The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The North Corral > Curios and Relics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 30, 2013, 07:06 PM   #1
YankeeIronSights
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 261
Yugo SKS vs. Chinese Sino-Soviet Type 56 SKS

Hey Guys,

I have a chance to buy either a Chinese Type 56 Sino-Soviet SKS or a Yugo SKS M59/66. Both are in decent shape and cost about $400.00 each.

I know Yugo barrels are not chrome lined and are heavier. Both have milled parts and are true military versions of this great rifle.

Which one would you pick if you could only afford one or the other....?

Thanks !!!
YankeeIronSights is offline  
Old May 30, 2013, 07:17 PM   #2
tahunua001
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 21, 2011
Location: Idaho
Posts: 7,839
the Yugos have the muzzle break/grenade launcher and we not made in quite the numbers so from a collectability standpoint the yugo is a smarter option as it will appreciate in value faster than the t56.

however if you plan on tacticooling it up or even just upgrading the sights the chinese is the better way to go as 922R states that once a SKS is moved out of factory configuration it must contain no more than 10 foreign made parts from a specific list. as it stands the chinese is not hard to do as it only has 14 parts overall from the list and changing the magazine and stock are enough to satisfy the requirement but the muzzlebreak on the yugo means you have to find some other part to remove/replace and the only parts besides stocks and mags are pretty spendy($80 for a new piston, $30 for a trigger, $25 for a hammer, $35 for a sear etc etc...).

however I would also like to point out that the yugo is overpriced by about $50 and the Chinese is overpriced by about $100. I just bought one back during the whole gun scare for $239... granted it was in rough shape but the difference is not so great with SKS. the yugo isn't a bad deal but I would prefer I chinese from someone with better prices.
__________________
ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar.
I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein
You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin
tahunua001 is offline  
Old May 30, 2013, 07:40 PM   #3
YankeeIronSights
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 261
Yugo SKS vs. Chinese Sino-Soviet Type 56 SKS

Do you think the Yugo's configuration makes it more accurate? Some have said its 3 dot sights and extra weight improves its performance. Is this correct?
YankeeIronSights is offline  
Old May 30, 2013, 08:00 PM   #4
JD0x0
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 30, 2013
Posts: 1,037
Quote:
Do you think the Yugo's configuration makes it more accurate? Some have said its 3 dot sights and extra weight improves its performance. Is this correct?
In my limited experience it seems like the Yugo could potentially be more accurate. Having the heavier (thicker) barrel means less barrel whip which should lend to better accuracy. I've also heard that chrome lining tends to have slightly worse accuracy than non-chrome but the chrome lined barrels will take more abuse.
JD0x0 is offline  
Old May 30, 2013, 08:45 PM   #5
tahunua001
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 21, 2011
Location: Idaho
Posts: 7,839
I have no personal experience with the yugo myself so I can't say which one is inherently more accurate but my t56 regularly rings oxygen tanks at 200 yards and that's only because I haven't tried taking it farther than that. it's plenty accurate as long as you do your part. much better accuracy than my old AK and way better than I was expecting from a 7.62x39. the bore condition will probably be the deciding factor in how accurate it is. if yours was issued to a little old man that only used it to fight the capitolists on sundays then it will probably be more accurate than the one that spent 15 years at the father stalins academy for boys.
__________________
ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar.
I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein
You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin
tahunua001 is offline  
Old May 30, 2013, 09:08 PM   #6
Cheapshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
Quote:
Both are in decent shape and cost about $400.00 each.
My vote goes to the Chinese. Haven't looked at the distributors pages lately, but there have been plenty of Yugos around. Especially a few years ago when I picked them up for $90 to $120 in "like new" condition. Not so much with the Chinese Type 56.
Shooter wise, and accuracy wise, it's an SKS, either one. It ain't no fine target rifle!
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!
Cheapshooter is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:31 AM   #7
springer99
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2008
Posts: 355
I don't notice any particular difference in accuracy between the Chinese and Yugo versions I have, and from considering that they follow the same design that makes sense. Like all surplus arms, condition is key, and your chances of getting a great Yugo are probably much better than finding a stellar Chinese. The Yugo has a more involved gas value system due to the grenade launcher, so check it closely for rust, etc. Having a chrome plated bore doesn't mean much to me, since I clean my firearms. Both make very handy carbines though, and are pretty bullet-proof in their miliary garb.

Now, if my supply of 22mm grenades was better, I know which one I'd vote for in a heartbeat.
springer99 is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:36 AM   #8
jimbob86
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2007
Location: All the way to NEBRASKA
Posts: 8,722
Quote:
Now, if my supply of 22mm grenades was better, I know which one I'd vote for in a heartbeat.
I have a Yugo ........ and a Dream.

22mm RG lawn darts, anyone?
jimbob86 is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:37 AM   #9
jimbob86
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2007
Location: All the way to NEBRASKA
Posts: 8,722
Also, the Yugo may need the "Paper Clip Fix" ...... mine did.
jimbob86 is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 11:19 AM   #10
Gunplummer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 2010
Location: South East Pa.
Posts: 3,364
The Chinese had to have Walmart show them how to make lawn chairs. Think they were any better in the 50's ?
Gunplummer is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 11:21 AM   #11
tahunua001
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 21, 2011
Location: Idaho
Posts: 7,839
Quote:
The Chinese had to have Walmart show them how to make lawn chairs. Think they were any better in the 50's ?
the chinese got all their tooling from russia to build the SKS and russian advisors hung around for a year to make sure that they built them right.
__________________
ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar.
I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein
You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin
tahunua001 is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:04 PM   #12
YankeeIronSights
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 261
Yugo SKS vs. Chinese Sino-Soviet Type 56 SKS

Update:

I visited my LGS and inspected the SKS rifles. Based on your suggestions and comments, I decided to buy the Yugo SKS M59/66. The decision was easy because the Yugo was in "like new" condition... All matching numbers and perfect barrel and crown.

The Chinese rifle's barrel had some nicks around the crown/bore and the stock showed a lot of wear. Nevertheless, I will probably buy a Chinese or a Russian SKS after I save extra cash. My LGS will probably bring more good SKS rifles in the future.

Thanks for all your advice.
YankeeIronSights is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:05 PM   #13
Gunplummer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 2010
Location: South East Pa.
Posts: 3,364
You are a used car salesman's dream. Look at the junk China has exported to the U.S. for the last 15 years. I remember when they started exporting their copy of the M1-A. There were guys doing a business re-heat treating the operating rods and receivers along with selling replacement spring packs. I wonder if the barrels are pinned in like the AK's? I would not let your kids gnaw on the stock, as it is probably lead base shellac on it.
Gunplummer is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:06 PM   #14
Unspoken
Member
 
Join Date: October 12, 2012
Posts: 99
You made the choice I'd have made.

Also- Pics or it didn't happen.
__________________
Proverb for Paranoids: The innocence of the Creatures is in inverse proportion to the immorality of the Master. -T. Pynchon
Unspoken is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:10 PM   #15
jimbob86
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2007
Location: All the way to NEBRASKA
Posts: 8,722
IIRC, the yugos omitted the chrome lined barrels- clean them religiously. and promptly, especially after firing ammo of questionable origin.
jimbob86 is offline  
Old May 31, 2013, 09:17 PM   #16
YankeeIronSights
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 261
Yugo SKS vs. Chinese Sino-Soviet Type 56 SKS

I will post photos soon !!!
YankeeIronSights is offline  
Old June 1, 2013, 12:54 AM   #17
Ignition Override
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 18, 2008
Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy
Posts: 2,884
When the Russians developed the AK and began producing it, only then did the Soviet Union feel secure enough to ship manufacturing tools to the PRC to manufacture the SKS.
The Soviets never trusted the Chinese, no matter how Communist they were.

My choice was a Norinco SKS, having a better balance/less weight than the generic Yugo which has the grenade launcher.
But the Yugos reportedly are probably the most rugged SKS ever built, and the wood is much harder than Chinese choa wood.

"SKSboards" has many times more info than most people would care to read.
They even have forums for the Albanian and Romanian versions.
Ignition Override is offline  
Old June 1, 2013, 07:40 AM   #18
bustersmaster
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 8, 2006
Posts: 182
I sold my yugo last year so I could buy my chinese sks. The yugo gas valve is a corrosion nightmare if you don't clean it after every use, no matter how little that use is.
bustersmaster is offline  
Old June 1, 2013, 09:49 AM   #19
tahunua001
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 21, 2011
Location: Idaho
Posts: 7,839
Quote:
When the Russians developed the AK and began producing it, only then did the Soviet Union feel secure enough to ship manufacturing tools to the PRC to manufacture the SKS.
The Soviets never trusted the Chinese, no matter how Communist they were.
somehow this rings untrue as the russians gave China the tooling for both the SKS and AK47 at the same time. both chinese versions were called the type 56 though one is a 56 rifle and one is a 56 carbine.
__________________
ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar.
I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein
You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin
tahunua001 is offline  
Old June 1, 2013, 07:48 PM   #20
jimbob86
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2007
Location: All the way to NEBRASKA
Posts: 8,722
Quote:
The yugo gas valve is a corrosion nightmare if you don't clean it after every use, no matter how little that use is.
Stop putting that Commie Lowest Bidder corossive crap through it, and clean it after every use, and corrosion will be a non-issue.
jimbob86 is offline  
Old June 2, 2013, 12:01 PM   #21
bustersmaster
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 8, 2006
Posts: 182
Being able to burn through cheap ammo is one of the benefits of owning a rifle that was also made by "commies". It doesn't seem to bother my chinese SKS a bit and except for the gas valve, it got along just fine in my old yugo.
I haven't seen one box of US made 7.62x39 ammo since the panic set in. Even at the old prices of ammo, that stuff was expensive to shoot.
bustersmaster is offline  
Old June 2, 2013, 09:41 PM   #22
YankeeIronSights
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 261
Yugo SKS vs. Chinese Sino-Soviet Type 56 SKS

As I promised, here are the photos of my new Yugo SKS.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1370226632.278586.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1370226648.007618.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1370226661.358552.jpg
At the range, it worked perfect. I used Russian made Tulano 124 gr. HP Steel Case, Non-Corrosive Berdan Primed ammo without a single problem. I love this new rifle. At 50 yards I was able to achieve 3-4 inch grouping the very first time I shot it. I can't wait to return to the range for more practice.
YankeeIronSights is offline  
Old June 2, 2013, 11:32 PM   #23
tahunua001
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 21, 2011
Location: Idaho
Posts: 7,839
very nice, you should also be able to shrink those groups with practice, these rifles are able to easily do 1-1.5 inch at that range, though the sights make it difficult.
__________________
ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar.
I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein
You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin
tahunua001 is offline  
Old June 2, 2013, 11:34 PM   #24
bustersmaster
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 8, 2006
Posts: 182
Looks great. Glad it's a good shooter, too. That berdan-primed ammo is about the best stuff I've found, but I haven't seen any since the big "panic".
bustersmaster is offline  
Old June 3, 2013, 08:00 AM   #25
Unspoken
Member
 
Join Date: October 12, 2012
Posts: 99
Is it just me or does that stock look sanded?
...And get your dang toes out of the pic!


Cool Yugo though! Nice addition. This might sound strange, but both Yugos I've owned shot better using the flip-up grenade launcher sites.
__________________
Proverb for Paranoids: The innocence of the Creatures is in inverse proportion to the immorality of the Master. -T. Pynchon
Unspoken is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.13384 seconds with 11 queries