@AkOperatorsUnion, my pleasure! Thank you for the content. My father was a Marine, and I showed him the video where you used a rubber-band, and a tooth-pick to keep you're AK running, not a full speed, but a few shot's, and he said there's nothing you can use to quick-fix an M16. It's complete crap! I wish you could see all of the US Marines, ARMY, Navy Seal's, that like the AK better than M16/M4. Take care.
Scenario: There are four of you left. You're position is about to be overrun. You have 2 functioning SKS rifles with bayonets. You also have 2 crates of ammunition on 10 round clips. 250 yards separate you and the enemy and you have a rise to fight from. Do you; A. Take both rifles and hold them off so the other three escape? Or; do you B. Split into 2 pairs {one man firing and one loading} using the bayonet as a monopod? The "crew served" SKS
I wanted to get an SKSs for a couple of bux back then just to have one but never did. Look at the prices on them now. Those people that bought containers of surplus sks and couldn't dump them are making big bux now 😂
$64.99! Hole cow! I paid $300 for my preban Norinco. But it came with 6 75 round drums, two 100 round drums, and twenty thirty round mags and 600 round of Norinco ammo. It's kind of a rare one. I was offered $3500 for in a couple years ago. But not for sale. Too good a gun. :)
@@markwhite6782 Well, I woke up today and realized I got my guns mixed up. I actually paid $600 for my Norinco with all the extras. Still an awesome deal though. $300 is what I paid for my SLR-95. One of the best AKs ever made in my opinion. I think it was exactly $289 plus tax, new in the box. Also paid $300 new for my Draco. Another favorite. :) Love Mosin Nagants too. Wish I'd bought more. If I could go back in time I'd buy as many crates of cheap 762x39 and 7.63x54r as I could. I don't understand why republican presidents won't even mention undoing all the ammo import bans. :(
@@mikey92362 I have wondered the same thing. Why can't any of these import bans be reversed. Most people are unaware that about 1/2 of all ammo shot through AR-15's and 95% through AK's come from Russia ie Wolf, Barnaul (Brown, Silver and Golden Bear), Golden Tiger,Tula etc. Well, the kid sniffer got them banned. Now he's trying to ban Lake City ammo from being sold to pedestrians. Lake City accounts for roughly 1/3 of all ammo shot through AR-15's ie M855 and M193. Now if he's succesful he will have gotten rid of 90% of our supply but oh, it gets better. Every government agency is tying up private ammo manufactures like Winchester, Federal, CCI, Black Hills etc so that their is very little left for us to purchase. I mean C'mon man the IRS ordered 10 million rounds just this year. Did you know the federal government purchases more ammo than all of the military branches combined? Fact check that then explain why the EPA is buying machine guns and millions of rounds of ammo. They are all just government agencies purchasing as much as they can, not because they need it but because they don't want it available to you and I but if so we will pay a much higher price. This is working like a charm for them right now. 7.62 ammo should not be over 5 cents a round when one looks at the components and manufacturing speed. This is frustrating. Lift the bans and let the Chinese export along with the Russians!
I believe the choice is way too difficult for the average enthusiast to make. The correct answer is it doesn't matter which you buy, because you will eventually buy the other as well.
@@tubeguy4066 you can outfit an SKS so it has a folding stock, and a 30-rd magazine! You can take all of the wood off, and make you're own transparent furniture that is also heat-resistant (LOWES hardware store). You can fix a hook that takes a handgun, and still let's you rotate the handgun 360 degrees, and that's you're foregrip.
@@ghostwriter1415 - Don't bother with the 30 round magazine. Tried the SKS with the 30rd curved non-AK-47 patterned magazine. It will only feed with moderate reliability when the magazine is loaded with 24 to 25 rounds. Using AK-47 patterned 30rd magazine and the rifle will missfeed or doublefeed every second or third round. Just stick with the standard 10 round fixed magazine and practice how to load fast with striper clips. The SKS was design to use the 10 round fixed magazine and it functions with near absolute reliability with it.
The short stroke piston also seems to be a contributer to improved accuracy, perhaps it has better harmonics than the long stroke AK, not sure if it matters on slowly paced round counts vs full auto or fast paced semi auto fire rates.
A gun dealer that I knew who has since passed away loved the SKS. He told me of all the firearms that he ever sold, that nobody ever brought back an SKS with a complaint. He said that his customers could destroy any gun in no time at all, often returning the disassembled firearm in a miasma of dissociated parts. He never had that problem with an SKS. The design is fool proof. I own both AK's and and Yugo SKS. They are fun to shoot.
Why would any gun shop accept a return on a firearm that was used and broken, much destroyed by a customer. In my experience, if there is a problem with it, it’s between you and the manufacturer. I must be buying my toys from the wrong toy stores. 😂
I picked up a “new” looking sks from a older guy that picked a bunch up in the 80s. Absolutely love that rifle and it will be a heirloom piece. My AK and SKS will never be sold
I have two SKS...one is a Yugo M49/56 I picked up still packed in cosmoline, the other is an early Chinese in superb condition. It just feels so good when you shoulder it. It's one of my primary home defense guns and I'm looking at it right now. I would never sell either of my SKS rifles.
It actually puts me in a better mood when I see that Rob and company have uploaded a new video! Thank you and your wonderful family for all you do for us as it is genuinely appreciated.
I love my Chinese sks. I've had it for years and it's a great shooter. Finally got me an AK a couple months ago and I love it too. It's a Wasr 10/63. Great video as always
My Wife bought me a NEW Norinco SKS for Christmas back in 1993 when they were "Cheap" (she paid $94.00 out the door from a Pawn Shop). The Problem was, she didn't buy any ammo for it because she said she was afraid I wouldn't like it ( I told her a Rifle with no ammo is useless and just a "steel handled club"). This was back when you could get the Norinco Yellow Box Steel Core ammo less than $40.00 A CASE! After that Christmas, I asked a Co-Worker who was an FFL if he could get me a case or two and he told me "NO Problem, It's Everywhere!" for $35.00 a case. Well, after a month or two of me asking, he finally said he couldn't find it anywhere due to the ammo ban. After a couple of months, I ended up finding some Russian Hollow Point down in Houston for $85.00 a case.
Though the AK has more capacity, the SKS in my mind seems like a better “survival” rifle. No worries about lost or damaged magazines. You can still load a full 10 rounds by hand if you don’t have stripper clips etc.
@LURIFAX Completely agree with that too. And there should be plenty of both AK and AR mags to 'obtain' given that they're both so common. I'm just weird... I wanted something last ditch, something I could use no matter what in addition to the other stuff I have.
My first rifle was my Russian sks. I later bought a paratrooper model then I got into AK’s a bit later. I prefer the AK for sure but sks is close behind. They are bomb proof and extremely reliable.
I picked up a gorgeous YUGO M59 SKS about 15 years ago for around $250-$300, if my memory hasn't failed me. This was Yugoslavia's first SKS. I understand that it's much rarer than the later YUGO M59/66.
I just bought my first SKS.. Numbers matching in great shape was made at the 9696 arsenal in 1974. I'm very impressed with the quality. I gave $650 and I don't regret it they're really nice considering their ole school.....
I just got my first SKS about 4 weeks ago and I absolutely love it my friend traded it to me for some big 250 gallon water tanks I had. He's doing a 4 stage water purification system. But back to my sks it's nothing special it's 1991 Narenco and looks amazing my friend had it for 25 years and never shot it and just looking at it the bluing isn't even wore on the slid by the bolt carrier group my guess is I'm the first person to really shoot it and use it. And loved the video look forward to seeing more of your videos.
I have a SKS sporter that takes AK mags, as much as I like it and never plan to sell it they are finicky as hell. Some mags it runs perfectly and others it won’t even pick up a round from, my AK doesn’t care it just runs. Good video man.
I have several AK and SKS rifles. Your thoughts are right on the money. The only other thing to consider is where you live. If you live in a free state like Texas the AK is the way to go. If you live in a anti freedom state like New York the SKS is probably the way to go.
I have a couple of both, but my go to are my Norinco SKS and AK with the thumb-hole stock. I have reshaped the thumb hole stock and it is now perfect for me. Of all my rifles and shotguns, when I hunt deer I'm most likely going with the SKS.
It was an AK for me. Probably, it's nostalgia as i was first introduced to AK in high school in the USSR. We had to disassemble and reassemble the rifle in xx seconds. Now, I am just having fun shooting it at the range.
I bought a Chinese SKS and it’s a 1963 yr I was born I couldn’t believe it what luck. Stock tore all to hell graffiti carved into it and the bluing on one side of it is worn off where it was apparently carried, but it is pristine on the inside barrel shines like a mirror and shoots like a dream accurate as hell. Great little piece.
I own both, and SKS is easy to sell at the price point vs the higher price point of most quality AKs. It is just a matter of having a bigger pool of people who are able to afford it. That being said, if you ever purchase one, make sure to make the Murray's firing pin change to prevent the slam fire/runaway with sticking firing pins.
When I was a kid, my cousin, my uncle, my dad and a friend, all went in together and got a crate of SKS’s for $150. We’ll never see that again. This was in the early 90’s. We shot the shit out of those things. They were handy and accurate.
Funny enough I had traded a Yugo SKS for a M70 with poly furniture , Miss the SKS but for some reason the AK grew on me equally. The SKS-M is an interesting rifle.
Well Rob… as of a little over a week ago, the SKS is the only one you can still purchase in Washington State… unless you already have an AK, you will not be getting one. That being said, I love my 1951 Tula, it shoots like a dream! - I have many other rifles that are far superior combat rifles, but I still take my SKS whenever I’m chasing coyotes off of my property! Quick, handy, reliable and accurate! 😎👍 Edit: I put an NCStar replacement gas tube with a rail for a scout (long eye relief) scope and mounted a 2-7x30 scope on it. (Some times swapping for an EOTech) I’ve never really been a fan of NCStar… but as far as this mount goes, with the minimal fitting I had to do to install it, it is rock solid and holds a perfect zero. In combination with an ArmsCorp quick detachable mount it is seriously my go to varmint rifle around my property! - don’t get me wrong, I have other rifles that work well… I just have some strange nostalgic attraction to old Soviet rifles…🤷♂️ Du no…
Great video! I love them both. I didn't get into the SKSs right away. I remember the Chinese one selling for $79 or you could buy a crate of 10 for $700. I can't imagine what an original crate of unpacked rifles would go for now. I bought a Russian SKS eventually for $200, a Chinese SKS for $110 and a Yugo SKS for $129. I also own the following AKs Egyptian Maadi, Arsenal SLR95 and a Yugo under folder. Sure wish that I would have bought a lot more guns back in the hay days of gun collecting.
750 bucks is just crazy sounding to me!!! I remember stacking hay as a kid to make 75 bucks to buy my norinco From my neighbors when I was 13 years old... I still have it and it shoots absolutely wonderful
I bought my Russian SKS for $500 in 2017, shot about 2000 rounds with it with little to no issue. Its awesome that it’s probably worth double what I paid for it now, but I feel bad for people just getting into collecting Milsurps now.
As always I enjoyed the video. You always give us tons of useful information. I have a Russian SKS and I absolutely love it. Thanks for posting this information. Take good care of yourself and stay safe my friend.
A couple of years ago I paid $400 for a Chinese SKS in mint condition, about 700 rounds of Chinese 7.62x39 and a swedish Mauser from 1918 with all matching numbers in awesome condition. It was a good day
I'm down to three SKS rifles, two were bring backs from Nam (AK operator didn't mention used military value), The third is a shorter barreled rifle that has been made up with the none wood stock, folding legs for ground support and a score (The previous owner had used it for ground hog hunting). The ones I no longer have, two Chinese that I sold or gave away and the Other was a Russian that I thought was a Chinese to a soon to be ex husband to my sister (If I only knew the marriage was going to flop in two more weeks). I do still have my Norinco under folder from the day! I'm shocked at the price values of these firearms now, Before the Bn on import, I seen dealers were getting rid of the AK's for 150 and I should of at least bought two of them with full wood stocks!
I have a Russian Saiga that’s been worked on it runs and looks like a beast, I also have a 1957 SKS in stock form,only thing I changed was a darker stain. Love them both.
SKS is a great collector piece. Beautiful. But it's a collector piece at this point -- it's slow, very difficult to accessorize, and just generally outdated. Nothing wrong with owning one, I am looking for a nice Izhevsk example, but just to enjoy for what it is.
the tapco magazines for the sks 20 rounder work properly every time. I have tried many different magazines for the SKS, the only ones that work are tapco 20 rounders or the standard. I use the tapco 20 rounder MANY MANY TIMES no failures HOWEVER!!! When you use this tapco 20 round magazine you can not remove it without the bolt being open.
I own both and I will never sell either of them. The SKS is super fun to shoot and is a great learning tool for those new to getting sights on target and shooting slow. I have found that many newcomers are better with the SKS than they are with the AK.
The first rifle I ever shot (centerfire) was the SKS. It was fun at the time and felt like I was shooting such a powerful gun compared to the 22lr I was used too. That was my dad's fun gun at the time. I was too scared to shoot his 30-06 back then when I was 10, but my first hunting rifle was a Mosin Nagant that I started using when I was 15, brings back some great memories, lol.
My dad has a russian sks that I remember came completely covered in cosmoline wrapped in a plastic bag. Took us awhile to get it all off but I remember i thought it was awesome. I ended up getting a norinco a decade later. Not as nice as dads but still very nice. Ejects shells thirty feet lol. Fun guns for sure. I like the ak more though. For the ease of customization.
The SKS is not a AK...BUT the SKS seems like a more simplified AK. It all depends upon preference, price, and shooter ability. I've had both, enjoy both, but I would still prefer the SKS if I had to choose. It lacks firepower, but I can reload my rifle before someone can reload their AK magazine if they go empty. Longer barrel gives the 7.62x39 full potential. Milled receiver is always a plus even though not necessary.
I picked up a Norinco SKS at my local gun show a month and a half ago for 600, all matching parts numbers and in really phenomenal condition, an a great shooter. The dude had a Russian as well but was 1K which just wasn't going to happen
Grew up shooting with Chinese sks . They are great solid and very tight smooth operating rifles hands down!!! One of the commbloc s best machines!! Only complaint is like everybody else they have no detachable mags unless you can find rare one that does. If they all came with detachable mags they’d beat AK all day long!!
I used to get them for 60 bucks each as long as I bought 10 I’ve had 300 pass thru my hands back in the 90s and the 1200 round metal cans were 50 bucks as long as you bought 10 those were the good days and I was licensed to buy them !
I love the SKS platform, but today's prices are out of the world. I would certainly get another if the money was not so insane. I do have a bunch of Yugo M67 ammo on 10 round stripper clips if I find one at a decent price. I know an AK gunsmith that wanted to convert an SKS to 5.45x39 but don't think he ever managed it.
I don’t care if the AK may be better on paper or in warfare practice but every time I see an SKS I’ll gladly cherish it. Nothing beats em, not even Vietnamese swamps.
I have both, a Yugo SKS with the rifle grenade launcher and a zpap. I think I love the AK just a little bit more, but I wouldn’t want to part with either one
The only answer is Both! The SKS is my favorite shooting rifle, really cannot miss at 100 yards. 300 is even easy. Stripper clips are fun and good enough for most non complete SHTF situations.
I think the SKS is better for a survivalist type rifle no mags to lose. can just carry a dump pouch on your belt with some ammo in it an role on. Ak is definitely better defense/war rifle.
I think AK is hands down the best choice, you have put the most expensive AK prices there are a lot of good AKs out there for not much more than the SKS cost
I have a Russian SKS I bought some years ago. Paid $125 from a friend that needed money. Have the box, sling, canteen, ammo pouches etc. I have not shot it yet.
I have one AK (WASR10) and three SKS rifles; a Yugo 59/66, a Chinese standard bbl Norinco, and a Chinese SKSS-the short barrel paratrooper version. I shoot the SKS way more often. More accurate, feels more solid and just handles better.
Own both a Russian Tula SKS 1952 in mint condition all matching numbers. Bought two at 125.00 a piece, gave one to my son. Excellent rifle, and yes more accurate than my AK folder. Good video, good to know it's worth at least ten times what I paid for it
I paid 650 for (I think a never fired) Chinese sks. On my other sks I have had 100% success with taking the box mag out and useing Tapco, steel, and other types of duck bill mags.
Great review! I agree for the most part, the most importin thing you said was DON'T sell your firearm, I think both are a great idea to have it really depends on whats available in your area and how much you have to spend if your tight budget go SKS if you have extra go AK if your wise go both, but thats my thought.
I'll take the ak anytime. Yes the sks is absolutely very nice for the collectors standpoint. But overall end user & shtf situation I'll take the ak hands down.
I have had 2 perfect condition yugo SKS and a crappy mismatched Chinese sks and they all worked amazing and i would trust my life with them. Also A suppresed SKS paratrooper is my dream gun
I think a steady supply of QUALITY SKS stripper clips can be a limiting factor in 2023. China is now making an inferior stripper clip (NC Star brand) that doesn't seat, feed and remove properly. Just basically junk. With quality stripper clips, reloading isn't much of an issue and you can get faster and more proficient with it, but crap stripper clips will slow or halt a reload.
I bought my first sks for about 150.00 from a gun show, it was a Yugoslavian. Back in the day the Chinese sks was considered garbage now they are highly sought after its crazy.
I've got an AK-12 and an Norinco SKS with aftermarket 'pretty much everything' attachedvon rails. Detachable mags. You name it, minus the grenade launch kinda stuff... Love em both. Both are Earth shakers. You really can't say one is better. They are two different rifles. It would be like saying, "which is better, a dog or a cat". Two completely different animals. Just because they both have fur, doesn't make them the same. Great video. Stay safe y'all,
I have a Ak-47 I bought for myself but my grandpa gave me a SKS on my 18th birthday it’s a Vietnamese version I found a 25rd mag at the gun store it runs perfect to be a 1950/60s model
I had an unissued Russian with a laminated buttstock. Beautiful gun. Slam fired almost an entire magazine first time I took it to the range. I sold it before I found out that it probably just needed the cosmoline cleaned out of the FCG. Sure wish I still had that puppy.
I have a factory SKS that takes AK mags and I have one SKS I modified to take AK mags, and I haven't had a malfunction of any type in either one. Although, I should mention the factory one requires a slight modification to the AK mags to work with them.
Hello Rob. I have a Chinese SKS, that I purchased in 2019 from Classic Fire Arms for 476.00, and it's great. SKS and the G-43 had a short life in the Soviet and German Armies as you well know. The AK and STG-44 quickly took over their intended roll. However a very fine weapon is the SKS. Also I see no reason to worry about larger capacity magazines. Also I have a Czech VZ-58 and I have SKS stripper clips which as you know can be used to load the SKS, and VZ-58 from the top.
It is in no way not at all any kind of bargain anymore to get a military surplus rifle. You have to go back to about the year 2000 to get anything that would be worth the money. It is so stupidly High. I don't know where you go but here in Louisiana and SKS at a gun show starts at $900 to $1,400 most even in poor conditions is over $1,000. It's pathetic because not even 12-15 years ago you could get it for 350 to 500. And of course in the 90s you could get it for $85 to $300. AK-47s are much cheaper here in every shop I have ever been through and in gun shows. What they are trying to do is make the SKS some kind of vintage memorabilia or collector's item selling it like there's none out there and it's a steal. It's quite crazy
I prefer the SKS for my purposes. Being that it has that hunting rifle feel is the best part of it. As for not having high capacity magazines as standard equipment, that doesn't bother me at all.
Just got a Chinese SKS at local auction, all matching numbers for $650. Absolutely love it. Now, I'm debating on whether or not to return my 4 day old Zastava back to them (not even fired). The muzzle brake detent is either stuck or completely missing. Hit it with PB Blaster and punches...nothing. might just put the brake on with red loctite and call it a day.
I honestly can’t decide which I like better. My SKS has the bolt modified for detachable mags, and it makes it really hard for me to decide. There are things I like and dislike on both rifles.
New Serbian N-PAP set me back $540 in 2015. Chinese (not Norinco, most likely surplus) beater SKS, missing bayonet, still slathered in Cosmoline, was $275 in 2018.
For something to have at the ranch/farm or to have something when you have nothing I say SKS, if you are thinking "Oh 💩!" like Rob said AK. Or be like some of us that has both! 😎
Have a look into the Bad-Ace Tactical micro red-dot mount rail for the SKS. It's a metal Pic-rail that goes in place of the rear sight leaf and still allows for a small red dot or other sight install and clears the rounds on stripper clips. No issues with casing ejections hitting the rail either. It's the only one i've seen that once installed you can still strip the SKS down fully and not touch the sight mounting system and lose Zero... however close to zero you can actually get....
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Always, you do an amazing work, my advice for you, be prepared, a 2nd American civil war is closer than ever.
Is ALG or anyone figured out how to make a correct hardness AK trigger here in the USA?
@AkOperatorsUnion, my pleasure! Thank you for the content. My father was a Marine, and I showed him the video where you used a rubber-band, and a tooth-pick to keep you're AK running, not a full speed, but a few shot's, and he said there's nothing you can use to quick-fix an M16. It's complete crap! I wish you could see all of the US Marines, ARMY, Navy Seal's, that like the AK better than M16/M4. Take care.
@@ghostwriter1415 - 😉👍
Scenario: There are four of you left. You're position is about to be overrun. You have 2 functioning SKS rifles with bayonets. You also have 2 crates of ammunition on 10 round clips.
250 yards separate you and the enemy and you have a rise to fight from.
Do you; A. Take both rifles and hold them off so the other three escape?
Or; do you B. Split into 2 pairs {one man firing and one loading} using the bayonet as a monopod?
The "crew served" SKS
I bet we all wish that we would have purchased a hundred SKS when they were $89.00
Paid that for new Norinco back in the 90's. Never would think those things would be going for so much as they are now
I wanted to get an SKSs for a couple of bux back then just to have one but never did.
Look at the prices on them now. Those people that bought containers of surplus sks and couldn't dump them are making big bux now 😂
@@BDAILY365 I know plenty of them bought those cases with the intention of keeping them until they were needed.
Paid $75 back in '94 . Milled receiver, bayonet, cleaning kit , oil bottle, stripper clips , and sling.
The Russian máfia sells AKs for US$ 600,00.
My SKS was $67.00, my milled MAK-90 was $225 and 1200 rounds of Norinco 7.62X39 was $64.99. Anyone else remember the good ol days?
$64.99! Hole cow! I paid $300 for my preban Norinco. But it came with 6 75 round drums, two 100 round drums, and twenty thirty round mags and 600 round of Norinco ammo.
It's kind of a rare one. I was offered $3500 for in a couple years ago. But not for sale. Too good a gun. :)
@@mikey92362 You got a better deal than me my friend. Those drums are expensive.
@@markwhite6782 for sure! Can't even get the good Chinese ones now. Same for the stick mags.
@@markwhite6782 Well, I woke up today and realized I got my guns mixed up.
I actually paid $600 for my Norinco with all the extras. Still an awesome deal though.
$300 is what I paid for my SLR-95. One of the best AKs ever made in my opinion. I think it was exactly $289 plus tax, new in the box.
Also paid $300 new for my Draco. Another favorite. :)
Love Mosin Nagants too. Wish I'd bought more.
If I could go back in time I'd buy as many crates of cheap 762x39 and 7.63x54r as I could.
I don't understand why republican presidents won't even mention undoing all the ammo import bans. :(
@@mikey92362 I have wondered the same thing. Why can't any of these import bans be reversed. Most people are unaware that about 1/2 of all ammo shot through AR-15's and 95% through AK's come from Russia ie Wolf, Barnaul (Brown, Silver and Golden Bear), Golden Tiger,Tula etc. Well, the kid sniffer got them banned. Now he's trying to ban Lake City ammo from being sold to pedestrians. Lake City accounts for roughly 1/3 of all ammo shot through AR-15's ie M855 and M193. Now if he's succesful he will have gotten rid of 90% of our supply but oh, it gets better. Every government agency is tying up private ammo manufactures like Winchester, Federal, CCI, Black Hills etc so that their is very little left for us to purchase. I mean C'mon man the IRS ordered 10 million rounds just this year. Did you know the federal government purchases more ammo than all of the military branches combined? Fact check that then explain why the EPA is buying machine guns and millions of rounds of ammo. They are all just government agencies purchasing as much as they can, not because they need it but because they don't want it available to you and I but if so we will pay a much higher price. This is working like a charm for them right now. 7.62 ammo should not be over 5 cents a round when one looks at the components and manufacturing speed. This is frustrating. Lift the bans and let the Chinese export along with the Russians!
I believe the choice is way too difficult for the average enthusiast to make. The correct answer is it doesn't matter which you buy, because you will eventually buy the other as well.
Buying means nothing, what matters is what you will use to defend your life. And AK will win that 100 percent
@@tubeguy4066 you can outfit an SKS so it has a folding stock, and a 30-rd magazine! You can take all of the wood off, and make you're own transparent furniture that is also heat-resistant (LOWES hardware store). You can fix a hook that takes a handgun, and still let's you rotate the handgun 360 degrees, and that's you're foregrip.
@@ghostwriter1415I have no clue what I just read but I’m intrigued
@@ghostwriter1415 - Don't bother with the 30 round magazine. Tried the SKS with the 30rd curved non-AK-47 patterned magazine. It will only feed with moderate reliability when the magazine is loaded with 24 to 25 rounds. Using AK-47 patterned 30rd magazine and the rifle will missfeed or doublefeed every second or third round. Just stick with the standard 10 round fixed magazine and practice how to load fast with striper clips. The SKS was design to use the 10 round fixed magazine and it functions with near absolute reliability with it.
@Tube Guy You gotta buy it to use it. Unless you steal it I spose.
The SKS not only has a longer barrel, it has a longer sight radius.
And the men and women who use sks have longer *****
The short stroke piston also seems to be a contributer to improved accuracy, perhaps it has better harmonics than the long stroke AK, not sure if it matters on slowly paced round counts vs full auto or fast paced semi auto fire rates.
The Tech Sights on an SKS give you an even longer sight radius and a peep sight.
It also doesn't have a detachable magazine, and pistol grip or any way to mount optics.
@@tballstaedt7807 talk to Bubba about that and it will.
A gun dealer that I knew who has since passed away loved the SKS. He told me of all the firearms that he ever sold, that nobody ever brought back an SKS with a complaint. He said that his customers could destroy any gun in no time at all, often returning the disassembled firearm in a miasma of dissociated parts. He never had that problem with an SKS. The design is fool proof. I own both AK's and and Yugo SKS. They are fun to shoot.
Why would any gun shop accept a return on a firearm that was used and broken, much destroyed by a customer. In my experience, if there is a problem with it, it’s between you and the manufacturer. I must be buying my toys from the wrong toy stores. 😂
@@EeZ3-808 u know how ppl are they screw up everything. They may not expect a return but help getting em back together.
I’ve had the bent firing pin issues with them but a Murray’s kit always solved it. I still have a yugo m59 in cosmoline lol
Yea sure, added to one of those dumb things that never happened. Its not reliable gun at all.
@@Alen725 hahaha you don't have a clue what you are talking about
I picked up a “new” looking sks from a older guy that picked a bunch up in the 80s. Absolutely love that rifle and it will be a heirloom piece. My AK and SKS will never be sold
I have two SKS...one is a Yugo M49/56 I picked up still packed in cosmoline, the other is an early Chinese in superb condition. It just feels so good when you shoulder it. It's one of my primary home defense guns and I'm looking at it right now. I would never sell either of my SKS rifles.
It actually puts me in a better mood when I see that Rob and company have uploaded a new video! Thank you and your wonderful family for all you do for us as it is genuinely appreciated.
I love my Chinese sks. I've had it for years and it's a great shooter. Finally got me an AK a couple months ago and I love it too. It's a Wasr 10/63. Great video as always
Both underdogs that got an underserved reputation for being sub par, when they're actually some of the best from each platform.
My Wife bought me a NEW Norinco SKS for Christmas back in 1993 when they were "Cheap" (she paid $94.00 out the door from a Pawn Shop). The Problem was, she didn't buy any ammo for it because she said she was afraid I wouldn't like it ( I told her a Rifle with no ammo is useless and just a "steel handled club"). This was back when you could get the Norinco Yellow Box Steel Core ammo less than $40.00 A CASE! After that Christmas, I asked a Co-Worker who was an FFL if he could get me a case or two and he told me "NO Problem, It's Everywhere!" for $35.00 a case. Well, after a month or two of me asking, he finally said he couldn't find it anywhere due to the ammo ban. After a couple of months, I ended up finding some Russian Hollow Point down in Houston for $85.00 a case.
Though the AK has more capacity, the SKS in my mind seems like a better “survival” rifle. No worries about lost or damaged magazines. You can still load a full 10 rounds by hand if you don’t have stripper clips etc.
Sks with very little work can be converted to take ak mags, or duckbill mags which mine takes and it works perfect
I think the main argument for a survival rifle would be weight...a modern bolt action in 762x39 might reign supreme
Exactly why I got one. I have other platforms to use first if need be, but I also wanted something that I needed nothing else to use.
But AK steel mags are basically indestructible, though also pretty heavy. Polymer mags can be pretty durable as well.
@LURIFAX
Completely agree with that too. And there should be plenty of both AK and AR mags to 'obtain' given that they're both so common. I'm just weird... I wanted something last ditch, something I could use no matter what in addition to the other stuff I have.
Great video Rob! I agree!!! Never sell! I sold my Browning 1885 highwall 45-70 to pay rent about 20 years ago, I still regret it.
Aw man. You should have just got a payday loan or something!
My first rifle was my Russian sks. I later bought a paratrooper model then I got into AK’s a bit later.
I prefer the AK for sure but sks is close behind. They are bomb proof and extremely reliable.
I picked up a gorgeous YUGO M59 SKS about 15 years ago for around $250-$300, if my memory hasn't failed me. This was Yugoslavia's first SKS. I understand that it's much rarer than the later YUGO M59/66.
$700+ for an SKS? $5k for a Norinco AK? The world has gone mad 😡
now a year later... Russian steel ammo going for 50 cents a round general steel cased ammo going to 42 cents a round. The world has indeed gone mad.
I just bought my first SKS.. Numbers matching in great shape was made at the 9696 arsenal in 1974. I'm very impressed with the quality. I gave $650 and I don't regret it they're really nice considering their ole school.....
Sks is an option for ban state folks, and it’s a great workhorse.
I just got my first SKS about 4 weeks ago and I absolutely love it my friend traded it to me for some big 250 gallon water tanks I had. He's doing a 4 stage water purification system. But back to my sks it's nothing special it's 1991 Narenco and looks amazing my friend had it for 25 years and never shot it and just looking at it the bluing isn't even wore on the slid by the bolt carrier group my guess is I'm the first person to really shoot it and use it. And loved the video look forward to seeing more of your videos.
I have a SKS sporter that takes AK mags, as much as I like it and never plan to sell it they are finicky as hell. Some mags it runs perfectly and others it won’t even pick up a round from, my AK doesn’t care it just runs. Good video man.
Had the same probs when I owned one of those!
Mine runs good with any ammo or magazine. I have an SKS M.
I'm fortunate to have both a Zastava M70 and the Yugoslavian M59/66. I love both but the SKS I still love a little bit more. Great video Rob!
Same. To me thr recoil impulse is smoother and it just feels better to shoulder.
I sold one of my guns 20 years ago. I still regret it to this day.
Own both, love both
I have several AK and SKS rifles. Your thoughts are right on the money. The only other thing to consider is where you live. If you live in a free state like Texas the AK is the way to go. If you live in a anti freedom state like New York the SKS is probably the way to go.
Mosin PU Scope and mounts work well on the sks and center pretty close over the bore while not interfering with stripper clips
You’d have to mill the SKS right?
I have a couple of both, but my go to are my Norinco SKS and AK with the thumb-hole stock. I have reshaped the thumb hole stock and it is now perfect for me. Of all my rifles and shotguns, when I hunt deer I'm most likely going with the SKS.
The thumb hole stock is a "sporter version". I had a Norinco MAC90 sporter.
Bought my matching parts 1954 Russian SKS for 395$ ..
Had no idea what I was even buying back then. I love it.
so hard to choose, I guess that's why I have both
It was an AK for me. Probably, it's nostalgia as i was first introduced to AK in high school in the USSR. We had to disassemble and reassemble the rifle in xx seconds. Now, I am just having fun shooting it at the range.
I bought a Chinese SKS and it’s a 1963 yr I was born I couldn’t believe it what luck. Stock tore all to hell graffiti carved into it and the bluing on one side of it is worn off where it was apparently carried, but it is pristine on the inside barrel shines like a mirror and shoots like a dream accurate as hell. Great little piece.
I own both, and SKS is easy to sell at the price point vs the higher price point of most quality AKs. It is just a matter of having a bigger pool of people who are able to afford it. That being said, if you ever purchase one, make sure to make the Murray's firing pin change to prevent the slam fire/runaway with sticking firing pins.
When I was a kid, my cousin, my uncle, my dad and a friend, all went in together and got a crate of SKS’s for $150. We’ll never see that again. This was in the early 90’s. We shot the shit out of those things. They were handy and accurate.
I went into the deep rabbit hole and got myself a Tula SKS, it's gorgeous.
Funny enough I had traded a Yugo SKS for a M70 with poly furniture , Miss the SKS but for some reason the AK grew on me equally. The SKS-M is an interesting rifle.
Well Rob… as of a little over a week ago, the SKS is the only one you can still purchase in Washington State… unless you already have an AK, you will not be getting one.
That being said, I love my 1951 Tula, it shoots like a dream! - I have many other rifles that are far superior combat rifles, but I still take my SKS whenever I’m chasing coyotes off of my property! Quick, handy, reliable and accurate! 😎👍
Edit: I put an NCStar replacement gas tube with a rail for a scout (long eye relief) scope and mounted a 2-7x30 scope on it. (Some times swapping for an EOTech) I’ve never really been a fan of NCStar… but as far as this mount goes, with the minimal fitting I had to do to install it, it is rock solid and holds a perfect zero. In combination with an ArmsCorp quick detachable mount it is seriously my go to varmint rifle around my property! - don’t get me wrong, I have other rifles that work well… I just have some strange nostalgic attraction to old Soviet rifles…🤷♂️ Du no…
Great video! I love them both. I didn't get into the SKSs right away. I remember the Chinese one selling for $79 or you could buy a crate of 10 for $700. I can't imagine what an original crate of unpacked rifles would go for now. I bought a Russian SKS eventually for $200, a Chinese SKS for $110 and a Yugo SKS for $129. I also own the following AKs Egyptian Maadi, Arsenal SLR95 and a Yugo under folder. Sure wish that I would have bought a lot more guns back in the hay days of gun collecting.
Sold my Russian Laminated Stock SKS for $300 about 15 years ago. Beautiful gun. Probably the biggest gun selling mistake I ever made.
Short answer AK, but the SKS is still awesome. Now to watch the video.
Love those Chi-com SKSs. Old technology, but good technology.
750 bucks is just crazy sounding to me!!! I remember stacking hay as a kid to make 75 bucks to buy my norinco From my neighbors when I was 13 years old... I still have it and it shoots absolutely wonderful
I bought my Russian SKS for $500 in 2017, shot about 2000 rounds with it with little to no issue. Its awesome that it’s probably worth double what I paid for it now, but I feel bad for people just getting into collecting Milsurps now.
Late 80,s early 90,s were the best . Gun shows had them everywhere. I hand picked mine from the crate caked in cosmo. GOOD TIMES
As always I enjoyed the video. You always give us tons of useful information. I have a Russian SKS and I absolutely love it. Thanks for posting this information. Take good care of yourself and stay safe my friend.
A couple of years ago I paid $400 for a Chinese SKS in mint condition, about 700 rounds of Chinese 7.62x39 and a swedish Mauser from 1918 with all matching numbers in awesome condition. It was a good day
I'm down to three SKS rifles, two were bring backs from Nam (AK operator didn't mention used military value), The third is a shorter barreled rifle that has been made up with the none wood stock, folding legs for ground support and a score (The previous owner had used it for ground hog hunting). The ones I no longer have, two Chinese that I sold or gave away and the Other was a Russian that I thought was a Chinese to a soon to be ex husband to my sister (If I only knew the marriage was going to flop in two more weeks).
I do still have my Norinco under folder from the day! I'm shocked at the price values of these firearms now, Before the Bn on import, I seen dealers were getting rid of the AK's for 150 and I should of at least bought two of them with full wood stocks!
Don't feel bad if the ex husband is a gun guy. That means the rifle should be in good care
I enjoyed the host. His presentation on the AK and the SKS was excellent.
AK
That’s not a question. You get more for your money and more practicality for an AK.
I have a Russian Saiga that’s been worked on it runs and looks like a beast, I also have a 1957 SKS in stock form,only thing I changed was a darker stain. Love them both.
I also have a Russian saiga (.308/7.62x51) that has been worked on and runs like a beast. Izhmash factory might make the best AKs of all time.
SKS is a great collector piece. Beautiful. But it's a collector piece at this point -- it's slow, very difficult to accessorize, and just generally outdated. Nothing wrong with owning one, I am looking for a nice Izhevsk example, but just to enjoy for what it is.
Talk about appreciation in value.
I bought my Yugo SKS factory new. Never used. For $150 in the mid 2000's.
the tapco magazines for the sks 20 rounder work properly every time. I have tried many different magazines for the SKS, the only ones that work are tapco 20 rounders or the standard.
I use the tapco 20 rounder MANY MANY TIMES no failures
HOWEVER!!!
When you use this tapco 20 round magazine you can not remove it without the bolt being open.
I own both and I will never sell either of them. The SKS is super fun to shoot and is a great learning tool for those new to getting sights on target and shooting slow. I have found that many newcomers are better with the SKS than they are with the AK.
The first rifle I ever shot (centerfire) was the SKS. It was fun at the time and felt like I was shooting such a powerful gun compared to the 22lr I was used too. That was my dad's fun gun at the time. I was too scared to shoot his 30-06 back then when I was 10, but my first hunting rifle was a Mosin Nagant that I started using when I was 15, brings back some great memories, lol.
My dad has a russian sks that I remember came completely covered in cosmoline wrapped in a plastic bag. Took us awhile to get it all off but I remember i thought it was awesome. I ended up getting a norinco a decade later. Not as nice as dads but still very nice. Ejects shells thirty feet lol. Fun guns for sure. I like the ak more though. For the ease of customization.
The SKS is not a AK...BUT the SKS seems like a more simplified AK. It all depends upon preference, price, and shooter ability. I've had both, enjoy both, but I would still prefer the SKS if I had to choose. It lacks firepower, but I can reload my rifle before someone can reload their AK magazine if they go empty. Longer barrel gives the 7.62x39 full potential. Milled receiver is always a plus even though not necessary.
I picked up a Norinco SKS at my local gun show a month and a half ago for 600, all matching parts numbers and in really phenomenal condition, an a great shooter. The dude had a Russian as well but was 1K which just wasn't going to happen
Grew up shooting with Chinese sks . They are great solid and very tight smooth operating rifles hands down!!! One of the commbloc s best machines!! Only complaint is like everybody else they have no detachable mags unless you can find rare one that does. If they all came with detachable mags they’d beat AK all day long!!
I used to get them for 60 bucks each as long as I bought 10 I’ve had 300 pass thru my hands back in the 90s and the 1200 round metal cans were 50 bucks as long as you bought 10 those were the good days and I was licensed to buy them !
I love the SKS platform, but today's prices are out of the world. I would certainly get another if the money was not so insane. I do have a bunch of Yugo M67 ammo on 10 round stripper clips if I find one at a decent price. I know an AK gunsmith that wanted to convert an SKS to 5.45x39 but don't think he ever managed it.
When I was a teenager, you could buy SKS' by the case. The were $75 to $90 each depending on quantity purchased.
dude id be the first to buy one i have 1000s of rounds of that shit
I remember when thry were 150 and people thought that was too much.
Wow. Back in the 90s, I got good Chinese sks rifles for $200 to $275. All matching, too. I picked up a Vietnam era for $150. Inflation sucks.
I can work with both. Both are simple, reliable, and military grade accurate.
I don’t care if the AK may be better on paper or in warfare practice but every time I see an SKS I’ll gladly cherish it. Nothing beats em, not even Vietnamese swamps.
I have both, a Yugo SKS with the rifle grenade launcher and a zpap. I think I love the AK just a little bit more, but I wouldn’t want to part with either one
The only answer is Both!
The SKS is my favorite shooting rifle, really cannot miss at 100 yards.
300 is even easy.
Stripper clips are fun and good enough for most non complete SHTF situations.
I got very lucky at a local gun show this past Xmas.
I found/got an all matching, excellent condition, Tula 1951 for 750$. The rifle runs like a top!!
I think the SKS is better for a survivalist type rifle no mags to lose. can just carry a dump pouch on your belt with some ammo in it an role on. Ak is definitely better defense/war rifle.
You will always have 1 magazine. I’d take the 30 rounds over 10. The one advantage I see is you could use the spike to roast meat over a fire lol
@@gunsforevery1Its heavier to carry multiple 30 rnd mags compared to stripper clips
@@Basedlocation you could carry one magazine and a shit ton of stripper clips.
Detachable magazines>fixed magazines.
I think AK is hands down the best choice, you have put the most expensive AK prices there are a lot of good AKs out there for not much more than the SKS cost
Got both when the prices were very cheap, those days are gone now. I agree an excellent assessment.
AK for the battle, sks for Instagram
only fake posers lookin for attention care about social media status...but thanks for your opinion dylan
@@joemarchinski914 mad hater energy
I bought 6 SKSs when they first came in from China, for $69 ea. Sold them all and could kick myself...
Great information... I came to the same conclusions as you did... I can't believe how much the Russian SKS has increased in value.
I've chosen the AKs, but I still want to get a SKS!
I have a Russian SKS I bought some years ago. Paid $125 from a friend that needed money. Have the box, sling, canteen, ammo pouches etc. I have not shot it yet.
Both are cool regardless. I love both.
I love the SKS I bought a few Yugoslavian back in the mid 2000 I missed out on the Norinco
I have one AK (WASR10) and three SKS rifles; a Yugo 59/66, a Chinese standard bbl Norinco, and a Chinese SKSS-the short barrel paratrooper version. I shoot the SKS way more often. More accurate, feels more solid and just handles better.
Own both a Russian Tula SKS 1952 in mint condition all matching numbers. Bought two at 125.00 a piece, gave one to my son. Excellent rifle, and yes more accurate than my AK folder. Good video, good to know it's worth at least ten times what I paid for it
I paid 650 for (I think a never fired) Chinese sks. On my other sks I have had 100% success with taking the box mag out and useing Tapco, steel, and other types of duck bill mags.
I run 20 round Tapco mags in my Norinco and they lock right in rather quickly for me.I just bought a couple more of them.
Something about walking with shoulder slung sks such a simple beauty
Great review! I agree for the most part, the most importin thing you said was DON'T sell your firearm, I think both are a great idea to have it really depends on whats available in your area and how much you have to spend if your tight budget go SKS if you have extra go AK if your wise go both, but thats my thought.
Great overview. My advice is buy both....You'll enjoy them and a great investment.
I'll take the ak anytime. Yes the sks is absolutely very nice for the collectors standpoint. But overall end user & shtf situation I'll take the ak hands down.
I have had 2 perfect condition yugo SKS and a crappy mismatched Chinese sks and they all worked amazing and i would trust my life with them. Also A suppresed SKS paratrooper is my dream gun
The best answer is, why not both?
Both are beautiful rifles. Other than a sling, I would never add anything to either. Wood and iron, no plastic. And Iron sights all day.
I think a steady supply of QUALITY SKS stripper clips can be a limiting factor in 2023. China is now making an inferior stripper clip (NC Star brand) that doesn't seat, feed and remove properly. Just basically junk. With quality stripper clips, reloading isn't much of an issue and you can get faster and more proficient with it, but crap stripper clips will slow or halt a reload.
I bought my first sks for about 150.00 from a gun show, it was a Yugoslavian. Back in the day the Chinese sks was considered garbage now they are highly sought after its crazy.
I got my SKS's: Russian, Yugo, and Chinese all for under $350 each, and I thought that was high knowing that they used to be under $100 years before.
I've got an AK-12 and an Norinco SKS with aftermarket 'pretty much everything' attachedvon rails. Detachable mags. You name it, minus the grenade launch kinda stuff... Love em both. Both are Earth shakers. You really can't say one is better. They are two different rifles. It would be like saying, "which is better, a dog or a cat". Two completely different animals. Just because they both have fur, doesn't make them the same.
Great video. Stay safe y'all,
Not going to lie I wouldn't mind a nice quality SKS that compliment my Zastava M70.
I have a Ak-47 I bought for myself but my grandpa gave me a SKS on my 18th birthday it’s a Vietnamese version I found a 25rd mag at the gun store it runs perfect to be a 1950/60s model
I should never have sold my Norinco SKS, biggest selling regret.
I had an unissued Russian with a laminated buttstock. Beautiful gun. Slam fired almost an entire magazine first time I took it to the range. I sold it before I found out that it probably just needed the cosmoline cleaned out of the FCG. Sure wish I still had that puppy.
I have a factory SKS that takes AK mags and I have one SKS I modified to take AK mags, and I haven't had a malfunction of any type in either one. Although, I should mention the factory one requires a slight modification to the AK mags to work with them.
I remember when you could get a SKS for the same price as a bb gun, 99 bucks
I have seen them for 75 dollars at gun shows.
Hello Rob. I have a Chinese SKS, that I purchased in 2019 from Classic Fire Arms for 476.00, and it's great. SKS and the G-43 had a short life in the Soviet and German Armies as you well know. The AK and STG-44 quickly took over their intended roll. However a very fine weapon is the SKS. Also I see no reason to worry about larger capacity magazines. Also I have a Czech VZ-58 and I have SKS stripper clips which as you know can be used to load the SKS, and VZ-58 from the top.
It is in no way not at all any kind of bargain anymore to get a military surplus rifle. You have to go back to about the year 2000 to get anything that would be worth the money. It is so stupidly High. I don't know where you go but here in Louisiana and SKS at a gun show starts at $900 to $1,400 most even in poor conditions is over $1,000. It's pathetic because not even 12-15 years ago you could get it for 350 to 500. And of course in the 90s you could get it for $85 to $300. AK-47s are much cheaper here in every shop I have ever been through and in gun shows. What they are trying to do is make the SKS some kind of vintage memorabilia or collector's item selling it like there's none out there and it's a steal. It's quite crazy
@@AKguru762 "they" is the sellers of course my friend. Talking mostly tho at gun shows.
I prefer the SKS for my purposes. Being that it has that hunting rifle feel is the best part of it. As for not having high capacity magazines as standard equipment, that doesn't bother me at all.
Why, oh why didn't I buy more SKS's back in the day?
The same way you dont buy more ARs, no urgency. No fear of the future.
Just got a Chinese SKS at local auction, all matching numbers for $650. Absolutely love it. Now, I'm debating on whether or not to return my 4 day old Zastava back to them (not even fired). The muzzle brake detent is either stuck or completely missing. Hit it with PB Blaster and punches...nothing. might just put the brake on with red loctite and call it a day.
I honestly can’t decide which I like better. My SKS has the bolt modified for detachable mags, and it makes it really hard for me to decide. There are things I like and dislike on both rifles.
New Serbian N-PAP set me back $540 in 2015.
Chinese (not Norinco, most likely surplus) beater SKS, missing bayonet, still slathered in Cosmoline, was $275 in 2018.
For something to have at the ranch/farm or to have something when you have nothing I say SKS, if you are thinking "Oh 💩!" like Rob said AK. Or be like some of us that has both! 😎
Have a look into the Bad-Ace Tactical micro red-dot mount rail for the SKS. It's a metal Pic-rail that goes in place of the rear sight leaf and still allows for a small red dot or other sight install and clears the rounds on stripper clips. No issues with casing ejections hitting the rail either. It's the only one i've seen that once installed you can still strip the SKS down fully and not touch the sight mounting system and lose Zero... however close to zero you can actually get....