New rifle

[Destroyer]

I'm thinking about getting a new rifle for myself. Looking at the 7.62 x 39 Norinco SKS. Anyone have an opinion on them? Anyone have one?

[spareparts]

good luck finding one for a decent price. I bought mine years ago and paid $119, you could find the yugos before the scare for around $350. Now every one wants $750 and up for them, they are still a $350 gun at tops. BTW, good luck finding any 7.62X39 right now as well. If I were you, I'd be looking at the mosin nagants kinda old school, but a real live war veteran and a decent shooter, there are still some around for under $200, you can find the tin cans of ammo(7.62X54) for a decent price as well

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by spareparts

good luck finding one for a decent price. I bought mine years ago and paid $119, you could find the yugos before the scare for around $350. Now every one wants $750 and up for them, they are still a $350 gun at tops. BTW, good luck finding any 7.62X39 right now as well. If I were you, I'd be looking at the mosin nagants kinda old school, but a real live war veteran and a decent shooter, there are still some around for under $200, you can find the tin cans of ammo(7.62X54) for a decent price as well

I was figuring on spending around $500 +- for a nice one. Seen several over $1000, also seen a lot in the $329 range but they are all used war rifles and not all the numbers match. Ammo is going $400-500 for 500 rounds of Armor Piercing pre-ban. Less for unjacketted. I remember not too long ago you could get rounds for .19-.22 cents a round.. <sigh>

Mosin Nagants are old school but still reliable... just not my cup of tea.

I like the box mag and stripper clips of the SKS.. I can carry 200 rounds in an ammo belt. Lets see anyone with high cap magazines do that easily.

Good source for SKS's.. http://www.gunbroker.com/Norinco-SKS...ds=Norinco+SKS If nothing else it gives you a good idea on prices.

How does your's shoot Spare? accurate? Smooth? maintenance? What I'm really interested in is how reliable are they? Thanks!!

[chumbucket]

There are some pretty good options for something chambered with a .308

[Kracker Jack]

My brother just traded his russian sks and a cheap .32 automatic foe 4 brand new shimano tld 25 on custom outer banks rods.

[spareparts]

I sold mine a while back, had to pay for a wedding ring! It wasn't that accurate, but it was damned reliable, it never failed to shoot. Every one I talked to said don't clean it, you might mess it up, they shoot better dirty. I met a guy who was a former NVA, he said(in a broken accent) " gun get too hot? stick gun in stream! keep shooting gun". If you can find a true Russian SKS, you'll have something, other wise they don't do much for me. I do like the stripper clips, I had detachable 30 round magazines and found the stock box mag with strippers was far more reliable and faster/easier to load. I sold the nags off to some on else. As far as accuracy goes on eastern bloc guns, the mosin is the way to go. If you want an american gun in 7.62X39. look for a Mini 30. Make sure you get one that is a 591 series, the older ones had crap barrels on them, they would string shots as they got hot, the newer ones are far better. BTW, my brother in law has his AR15 for sale(with ammo)

[willy]

Have both an original all forged Russian, built like a brick SH. Will do 4-6" at 100 at best. But will do it all day.
Have a Chinese stamped steel receiver will out shoot the Russian by a little, not much.
Bought both when Clinton got into office.
Have a Ruger Ranch Rifle stainless in the same caliber. Never had any problems with walking strings with it, bought in 2000 or so.
Best combat cartridge made ever for semi auto.
By the way there is a huge group of men who are full blown survivalist and the SKS is far and away the preferred weapon.