yugos are probably the heaviest of the sks's. Mark

 

[benEzra]

you can buy a chinese 20 round non removable box magazine that works as good as the 10 round does

I have heard that these are only reliable in Chinese SKS's (the rifles they were originally made for) due to slight dimensional differences.

 

[Bob C]

I bought an SKS a few years ago, and it had been treated with a cosmoline type of grease. When i cleaned it, I missed the forward portion of the gas system, and it still functioned at 95%.

When i cleaned it properly, it went to 100% and stayed there.

I believe this is one of the the most reliable of all semi-autos under adverse conditions.

I have an M1A which I greatly prefer, but it cost six times as much!!!

 

[gearbox]

I am officially "in the market" for an SKS.

I'm hoping I can find a Cali-legal Yugo for under $160 with a bayonet (just to complete the gun).
And, of course, a .30 bore brush, stripper clips, a storage bag, and ammunition.

Is the Wolf crap good enough as SHTF ammo, and should I use the FMJ, HP or SP ammo? Do the soft points feed reliably?

 

[RTFM]

I too am in the market for my first SKS, but I think the Wolf ammo would do just fine.
Com Bloc rife - Com Bloc ammo.
I'm planning on running the Wolf ammo also for home SHTF duty.
My wife and child's' life will depend on it as well as mine.

RTFM

 

[Ben Shepherd]

RTFM, if I may suggest something:

Wolf's fine for plinking but you might want to find some of the stuff in plain white box. It runs a little hotter and much more consistant than any of the other commie stuff I've tried.

 

[G.I.Jew]

Beware of the Yugo rebuilds...Some of them have a sloppy fit with the gas tube and gas valve(like mine) so they jam a bunch.

 

[gearbox]

Is Silver Bear ammo any better than Wolf? It's the same ammo with a different paint on the steel cases, right?

 

[RTFM]

Ben Shepherd, thanks for the heads up, I will keep that in mind.
Like I said, don't have one yet, but will soon. When I do, I'll be sure to try out as much and different 7.62X39 as I can find.

RTFM