Well, went to like 3 gun shops and a gun show looking for a pistol and ended up with.

[sorny]

After looking around for about a month, posting on here a lot and spending 4+ hours a day looking for a carry pistol, I ended up with an SKS somehow

Definately not regretting it though I was looking at Kel Tel P32's, Makarov's, NAA Mini's, etc and I think I just got sick of them before I even bought one because I looked at them so much. I did own 2 pistols and 2 shotguns but never a rifle. Always wanted one, but didn't want to put more than $200 in one and I didn't want a .22LR. So after WASTING $8 to get in the gun show and seeing stuff that was ABOVE retail (like a Hi Point 9mm carbine for $259) I found a Yugo SKS in good shape a local shop for $169 and bought it. Couldn't be happier! Finally got a rifle and in a nice caliber too. Plus I got neat stuff like a bayonette and a grenade launcher Took me a half hour to figure out everything, like loading it, using the sites, opening the bayonette, and figuring out what the hell the grenade sites were but I figured it out.

The stock is in pretty good condition except for a small piece missing. I've considered converting to the folding stock or the Monte Carlo style fiberglass stock, but for now I like the military look. If I had two SKS's I'd DEFINATELY keep one with the orignal and do one folder.

Now my only problem will be keeping ammo and shooting this thing too much

 

[Red Tornado]

You'll need REALLY baggy pants to carry that SKS IWB.

Seriously, good job, it sounds like you needed a rifle. Now you can chime in on all the SHTF/TEOTWAWKI/Social unrest threads and sing the praises of your SKS. They really are a lot of fun, and it's a great choice for a first rifle. Now, about your second rifle.....
RT

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

A Russian or E.European SKS is good, cheap fun. How are your local ammo supplies and prices on 7.62x39 doing lately?

Anything on the low-end that is actually in-stock is like $.75rd, where as .308 federal fmj can be had at $.52rd :/

 

[sorny]

You'll need REALLY baggy pants to carry that SKS IWB.

Seriously, good job, it sounds like you needed a rifle. Now you can chime in on all the SHTF/TEOTWAWKI/Social unrest threads and sing the praises of your SKS. They really are a lot of fun, and it's a great choice for a first rifle. Now, about your second rifle.....
RT

LOL, I'll just get a folder stock and carry it IRC (Inside the Rain Coat)

My next rifle will probably be a 10/22 because I've already seen about 5 different conversion kits/stocks that I'd love to have

Local places are drying up on the 7.62x39 in bulk. I can go to Wal*Mart any day of the week and get Winchester 40 rnd value packs for $16.00 :/ But that's about it. Guess I can't go fire off 200 rounds at once (without going bankrupt) until Wolf comes back. Anyone know anything much about that whole situation? I had NO idea until I was paying for the SKS!

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

The Yugo SKSs with the grenade launchers are in high supply right now. My local shop has dozens of them, and all appear to be in good functional order. How's the bore on yours? Was tempted to buy one locally, but they all had some pretty corroded looking bores, so I passed on them. And it's not crud, either, because this guy hires highshool students to come in and do nothing but clean surplus rifles thoroughly before he puts them on the rack. Knowing this guy, though, I wouldn't be surprised if he put all the SKSs with the good bores in the back for his family and close acquaintances, and put the junker bores on the shelves. That's what he does with a lot of military guns that come his way. He has a back room full of the really nice stuff that comes along. He doesn't put them on the shelf. What does the bore look like on yours? Shiny or corroded?

 

[sorny]

The bore looks pretty good on it. I didn't think to bring a bore light, but a military gun-nut was going through every single Mosin Nagant and SKS in the place and he helped me out. All the external parts are in good shape and it was definately oiled enough (oozing out some places). I trust the guys there and they said a friend of theirs traded it in.

 

[armoredman]

Yugos are very cool - I have two that work perfectly.

 

[wallysparx]

A Russian or E.European SKS is good, cheap fun. How are your local ammo supplies and prices on 7.62x39 doing lately?

Anything on the low-end that is actually in-stock is like $.75rd,

WHOA. right now i'm averaging still under 20 cents a round, for either wolf or yugo surplus on clips.

 

[lawson]

i have two yugo SKS rifles, a shooter grade which is kept stock, and an unissued grade which i restocked and scoped, but could easily return to stock condition. both work flawlessly, and are pretty damned accurate. the unissued is more accurate, but the shooter will do minute-of-goblin just fine. both have nice shiny bores, and all matching serials.

great guns, and a great value. if only ammo were easier to come by in my area.

 

[sorny]

Mine had matching serials and damn, there's like 5. One big number on the stock, trigger group, receiver, barrel, and on the "magazine" I think.

 

[lawson]

there's a lot of serials on an SKS, but there's a lot more loose parts than on previous miltary rifles. a mauser or mosin doesn't need as many markings.

there should also be a serial on your bolt carrier.