Shot the SKS over the weekend

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LiveLife said:
There's Ruger Mini 30 option chambered in 7.62x39 but now likely at higher cost.
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They’re twice plus some, the cost of the SKS and ain’t nothing I have to sell will cover the cost of buying the Mini (my policy to myself).
 
SKS history and review by Jerry Miculek :thumbup:

He goes, "It's got a real long and light trigger pull with no distinct feeling at all" then at 3:10 minute of video, shoots 6 rounds rapid fire :D:rofl:

 
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So we all know the SKS came before the AK, but it also lasted in "service" with the Soviets longer than the Soviet regime. It was in service with the honor guard and is still used ceremoniously today.
 
Speedo66 said:
They're not making any more, so they can never be as "popular" as an AR. Every time a used batch comes in, they quickly sell out.

SKS's increased in price because of this, while AR's prices dropped before the current situation. If China sent another million SKS's, they'd be very "popular" and sell out quickly. But they can't because of import laws.
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Pretty sure they are still in production. Ive seen "Canadian market" Norincos at gunshows lately advertised as new production. Only a few, no bayonet lugs, but they sure looked NIB, wet with oil.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Pretty sure they are still in production. Ive seen "Canadian market" Norincos at gunshows lately advertised as new production. Only a few, no bayonet lugs, but they sure looked NIB, wet with oil.
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In order to be imported here, they've had to be in another country other than China for X number of years. Possible they may be "new" but quite a few years old.
 
Molot and some russian arsenals also make/refurb some sks rifles for hunting and sporting purposes. They are actually pretty handy with a scope mounted on them, its just most people dont want to do the work to do it properly. The Yugos actually fielded some SKS rifles with ON-2 mauser scopes cammed in 7.62x39, and the several chinese SKS variants were imported in the early 90s by various importers navy arms being the biggest. Once you appreciate a SKS for what is instead of what you want it to be it will be a more valuable rifle in your eyes. I love them because they are rugged, reliable, and dont need a bunch of mags while still being able to lay down some fire if you practice with stripper clips. Its also a great rifle for those in ban states.
 
daniel craig: They just ain't glamorous.

Let's remember that in '93 on the roofs of those LA stores, the famous "Roof Koreans"--among other gun types-- had generic Mini 14s with iron sights, shotguns and even a scoped rifle or two.
And I don't remember any of them actually Using those guns on top of their businesses.

ThomasT: Yes! Tech Sights. Different versions of Techs are designed for the AK, Marlin 60, Ruger 10/22, Mini 14 etc.

Murray's Gunsmithing (Bowie TX): for reasonably-priced SKS improvements and certain components. They are highly-experienced. He has a forum on SKSboards.

* The original, initial Russian SKS series had a firing pin .........spring.
Look it up on--where else?-- SKSboards.
 
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I still have the one I bought for $75 in about 1993. I killed several deer with it when I was stationed at Ft Campbell. I have been shooting it some lately, as the ammo for it is available and reasonably priced (for now).
 
I feel the same way, OP.

Everyone always told me SKS rifles were cheap, commie junk. “Surely worth 79.99 for a gun and 1000 rounds like I paid back in 1988, but no way are they worth $250, let alone the $400 they go for these days!”

I sprang for one recently when Classic had them for $299. Sure glad I did. Mine is a well-designed, accurate, VERY fun to shoot, and relatively cheap to feed rifle that feels quality in the metalwork and has enough character that I won’t feel bad taking it out into the woods. It’s a great gun and would be a bargain at $500, if it didn’t have the stigma of originally being sold for so little. I also think that you have to be a fan of iron sights, because scoping them is not straightforward. And the guys who love irons tend to be the same guys who remember when they cost $79.99. So that really limits the appeal when you could, until recently, buy an AR-15 for $500 that promises easy scoping, endless modularity, and the fantasy of being some kind of “operator,” vs. the fantasy of being a loyal peasant-conscript of the Party.
 
I always wondered how the SKS got that "cheap commie junk" stigma attached to it. They're a strong, durable design that's been proven for decades. IMHO the only real negative about them is that I've never seen what I consider a worthwhile method of mounting a scope. But I have no plans to do that anyway because I'm one of those guys mentioned by Mosin77 who remember the cheap SKS era. The prices really are up there nowadays vs. 1992 when I got my first SKS - a brand new Norinco fresh out of the crate for $100., and the last one I bought in 2013; a used Chinese model for $450. which is my current go-to, or "beater" SKS. Also accumulated over a few years was enough non-corrosive steel case ammo to last the rest of my life and still leave some to my heirs. Interesting, affordable, durable, dependable, semi-auto rifles. What's not to like?................................ IMG_5520 - Copy_LI.jpg .... IMG_1713_LI.jpg ..
 
I have three Yugo's, one CCP (Chinese Communist Party)version, and one Russian. They all have had Murray's bolt improvements and I absolutely love them. The Russian looks the best, the Yugo's are the most fun too shoot, and the commie version just keeps chugging along. I paid less than $250 for each of them, $100 for the CCP version so they were economical purchases at the time. I wouldn't pay $500 for one though. Ammo used to be very affordable, not so much now.
 
AKM's are more fun.

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I have a Chinese SKS that I got at a gun show a few years back. The stock is well used but the rifle is scary accurate. I did some functionality mods that others here have mentioned.
1. Rubber butt pad to lengthen LOP.
2. Replaced the firing pin with a spring loaded one.
3. Installed Techsights rear sight.
4. Sent the trigger assembly out to have it smoothed out.

Accurate, reliable, and (to me) well balanced.
 
daniel craig said:
What’s not to like about ‘utilitarian that just works’ actually....that’s unamerican. We don’t like utilitarian
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we love utilitarian rifles without fancy rails. The SKS has thousands of admirers in the US. I love mine. I think because it’s like a refrigerator. It just works. Not about looks. When was the last time you were passionate about your fridge? Or woke up from sleep wondering if it was on?

8D62B16E-F2B9-43DB-B1CB-5CF69A292272.jpeg
 
I used Brownels Alumihyde for the metal. It’s not perfect. I used a pattern on the stock. It needed a finish and I needed a winter project. The receiver cover had a rail on it. I drilled out the spot welds from the top. You could not see the sights through it. It never had a bayonet lug. Not sure it’s history.
 
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