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Old November 25, 2012, 11:44 PM   #1
J270
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sks?

Are the Chinese made sks a quality gun? Are their any that one should avoid?
I just want a fun high powered semi auto for plinking.
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Old November 25, 2012, 11:53 PM   #2
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THe Chinese made many different models. I recommend getting one in its original design, and without any modifications.
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Old November 25, 2012, 11:55 PM   #3
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I have a Russian SKS. And recommend them highly.
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Old November 26, 2012, 12:13 AM   #4
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There are some fairly substantial quality difference in Chinese SKS models. You can read about the differences for a long time on SKS forums. Two of the more comprehensive sources of SKS information are Survivor's SKS Boards and Yooper John.
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Old November 26, 2012, 12:29 AM   #5
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My Norinco Para runs like a champ, is surprisingly accurate, and seems well-made. As much as I enjoyed the M14 in my Navy days and would love to own an M1A, the SKS is just too affordable and enjoyable to ignore, period.
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Old November 26, 2012, 12:30 AM   #6
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Personally I think the Yugos are a better value if you're looking for a shooter. The bore won't be chrome lined but that's not a huge issue to me. They're fairly accurate and can be had almost new for under $400. I doubt you'll find an almost new Chinese or Russian for under $400 any more. For collector value, Russian would be the way to go unless you can find a good deal on one of the more rare versions (E. German maybe).

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Old November 26, 2012, 01:04 AM   #7
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I had a Norinco SKS and absolutely loved and wish I hadn't sold it. Never had any issues with it. Fun to shoot and had fun doing some mods on it. My favorite part was the cheap x39 ammo.
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Old November 26, 2012, 02:32 AM   #8
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ya! I see those on Gun Broker new for 300 to 400,inported from china sport.
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Old November 26, 2012, 04:31 AM   #9
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I love my Norinco SKS. It can shoot about 2-3 moa with 125gr silver bear sp ammo. Makes a decent woods gun for me since about the farthest shot I can get is about 50-75 yards.
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Old November 26, 2012, 08:01 AM   #10
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I have a couple of the newly imported ones from century. They're loaded with cosmo and have some wear but for $230 who cares ? Both shoot just fine and they're the milled model Type 56s so their build quality is extremely high.
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Old November 26, 2012, 08:02 AM   #11
Rifleman1952
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I own a militarized version of the Chinese SKS. I have read that the quality of the military versions range from good to excellent. My Type 56 has been an excellent performer, with no major issues except for the one time I tried an aftermarket extended 30 round magazine. There were some FTE's with the extended mag, so I went back to the factory 10 rounder and had no further problems. It may have been just a bad magazine.

I have also read that the quality of the Chinese SKS rifles, produced specifically for export (non military commercial versions), varies considerably. I would advise staying with the military version. My military version has a triangle, with the number 26 in it (the number designates the factory where manufactured), stamped on the left side of the receiver, followed by some Chinese letters and then the serial number. The serial number is also stamped on the left side of the butt stock on versions produced for the military, at that time. My SKS was manufactured in 1964.

I bought mine back in the early 90s because it seemed like a lot of gun for the money ($199) at the time. I don't shoot it a lot; probably put 1000 rounds through it in 20 years, but my opinion has not changed. It's a lot of gun for the money...highly reliable, decently accurate out to 200 yards (haven't tried it at any longer distance), inexpensive for plinking/target shooting, and with the right ammo good enough for coyotes/pigs or even white tailed deer in states where permitted to use for deer (not in Ohio). The SKS is a very versatile rifle for the person on a budget.

Last edited by Rifleman1952; November 27, 2012 at 07:42 AM.
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Old November 27, 2012, 05:41 PM   #12
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I've had them all, and before having to liquidate a bunch of them for financial needs I did a lot of comparing and evaluating. When I let most of them go, I kept a Yugo. Had multiple Russian, Albanian, Chinese, and Yugos and like them all. I do not believe that there is much difference in the military versions, any as-designed SKS is a fine weapon, the Chinese military ones were good enough. I feel like fit and finish is lacking on many Chinese rifles though, and commercial versions often had bad mags.

I like the Russians for the cool factor, Yugos because they seem heftier and more stable, and Chinese military pattern rifles if you just need a reliable SKS. You can get a fiberglass stock that will fit a Chinese SKS with minor effort, if you don't like some of the CHinese wood that is notoriously ugly in my opinion.
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Old November 27, 2012, 07:42 PM   #13
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Had mine since '88.
It's one of the "genuine" government rifles, not one of the later tourist models.
Good gun.
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Old November 29, 2012, 05:40 PM   #14
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I have two military versions, Russian and Chinese and they are awesome.
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Old November 30, 2012, 09:55 AM   #15
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Are the brand new ones that you can get off gun broker any good. I think their imported from china sport.
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Old December 2, 2012, 09:57 AM   #16
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There are no brand new SKS. Someone might say NIB, but that doesn't mean it was made last week. The SKS hasn't been built for years, and importation from China was ended during the Clinton years. The recent batch of imports of Chinese SKS came from Albania, and were originally produced in the late 1950's typically.

The SKS is a quality built piece, regardless of country of origin IMO. Look for the best condition you can, and keep it in an original configuration. All the "tac-T-cool" modifications do not help the SKS.
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Old December 2, 2012, 03:56 PM   #17
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I just picked up a yugo sks from widners for $319 I hope its not a rust bucket! lol I'm seeing "new' yugo sks's on gb for $550 insane!
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Old December 2, 2012, 04:07 PM   #18
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I've got a Norinco SKS (Chinese) that takes AK mags that I paid $159 for back in the early 90's. It has functioned flawlessly over the years and is more accurate than I am with iron sights. I installed an a/market peep sight that mounts on the rear of the reciever. It made a world of difference.
Awesome gun for the money. I don't shoot it much but I wouldn't part with it.
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Old December 2, 2012, 09:20 PM   #19
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Over the past year I have purchased 4 Yugos, three in like new (almost unfired condition) and a beater that I cut the barrel down to 16". The Yugos are extremely well made and heavier than the Chineese models. I would suggest going with a yugo if a 20 inch barrel doesn't bother you. The beater one has a tapco gas tube w/ mounted laser for in home defense.
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Old December 3, 2012, 11:03 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hairbag
I just picked up a yugo sks from widners for $319 I hope its not a rust bucket! lol I'm seeing "new' yugo sks's on gb for $550 insane!
Is that the asking price or what they're actually getting for them???? No way I'd pay that much for a Yugo, I thought I over paid for mine when I paid $350. It would be nice if the value went up that much in less than a year though.

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Old December 3, 2012, 02:32 PM   #21
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Quote:
Are the Chinese made sks a quality gun? Are their any that one should avoid?
Yes, the Chinese SKS rifles are a quality piece, I am partial to the earlier Jainshe armory rifles that were built like the Russian models. I don't really know of any specific ones to avoid.
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Old December 3, 2012, 07:24 PM   #22
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Like towboat-er I have a Russian SKS and I am happy with it.
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Old December 3, 2012, 08:38 PM   #23
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Not sure if their selling for $550 it was the "buy it now" price which does not matter much cause the starting bid was $449 lol but it look pretty nice said it was new old stock yugo 59 with all the fixins (unfired). The prices are going up on the higher end sks's for sure. They shoot cheap ammo well
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Old December 3, 2012, 11:58 PM   #24
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Had a Yugo, got fed up with the added junk on the end, no decent way to add a red dot and the weight was a bit much. Wouldn't feed Wolf Hollowpoints.

Sold it and got a Saiga.
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Old December 4, 2012, 02:24 AM   #25
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With the rifle's value and ammo cost, it is hard to really go wrong, for an iron sight rifle. The ammo could soon drop back to about .20/rd. for Russian-made 7.62x39.

Only the Yugo (corrosive) or 5.45x39 is cheaper center-fire rifle ammo.

The only component I've ever added to a gun (all are milsurps) was the fully-adjustable Tech Sight.
The really improved accuracy makes me regret that was not done much sooner.
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