Ok, my wife has been bugging the crap out of me for a my Christmas list LOL. Anyways, I've given up on building an AR until we get a house, but I've still got the whole "I need more guns" thing going on. I still want an SKS, and know they can be had for under $150. So, on my list, I'm going to put, SKS. Now, I don't know a lot about SKS's, and my wife knows NOTHING about guns. If I wanted to send her down to a local dealer to order me one, what exactly should I tell her to buy me? All suggestions please. And remember, I'll most likely show her this, so keep it simple.
Edit... would the best thing to do, just tell her to go down there and order a
Yugoslavian SKS 7.62x39 Model 59/66? Do those only come with the original grenade launcher? Do you even want it? Cause, I have a feeling I would want to put a flash hider on it.
I have a Yugo 59/66 and I love it! It's a very well built rifle and shoots a lot better than a $150 rifle should. As for the grenade launcher, mine came with one but it's not new. I think they all have it. Makes the rifle look cool to me!
Trust me. You DON'T want to get into changing it until you know it very well. Most folks don't change a thing.
A sad thing about having one bought for you is that you need a bit of an eye to selecting the best one out of the selection there. Unlike new guns, these come in a variety of conditions. Unless there is a specific selection at a store, any of which would be ok, sending a wife who's only a gun novice to pick one out isn't a good idea.
BTW, I had an AR and sold it after about a year and a half. I had my Yugoslav SKS before and still do.
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Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
Last edited by BattleRifleG3; 10-17-2005 at 04:38 PM.
Ok, so first, I take it I want an SKS that does NOT have the launcher. Next, her brother can go with her, and most likely could be sent up to centerfiresystems to go through their selection, or she could go with him some time. But, what I had planned was just send her down and have them order one from the "very good" stack like you would on the net.
I agree wholeheartedly that you SHOULD NOT send anyone who is a novice to buy a military surplus rifle for you. It's not like buying a new commercial rifle where you know what you're getting and have a factory warrantee if there is something wrong.
That being said, the grenade launcher is just that. It was for launching NATO spec grenades with a lighter "blank" charge. There is a gas cutoff valve to keep the rifle from cycling the next round. Assuming the 59/66 is in good condition, there should be no problems. As far as a flash hider, I'm not sure that would be legal on a SKS (at least not where I am). If you're refering to muzzlebrake, the launcher acts as an excellent (and pretty decent looking) muzzlebrake.
My sks's are my favorites, bar none.
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"Would it make you feel better, little girl, if they was thrown outta windows?"-Archie Bunker
Excellent idea Apollyon. Actually, I prefer to receive surprise gifts without expectation on my part. Seems more in the spirit of things. It always feels meaningless when I tell someone what to get me. Or to get me anything at all. But I know with spouses it's different. I had one of them once.....
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"Would it make you feel better, little girl, if they was thrown outta windows?"-Archie Bunker
I saw a like new Yugo online at aimsurplus.com for $140. Many others have the same offer online. It would be a lot easier to order over the internet for your wife than to send her to a gun store. Just find one that will do a transfer cheap. Shipping on that was only $13. So 140+13+25(gun registration)+25(transfer fee)= 203.
Why don't you go with her and purchase it? I know it's supposed to be a gift, but she'd probably understand, and you'd get to spend some time together...maybe even get her a gun too
SKS rifles are great, I love mine very much. What you want to look for is a gun that is $150 or less, in good condition (I found mine very nearly new), and in a condition that you would not want to modify it. The Yugo Grenade launcher is nothing more than an extended portion of the barrel that a grenade can slide down and be fired from some sort of blank round (I don't know the specifics). If you must add on a muzzle break (or flash hider, but be aware that they are illegal in the US...right?), then you should not get the Yugo, because it would involve removing the grenade launcher. All SKS rifles work by the same principals, and if clean, they shoot great. Another thing you'll want is ammo, probably lots of it since it's quite cheap in bulk. I prefer Wolf, it's non-corrosive, cheap, and quite reliable. I met someone in my local gun shop that told me not to purchase wolf ammo because it was slightly innaccurate (such as 4-inch groups at 75 yards). For me, that's plenty accurate. Getting more accurate would requre either better ammo or a new gun. The SKS is not a sniper rifle. It will shoot straight, and shoot often. I've heard stories of peole dropping it in a swamp with the bolt open, loading bullets and firing, and it still fired flawlessly (Don't ask me why they fired anyway, firing any gun that may have mud or any object obstructing the barrel is extremly dangerous. The point is that it will fire under those conditions.) Anyway, I hope this helps, also, ask a gun dealer for his best SKS, look at it, if it looks in good shape and is a reasonable price, you really can't go wrong. Just keep it clean and it'll keep you happy.
Well, I told my wife want I wanted last night, and she didn't say no. I shouldn't have made it out to seem like I was just going to send her to a gun shop to buy me the first SKS she finds, and for that I'm sorry. Her brother can and would go with her if she were to get me one. He is actually the reason I've gotten my interest back in guns. I could write out a list of what I want and what I don't want for her, and he could find me something nice. He's always going up to Centerfire and other gunstores. Oh, speaking of which, a local dealer has a Norinco SKS with a scope on it(mount is like a Choate mount that goes into the side of the receiver, scopes not much, like a 4x28). It's actually in pretty good shape. He said he's traded with the previous owner alot and always seems to take care of his guns. Is $225 a good price?
I have a 59/66 and love it. It cost me $125 at a local gunshop and it included the buttstock cleaning kit and cleaning rod. The wood on it isn't too pretty, but everything else was/is fine. It shoots like a champ. I bought an inert grenade to fire off it and its a blast... The actual grenade launcher is what you see at the tip of the barrel. I suppose it looks like a muzzle brake to some. I **think** you have to drive a small pin out of it and then reverse thread it to get it off. There is a gas valve shut off switch that you put in the UP position - Down and to the right is for regular firing. Chamber a blank round and let it rip...great fun!
Best,
Chris
