SKS Opinions

With the D&C engineering magazines you don't have to mod anything, just take the factory mag out. With the Tapco's you only need their stock or shave a bit of wood off around the mag well , very little. Lottsa crappy mags, the plastic ones that came out a few years ago were awful, but with these 2, you're good to go. They are the only 2 mags you probably won't find anybody having trouble with. Keep in mind if you mod an SKS at all you need to do the full Americanized thing , I think it's 11 or 13 parts to keep it "legal" But you get almost all of these when you do the stock kit. Tapco's site did have a place that explained it all.
 
I picked up a Yugo a couple years back. It's not functioning right now though. The cases are getting stuck in the chamber and no amount of cleaning will make it cycle. As far as the SKS in general, it's decent I guess. The main problem is the trigger. The SKS has the worst trigger of any gun I've ever shot. I know you can get them worked, or get preworked groups, but it ends up costing as much as the rifle itself, and still doesn't give you a great pull.

For the money, there are better alternatives in my opinion.

A couple that I think are better deals.

Rural - Mosin Nagant
Urban - Hi-Point Carbine

I was going to suggest the Saiga line, but prices seem to have jumped a lot on them recently. If you can find one cheap though, they are excellent rifles.
 
I had a pair of the like new original Ruskie SKSs - bored, I tried giving them to my sons - eventually sold them. They were 'as new' boxed locally for $124.95 when I bought them, over a dozen years back. Beautiful milled parts. The Yugos with grenade launchers were around most recently in similar - even unused - condition for $185, even in blond furniture.

I agree that the 7.62x39 rd is a good one for the SHTF scenario - but I'd opt for an eastern block semi-auto AK... they just need less maintenance.

Stainz
 
Just be advised that you CANNOT add detachable magazines and telescoping (T6) or folding stocks legally without completely converting the weapon. I think it is that you must change 10 parts to American-made, but don't trust my info. Research it for yourself. By the time you buy the American made parts, it would be cheaper to just buy an AK.
 
The PARA is cool as it takes AK mags...the others ( I have owned a few) are just great little rifles..I would spend the extra money and get an AK, a great and affordable assault rifle, with all the features you would look for in a SHTF rifle. Tough, Durable, EAsy to clean, Tough, Reliable, Tough. ...notice I didnt say accurate. OUt of the dozen or so AK's I have owned, the only "Accurate" one was a VEPR..what a rifle, but not that much cheaper than an AR...which I usually get sucked into buying over an AK. I would get into AR's and then flip to AK's..drift into FAL's..and then float back into AR's again.
Back to the "accurate" statement. I will say that they can shoot, and with practice a good rifleman can "learn" his weapon. I am just kinda picky about my rifles being hairsplittin accurate. I prefer bolt actions actually.
On the SKS..I see alot of survival types toute them as the goto rifle for the survivalist on the cheap..and they are GOOD rifles..the top feed always gets on my nerves though. They are accurate and tough..almost as tough as the AK..just slightly more complex in the action..but still relatively simple. I prefer the AK. Cheap mags are available. high capacity is not a bad thing in the SHTF scenerio.
JMO..I am not an expert..just someone that has owned a few rifles..Gene
 
kiahs said:
I picked up a Yugo a couple years back. It's not functioning right now though. The cases are getting stuck in the chamber and no amount of cleaning will make it cycle. As far as the SKS in general, it's decent I guess. The main problem is the trigger. The SKS has the worst trigger of any gun I've ever shot. I know you can get them worked, or get preworked groups, but it ends up costing as much as the rifle itself, and still doesn't give you a great pull.

For the money, there are better alternatives in my opinion.

A couple that I think are better deals.

Rural - Mosin Nagant
Urban - Hi-Point Carbine

I was going to suggest the Saiga line, but prices seem to have jumped a lot on them recently. If you can find one cheap though, they are excellent rifles.
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I know you thought of this, but it can be the ammo..I dont like to run wolf, it sucks but it is cheap. Gene
 
Linkiness: http://www.simonov.net/uberlaw.htm
It only seems to work with Microcrap Explorer.

Note that 922(r) is SEPARATE from the assault rifle ban and it's still in effect across the country. Meaning everywhere.

Back to the original post, I like the SKS for that price, but keep the stock mags for reliability. The only thing I was considering doing was shortening the barrel to about 16". An Sks is generally more accurate than an AK and just as reliable with a stock mag.
 
The SKS isn't the best rifle, but it is the best semi auto for the money.
It's a good rifle, that once you learn to shoot it, shoots well, it's tough as nails and reliable. Don't screw with the mags. 10 rounds is enough. I'm just not one of the guys that sees fighting off zombie hordes in the future.

For a more powerful gun, one of the Mosin Nagants is really the best deal going right now, and the carbines with the 20" barrels are well balanced and very packable.

The only problem with both is they aren't easily scopable.
 
Great thoughts on the rifle guys.

Those nagants are a steal. 100 bucks round here still wrapped in brown paper and cosmo. Awesome little rifles, kick like a mule, and are heavy and loud but really a great deal. The backwoodsmen did an article on em a while back. I used to have one of the shorty ones.
 
Frontier firearms in Canada is getting some Russian SKS.

They are good simple rifles but I don't like all the crap that people add to them.

To bad you poor Yanks can't get the norinco M-305's which are the 400$ M14 clones.
Now those are a great deal.
 
I don't think a SHTF rifle should have a ten round mag. This is supposed to be for the events unknown, that is too few rounds.

I'm a huge AK guy. I own a bunch and train hard with them. Shooting is my main hobby.

For a cheap and reliable gun, a Romanian WASR with the proper parts will do all ya need.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
The SKS isn't the best rifle, but it is the best semi auto for the money.
It's a good rifle, that once you learn to shoot it, shoots well, it's tough as nails and reliable. Don't screw with the mags. 10 rounds is enough. I'm just not one of the guys that sees fighting off zombie hordes in the future.

For a more powerful gun, one of the Mosin Nagants is really the best deal going right now, and the carbines with the 20" barrels are well balanced and very packable.

The only problem with both is they aren't easily scopable.
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Well said! I agree 99%. I've found the tapco 20 round mags to be completely reliable in both my Yugo and Chinese models. Both work with out modifying the wooden stocks. I've heard that some need light filing though. I leave the fixed ten round mag in my Yugo because I bought it unfired, soaked in cosmoline, and all #'s match. On sale at Cabela's a couple years ago: $129.99!
 
I like my Norinco SKS. I added these sights to mine: http://www.tech-sights.com/
along with a .047 dia target front post. Makes a big difference, although it is hard to get a cheek weld with my current folding stock. I have some Tapco 20rd mags, but with the original box mag and stripper clips, I never have had a misfeed or jam of any kind. I would use the Box mag if in a SHTF situation, simply due to the 100% reliability.

Also, the SKS really should not be used with brass soft-primer hunting ammo. It is designed for hard primers and steel cases. The softer primers can cause dangerous slam firing.
 
Great sights Rat!!! Thanks for the link. Whats involved in mounting those? You do it yourself?
 
I have 2 SKSs and love em both. Got one for the SHTF thing and the other I deer hunt with it. Great deer rifle.
 
j williams said:
Great sights Rat!!! Thanks for the link. Whats involved in mounting those? You do it yourself?
Click to expand...

I used a dremel to cut the roll pin on the takedown lever that locks the receiver cover on, the sight replaces the pin and holds the cover on. you also remove the old sight and there is a small pin that clamps the spring down and out of the way. I had to modify the stock a bit to make it fit. his would be no problem on a wood stock, but mine is FRN, so it took a little while with a dremel and a file. Here is installation instructions with pics: http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2005/skstechsight/index.asp
 
Another great link. Thanks bro. Im gonna order me one.:thumbup:

It looks good, and I bet its quicker to lock on to your target too. You think you need the front ones too, or would it be fine with just the rear?

My stock is composite as well.
 
j williams said:
Another great link. Thanks bro. Im gonna order me one.:thumbup:

It looks good, and I bet its quicker to lock on to your target too. You think you need the front ones too, or would it be fine with just the rear?

My stock is composite as well.
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the front post is super easy to change out, just screws in or out. the target post is only $5, so I figured why not. It is about half the diameter of the stock one. I also bought the sight adjustment tool which is not really necessary if you have a FMJ bullet handy, but easier and faster to use. I have seen various plastic front posts in different colors around, as well.
 
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