Seeking advise on my SKS/Mini14 quandary

[MIL-DOT]

I have both a 580-series stainless mini, and a very clean, all-matching# Norinco SKS. The mini is a solid gun, but they're just too damned expensive for what they are.
I ignored SKS's for decades until a freind turned me onto his stash of them, and I became a fan.
I personally would not sell the SKS to get a mini. One big reason is that the market is way down on them (SKS's) right now, I've seen several operations recently selling them for under $300, so you'll have to practically give the thing away.
As it stands, you basically have an assault rifle in CT that you don't have to register, why screw with that?
As to the $40 Ruger mags, I've gotten new, 20-round factory mags as cheap as $20-25 earlier this year (and traded a guy on Armslist an old box of .40 for a factory 5 rounder). Check CDNN for Ruger factory mags.

 

[Welding Rod]

Which could you shoot quicker with the higher degree of accuracy? That would be the decider for me.

Personally I would favor the Mini as the ergonomics are very good for me. I am a regular M1A and M1 Garand shooter so operation of the controls is well seared into my heard.

I am an AR fan myself for the 556 platform and would pick it first, but my experience owning 3 Minis over 25 years or so is that they are a reliable solid platform.

 

[chicharrones]

It seems like the SKS would be a good candidate for a low red dot sight. I mean, if you have to remove a Tech Sight to clean an SKS, why not try a Scout Scope Mount?

 

[115grfmj]

I had a unique SKS that I owned for a few years, a Polytech SKS Hunter, which I sold in a moment of weakness. Let me tell you I miss it terribly, and wish I could get it back. Unfortunately they only imported 1000 of them, which makes them rare, difficult to find and PRICEY!:banghead:.

My advice is don't do it!! I've only sold two guns in my life, and I regret both.

 

[benEzra]

I would just get an AR15, but can't here in CT.

You should be able to get one of these once they hit the market in numbers, if the concept interests you:

Ares SCR

As I understand it, it uses standard AR-15 uppers and has a standard AR magwell, so it should give you the same accuracy as an AR and be able to use the plethora of AR uppers and triggers out there, unlike a mini-14.

The downside is that it is liable to be more expensive than a mini-14, since it was just introduced.

 

[chicharrones]

You should be able to get one of these once they hit the market in numbers, if the concept interests you:

Ares SCR

Available in 7.62x39, too. It could be the 21st century SKS with that stock configuration. Okay not really, but still cool.

 

[Mayvik]

The SKS will continue to increase in value...a Mini14 not so much. Ammo is cheap enough for both calibers commonality is not that big of an issue. You are not going to be loading mags from a "buddy clip" in the middle of a firefight with terrorist zombie crackheads... AK mags are plentiful and cheap...not so for Ruger.

Add Tech Sights and call it a day.

 

[gubowner]

SKS or Mini 14

Keep the SKS and save and buy a Mini 14. Simple as that. Avoid sellers remorse at all cost!

 

[MachIVshooter]

My LGS is running a great deal on the Mini 14. ($699 NIB with 30 rounds of ammo, and two mags).

Since when is $700 for a $400 rifle a good deal?

I'm sorry, but as soon as minis hiked over $500, they ceased to be a good value-especially with ARs having come down to as little as $600.

I had a mini, it was fun for awhile, but once I got into the AR scene, it just sat collecting dust until I traded it off. I understand the Connecticut conundrum, but there are still better choices for a 5.56mm autoloader. I'd take an SU-16C over a mini without hesitation; better price, better accuracy, lighter weight, uses cheaper AR mags, second to none CS. Unless you're just sold on a 5.56mm carbine that resembles an M1A, I'd look at your other options.

 

[mac66]

I have a bunch of SKSs and a Mini 30 and a Mini 14, and a bunch AKs and AR15s. I had a SKS-M and don't regret selling it. SKSs are cool guns and fun to shoot but are rather crude, made by peasants for peasants. The Mini 14 is much more refined, of higher quality, is US made.

On the other hand if the SKS with AK mags is what you have and serves the purpose stick with it. l

 

[tahunua001]

I would keep the SKS. but that's just me, I'm an SKS guy.

 

[BSA1]

I spent too many years shooting and qualifying with the Mini-14 and it's lackluster accuracy to bother trading a SKS for one.

For the cost of a Mini-14 the S&W Sport would be a far more accurate rifle with great customer support and parts selection.

 

[BSA1]

Ares SCR. I like it. How many $$$.$$? (The S&W Sport is a tough act to follow for only $600.00).

 

[MyRoad]

I have a half dozen SKS's, one is an M. It's my understanding that the M's that were imported (mostly with the thumbhole stock) were made around 1993 to get in before the 94 ban, and were thrown together with leftover and low quality parts, strictly for a civilian market. They are not the same quality as a lightly used arsenal marked Chinese, or of course anything like a Russian.

Mine had the front and rear sights canted, and the hole drilled for the receiver cover pin was at an angle, so when I put a Tech Site on it, it sat crooked. I hope you have better luck with yours. That said, mine runs reliably, and taking AK mags is a plus. I can't seem to leave any gun alone, and as I get older I pretty much require some magnification, so currently I have mine drilled and tapped for a scope mount, in a forward position for a scout scope (it also acts as a shell deflector). I re-carved the stock while I was messing with it, just too blocky for me.



I recently (about six months ago) bought a 582 series brand new Mini-14. It needed a break in period. It came with a horrible trigger and had some rough feeding issues, but after a couple of hundred rounds, everything smoothed out, and I consider it to be reliable and acceptably accurate. I'm not sure what that says about the rifle and its manufacturing, it is the only modern rifle I've bought that needed to fire a few hundred rounds before it would work reliably (and yes, I thoroughly cleaned and lubed it before my first trip to the range). Couldn't leave that one alone either, and threw on an adjustable gas block/barrel stabilizer, and a Hogue overmolded stock.



As far as which one I'd keep if I could only have one... very hard choice... but I think I'd keep the Mini-14. In your situation, I think I'd do as others have said and keep the SKS-M, and sell your child and buy the Mini-14. That is what they said, isn't it? Sometimes I don't read carefully enough.

 

[Cee Zee]

The correct answer to "which gun" is always "both" of course. I would hang onto that SKS forever if I were you. Well I have one that I will hang onto forever as a matter of fact. Like you I stocked up on ammo while the getting was good. I have enough to last me the rest of my life. I really don't shoot it all that much anymore but I keep it around for those rare times when it's the right choice. I don't even expect to see one of those times but I'd rather be ready for one if it does come along.

I see your quandry as "a bird in the hand" situation. What happens if you sell your unique SKS (they are hard to find believe me) and you don't like the Ruger? It could be that one rifle that comes off the line with a problem. You already know your SKS works well.

Also as for you and your wife sharing ammo I think you'll find that a bolt action 5.56 target shooting rifle will need a totally different kind of ammo than a semi-auto, shoot 'em if you got 'em type rifle. I know I buy expensive target ammo for my varmint style .223. I don't see the point of buying a rifle for accuracy then putting cheap "shoot 'em up" type ammo in it. It misses the whole point of owning an accurate rifle.

I think with your current laws in CT I would almost certainly own a rifle that isn't banned but has a lot of the characteristics of guns that were banned. Hold onto it and see what comes up in the future. It could become worth even more in the future. The Mini 14 is more likely to go down in price IMO.

I know you said you were ordering the Tech Sights for the SKS. I think that's a good decision. Personally I don't find the stock sights to be as bad as most people do. Maybe it's because I learned to shoot with a shotgun at an early age. I also don't mind the recoil maybe for the same reason.

 

[chicharrones]

I have a half dozen SKS's, one is an M.

I recently (about six months ago) bought a 582 series brand new Mini-14.

Those rifles are a real beauty and the beast pair. That Mini in that configuration is a real beauty, and while that SKS is a beast at first glance it sure is a beauty upon further inspection, too.

 

[Sunray]

Neither shoot well enough to be anything more than a big kid's toys. In the case of a Mini-14, a grossly over priced toy. Fun toys, for sure, but neither is accurate enough.
"...because it's a scaled down M14, the SKS should be called a Mini SVT40..." Neither is either. Nor even close.
"...She wants to get a target rifle..." What kind of shooting does she want to do? Serious target shooting is not done with a Mini-14. Although I have heard some good things about the Target Mini. None of which involved it winning any matches. It's over priced too.

 

[wlewisiii]

An SKS & TS200 sights. More than accurate enough for anything it's ballistically suited for. It's not a benchrest rifle but it will shoot minute of deer right out as far as 7.62x39 (or .30-30) is good for.

 

[Cee Zee]

Neither shoot well enough to be anything more than a big kid's toys.

How bad to you think they shoot? The older Mini's were pretty bad but that was fixed by Ruger several years ago and they shoot pretty decent now. And the SKS can be fairly accurate if the trigger is in good condition (as in fixed by Kivaari).

What kind of shooting does she want to do? Serious target shooting is not done with a Mini-14.

She doesn't want the Ruger. She wants a Savage Hog Hunter or a Mossberg MVP Patrol which could both shoot quite well. He wants the Ruger.

BTW I would argue that the SKS-M is overpriced too. I'd love to have one but not at double the price of a regular SKS. There are too many better rifles around for that price. I actually prefer the stripper clips to carrying extra mags if a person wants to carry a bunch of extra ammo too. They're lighter. So I like the original SKs configuration. I realize that isn't a popular position though. That's why people pay so much more for the detachable mags. I like having a good duckbill mag setup for my SKS. Having 30 rounds available is a good thing. I can still load extra rounds with stripper clips too. But the truth is the rifle gets so hot after shooting 30 rounds quickly that it's almost unusable. I've seen it have the front stock smoking. After about 50 rounds through it.

 

[justice06rr]

You should've made this into a poll.

I'm quite sure majority will advice to keep the SKS-M. Its quite rare and very versatile since it uses very cheap affordable and realible AK mags.

Save up for the Mini14.

Again, DO NOT SELL YOUR SKS!

 

[M1GarandDeerHunter]

I would never get rid of a perfectly good SKS. I like the Mini 14... alot.

Keep the SKS and get Your Mini 14. Then you will want an AR, .....
They are all cool.

 

[henschman]

Coming from a guy who has done a lot of buying and selling over the years, I can promise you this... if you sell that SKS-M, you will regret it... especially in the state you live in.

I actually prefer the SKS factory sights over the Mini, or even the Tech Sights. They are quickly adjustable for different distances, whereas both the TS and Mini sights require a tool to adjust elevation... and while aperture sights are great for the target range, where you're shooting a black target on a white background in broad daylight, notch sights are better in low light or for targets that blend into the background (you know, like you have in the field), since you're not looking through a little pinhole that blocks a lot of your light in order to see the target. Also, the SKS actually has a pretty decent sight radius with those notch sights, making them better than most. They are miles better than an AK or K98.

 

[wolf695]

Keep the sks, and buy the ruger too!

 

[wolf695]

Also, the sks value is based on who made it! and if the barrel is pinned or screwed, and the reciever is milled or stamped! Hope this helps!

 

[M1GarandDeerHunter]

I bought two SKS rifles back when they were dirt cheap along with a ton of commie ammo. Shot them a BIG bunch. Then, being young and foolish did what the other guys said NOT to do. Sell. I was sorry I did to this day. Bought another one, Russian. Wont get rid of it. LOL!