Dave Markowitz
Member
I have experience with both platforms. I own a Chicom SKS that I bought in May 1988 and have put several thousand rounds downrange with. I also own an unissued Yugo M59/66, although I've only put less than 100 rounds through it.
AK-wise, I've owned and shot extensively a SAR-1, a Saiga converted into an AK-103 look-alike, and an Arsenal, Inc. SL-101SG (the only one I still have and it's a keeper).
One thing that skews most Americans' views of the AKs is the shoddy quality of most in this country. Sure, a Norinco or SAR-1 will work damn near 100% of the time, but they are rough and not especially accurate. A quality AK is a different beast. Check out an AK from Arsenal, Inc. for example. Mine is as well made as a Bushmaster or Colt AR-15 (had a Bushy, currently own a Colt AR-15A3).
Every SKS I've tried has an atrocious trigger. Light for one shot, heavy the next. Gritty for all. In contrast, AKs tend to have pretty nice triggers. My Arsenal AK has a much better trigger than my Colt AR-15A3. The crummy SKS trigger goes a long way to negating its longer sight radius when compared with an AK.
I find loading an AK to be much easier than an SKS. Stripping rounds into my Chicom SKS is pretty rough, although it's much smoother on my Yugo.
To make an AK handier try the 20 round Hungarian magazines.
Many/most AKs of recent manufacture have an optics mounting rail on the receiver. This makes it easier to mount a red dot (magnified optics make little sense on a rifle chambered in 7.62x39 and intended for social use, IME).
I like both designs a lot, but I prefer the AK platform as a SHTF/goto rifle.
AK-wise, I've owned and shot extensively a SAR-1, a Saiga converted into an AK-103 look-alike, and an Arsenal, Inc. SL-101SG (the only one I still have and it's a keeper).
One thing that skews most Americans' views of the AKs is the shoddy quality of most in this country. Sure, a Norinco or SAR-1 will work damn near 100% of the time, but they are rough and not especially accurate. A quality AK is a different beast. Check out an AK from Arsenal, Inc. for example. Mine is as well made as a Bushmaster or Colt AR-15 (had a Bushy, currently own a Colt AR-15A3).
Every SKS I've tried has an atrocious trigger. Light for one shot, heavy the next. Gritty for all. In contrast, AKs tend to have pretty nice triggers. My Arsenal AK has a much better trigger than my Colt AR-15A3. The crummy SKS trigger goes a long way to negating its longer sight radius when compared with an AK.
I find loading an AK to be much easier than an SKS. Stripping rounds into my Chicom SKS is pretty rough, although it's much smoother on my Yugo.
To make an AK handier try the 20 round Hungarian magazines.
Many/most AKs of recent manufacture have an optics mounting rail on the receiver. This makes it easier to mount a red dot (magnified optics make little sense on a rifle chambered in 7.62x39 and intended for social use, IME).
I like both designs a lot, but I prefer the AK platform as a SHTF/goto rifle.