Help getting first SKS

[dragonfly22588]

I have been interested in the SKS for some time now.

I'd like to know of all the SKS variants, which one is produced with the highest quality as far as the parts are concerned. I'm aware that some countries made them in stamped or milled versions but could someone list in general order from best to worst varieties?

Also, what are the going prices for the base sale price of these SKS' I saw some I liked online from Classic Arms but they were unavailable to sale to CA due to the grenade launcher attachment that can not be removed.

I would mostly be using it at the range but I would like to have something that at least has a decent stock. What is the best way to get one? I do remember seeing them come up periodically for sale here.

Would all the SKS be eligible for cash and carry or just ones more than 50+ years old?

[Crazycomic]

Yugo SKS is great
Prices will range from 600 to 700 (depends on what condition they are) Of course they can be found cheaper but are harder to find.
You can PM Audiophil (correct spelling?) and he can help you out with the conversion I think. Correct me if I'm wrong.
SKS needs to be 50+ years older.

Hope this helps. I'm sure there are knowledgeable people that can chime in though. Good luck and enjoy!

[SkyHawk]

You cannot cash and carry any rifle made after 1898 unless you have a 03 FFL and a COE, and it is 50 years old or older, or listed on the C&R list. So if you do not have a C&R FFL and COE, cash and carry is not an option for SKS.

Contact AudioPhil and see if he will do a conversion on the Yugo for you. I love mine...

[spb_la]

http://yooperj.com/

Go to his SKS section - a wealth of SKS knowledge accumulated in one place.

[marksmandowntown]

Audiophil2 is great to deal with if you want the better Yugo one.


If you want something cheaper, J&G still has the Chinese ones that are quite good. PM me if you need help on cleaning it after you get it.

[I Swan]

Yugo SKS is great
Prices will range from 600 to 700 (depends on what condition they are) Of course they can be found cheaper but are harder to find.
You can PM Audiophil (correct spelling?) and he can help you out with the conversion I think. Correct me if I'm wrong.
SKS needs to be 50+ years older.

Hope this helps. I'm sure there are knowledgeable people that can chime in though. Good luck and enjoy!

For $600-700 a Yugo SKS better be perfect condition and that is still top dollar plus. That is higher end Russian SKS pricing. Personally I'd never pay $600-700 for a Yugo 59/66 with a neutered grenade launcher.

[Freedom_shooter]

I wouldn't pay over $400 unless it was a Russian SKS.

[kcheung2]

Stamped SKS? That's news to me.

If you're in the Sacramento area, River City has a few nice looking Tulas in laminate stocks for about $750. That's more than what I'd pay, but the history of SKS pricing has always been "$__ is too much for a SKS" followed in a few years by "I wish I could still get them at _____"

[Tere_Hanges]

River City also gets batches of Chinese Type 56 SKS. They go for around $350.

I picked up a very nice 1959 Arsenal 26 from River City a few years back when they were going for under $300. There were large batches of them being imported by CAI and IO. Rumors were they came from Albania. The bores were excellent for most. Although the finish on many were worn and the stocks varied.

Personally I would look for an early 1950s chinese or sino soviet. They have chrome bores and are rock solid. Just as good as a Russian but not as purdy. Or look around for a russian. I have seen them every once in a while for as low as $599.

Here is a message I received last year from Don at River City:

I'm Don at River City, I just found the thread about Sino-Sov sks rifles from a month ago. We had about 150 of them that are imports from Interordnance and are the Albanian ones that are a mix of Russian and early Chinese. We're down to about 15-20 so they're not going to be advertised in our green monthly ad anymore.
There are some Sino Sov rifles, some with and some without the triangle26 markings. There are also some 4 and 6 digit serial (smaller stamped) very early production guns. Most are matching with the exception of the dustcovers, which seem to be randomly placed on the guns. I've had to burst a few bubbles when guys were thinking they were buying a Russian gun for $350 when it was really a Chinese one with a Russian dust cover!

These were covered, and I mean covered in cosmoline when we got them. We had so many complaints about it that we ended up running them through a solvent tank, one at a time so the parts didn't get any further mismatched. Even then, we've only taken off about 95% of the cosmo and there's plenty left to finish the project.

If you're looking for a Sino Sov drop in and ask for me. I'm usually there in the afternoons. If I'm not there look for Jeffrey and ask him to pull a couple from the back if there are none on the rack out front. You'll need to explain the single letter/4numbers serial so he'll know what you're wanting. Avoid Tuesday and Saturday so you can get more attention from the guys. Those two days are usually nuts due to people picking up their purchases after the 10 day wait.

We also landed about a dozen Russian sks rifles from a customer that stockpiled some during the early 2000's. Those are much nicer and matching. some rearseneled some not, but will be pushing the $7-750 range.

[Capybara]

Stamped SKS? That's news to me.

There were some made fairly recently by Norinco, they look pretty cheap with a stamped receiver. Rare but they are out there.

[Canucky]

Personally I would buy a saiga with prices into the $700 range. If your looking for a sportsmen style 7.62 x39. Good luck.

[Lucky Scott]

All the SKS rifles are great. find one you can afford and buy that. You will enjoy them all.

[DennisCA]

J&G Sales normally has some (if you have a C&R + COE) just be prepared to clean the comso. That being said, keep checking calguns - they pop up for sale from time to time.

[Tere_Hanges]

Personally I would buy a saiga with prices into the $700 range. If your looking for a sportsmen style 7.62 x39. Good luck.

Or a WASR.

[Lucky Scott]

"I'd like to know of all the SKS variants, which one is produced with the highest quality as far as the parts are concerned. I'm aware that some countries made them in stamped or milled versions but could someone list in general order from best to worst varieties?"

As far as your original question, the Russian are the best in my opinion, then the Yugo and then the Chinese. I don't have any experience with any other variants so I can't offer an opinion. However, having ranked them I also need to say the worst SKS is very good and not that bad. I don't think there are stamped versions, (but I could be wrong), and they all work well.