Thoughts on SKS Rifles?

My dad has been looking for a rifle, what are your thoughts on the SKS's?
I have a buddy that has 2 of them he bought brand new 13yrs ago. I will be heading out that way around lunch today to shoot them and determine if I will buy them. He is asking $500 for both. They will come with all the ammo he has and 2 banna clips.

 

Vtragweed
He's not a hunter nor does he shoot that often, just feels he better buy them before he can't.

 

I'd go for a AR-15 5.56.

https://www.ulistguns.com/detail.asp?id=2551


FWIW- my best friend has an SKS, and in my opinion its a piece of shit.

 

nice price for the 2, pics would help out

 

ive got a few ar's my personal favorite is the rock river predator special

 

I HIGHLY agree with Brian. If you can afford it. I just bought an AR-15 lower and am waiting for my upper to arrive (5.56 set up). your looking at just over 1k for it

 

Well he arleady has the Bushmasters AR-15 (paid $1000), this was just extra.

 

a few of the fox hunters (rich people on horses) have bounties on coyotes cause they kill the foxes. so i paid for my rifle with 7 kills

 

posted this on the other thread

 

I'd tell him to pass, and instead look out for a Mauser k98.

I love bolt action rifles, and my Mauser is extremely accurate, and has great stopping power. You can pick one up cheap, and becasue the germans produced so many parts are easy to find.


My motto is quality, not quantity.

 

My lower is a RRA and can't wait to shoot it

 

Kristopher
When I did the search nothing came up all 3 times. So I gave up.

 

nice choice, youll love it

 

couldn't make it to the last gun show so my brother-in-law picked me up 1000 rounds and 2 30rd clips. need to pick up a few more clips before they make that size illegal

 

Def get them. I've rebuilt a lot them over the years and as long as they're in good shape mechanicly they are a nice and inexpensive addition to an arsonal. Watch out for the Yugo M59/66's if your going to be hunting with them or leaving them somewhere the elements can get to them. The barrels aren't chrome lined and need to be maintained more often. For a couple of hundred dollars you can get some nice Tapco upgrades that make it nicer to shoot. Here's a pic of a rebuild I did to a Yugo version. Came out nice and shoots great. Not to mention the 7.62X39 is still pretty cheap.

 

I'd buy em if they run, but I wouldn't pay $500 for them. I mean, they'd have to be super-clean and nice for me to even consider that price. The reality is, this is the same weapon that cost $100 just a few years ago. I'd even guess the current owner paid less than $100 for both when he picked them up since he's had them that long. Make sure all the numbers match on the stock, bolt, back of the receiver cover, trigger guard, bottom of mag well...

I have a Norinco, paid next to nothing for it, and it runs flawlessly if kept clean and used with the original 10-round magazine. I can say the same for just about every gun I own, however. I call it dependable. Most of the malfunctions with the SKS come as an effect of aftermarket parts (especially removable hi-cap magazines) and/or improper maintenance.

SKS is one of my favorite rifles. Outside of a shotgun, you probably won't find a repeatable weapon with as much firepower for the money, not to mention the low cost to feed it. A 7.62mm jacket will hurt the baby.

 

Well here is what he has told me so far. He got them 13yrs ago New and can count the times he shot them on both hands. As a matter of fact he just called me and was out shooting them before I got there, he told me I better hurry up as he is having a blast. He knew the guns had been sitting up and didn't want me to make the drive if they weren't working.

 

Yeah, I'd buy em if he's your buddy. Price might be too high, but he may need the money.

Post some pics when you get em.

 

If they are in good shape, I would considering buying them. The price is a little high though. Maybe try talking him down to 375-400. Bill Brasky said it best about these rifles not being worth hardly anything just a few years ago. This would definitely be something to consider.


As for the reliability of the SKS, I have found them to be pretty darn reliable. You also do not have to worry as much about keeping them clean like you would on an AR-15 style rifle.

 

Well gents thank you very much for the input. I took it all into consideration, especially the price thing, seeing as how a friend of mine bought one of these a few years ago for $120, yet prices on guns are on the rise, so what can you do. I looked, fired over 40 rounds from each gun and now they are in my truck i'll be taking some pics in a bit. As soon as my negibhors go in their home as I don't like all the yong'uns knowing what I have. Oh I did get the 2 guns for $400.