School me on the SKS

[Pahoo]

I stand corrected; What the dealer described to me as a "Tanker", was actually a;

Chinese Norinco Paratrooper Type SKS 7.62x39 16" w/ Bayonet & Sling

Be Safe !!!

[MTT TL]

what SKS is that?? To me, "musket length" implies long, and I've never seen or heard of a long barrel SKS.

Most SKSs have an OAL of 40-44", compared to the 26.5" of most ARs or even the 35" of an AK it seems awkwardly long to me. Extend out the pokey part and it is going to be chest high on most.

[44 AMP]

compared to the 26.5" of most ARs

I think you ought to back up that statement with some figures.
I'm NOT talking about AR pistols, or SBRs, here, but carbines and rifles.

MOST AR's are considerably longer than your claim. The M4, with a 14.5" barrel (which, by numbers made is not "most ARs) is 29.75" with the stock collapsed and 33" with the stock extended. The standard M16A1 goes a bit under 39" and the A2 is about half an inch longer yet.

I checked on the length of several ACTUAL muskets, and they are between 56 and 60 inches overall, not counting the "pokey part".

40-44" is simply not "Musket length", and the majority of ARs are not as short as you claimed.

If you have data supporting your claim, please, share it...

[DeltaFiveBravo]

I bought an SKS Para about 10 years ago when I walked into a local gunshot and saw it in the rack for, I don't know, something like $349.00. It has a pitted barrel that cotton patches snag on when I run them through the bore, and despite that it shoots about 3" groups at 100 yards.

The length and balance of the Para model I got makes it a handy little gun. IIRC the barrel is about 16".

When I got it, it had a 20 rd detachable duckbill magazine on it, I think Tapco. After a couple of misfeeds that required three hands to hold the bolt open, operate the magazine release, and pull the magazine out, I decided to look for an original 10 round fixed magazine. I found one and installed it and it's been running fine ever since.

[MTT TL]

MOST AR's are considerably longer than your claim. The M4, with a 14.5" barrel (which, by numbers made is not "most ARs) is 29.75" with the stock collapsed and 33" with the stock extended. The standard M16A1 goes a bit under 39" and the A2 is about half an inch longer yet.

It is kind of silly to include M4's, M16A1/2 as practically none are in private hands. But even a full length 16" barrel, with the stock extended is still going to be 5-9" shorter, a pistol AR much shorter.

[44 AMP]

I thought it was kind of silly to say the SKS carbines are "musket length".

I get that you feel the SKS is too long to be a good home defense gun. But, you made what I feel is a ridiculous claim that "most" ARs have a length of 26.5", so, I'm saying, prove it.

You want to exclude the 10million + ARs in military service, fine. OF the several million ARs owned by private citizens in the United States, that are not legally pistols or SBRs, show me how "most" of them are 26.5" long, and not longer.

[HiBC]

There was a time... IIRC Bill Clinton was Pres...some Chinese arms dealer may have been privileged to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom...

And AIM Surplus had pretty good Russian 7.62x39 ammo for $69 a thousand delivered.
I went to a local gun show and found New In The Box Norinco 16 in bbl,10 shot, no bayonet , chrome bore SKS for $79.

I bought one just to have a tool to shoot the cheap AIM Surplus ammo.

Yes,the stock was pallet grade wood. It did slam fire a bit till I detail cleaned it. Problem solved.

I actually had to concede that,for the price,it was a pretty good "Volksrifle"

It would transform the unarmed citizen to an armed citizen. Not my first choice for a deer rifle,but it would make venison.

It was quite reliable after initial break in. I tried a cheapo SKS scope on mine. It actually shot pretty well. Probably as well as a cheap pencil barreled faux M-4 or a Mini-14. Not a bragger,but adequate.

Given the timing and the market, it was a great deal and very good value.

Today? Everything is a "Classic Collector" . (Including a 73 Chevy Pickup) I would not pay $300 for any SKS myself. The $69 a thousand ammo is gone so I don't need a tool to use it. The SKS found a new home.

As others have mentioned,there are cheep AR's available.Probably a better deal

As far as "Tanker vs Paratroop" variations.......I doubt there are a lot of SKS wielding tankers in the world...or Airborne Divisions of SKS armed Paratroopers.
I think you might find more 4 foot something 85 pound dangerous women who might be driving tennis shoes.

[44 AMP]

.I doubt there are a lot of SKS wielding tankers in the world...or Airborne Divisions of SKS armed Paratroopers

.

Today.

There WERE Chinese paratroop units armed with SKS. Today, they aren't, they have different (more modern) arms.

[bamaranger]

SKS question, where did they all go? I can't remember the last time I saw one at the public range near my home, and I have never seen one used legitimately afield. When they were cheap and available, I saw a couple surface in investigations and cases and occassionally in car stops. We viewed them as a "throw away gun" and I think poachers did too.

Now, I never see one, and can't remember the last time I did, except priced too high on a rack in some scalpers shop.

[Ignition Override]

Metal god: You wanted to be schooled.

Are you ready for the SKS Exam?

[Metal god]

lol no , I've learned through this thread they are not worth my time in the exam chair haha .

[tex45acp]

SKS's were the mass produced infantry weapon, prior to the AK-47. It was cheap to make and not designed for accuracy, but to be able to unleash 30 caliber rounds downrange. I have had three of them (bought them when they were less than $100 each) and I gave two of them to my two sons. Theirs were Chinese and mine is the Russian I carry mine in my truck when heading out to the farm to check cattle and dispatch hogs or any other vermin. It is accurate enough to do the job effectively and I don't worry about getting it scratched up or wet since it is a battle rifle. I mounted a 2X handgun scope ahead of the bolt to give it the eye relief I need.
I recently replaced the stock and forearm parts with an aftermarket one to give ma a little better fit to my long arms.

[Ricklin]

Once I find the pieces for the pokey thing I may sell off my Russian SKS, does not hold any appeal, and darn if they have not gone up substantially. They cease being a blast when blasting ammo is no longer darn near free. I'm seeing 500 + on GB closed auctions, I can't think of any of my investments that have appreciated 500% + in 20 years. We shall however call this an anomaly, and 500 bucks does not take one far today.
Edit: Holy Jeepers, more like a grand now for a nice Rusky SKS, I just reminded my bride she did not agree with me purchasing ten of these back then, I've one left of the three I purchased for 89 bucks. ea. cash and carry.

[tangolima]

The way the SKS action works. It is interesting. I'm actually surprised...

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Ignition Override]

tangolima:

You might know that the Czech VZ-58’s op rod system is pretty identical to the SKS,
although the VZ-58 receiver’s striker design has nothing in common with an AKM (hammer etc).

[chadio]

Bought a shorty SKS approx. 10 years ago, $349. Norinco...

It had a duckbill detachable mag, immediately took that off and went back to the trap door. Had a bipod mounted on the bayo lug, took that off and put the bayo back on. Had a cheese grater upper handguard, put a wood one back on. Added an extension to the butt, to add l.o.p.

Did not buy as an investment, just to shoot. Family and friends really enjoy my SKS, as do I. Personally, I think they are among the coolest looking of rifles.... Also, the SKS / AK history is interesting to me. Took me a loooong time and many rounds to really feel the trigger: very long, soft stage, then there is a very subtle shelf...

Since I got the AK a couple years ago, figured might as well buy a case of Tula before it dries up. Think I paid $399 for 1K

Next time I have the safe open, I'll grab a photo...

[JohnKSa]

It was cheap to make and not designed for accuracy, but to be able to unleash 30 caliber rounds downrange.

As far as accuracy goes, the general consensus is that a good SKS will outshoot a good AK. They really aren't that bad as far as accuracy goes.

[HiBC]

I'll agree my SKS shot pretty decent for military ammo.

Seems like the Simonov design (I might be wrong) but wasn't it first applied to an "Anti-Tank" rifle along the lines of the 55 Boys? Maybe a 12.7?

An SKS version of a Barrett light 50? I think that gun may have predated the SKS rifle. But maybe I'm wrong.

[Wag]

Originally Posted by JohnKSa

As far as accuracy goes, the general consensus is that a good SKS will outshoot a good AK. They really aren't that bad as far as accuracy goes.

This has been my experience as well.

--Wag--

[Ignition Override]

The standard-length SKS has a longer “sight distance” than the AK.

Sidenote: About seven years ago a tough-looking female militia soldier was guarding some Ukrainian prisoners with her SKS. In the Donetsk region iirc.

And her bayonet was extended, just in case..

[Doc TH]

The SKS does what it was intended to do pretty well. It achieves acceptable 1940-1950's era military accuracy with relatively inexpensive and adequately powerful ammunition. The internal magazine limits reloads, but also eliminates problems with lost, damaged, unreliable or costly external magazines. The weight makes recoil negligible. The forged receiver (all Russian models) is virtually indestructible, and the rifle as a whole is very robust and simple to disassemble and clean. And most have chromed chambers and barrels - years before we distributed the first M16's in RVN - without that feature.

[44 AMP]

I find it somewhat amusing when people say Soviet military designs are cheap, or cheaply made, implying low quality overall.

People who say such things don't have a good understanding of the Soviet system or their design and manufacturing philosophies.

Cheap to make? sure, you betcha! Communists don't pay cash to make things in their system.

Generally speaking Soviet equipment is decently or even well finished, where they feel it needs to be, and less so, or not at all, where they don't think it matters.

Guns, and other things designed and made to be operated by conscript armies, with less education and technical experience than many other nations, and particularly in the WWII era.

For some things the Soviets strive for superior, but for most things, they go with adequate over excellent. The SKS is quite good at what it was meant for. Reliable (in original configuration), Accurate enough to meet their standards, durable and rugged enough to survive and remain functional in very adverse conditions.

A lot of the stories of inaccuracy are not the rifles as much as poor quality combloc surplus ammo.

In the SKS you have a somewhat light, somewhat short 10 shot .30 cal semi auto with almost the power of a .30-30 Winchester and general accuracy good enough to hit men at up to 3-400 meters if conditions allow.

Not a bad rifle for tank riding infantry shock troops, in the late 40s.

[JohnKSa]

There's a saying attributed to Voltaire: "The best is the enemy of good." Often translated: "The best is the enemy of good enough."

Supposedly this saying really struck a chord with some higher-ups in the Russian military.

[44 AMP]

A quote attributed to Patton goes something like this "almost any plan, executed today, beats the best plan, executed tomorrow."

Many, many others (mostly but not exclusively military leaders) have expressed the same idea in differing ways over many centuries.

Soviet military equipment, from boots to jet planes, subs and tanks, focus on what they consider the military essentials, and everything else takes a back seat, if it gets a seat, at all.

Sometimes they go so far it actually degrades the efficiency of operation. Not so much with small arms, which are pretty simple systems, but it does sometimes happen.