Today, $400 is considered cheap for 'em.

Good points by @GRIZ22 and @jmorris both.

It's the market situation - not the guns themselves.
Same gun as it always was...

Gun demand is very fickle and different.
Milsurps especially have a finite supply.

Often not an apples-to-apples comparison; each situation is different.
Even between (somewhat) similar items.
 
Considering that nobody that we can get imports from is making them, the prices haven't spiked half as bad as they could have- Kalashnikovs are a lot pricier these days, and quite a few companies are still making or importing them. The last SKS I got was a Norinco two years back, from a neighbor of a friend- $300 with 600 rounds of Russian and Chinese ammo. I certainly didn't need it but know a bargain when I see one.
 
I've got 3 Chinese SKSs bought over the years, and my last one was sold to me as a type M.
I'm not sure that's right, but honestly, I don't know the difference between all the different "Types"
$400 out the door with 2 mags, maybe 5 years ago.
SKS-M Fence.jpg
 
Reality is the best deal for a cheap autoloading rifle is a budget AR or even an AR slapped together from a doorbuster sale.

Not the end of the world, a few rifles is all you need to get thru life, not dozens of milsurps.
 
Miami_JBT said:
Picked up the ChiCom SKS recently to go with my Soviet. I had a ChiCom a while back and sold it. But I've wanted another one but didn't want to pay today's higher prices for one. LGS had it as a consignment sale marked at $450. Talked 'em down to $400 for it.

I've checked GunBroker's completed sales and they're averaging $600-$700. Now, mint in the box Navy Arms Cowboy Companions with the matching optics of course go for more as an example. But a run if the mill ChiCom is averaging between $600-$700. So, $400 is a good price.

View attachment 1204819

It is an 9186 Arsenal made rifle, possibly made in 1980. Short collar barrel lug, cast rear sight block, post 1968 production pattern bolt (no lightening cut), stamped trigger guard, all matching numbers with Type 56 marking.The bore is chrome lined and mint. Even has the original sling and cleaning kit in the buttstock. Basically, this is later production military contract Type 56 that was later sold to a US importer for the US commercial market.

I'd like to find a 16" "paratrooper" for cheap. Yeah, they were never military pattern. But a 16" SKS with bayonet just seems like a fun little handy rifle.
Click to expand...
Wow, this blows my mind and brings back some memories. The very first rifle I ever bought myself was an SKS that looked like the one on the top. It was back in the late 80's or so. $199 plus tax on a package deal for the rifle and a 1440 round case of Norinco (I believe it was) ammo in the yellow boxes.
 
TTv2 said:
Reality is the best deal for a cheap autoloading rifle is a budget AR or even an AR slapped together from a doorbuster sale.

Not the end of the world, a few rifles is all you need to get thru life, not dozens of milsurps.
Click to expand...

I think you missed the point of this post.
 
As far as a prepping or fun shooting rifle, the SKS had some things going for it. They were reasonably accurate, mostly reliable, and cheap. You didn’t need extra magazines or even stripper clips to make them work. I shot them better than I could shoot the AK’s in circulation back then. But for $400, you’re too close to mid tier AR’s. And the 7.62x39 ammo is no longer as cheap. Anymore I’d prefer to shoot .22’s, maybe a scoped centerfire bolt action, shotguns, or revolvers.
 
Buckeye63 said:
View attachment 1205316
Click to expand...
Except Chinese SKS rifles are not averaging $400 these days.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac-blog/sks-price-value-trends

Average-SKS-price-at-RIAC_jpg-3188733.JPG


Average-Price-of-a-Norinco-SKS-rifle-at--3188734.JPG


Average-Price-of-a-Tula-SKS-rifle-at-Roc-3188736.JPG


SKS-Prices-m59-66-Yugo-SKS-Rifle-at-Rock-3188737.JPG
 
goon said:
As far as a prepping or fun shooting rifle, the SKS had some things going for it. They were reasonably accurate, mostly reliable, and cheap. You didn’t need extra magazines or even stripper clips to make them work. I shot them better than I could shoot the AK’s in circulation back then. But for $400, you’re too close to mid tier AR’s. And the 7.62x39 ammo is no longer as cheap. Anymore I’d prefer to shoot .22’s, maybe a scoped centerfire bolt action, shotguns, or revolvers.
Click to expand...
I still have brand new in the box Norinco made 7.62x39mm. In fact, I have so much 7.62x39mm, I haven't purchased a box of the stuff since GWB was in office.
 
TTv2 said:
Reality is the best deal for a cheap autoloading rifle is a budget AR or even an AR slapped together from a doorbuster sale.

Not the end of the world, a few rifles is all you need to get thru life, not dozens of milsurps.
Click to expand...
Today, for sure.

But I didn't buy this Norinco to have another mix master bargin basement AR. I bought thr Norinco since I had 'em in the past and always flipped 'em. Today, $400 for a good all matching SKS is BELOW market value.
 
SKS’s are fun. Are they a huge bargain? No. Are they the most versatile, modular, warfighting weapon today? No. But they’re good rifles, fun to shoot, relatively affordable, relatively affordable ammo too (as centerfire rifle rounds go) and if you’re comfortable with iron sights they DO make a decent multipurpose gun that’s still viable today for most things short of issue to frontline combat troops.

I recently scored a worn-finish Vietnam bringback to sit next to my 2019 Chicom Albanian import.
 
Mosin77 said:
SKS’s are fun. Are they a huge bargain? No. Are they the most versatile, modular, warfighting weapon today? No. But they’re good rifles, fun to shoot, relatively affordable, relatively affordable ammo too (as centerfire rifle rounds go) and if you’re comfortable with iron sights they DO make a decent multipurpose gun that’s still viable today for most things short of issue to frontline combat troops.

I recently scored a worn-finish Vietnam bringback to sit next to my 2019 Chicom Albanian import.
Click to expand...
The SKS is as useful as the day it was invented. Same goes for my Krag or my Colt 1851. I own guns because I like guns. They don't need a purpose.
 
I have a single Russian Izhevsk SKS from 1953. I paid $500 for it several years ago. I figured if I was going to buy one, it might as well be a good one.

As of today, there are two for sale (that say Izhevsk anyway) on GB. A crappy one for $655 and a good one starting at $1675. Time will tell if either of those sellers get those prices.
https://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Rifles/search?Keywords=Izhevsk SKS

My example is in great condition so closer in quality to the latter option. I'd say I made a good purchase.
 
Miami_JBT said:
I like the SKS more than the AK.
Click to expand...

Why?

Ive owned multiples of both and didn't think the SKS was worth the $69 I paid back int he day.
Course now-a-days I only own one AK and its an imposter. (5.56x45 :what: )
 
jmr40 said:
I had a couple back in the day. I can't say that I really liked them, but with today's prices wish I'd bought a truck load of them and kept them. I can remember them selling for $69 each; or the rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo for $200. That was cheaper than most 22's.
Click to expand...

I remember K Mart selling them for about that and AK's weren't much more. I think 75.00.
 
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