MCgunner, I drool when the older guys talk of the
"glory days" when you could get Russian and Chinese SKS rifles for under $100. I wish I would have stocked up then, but then again I was a teen back in the 90’s.
As
Lawson said, chrome lined barrels are good as they last longer and they are easier to clean. However, it doesn't mean a non-chromed lined barrel is crap. I have a 1950 Russian Tula that doesn't have chrome and I just have to watch the ammo I use and clean it extra carefully. Yes, some say chrome will throw off the accuracy of a round by a small fraction,
but then again, no one is resolving a bank hostage situation with an SKS or shooting competitively in the Olympics... so I don't think it matters that much.
Lawson also had a good suggestion- clean it and go out and shoot it with him.
Take her for a test drive. Get a feel for it.
Ok
gt3944, back to you. We've established it is a Russian, year undetermined at this point,
but it lacks the original stock, the original bayonet and the original sling? Sounds like he might be putting perfume on a pig here. Honestly, depending on what part of the country you live in you could get an all matching Russian SKS for $250. Sure you wouldn't get the mags he is offering and the 150 rounds of ammo, but you could get a rifle in better condition.
I found
http://www.sksboards.com/forum to be good when trying to find info on SKS rifles.
These guys are fanatical.