[ruger22com]

I just won an auction for what appears to be an excellent condition yugo sks on gunbroker (for $100).

Is there anything I need to know about an SKS before I take it out and shoot it?

 

[toolman]

Congrats on the new family member! The SKS is super simple but can be screwed up just like anything else. I would strip, clean, and inspect it just like any gun. The key things to remember are:1. Be extremely careful when disassembling the secondary gas piston assembly or the piston and spring will either go flying across the room or lodge in your eye socket-very painful! 2. The safety has to be engaged when reinstalling the trigger group or it will never go back together-don't try to beat it into submission. 3. Most ammo is non-corrosive but some Chinese, Yugo, and possibly more, is corrosive-be sure to check. 4. There is a ton of info on the web and several of us have one type of SKS or another and can answer almost any question you come up with so have fun with it and let us know if it breaks!

 

[Big Dog]

Just remember - the Yugos don't have the chrome-lined bore - keep it cleaned!
The Yugos also like the good commercial Rem and Win ammo for best accuracy.
Your only problem may be in the gas valve of a Yugo. Shoot it and see how she performs - any function problems, we can help you.

My Yugo SKS is one of my favorite rifles to shoot.

 

[TULAver]

Is there anything I need to know about an SKS before I take it out and shoot it?

Well, one thing to know is that they can eat a lot more than you're prepared to feed them. When I go out, I always end up looking for that one more box of ammo that I was sure I had.

Don't get it wet, since it's a Yugo, and oh yeah, there was one more thing... never feed them after midnight.

 

[ruger22com]

Is the ammo that cheap, or is it worthwhile reloading what the sks shoots?

(I have everything to reload but the dies & brass)

 

[jerry]

Unless your loading for a specific hunting or target shooting round it isn't worth it IMO. 7.62x39 runs right around $ .13 per round. Not worth my time anyways.

Also, you need to watch the primers. Most primers we buy as components are softer. This may or may not cause slam fires as the firing pin in the SKS as many other mil rifles "floats" in the bolt.

Iv'e found S&B is pretty accurate in both mine. They quit importing it though. Silver Bear Match shoots nicely. Wolf is good for general plinking. Fun gun.

 

[TULAver]

Only cheaper ammo is .22lr. Like BigDog has said before, you'll get a lot better accuracy out of somethign a little more expensive like Winchester white box fmj, but I think for the money, you can't hardly beat Wolf, Monarch, and the other cheap steel cased, laquered, military style ammos.

My best accuracy so far has been with silvertip Chinasports ammo, copper washed stuff. Haven't been able to find any except the couple of boxes I bought when I first saw it.

 

[toolman]

Ruger, Wolf runs about $2.00\box at Cheaper Than Dirt. BTW, I've got a pretty large selection of different brands of 7.62x39 ammo for sale right now as I just traded my SKS for a pistol. P.M. me if you're interested. I'm going to inventory what I have tonight.

 

[BattleRifleG3]

None of the current production ammo is corrosive. I'd suggest feeding it a steady diet of Wolf or other cheap current production steel cased stuff, and use Remington or Winchester for the really high precision stuff. Silver bear is a good compromise. Handloading may compete with the US ammo pricewise, but not the non-reloadable steel cased stuff. Only reload if you want maximum accuracy and can develop a good, affordable load to get it. Or to use your choice of hunting bullet.