Considering a Chinese SKS 7.63X39 rifle (just because)
What price and where should I look ?

I'm curious why an SKS? Seems to me for less than $100 more you could get an AK. And you would save more than that in the cost of magazines alone. Just sayin'...

Nothin' wrong with an SKS, Jimmy. I don't know what they're going for now, but if you like that kind of a gun, you can usually find one at a fairly reasonable price.

I'm sure I'm gonna hear the "sacred cow moo" on this, but I replaced the cheap Chinese wooden stock with this. Sure, it's not original, but I like it a hekuva lot better.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

I would say if you can get one for $275-$300, you have gotten a good deal nowadays. They have dropped $25-$50 in the past 6 months or so.

Used to be a NIB Norinco was under $200. Now days I don't have a clue. There have been some pretty rough looking ones lately like these.
Chinese SKS Type 56 Semi Auto Rifle, 7.62x39, Military Surplus Issue with Bayonet, C&R. Used.

I looked at a few in a crate at my local gun shop and would have passed on all, they were just that rough.

Not sure what the poster above means about magazine savings? The SKS has a fixed mag so all one needs are stripper clips if they want.

The pros with regards the the SKS are lack of magazines to buy, loose or damage. The fact that it doesn't suffer the "assault weapon" restrictions other guns do.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

A decent Chinese SKS, numbers matching, goes for around $350 in these parts. They are wonderful shooters, every bit as good as the Russians. They are also usually more accurate than an AK.

Most aftermarket detachable magazines are ****, Stripper clips are the way to go.

The Chinese ones that came in lately and are sitting on the shelves at your LGS came from Albania and are beat to death. For some reason they can be sold to a C&R license holder where as the usual Chinese SKS that was sold for $79 back in the good ole days is not C&R compliant.

Attached Images

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

SKS's are going for a steep price nowadays.
Any Norinco in decent condition is going to be $350-$400 unless you find someone who doesn't know what SKS's are going for.
Russian ones are topping $500.

Best place to find and buy them is at a gun show, from someone wandering around with one. Once he finds out what the dealers at the tables will pay for it, your offer will look pretty good.

Back in the day, the Chinese models were $35 apiece (wholesale crate price) and were good guns even though condition wise some were pretty rough. After the surplus ones kinda seemed to dry up, they made new ones with pinned rather than screwed barrels, etc. (most AK's are pinned).
These days, if one could find a decent Chinese model w/ screwed barrel and forged parts for under $300, I'd prolly jump if I were wanting one.
Several years ago the yugos were selling everywhere in the $100 range. I don't think they may have increased as much in price as the Chinese, Russian, Albanians, etc.
As already mentioned, unless just wanting an SKS, I'd opt for a cheap AK any day unless I found a smoking deal somewhere on an SKS.
BTW, I think every red-blooded American should have one (both AK & SKS but at least an AK)

$350-$400 for matching numbers in this part of the world.

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-Mike-

Allan's Armory has some right now for under $350. He is a great guy to deal with but his stuff sells out quickly as he is a low-volumn dealer.

http://www.allans-armory.com/aaresult.php?PageId=48

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Old paratrooper in NC

The SKS cognoscenti reckon that the Chinese variants are some of the most accurate made.

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Release the Kraken

I see them at local shows around $450-$500 most times. Strikes me as a lot for what they are.

I bought one around 1986 for $69. Got the 1200 round case of ammo to go with it for $59. Gave most of the ammo away when I moved in 1992 because it was heavy and sold the rifle to a friend.

Soon bought another. A short "carbine" version that appeared new in the box. It was $119. Not as accurate as the longer, cheaper one I previously had. I do like the blond wood, though.

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No life story has happy end.

There are some nice ones that show up on GB, still new or nearly so,
much better than the recently imported beat to death ones. I would
suggest you look for one in original configuration and avoid the ones
converted to use AK mags. You may see them listed as having a milled
receiver but all receivers are milled. Trigger housings can be milled or
stamped however. The trigger guard is the key, folded and welded
sheet metal or obvious forging.

Why a SKS? They are fun to shoot! The 7.62x39 is a medium power round and out of the SKS it gives a gentle push so you can shoot it all day. But I have a Yugo which, with all its grenade launcher trimmings and more dense wood stock, weighs more than the Chinese version. Plus my SKS is most accurate with the cheap Wally World Russian steel case ammo.

The current ones coming in are from Albania and have had serious use in the Balkan wars. The Chinese at first sent tons of arms to Albania and later machines to build said arms. That being said they are mainly beat on the outside. The wood is beat and the bluing is not a 100%. But to me that's like saying the tires are worn and an oil change is needed. For the most part they have good barrels and function like any other SKS. These rifles were mainly issued to second line troops and to fill voids when AK was not possible to get/have at that moment. Otherwise everyone on both sides preferred the AK. Lots of caked on cosmoline though so you'd have to give it a though bath.

+1 on Allans Armory. Good dealer.

Looks like his stock is in pretty decent condition too. Certainly far from pristine, but typical of what's on the market today.

BTW.... LOVE my ChiCom SKS. Love it more than my AK47. The SKS is much more accurate and soft shooting compared to the AK. I've left mine bone-stock and it hasn't given me a single problem.

Not too bad for something built in 1964 and looks like it was buried in a rock pile .

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-Mike-

I bought a Chinese SKS in the 90s for $125ish. It was a short barreled Paratrooper model. The original stock was way too short for me so I put it into a Choate(I think) polymer sporter stock. I gave it to a friend about a year later. He put an ambidextrous safety on it...he's a southpaw...and a compact, inexpensive Chinese scope on it. The trigger was atrocious, the worst I ever felt. He had a gunsmith work on it and the trigger is still very heavy but smooth and breaks crisply. Its reasonably accurate and has functioned without any problems for several hundred rounds of cheap, steel cased Russian ammo...He has used it as a deer rifle...I wish I had kept it but we are best friends and usually shoot together so I've shot it as much as I wanted. .

A guy in town had three or four in stock, variously sporterized, and I think all were under $300. I traded a box of Chinese knives for one last night, Norinco in a Choate stock with a Tapco mag. It was tagged at $259. Www.bighorntradingllc.com or give him a call, I think he is willing to ship.

Anyone have a spare cleaning rod? My new toy lacks one and it bothers me, the more so since I found a complete SKS cleaning kit and 20 strippers in my basement.

Around here, about $350-375 for a newish one.

Many people sink too much money in them, then ask way too much for them trying to get that money back out. $400+ for one with Tapco stocks, large mags, etc. Worse yet, they've lost the original parts long ago. They sit forever at that price.

I've seen a couple for sale at $300 and $325. They were always gone quick.

$300-400 in my neck of the woods here on VA. Why not a Yugo 59/66?

Dang, wish I had 20 strippers in My basement.

I got mine for my 13th b day 18yrs ago. I went worn my dad and picked it out of a create for $59. Cosmoline came free.

I have since refinished the stock while I was out of work and being bored after I finish school couple years ago just my personal taste on the look of it but still shoots great. Actually I'm taking it this year deer hunting.

Last gun show I was at a few weeks ago they were selling for $225-400

What markings should one look for on a Chinese SKS? My S-I-L has a Norinco. Are they OK?

My SKS was an answer to Bill" I did not have sex with that women" gun ban. Added peep site

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My Norinco, with chromed lined barrel.

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In 1993 Norinco imported a "Paratrooper" version of the SKS with a shortened 16" barrel that accepted AK-47 magazines.

I know because I bought one for $125 and foolishly sold it 5 years later.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

Buy a nice Chinese norinco sks. The Chinese are still manufacturing the sks for export. We can't import them here. Marstar in Canada sells them.

Last two I sold went for $400 each about a year ago, fixed magazines, one with bayonet, one without . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .