How much to pay for M1 Garand or SKS?

[BigBlueEyedDevil]

I am looking to buy either a used M1 Garand or an SKS. I don't really care about the type of SKS. I want a rifle to practice shooting with. My .22 is getting a little old so I want a change.

Any ideas on what I should expect or both levels? I don't want to walk out of a gun store having purchased one or the other then then find out I was ripped off. Thanks, BIG BLUE

 

[gearbox]

You can get a used M1 through the CMP (civilian marksmanship program) for as little as $350, or a new one through a Springfield dealer or GunBroker for $1000+

The SKS also vary by condition from $80 to $159 online plus FFL fees. In stores Cali-legal SKSes (Yugo SKSes must have the grenade launcher removed) can be found for $180 issued to $260 unissued. See entreprise and interordnance.

 

[railroader]

BigBlueEyedDevil, looks like were neighbors, I'm from Redlands. One thing you should know is the ammo for the sks will be alot cheaper than the garand.
I called enterprise arms the other day and they said they had some decent yugos in stock and you can see what you are buying. $149 is a good price. They are in Irwindale right off the the 210 fwy.
I have one from Turner's and one from interordnance. Both are nice. I don't know if Turner's is selling them right now. If it was me I would go over to enterprise. Good luck Mark

 

[moredes]

choices

I'm not old enough to have used the M1 in military service. It doesn't hold any mystique for me at all. I see it as just another rifle that shoots half as good as it should.

That said, I'd take the SKS because of the difference in price. You'll get the same accuracy out of that "junker" as you would out of the M1 for 'way less money.

 

[M2HMGHB]

A properly tuned sighted in and worked on M1 Garand is capable of more accuracy then an SKS. The best group I've heard of from and SKS is approxamately 1.5 inches, by far the more common is 2-4 inches at 100 yards. A stock M1 Garand will perform like this but one that is properly tuned will perform to around 1.5 inch groups and smaller regularly if the ammo fed is good quality.

Edited to add: SKS ammo(7.62x39) is approxamately 2-4 dollars for russian (roughly equivelant to surplus) and about 6-12 dollars for American. Ammo for the M1 Garand is about 5-8 dollars for surplus and 6-14 for new manufacture, and 18 and up for match ammo.

 

[George S.]

I just got an M-1 from CMP. I originally had no real interest in them until I heard about the CMP program and found the prices to be really reasonable. Most of the ones I had seen at shops or gun shows were very expensive. I had an M-14 during my Army days and really was impressed with its accuracy and ease of operation.

My M-1 is a Springfield Armory April '41 model and now that I have it, I really enjoy having a piece of US Military history. The M1 distinguised itself in all WWII theaters and in Korea and was a much better rifle than anything issued to Axis troops. It's a very accruate shooter too. You can build an match-grade M1 to shoot sub-MOA groups at 200 yards and it will be very acurate out to 600+ yards with no problems. The cost of 30-06 ammo is a bit high, but reloading should help cut that down a bit, or you can even re-barrel an M1 to .308 and cut ammo costs down that way.

Never had any interest in a SKS so the Garand is the 2nd military rifle for me. A couple of months ago I picked up a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 from the local Big 5 Sporting Goods store for less than $80. This rifle turned out to be a very accurate rifle in spite of being made in 1931 (since been re-arsenaled but the barrel appears to be original and has all-matching serial numbers on the components). Most of the ammo for this rifle (7.62x54R) is old milsurp and corrosive but it works just fine. You can get this ammo as cheap as $3/20rounds for Russina or Czech stuff. I have gotten 4-6" groups at 200 yards with this rifle with the open iron sights. Other good choices for a inexpensive rifle is the Mosin M38 or M44 carbines. Shorter versions of the 91/30 and the same caliber, but they have a pretty good recoil kcik to them.

 

[RustyHammer]

M1 Garand from CMP .... the only way to fly!

 

[Mr. James]

I ordered a few excellent condition Yugo SKS's from Cole Distributing (www.coledistributing.com). They were selling for about $107 delivered (C&R). You'll have to find a FFL to handle the transfer if you don't have a C&R license.

Of course, the M1 is a piece of 'Murrican history.

 

[Garand'06]

... I see it as just another rifle that shoots half as good as it should.

That said, I'd take the SKS ... You'll get the same accuracy out of that "junker" as you would out of the M1 for 'way less money.

When you've actually tried both the SKS and the M1, you will realise that you've made your statements in reverse.

Tim

 

[MrMurphy]

Exactly.......the SKS is a nice medium range carbine developed in case the AK didn't work out. The Garand is a full blown all-ranges infantry rifle with 20 years of development and 25 years of military service in multiple countries behind it. I'll always shoot a Garand better than an SKS, the sights are far better.