Some SKS questions...

[KGunner]

I could search, but I'm lazy. My next gun purchase will be an SKS, and I have a few questions. A local outdoors store has a bunch of Yugo SKS's ranging from $200-$300. I would buy the better looking of the $200 rifles because I don't need something to look better than it shoots.

Can you modify all of them to accept magazines?
Do they shoot the milsurp ammo well?
Would they be outlawed if the AW ban is put back into place or does it qualify for C&R?


Talk me into it.

[squirrelbaster]

yes
yes
dont know
and yes

[jmp8927]

Can you modify all of them to accept magazines? Very easily
Do they shoot the milsurp ammo well? Absolutely
Would they be outlawed if the AW ban is put back into place or does it qualify for C&R? If you change it in any way, it's no longer considered C&R and therefor could be banned.

On my SKS I switched the rear sight, bought a better stock, have 5 detachable mags, a sling, and an aftermarket bayonet(When I bought it, the bayonet had been taken off) I threw on for looks. All in all, this is one of the best rifles for the money you can buy. Doesn't require a lot of cleaning to function(though you will probably end up taking it apart and recleaning it for no reason because you fell in love with it), to accurate enough to hit a kill zone at 100 yards(given it's sighted in properly), and will shoot anything you feed it. The only complaint I have is that you go through the ammo too quickly because it's just so fun to shoot

[knightRider]

Originally Posted by KGunner

I could search, but I'm lazy. My next gun purchase will be an SKS, and I have a few questions. A local outdoors store has a bunch of Yugo SKS's ranging from $200-$300. I would buy the better looking of the $200 rifles because I don't need something to look better than it shoots.

Can you modify all of them to accept magazines?
Do they shoot the milsurp ammo well?
Would they be outlawed if the AW ban is put back into place or does it qualify for C&R?


Talk me into it.

If you need talking into just buy it for me.

[marion57]

All I can say is if you have to be talked into it you got more money than you need so send me some!!

[texnmidwest]

All I have to say is that if you are looking at a 200 dollar SKS then you had better save about 500. One SKS is never enough. I bought a Yugo and could not rest until I bought a Russian. Now I am looking at a Chinese! There is not end to the madness!!!!

[mitch_mckee]

Originally Posted by KGunner

I could search, but I'm lazy. My next gun purchase will be an SKS, and I have a few questions. A local outdoors store has a bunch of Yugo SKS's ranging from $200-$300. I would buy the better looking of the $200 rifles because I don't need something to look better than it shoots.

Can you modify all of them to accept magazines?
Do they shoot the milsurp ammo well?
Would they be outlawed if the AW ban is put back into place or does it qualify for C&R?


Talk me into it.

I own one.

They can be modified to use AK mags, but I've yet to se one that worked right with that mod.

They are MADE for military ammo. Mine shots about any crap 7.62x39 out there.

There is no way to predict acts of Congress.

Don't know about Curios & relics.

The SKS is reliable and good ones will shoot in the 3-5 MOA area. That's about it for the good side. I've seen them shoot far worse with bent or poorly installed barrels. You just don't know what you will get.

If you get one, become VERY familiar with the firing pin assembly. A little corrosion and that firing pin will freeze in place and you will have an uncontrollable repeat fire. This happened to me once and I now check that pin every time before shooting.

The SKS is a good boat or truck gun where accuracy is not a high priority but reliability under adverse conditions and neglect are important.

If the SKS gets stolen from the boat or truck, then you haven't lost so much in value as compared to many other rifles.

[mjames834]

Dittos on the above comments. Buy one? good luck with that. But it's like Girl Scout Cookies - if you buy a box from several Scouts, it won't look like so much.
Watch out for the 'used' gun racks in the outdoor stores, because one with a pretty stock will have a higher price & lack the desired features of the ugly ducklings. Be sure to get a manual on disassembly & maintenance. Then, when you've got her home, make sure she's squeeky clean. The cosmoline hides everywhere......like rust on a vintage Mustang.

[Silent Shooter]

The cosmoline hides everywhere......

And after you have it squeaky clean go shhot it rapid fire...

You will find a lot more as it oozes out when it heats up...

[Beer Forever]

Originally Posted by KGunner

I could search, but I'm lazy. My next gun purchase will be an SKS, and I have a few questions. A local outdoors store has a bunch of Yugo SKS's ranging from $200-$300. I would buy the better looking of the $200 rifles because I don't need something to look better than it shoots.

Can you modify all of them to accept magazines?
Do they shoot the milsurp ammo well?
Would they be outlawed if the AW ban is put back into place or does it qualify for C&R?


Talk me into it.

I don't think that I have to talk you into buying an SKS, I always thought that you can't have a collection without one. They are best served bone stock. The modification to make them accept AK mags is very difficult and irreversible. There are after market drop in mags that are worthless, don't go that route. Here is the deal, everyone wants to make the SKS like a want to be assault rifle, well I have news for those people, it is never ever going to be considered an assault rifle so stop trying to make them hi cap, it ruins them. The SKS is meant to be an accurate, reliable, trench/all around rifle. It is great for self defense and target shooting, but not for an assault rifle. If you want something for homeland defense then go with removable hi cap mags, high rate of fire, and light weight. The SKS is bulky, and heavy making them ideal for target plinking and to pick up every once in while and wave at your daughter's boyfriend to get his hands of her.

[Cyrano]

Originally Posted by mitch_mckee

I own one.

They are MADE for military ammo. Mine shots about any crap 7.62x39 out there.

Don't know about Curios & relics.

If the SKS gets stolen from the boat or truck, then you haven't lost so much in value as compared to many other rifles.

I checked the BATFE website. Here is the link:

Firearms Curios or Relics List: March 2001 to June 2003 Update

It's midway down the page. Bottom line: the Albanian and Yugoslav SKS rifles, all variants, are classified as Curios & Relics. So are any other SKS rifles manufactured before 1958, because they automatically are classified that way per the basic Curio & Relic rule the BATFE uses:

"Firearms automatically attain curio or relic (C&R) status when they are 50 years old. Any firearm that is at least 50 years old, and in its original configuration, would qualify as a C&R firearm. It is not necessary for such firearms to be listed in ATF’s C&R list. However, if your C&R item is regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and you desire removal from the provisions of the NFA, you must submit the firearm to the Firearms Technology Branch for evaluation and a formal classification."

The last part, I think, is aimed at folks who have antique machine guns and obsolete tank cannons (and no, I am not joking - the 76mm tank cannon used in the late model M4 Shermans is specifically on the C&R list!). It's allowed to have certain destructive devices classified as relics, but it's done on a case by case basis. I don't know how easy it is to get a ruling from BATFE, nor how long it takes; but it's plain they want to see the cannon/machinegun/mortar/whatever itself, not just a picture of it.

Anyone out there ever go through the process of getting an exemption from the BATFE for a particular weapon?

[Beer Forever]

All SKS rifles are C&R guns as long as they are stock.

[jmp8927]

Originally Posted by Beer Forever

I don't think that I have to talk you into buying an SKS, I always thought that you can't have a collection without one. They are best served bone stock. The modification to make them accept AK mags is very difficult and irreversible. There are after market drop in mags that are worthless, don't go that route. Here is the deal, everyone wants to make the SKS like a want to be assault rifle, well I have news for those people, it is never ever going to be considered an assault rifle so stop trying to make them hi cap, it ruins them. The SKS is meant to be an accurate, reliable, trench/all around rifle. It is great for self defense and target shooting, but not for an assault rifle. If you want something for homeland defense then go with removable hi cap mags, high rate of fire, and light weight. The SKS is bulky, and heavy making them ideal for target plinking and to pick up every once in while and wave at your daughter's boyfriend to get his hands of her.

Now that's a bit harsh, don't you think? Just because some of us like to fiddle with our SKS doesn't mean we're trying to make it into a lean mean killing machine. The SKS IS suitable for modifying and if done with a little bit of care, it will IMPROVE the rifle. Just because it wasn't designed to have a high cap mag, or a folding or telescoping stock, or a flashlight or laser sight doesn't mean adding any will somehow make the rifle lesser. A good high cap mag works as well as an original fixed 10rd(you probably tried some of the older, crappy ones and decided they were all crap), but is better because you have more rounds ready to fire faster if it's ever needed. If it isn't needed, that's great. But some people simply can't afford to buy several rifles for different things and want the capability at low cost. That's what the SKS is all about. Capability at an affordable price. Making it "tactical" i.e. rails with flashlight/laser sight also has legitimate reasons. Maybe the rifle is used for hunting hogs or the like. A flashlight would help immensely if one were walking back to their vehicle/home at dark. A laser sight is also great as it allows you to be on target in dim conditions much faster than iron sights would ever allow. Point is, the stock SKS CAN be improved upon. When it was designed, many of the modern accessories were non-existent or not practical cost wise. The overall design was heavily influenced by previous rifles and so was and is outdated in original form. Modding it brings it half a century back up to date.

[SwedeSteve]

I like my SKS's! They are a blast to shoot. They are a semi accurate assault weapon. The Soviets doctrine was always built around the full out offensive assault with massed fires. Accuracy of their assault weapons was never an issue. If you could hit a man sized target out to 200m, then you were fine! There are Chinese SKS's that were manufactered to take 30 rd magazines. They are rare and hard to find. The stripper clips work just fine for me. There are a lot of people out there that want to see all the milsurps disappear! Do not wait too long to get yours.