SKS rifles - what good are they?

PALADIN85020 · Dec 29, 2009

They've been real plentiful on the milsurp market, and the Chinese have flooded our shores with them. They are not really rifles, not really carbines, and in spite of the fact that they fire an "assault rifle" cartridge, they are not assault rifles - no hi-cap mag, and no full-auto capability. The full metal jacket military rounds are no good for hunting, and they aren't all that accurate for target shooting. The chicoms aren't really collectible, although the Russian imports might have some claim in that direction. I have one, almost against my better judgment. This one was made at the Tula arsenal in the Soviet Union in 1951.

If you have one or more of these critters, to what use do you put it? Plinking? Home defense? Collecting? What's the charm of this interim Cold War relic?

Frank237 · Dec 29, 2009

I bought one maybe a dozen years back for $80 with the remainder of a can of Chinese fmj ammo. I ran several ten rd strippers through it and sold it. Not very accurate, basically a fmj .30-30 so not very flat shooting, horrible sights to boot.

Same thing with the guys who simply love the Mosin Nagants!?!?! I don't think one could come up with an uglier rifle if you tried.

Surely there is historical signifigance to either platform. I think the main concern with many shooters is buying CHEAP and shooting CHEAP.

That said...I really like AK's and have several.

FN in MT

greyhawk178 · Dec 29, 2009

While I prefer the AK, I enjoy the SKS as well. All you say is true, but I still like them. If you can't stand that Tula anymore, I just happen to know of a place in Flagstaff that would give it a loving home....... : )

VonFatman · Dec 29, 2009

I bought mine for fun...range use. I've owned 7-8 but am down to one ( a Yugo) now and actually, would sell it if I got the chance...my tastes have changed.

Believe it or not, these rifles are used quite often to hunt deer. Hunting ammo is manufactured by Remington (probably several others) and if the hunter is willing to limit his/her shots to 100 yards or less, I've found all my SKSs to be quite effective at printing 5-6" groups at 100 yards...not a pretty cloverleaf, but certainly effective for Whitetail hunting.

In fact, I am quite happy that these inexpensive (or at least used to be inexpensive) guns have been available. Many hunters can not afford a Remington, Browning or Winchester. These SKSs have put plenty of food on the table for a number of hunters!!

I always snicker when I see a scope mounted on them...they are really 100 yard guns...but some hunters have to have a scope. Maybe a few manage to get a scope mounted securely to the gun.

Another useful purpose would be home defense. Ten rounds and a couple stripper clips in your pocket make these rifles more than capable of defending one's castle.

They are not generally fancy or suited for every purpose (no rifle fits every purpose), but I believe they have a place...charm? Well, that's in the eye of the beholder/shooter!

Bob

38-44HD45 · Dec 29, 2009

I have a Russian "Royal Guard" model that looks almost identical to yours, Paladin, except that the wood on the handguard more closely matches that of the stock on mine. Mine shoots much more accurately than even my Steyr AK, which is an unusually accurate AK, and the SKS has a great trigger. Looking at the inside of my SKS receiver, the degree of fit and polish looks more like a Colt Python than a sovcom product. However, I rarely shoot my SKS, and it mostly languishes in my safe. I've thought of selling it, and may yet, but not because it isn't a good gun.

I have a couple of in-laws who use their SKSs on feral hogs, and are getting good kills, even with military ammo. Mine has never shot anything that bleeds.

idahostreams · Dec 29, 2009

SKS rifles

I was at the range a couple of weeks ago and met a young man who had several rifles, including an SKS. He offered to let me shoot it and I kind of found it fun; almost no recoil. low muzzle report, ugly as sin and I understand, cheap to shoot. Good for what? I don't know, maybe carry behind the seat of the truck for targets of oportunity?

Julian

Bat Guano · Dec 29, 2009

I picked up a Yugo some years back when $150 would buy a minty one and ammo was still cheap; sort of a Volksgun. Not a first choice as a defensive piece but reliable (good start, that) and way better than a handgun or scattergun if any distances are involved. Also better than the M1A back home in the safe.

After failing to improve the fairly awful trigger, I sent the trigger group off to a guy named Kivarii who helped it greatly--made the rifle much easier to shoot well. I am inclined to put on a set of M16-like 'Tech-Sights' but at 100 yards it's probably good enough as it sits.

I like it as a utility rifle. I don't want ten but I'm glad I got one. My son has another nice Yugo with a decent trigger to begin with for the same role. It's a bit of a bother to clean with the filthy Wolf ammo, but I guess there's no free lunch.

Andy Griffith · Dec 29, 2009

VonFatman said:
Many hunters can not afford a Remington, Browning or Winchester. These SKSs have put plenty of food on the table for a number of hunters!!

The SKS was the gun that killed the 94 Winchester.

Wyatt Burp · Dec 29, 2009

My dad tricked out a couple Chinese versions with everything he could find in the Cheaper Than Dirt Catalog. One is now mine and my son has the other. I'm going to use it for plinking and general fun. I have ammo. Do you have to use a stripper clip or can you just shove the cartridges in there one at a time?

38-44HD45 · Dec 29, 2009

VonFatman said:
I always snicker when I see a scope mounted on them...they are really 100 yard guns...but some hunters have to have a scope. Maybe a few manage to get a scope mounted securely to the gun.

Bob

Bob, I'm sure that is true of the Chinese ones and other run-of-the mill SKSs, but mine will stay under 2" at 100 yards with any ammo I've tried, and will not go much over 1.5" with some Russian hollowpoint ammo I bought about 17-18 years ago. I'll never scope mine, but it has the accuracy to justify glass.

digi-shots · Dec 29, 2009

PALADIN85020 said:
They've been real plentiful on the milsurp market, and the Chinese have flooded our shores with them. They are not really rifles, not really carbines, and in spite of the fact that they fire an "assault rifle" cartridge, they are not assault rifles - no hi-cap mag, and no full-auto capability. The full metal jacket military rounds are no good for hunting, and they aren't all that accurate for target shooting. The chicoms aren't really collectible, although the Russian imports might have some claim in that direction. I have one, almost against my better judgment. This one was made at the Tula arsenal in the Soviet Union in 1951.

If you have one or more of these critters, to what use do you put it? Plinking? Home defense? Collecting? What's the charm of this interim Cold War relic?

Great looking pic! Can you tell me how you took the shot? I'm guessing it's on the floor and you're shooting above... with flash or floor photo flood lights?

I'm having a problem shooting long guns... I've been balancing on a ladder and shooting down, with a flash.

Thanks!

Wayne02 · Dec 29, 2009

They make good blasters. Send a bunch of rounds downrange at largish, sometimes reactive targets and have some fun.

Yeah I know, some people cry, 'waste of ammo', 'no real purpose', yada yada.

But sometimes a person needs to step out of the stuffy worlds of the collector or highly disciplined 'target shooter' and let loose with some not-so-serious recreational shooting.

That's the beauty of firearms, they have so many applications/uses based on an individuals desire.

Ron H. · Dec 29, 2009

Sir, as has been noted, the SKS fills the same niche as a .30-30 lever-action, only cheaper and uglier. Lots of people use them as beaters, truck guns, short-range deer rifles, that sort of thing. The SKS is also an alternative for the guy who can't get an AK for whatever reason, either financial or political.

I'd kinda like to have one, but my Garands would probably pick on it.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

kennyb · Dec 29, 2009

i have the russian version sks....have had no problem finding 30 and 60 round hi cap.mags for it...mine was still sealed up and new,dated 1951 for ninety bucks....whats not to like?

Rule 303 · Dec 29, 2009

I have a couple of Russian Tula Arsenal, Laminated Stock, SKSs that I bought from SOG for $119.00 each when they first started comming in Country.

I have mine for addational rifles since I have a couple of AKs and since I have a couple of boxes of 7.62X39mm ammo......

Too, I got shot with one once and it always makes me remember.

Rule 303

Faulkner · Dec 29, 2009

Andy Griffith said:
The SKS was the gun that killed the 94 Winchester.

I would agree. When I bought my Russian Tula in the middle '90's they could be had for 70 bucks. Tons of them were sold at gunshows as the poor man's .30-30, and semi-auto to boot. Lots of young folks were buying and tricking them out for a whole lot cheaper than they could by Winchester or Marlin .30-30.

I've taken a couple of whitetails with mine, and both my sons have carried it on the deer stand. Despite some earlier comments to the contrary, hollow or soft point ammo for it is pretty plentiful these days. I've not shot mine in years, but with the flooding of the market with cheap SKS's it's a inexpensive way to get into deer hunting.

ImprovedModel56Fan · Dec 29, 2009

Ron H. said:
Sir, as has been noted, the SKS fills the same niche as a .30-30 lever-action, only cheaper and uglier. Lots of people use them as beaters, truck guns, short-range deer rifles, that sort of thing.

And there is hardly any recoil. Years ago, my sister from NYC was visiting, and I took her to the club to introduce her to .22 revolvers. A friend happened to be there with a $100 SKS, and he invited her to try it out. She found it user-friendly and accurate (to her standards), and posted the target at work when she returned home.

Hard to bad-mouth a .30-30 class rifle that a female beginner can shoot well.

Steave · Dec 29, 2009

Never had one, never wanted one, but they always seemed like a pretty decent old beater truck gun to me.

VonFatman · Dec 29, 2009

38-44HD45,
Wow, sounds like you have a keeper. I'd not sell that SKS...wanna trade for a sweet looking Yugo????

I've not really grouped this one as it was one of the last one's I purchased...it may shoot better than some of my others...but who knows until I take it to the range.

Model520fan,
I guarantee she'd have felt my Model 94 or 336 if she'd have shot either one of those. Lever-carbines and 30-30 factory ammo...a sure fire way to "experience" recoil!!...almost as bad as my 1903-A3!!

Bob

Bob

perpster · Dec 29, 2009

Here's to never forgetting to bring your bayonet along.

SKS rifles - what good are they?

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