Help getting first SKS

[Christopher761]

any local gun stores in socal?

[Lucky Scott]

Here is a Yugo for $450.00 . I also saw a couple others including a russian that just sold and a couple chinese

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1143353&highlight=sks

[Armistice]

One of my Chinese SKS's shot horribly. It wasn't the shooter either

Sold it and bought another Chinese SKS and was able to hit 10/10 at 100yds on my 12" gong. It's a great shooter

[81turbota]

My M59 (not M59/66) Yugo SKS is an excellent shooter. Trigger is fantastic as built and it's very smooth. Some SKS rifles I have shot feel over gassed or have a weak recoil spring, this particular M59 does not feel that way.

I have a Russian, but it's an unissued non-refurb 1954 Tula. It will not see range time since the M59 can take the plate. Can't comment on it's shooting abilities other than the Russian bluing and machining looks slightly better than the Yugo.

I also have an M59/66 from the Audiophil2 group buy. It's nice, but I haven't shot it yet. Gritty trigger in comparison to the M59. The metal parts have a dull quasi-phosphate finish to them versus the fantastic bluing of the Russian and M59.

Keep in mind Yugos have non-chrome bores. This has never been an issue for me as I shoot non corrosive and both of my Yugos have pristine bores.

Good luck!

[mosinnagantm9130]

The only slight downside to the 59/66 is that they don't have chrome lined bores. Otherwise, they tend to be built like tanks, and are quite reliable.

The Romanian SKS I shoot is pretty good too, it's virtually the same as soviet ones.

Stamped SKS? That's news to me.

China made a few with stamped receivers.

[dragonfly22588]

Thanks for the info everyone, I'm still looking and sent PMs to people who currently have SKS for sale or may have them. I'm also going to check out the SAIGA and WASR suggestions.

I have to say I'm looking for something that has to be an SKS, I just thought it would be a good value but something more modern could suffice although at a price premium...

[echo1]

Hard to beat an SKS. PAX

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Stay away from that commie junk and buy 'Merican.

[Flyin Brian]

Thanks for the info everyone, I'm still looking and sent PMs to people who currently have SKS for sale or may have them. I'm also going to check out the SAIGA and WASR suggestions.

I have to say I'm looking for something that has to be an SKS, I just thought it would be a good value but something more modern could suffice although at a price premium...

Are you in SoCal or Norcal? There are a lot of people who don't post stuff they have for sale but if they see someone close by looking, they will shoot you a PM. Maybe putting your location on your profile would be a good start

[BrokerB]

I have several for sale..varying condition.,from $290-350.see link below

You asked who makes the best..well I guess Russian did ..they invented it! All milled and chrome lined barrels- Wood stocks were solid or laminate. Next best to me was China...Russia sold them the entire factories and shipped them over to the Red Chinese ..along with the partial completed components.

For me as a shooter and less of a collector..I think paying over $500 for any sks is silly. I did pay for an unfired Russian SKS refurb that is in beautiful condition for $500. The rest..hell $200(if your lucky- mostly in the 3-$400 range. The ones I have for sale are really soaked in cosmoline...these are surplus rifles!! As they do show handling wear..but it sure seems like they did not give the troops much ammo to practice with because the bores/internals are very strong and will outlast your shooting career: ) I cleaned the barrels out to check bores and did light removal to make sure no major defects.

Stocks can be cleaned/replaced-refinished if desired. There is stills good market of OEM equipment out there.Stocks/bolts/springs ect

Russia

China- had two versions..Military surplus and Commercial sales (Norinco- typical spike bayonet

Yugo
Romanian
then a smattering of others..typically less available and higher prices

[Capybara]

I don't think there are stamped versions...

[Cheezle56]

I got an Yugo SKS from the last group buy 59/66 I can sell. Still in cosmoline, bore looks pristine, stock looks like the gun had been taken out, marched around with and then put back. $650? I just helped a friend decosmoline a Yugo from the group buy last night and it was a practically brand new rifle.

[I Swan]

Stay away from that commie junk and buy 'Merican.

The Mini 30 is the pinnacle of 7.62x39 chambered weapons. As for a $650-700 CA modified Yugo SKS it would have had belonged to Tito for me to pay that.

[rkt88edmo]

I'd possibly be willing to part with my yugo. Interordnance purchase with the heavy sleeve over the GL. PM me if interested.

[Cheezle56]

The Mini 30 is the pinnacle of 7.62x39 chambered weapons. As for a $650-700 CA modified Yugo SKS it would have had belonged to Tito for me to pay that.

Mini 30 is finicky, doesn't eat steel case and some of the older ones are .308 bores, not .310. The pinnacle of 7.62x39 is some version of an AK, because if it sucked, why were so many made and still being made?