Hi there, On my last trip to the range I saw SKS rifles that they were selling for $220 a pop. I was wondering if buying one of these wold be a good choice. I really like the gun because of the way it operates (very similar to the Mini-14, another gun I have had experience with and loved), and also the cheap price tags on the gun and everything related to it. Your help would be very greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Kenny

$220 cheap? Only if the SKS is brand new. SKS used to be a hundred bucks, then like everything else their cost skyrocketed. There can be several variations, ie. bayonet, barrel length, etc. I have no idea what the import restrictions are anymore. In my opinion, an SKS will function just fine bare stock. Accessories are junk, especially the removable magazines and scopes. I still think that you should stick to a shotgun, it's very versatile in terms of different ammunition/purpose. With the SKS, your only choices are hollow point, or full metal jacket. Hopefully StarsNBars will have time to pop in here, I've noticed that he has a lot of knowledge about firearms both military and civilian.

Jeez, I thought that $220 was really cheap knowing that I saved up\paid almost double that for my last gun............
(much less knowing ammo is 6 bucks a box)

Thread question---NO! Echo what "army engineer" posted. If you want to shoot fast that's what .22 semi-autos (self-loaders) are for and the ammo is lots cheaper than that Chi-com trash ammo (7.62mmx39mm) for those mass produced Chi-com knock-offs of a 60 year old Soviet design. Save your $$ Kenny!

...I guess it's time for me to put on the mirrored sunglasses.

You have two versatile cartridges in the rifles that you purchased recently. The venerable old .30-30 Win. and the .243 Win., and either one is better than the commie cartridge! Below is a link to Hornady ammo company that has come up with some new bullets for the .30-30 win. that are pointed with a polymer tip. Watch the video on the link. It will make your rifle gain another 100 yards down range. The SKS and the Ak-47 have never been known as super accurate weapons and the round they fire is a "weak sister" compared to the 7.62 NATO (.308 Win.), or the .30-06 Sprgfld. ( or Govt.). Same bullet diameter but the case (brass) is smaller-thus less powder-thus less velocity.

Stick with the rifles that you have, and learn to shoot them well. Look at the links that I'll post for the ballistics of the cartridges. You don't need the chi-com carbine! Put that money to the purchase of a shotgun---shotguns are versatile, and you can buy a box of 25 shotgun shells for much less than a box of 20 of those Mao tse-tung rounds. Click on the shotgun links. They are fun, and can be used for many things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SKS
" "/7.62x39mm
" "/.30_WCF
" "/.243_Winchester
" "/Shotgun
" "/Shotgun_shell


.30-30 Win. ammo with pointed bullets

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=198

I have a .30-.30 lever action, can't use them pointy ammo in it.

If you want an SKS you should be able to find one for $140-160. I have a Norinco that I paid $115 for on my C&R license.

No matter what, you won't get very good accuracy with an SKS. That's not what they're for. The gun is designed to provide fair accuracy and excellent reliability with a medium-power cartridge. It's a good gun to keep behind the door to repel intruders.

Tapco makes the only 20 round detachable mag that actually works. I have 2 and both have been 100% for several hundred rounds. They cost about $20.

Almost all the scope mounts for the SKS mount on or replace the bolt cover. None of them works well. Most are designed to let you use the iron sights by looking through a hole in the mount. Those are all garbage.

SKSs are cheap and Wolf ammo is pretty cheap and non-corrosive. They're fun guns for blasting. My grandson loves to shoot mine. If you want one, go ahead and get it. You can always sell it and not lose much.
But don't pay $220.

John
Cape Canaveral

quote:

Originally posted by army_engineer:
I have a .30-.30 lever action, can't use them pointy ammo in it.

Click on the link that I posted above to Hornady ammo company. The new ammo is called "Leverevolution". Several calibers all of which were produced for/chambered in "saddle guns" with tubular magazines. Those weapons needed flat-nosed, or rounded bullets. Now with these new bullets from Hornady with polymer tips you can have the benifits of spitzer (pointed) type bullets-thus getting better trajectory and accuracy from the same rifle!

...Don't you guys read/buy/get any gun magazines...?

SKS, fun to shoot, relatively cheap to shoot. Havne't priced recently but 220 sounds high. Bought one years ago for less than a hundred.

I knew a guy once who had really good accuracy with his. Mine wasn't quite as accurate. Those russian hollowpoints do make for a decent short range deer round, but there are plenty of better choices out there, both in ammo, and in a rifle. But for general plinking, they are fun.

If you've got the money set aside, get one.

Yeah, 220 seems abit stiff for a war surplus SKS, even one in excellent condition. I was at a gun show in Lima, Ohio, the beginning of the this month and found some in the 120 to 170 dollar range.
The new ammo for the 30-30 is really supposed to up the range with the spitzer type bullet. I have yet to see them, but will look the next time my truck swerves off Highway 23 going through Dundee, Michigan. Damn that Dodge, I have hell of a time getting that trick to go by Cabella's in Dundee!

"Trick?" How about "truck." Jeez!

quote:

Originally posted by swremwin:
Click on the link that I posted above to Hornady ammo company. The new ammo is called "Leverevolution"....
...Don't you guys read/buy/get any gun magazines...?

Ah, thanks for the reminder. I've actually read about them already, I do get North American Hunter and American Rifleman magazines. First thing I did to the lever gun was change out the sights, hammered in Fire Sights. Then shot 20-rounds out of it to zero and put holes in an old air compressor. Haven't fired it since.

Leatherneck, how about a Mosin Nagant? Big5 has them this week for 80 bucks. Sure it's old, bolt-action, and hold only 5 rounds, but they can be fun too. I have an 1895 long barrel, and a "newer" carbine with folding bayonet, set in a modern stock. You can get a tin of 440 rounds of 7.63x54r for about 80 bucks. Pretty accurate for iron sights.

Yes, I found some of the new Hornaday 30-30 ammo in my local area. The chart on the box gives the mid range trajectory figures and the it shows abot a 12 to 13" drop at 300 yards instead of 25"+. So it appears to make a pretty substantial difference. I haven't tried it yet my Winchester or Marlin.
Army engineer is right about the Moisin-Nagant weapons. I bought a carbine model last fall and took off the bayonet. It packs a whallop for a little money and good accuracy results, too. The 7.63x54r is good cartridge for its age.

Thanks for the tips guys,
one more question for you, is there any more semiautomatic rifles out there(preferably with a 10 round mag in it for matches, which I'm trying to get registered for) and if not, what are the specs on a Mosin-Nagant? if you could please help, that would be great.
Thanks!
Kenny

P.S. do you guys know of any good gun ranges in CO, that I could register for a match at? it would be helpful.

Kenny, there's plenty of semi-autos out there that will take 10-round mags. Back in December a buddy bought a M1, it came with one 10-rounder because we're here in California. What caliber are you looking for? In .223, there's the AR family (and generics) and Mini 14 family. In .308, you can get the M1 (will set you back at least 1300$) or surplus M1 Garand (hold only 8 though).

The Mosin Nagant history goes way back to 1895 if I'm not mistaken. They're only 5-round bolt-action, 7.62x54r. When you have time, go to a couple of gun shops and shoot the breeze with the guys. They can set you in the right direction.

sorry, I forgot to include my price range(around 500 bucks)and caliber. Id say that I could shoot anything between .223 and .308 (30-06 is stretching it, but I might be able to handle it) please reply,
Thanks!
Kenny

Kel-Tec SU16. It is .223, uses standard AR-15/M16 magazines. Comes with two 10-rounders I believe. Local gun shop here had them on sale for about 460 two months ago.
If you could save a little more, a genuine Bushmaster AR-15 is the way to go. About 900-1000.
The AR receiver is a great platform. You can change out the upper receiver later, put on a heavy-barrel varminter, or even a 50Beowulf like I did. Parts and accessories come out of the wazoo!

thanks for the tips, but one more question for you
(sheesh, ive got a lot of things to ask.....) My brothers friend got a new gun and is selling his old clunker 30-06 bolt action for around 50 bucks. should I take this thing as a bonus, or save my money. I dont know the exact condition of it, only what my brother has told me. Would this be a good buy, or just a waste of my money?
Thanks!
Kenny

Hey Kenny! This week my local gun shop has the Ruger Mini 14 on special for 730. Regular price of 770.
I don't know how to explain operational conditions of used firearms, maybe some other members will read this and jump in. But sheesh, for 50 bucks even I'd have a look at it. See if your bro's friend would go to gun shop with you to have the condition checked out. Barrel wear, chamber/throat, bolt - see how they wear/fit.

thanks a bunch for the tips, on the topic of the Bushmaster, i was wondering if you would be able to exchange recievers with different brands, like say, a DPMS upper and barrel with a Bushmaster lower. Just curious.
Thanks!
Kenny