sks questions...

[Norsemen308]

So... I am gonna pick one up this weekend for SURE... but I have a few questions.. first, I hear that the Yugo sks is the most accurate the chinese ones are crap... any truth to this? I also heard russians are bad as well. Second question, are these guns all mag locked? I heard a rumor that Ca-legal ones are mag locked? Why? its got a stock??? no pistol grip?

[Cato]

I have a unissued (new) Yugo and I can't hit the side of a barn with it. It has this big compensator welded on it that throws off the weight of the gun. The Russian Yugos are the most desirable ones. I believe this is because the Russians invented the SKS.

SKSs don't have detachable magazines so there's no need for mag locks. There are aftermarket kits that allow the SKS to accept AK mags, but you can't get those in Calif anyway.

So, unless an SKS has been altered, all original SKSs are Calif legal. You won't find any illegal configuation of an SKS at a gun store.

[Geofois]

My brother has a yugo sks and I have a Chinese sks. I am always dead on the target with no site adjustments. He was impressed how accurate it is. The Chinese has a chrome lined barrel. I was told that helped wear and tear and corrosion. Not sure if that is true. I can only speak from experience that my Chinese is highly accurate and I've never had a problem with it. I have a Russian, but it is still new in the box. I just have the stock sites on the Chinese sks, no scope.

[SKSer]

I have a yugo, and it is very accurate, i love it.
Cato, you should have the muzzle break cut off and have it re crowned, that will probably solve the accuracy issues, some one probably welded it on crooked.

[metalliman545]

In general, All sks's were built with a 10 round fixed magazine. If it has a detachable magazine it is all aftermarket. This is how they left their factory in eastern europe and china. The only bad gun is the one you can't shoot. I'd take a russian over any of them. Its a real deal sks, from russia.

[mls343]

I have a Russian (1950's), Chi-Com capture (1960's), and a early 90's built Chinese SKS. Right now, I spend the most time with the Russian, but shoot the others regularily. All of them are accurate enough, reliable, rugged, and just plain fun to have.

Generally speaking, the Russians bring a premium as metalliman545 stated above, but overall, you really cannot go wrong with the SKS platform.

From my take, spend your time on the condition of the weapon (there are still some factory rebuilt or new ones out there...) and shy away from any "Chinese Paratrooper" models as they just don't feel right to me.

Sorry I cannot give much input on the Yugo's as I have never owned one.

[morrcarr67]

In general, All sks's were built with a 10 round fixed magazine. If it has a detachable magazine it is all aftermarket. This is how they left their factory in eastern europe and china. The only bad gun is the one you can't shoot. I'd take a russian over any of them. Its a real deal sks, from russia.

There were some Chinese SKS's that were made by Norinco with detachable magazines. This is why they are listed on the AW ban.

That being said, if you find a Russian, Romanian, East Geman or Albanian SKS, a M59, a M59/66 or a M59/66A1 with detachable magazine you are correct in saying that they are after market.

You notice that I didn't call the Yugo's SKS's. They are not. The ones made in Russia, Romania, China, East Germany and Albania are SKS's.

What does this mean?

You can have a detachable magazine on a Yugo M59, M59/66 and M59/66A1 as long as they don't have any evil features. Also, remember that if you get new magazines they must be 10 rounders. But, if you have older magazines that will fit they can be of any size.

[mievil]

I hear that the Yugo sks is the most accurate the chinese ones are crap... any truth to this? I also heard russians are bad as well.

Whomever you heard that from is ill-informed, and probably still thinks Sputnik is flying around trying to read his mind, and the Chinese are spying on him from a hole they dug all the way to his very own back yard.

[Lucky Scott]

I have a Yugo and a chinese and the chinese works just as good as the Yugo.
Dont have a russian yet so cant compare, but I cant imagine it not being just as good or better.

[cruddymutt]

I have a unissued (new) Yugo and I can't hit the side of a barn with it. It has this big compensator welded on it that throws off the weight of the gun. The Russian Yugos are the most desirable ones. I believe this is because the Russians invented the SKS.

SKSs don't have detachable magazines so there's no need for mag locks. There are aftermarket kits that allow the SKS to accept AK mags, but you can't get those in Calif anyway.

So, unless an SKS has been altered, all original SKSs are Calif legal. You won't find any illegal configuation of an SKS at a gun store.

not a compensator. It's a tube welded over where a grenade can be mounted. Yugos have to have this done to be sold in California or have the launcher cut off

[paul0660]

So... I am gonna pick one up this weekend for SURE... but I have a few questions.. first, I hear that the Yugo sks is the most accurate the chinese ones are crap... any truth to this? I also heard russians are bad as well. Second question, are these guns all mag locked? I heard a rumor that Ca-legal ones are mag locked? Why? its got a stock??? no pistol grip?

None of the above is true. You should wait until you get some good info, including the above in this thread.

[furyous68]

I have a Norinco (chinese) that is very accurate. It's scoped & I'm hitting targets out to 400yds. with Wolf & Yugo surplus. I also have a Yugo barreled receiver that I haven't finished building out. It's had the launcher removed and the barrel re-crowned. (Thanks again Paul0660!)

My Norinco uses detachable SKS mags.. not AK mags. The SKS mags have a long arm protruding from the top front of the mag body. All you have to do is remove the 10rd fixed factory mag to use them, which I never had. Need to find one.

[Quiet]

My Norinco uses detachable SKS mags.. not AK mags. The SKS mags have a long arm protruding from the top front of the mag body. All you have to do is remove the 10rd fixed factory mag to use them, which I never had. Need to find one.

Did you register your Norinco SKS as an assault weapon?

If not, using detachable magazines in it is a felony.


Penal Code 12276
As used in this chapter, "assault weapon" shall mean the following designated semiautomatic firearms:
(a) All of the following specified rifles:
(11) SKS with detachable magazine.

[furyous68]

Did you register your Norinco SKS as an assault weapon?

If not, using detachable magazines in it is a felony.


Penal Code 12276
As used in this chapter, "assault weapon" shall mean the following designated semiautomatic firearms:
(a) All of the following specified rifles:
(11) SKS with detachable magazine.

Nope. However... doesn't being 922(r) compliant keep an SKS w/ detachable mags from meeting the assault rifle definition? since the mag body is &follower are listed parts.. .and the only US made mag bodies are detachable mags?

And... if not, I'm purchasing a factory fixed 10rd mag to replace the one I lost anyways... I'll throw it back on & be in compliance again!
I've only been using a 10rd detachable mag anyway.I've owned it since I graduated in '96, and it never had a fixed mag when I bought it. The guy I bought it from had 2 10rd steel mags, 3-30rd & 2-25rd. He also ground the crap out of the rear sight block to fit a 50mm scope

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Nope. However... doesn't being 922(r) compliant keep an SKS w/ detachable mags from meeting the assault rifle definition? since the mag body is &follower are listed parts.. .and the only US made mag bodies are detachable mags?

NO.

What the heck makes you think that?