They were at first popular because in the early 90s they were dirt cheap: a Russian SKS sold for maybe a hundred bucks while the Chinese ones were about $70. You could not touch another semi-auto rifle of that quality and reliability for anywhere close to that. And 500 rounds of 7.62-39 was selling for about $65 in 2000 (the prices went up during the war in Irag).
Great minuteman rifle. It can be grabbed and fully loaded in seconds. I keep mine ready to go in a quick amount of time, always on standby with ammo belt. Its not the best in any field by any means. Its a loose jack of all trades but can be brought to life quickly.
Enjoyed your video. Carried one back from Vietnam. Great weapon. Also enjoy seeing CW relics come out of the ground in your other videos. God Bless Pap
As a prepper and survivalist I found uses for the spike bayonet. I used it for digging and splitting wood as well as frog gigging. Actually I found many uses for it. It can even be use for setting animal trapping
Do you know why the Chinese went to the spike bayonet??? The reason is that the wound is very difficult to close up. A slash from a blade bayonet is much easier to close.
Found one in bubba configuration at a LGS... it was a yugo in great shape so I bought it and bought the original parts for it and brought it back to yugo glory... keep up with the great vids!
The SKS is a good basic rifle that is reliable and simple to maintain. It's pretty accurate for what it is and I really like the 39 cartridge for knock down power. Wish they were cheap like they used to be. Anyway, gotta have at least one in your collection
One of the best rifles to own. I got mine for 100 bucks and its a Paratrooper Model. I have enjoyed it for many years and a great SHTF choice to put game on the table. Keep it clean and it will run very well. Military Collectable and reliable
I found and secured for later inspection Sandy dirt and dried up plant matter deep inside the stock during initial inspection after receiving said from classic. It was cracked stock Vietnam era. The wood furniture does have some stories to tell. Small Crack was fixed. Anyone else ever find a surprise bonus like that?
I just picked up a NORINCO from the late 80s, matching numbers and still in cosmoline and never fired.. Its never been molested with stupid aftermarket junk. It will be my new wilderness weapon for the Alaska wilds in its normal configuration...
I ended up finding a really good condition chinese in a pawn shop for 250$ . ( found it about a month or 2 into COVID when gun prices were already skyrocketing)
@@BattlefieldCurator yep! I really got lucky that day. With COVID and the riots I didn’t think I’d be able to find anything. And I didn’t ... No Ars, No Aks. Went to my local pawnshop and found 2 Sks’s . A yugo and a Chinese. Picked up the Chinese. ( was going to get the yugo too but didn’t have enough cash on me. Went back the next day and it was already gone.)
Let's just say the age of $75 ChiCom SKS, just like the days of the 10-Cent icy-cold Coke from vending machines, are gone and will never come back. So live with it and quit complaining!
Word of advice, if you are going to Bubba it and add a detachable mag, there is a good chance you will have feeing issues, the standard 10 round fixed mag is the best bet.
I only have my right arm, I served in the conflict in Angola in 1976 against the South African Army and the right wing guerilla movement UMITA. I was trained with SKS and than we were given AK47, after returning to communist Cuba. My parents lost their business and home, I never was a communist, but it was mandatory to serve in the military or be thrown in jail and accused of treason. After returning I escaped to the USA. I am a conservative, there is no doubt this is the land of the free, home of the brave, and the land of opportunity, I started several business, in some I lost and in others I was successful. I am a HVAC retired contractor. Own a SKS and loved, getting a little old but still can handle it at 68, I lost my arm above my elbow and that is what I used to whole the rifle cause I am right handed. Thanks for your video. God bless you and the USA.
That’s an impactful story Alfonso, thanks for sharing. It is shocking how many Americans don’t take advantage of all the opportunities here in this country. After seeing Iraq and Kuwait while overseas, I sure was thankful for how good we have it in America.
@@BattlefieldCurator Amen my b rye other. I am grateful for my adopted nation. People that complain the most are the most lazy. In regard to racism, and income inequality. That comes from the Marxist communist Doctrine. Create division, public schools and Universities indoctrination, remove the history or foundation and create a fake history in accordance with their Marxists ideas. I am ready to defend and give my life to preserve the last bastion of freedom in this world. If we lose it, we are done.
I bought mine a couple years ago and I LOVE IT. It's my go to hog hunting rifle, battle rifle? Yes, I'd still take it into battle simply because it was designed for fighting. I'm building a 5.56 AR as I type this and it will also see service as my hoggin rifle and my SKS will be relegated to home and land defence but I will NEVER sell my SKS.. it's also the first semi auto rifle I've ever owned.
I have owned three. I respect them having fought in Vietnam. They have what is called acceptable accuracy. That in a nutshell is why I don’t have one now. Always ended up trading for something else.
Yep, that and the Enfield rifle variants seem to be popular with you guys up there. I’m sure you guys have a lot of Russian ones with the beautiful red stocks!
When I got into collecting my first ones were the 54r Chi Type 53s super under appreciated rifle and tough as nails, then the SKSs. Great Yugos from the conflict years and a mil M59 (original first run B series-not 59/66 but who does not like a grenade launcher!). A couple of the Yugos are VERY accurate for this round as is the old M59 but my truck/all around is a Chi Type 56/Arsenal 26 1963ish. Light, accurate and bullet proof-plus it was in amazing shape and inexpensive at the time! Its just hard to beat an SKS for reliable simplicity and ammo is still reasonable.
My favorite also, a Norinco, versatile, loads in 2 -3 seconds, nice sights, cleaning kit in butt stock and a bayonet when you run out of bullets. Paid $150 in the '90's, a few months later $99. Should have bought more.
I own a Yugo, that is in immaculate condition. I have 20 and 30 round clips for it as well. I live on Texas and find that it is about as all purpose as you'd ever want. Its a good truck gun when out in the country. Its great for hog and deer, etc... And its a good brush gun. Its a solid defense choice, as well. I like being able to transfer to the standard 10 round clip when hunting... and have the option to go to 20and 30 clips if it were ever necessary. Next to the AK it is probably the gun with the most surplus parts available, as well as original accessories such as ammo pouches, slings, cleaning kits, etc... There's also a veritable cornucopia of aftermarkets parts swaps, and add-ons. You can dress it up significantly if thats your thing. Someday when the s#!+ hits the fan... and you run out of ammo.... Theres a good chance you will find some 7.62 somehow...somewhere. There will never be a global shortage of it. In really bad situations...theres a good chance for battlefield pick ups of SKS's... which you would already be familiar with....and you could put it back into service...or use it as spare parts, or whatever.
I bought one back in 1994 for about $125.00 in California. It's Russian made by Tula in 1953. Very good shape. Shoots great. Easy to clean. Good video. It's a good low cost home defender . I now live in southwest Arizona.
I have a Chinese version I bought back in the late '80's which was brand new unfired still in factory cosmoline with bayonet, in stock cleaning kit and oil bottle when they were being imported and sold by some big box stores for less than $90 U.S.D. These were brand new unfired with matching serial numbers not refurbished used rifles. Over the decades I have also owned AK's including a couple of the higher end Russian Arsenal new variants and I have sold off the AK's but still have my SKS. I am one of those that feels we will within the foreseeable not so distant future see another "Assault" weapon and high capacity magazine ban. In my opinion it is not an if but rather when. I also think that as far as high capacity magazine possession unlike the last ban this time there will be no grandfather clause which allows their possession or use. There will probably be a grandfather clause on AR/AK style weapons but only within the scope of using the lower capacity magazines of the capacity they approve to be allowed. To be honest when the original Assault weapon and magazine ban was allowed to sunset and end I was really surprised that it occurred. Another reason for the SKS even out in the field hunting use the SKS is basically viewed as any other wood stocked and will not draw unwanted attention or scrutiny. A "black" rifle on the other hand may well draw more scrutiny and unwanted attention from others. Most people do not like the talk of weapons restrictions but all one needs to do is look around the world at what has occurred in other developed nations and the climate worldwide is less citizen firearm oriented than ever in our past. SKS is a fine under the radar SHTF or just hunting weapon whether others are banned or not but if another ban does come into effect something like a SKS greatly increases in desirability!
Great write up! But I do think the SKS is not totally under the radar. There’s so many mods for it that I’m sure it’s not off the radar as much as we would like to think. Though if I remember, it wasn’t banned by name in Canada yet.
@@BattlefieldCurator Here in the states all the current attention is based on weapons which look like more current versions of military weapons of war and on higher capacity removeable magazines in both pistols and rifles. Seems the magic number on the maximum rounds for a magazine will be 10 or under although that could change. Many jurisdictions have for decades limited magazine capacity for a legal hunting weapon to 3 in the magazine, one in the chamber. Actually most tube magazine fed shotguns for hunting use when sold new had a wooden dowel installed in the magazine to limit the capacity to 3 shells and the user if not using it for hunting or in a place that did not have that requirement the user could remove the spacer and have a magazine capacity of 5 shells. Here in the U.S.A. the AR variants many are priced so cheaply now that you never hear anything about the SKS any longer. Also the new fad besides the ar's and ak's is long range precision rifles with adjustable cheek pads, many with adj length of pull and a super honkin scope on top in flatter shooting calibers to try and hit targets from 800-1500 yards. Old average military rifles used mainly in places like Vietnam and Africa by third world countries such as the SKS is not tacticool enough for todays wannabes. Hell not even Bubba want the SKS anymore it does not have the mounting options for the rails to hang all of his tacticool garbage and flashlights from when he wants to pretend to be Rambo!😂
@@billwiley7216 true, ARs are pretty cheap and abundant. It would be cheaper to get and mod a AR15 than an SKS these days. Even though the AR and AK platforms remain popular, the SKS can still be had for under an AK price. There are still bubbas making SKS’s into tacticool rifles. There are still a decent amount of SKS rifles out there, especially the Chinese ones, that most people don’t care to more them. Aftermarket FAB Defense, Pro Mag Archangel and ATI stocks are still pretty abundant out there for those who wants to turn the SKS into a cool looking rifle. There’s even bullpup kits out there,like CBRPS. A cheaper option for mounting an optic is the dust cover with the rail, but the better one out there is the Magwedge, which is more stable for a scope mount. Archangel makes removable mags with a built in lever for quick release. So many possibilities out there for the SKS enthusiasts these days
the way I look at customized military surplus Firearms is if its yours do as you wish just like a classic car you can chop the top and tub it out, if its yours and you like it its all that matters
@@stoegerstewie8351 I want an AK I love the AK series but I still admit proudly that if I was out in the bush or in a survival situation I’d rather have my SKS and all the ammo I can carry rather than an AK
I did the detachable magazine bubba home job on my new Norinco a few years ago. The transition went very well. No feeding issues at all and the rifle remained accurate as hell. So, not all of the horror stories will apply to everybody. If you are reasonably proficient with tools, you can convert to detachable mags.
MrGunny2009 ...I completely agree. Every high capacity detachable magazine that I own...i've fitted the mag to the rifle(by lightly filing, and sanding the mag where it was tight)not carve on a beautiful rifle. If I need to reinstall the original 10 rounder...the rifle will be in unmolested condition. It's a very capable, useful platform.
The sks I bought came already customized with a bipod and scope and 35 round detachable magazines and I’ve never had a feeding issue with them it’s a fantastic rifle
I rescued a bubba sks, but sadly, there was no saving it. Drilled holes in the receiver, the only choice was to make it the nicest bubba rifle possible, had a custom made wood stock from a local wood shop, and love it until this day.
An aftermarket 5-round magazine sits flush with the stock, making it easier to carry for deer hunting. I Accraglassed my Norinco and worked on the trigger, resulting in a pretty accurate rifle.
picked up 3 in Nam, but never had the rank or the connections to get one home. bought one when I got home, a type 56 as a collector. shoot it, but it's not my "go to". I display it in my gun room next to my ar 15's in kind of a nod to Nam.
I’ve lived and hunted mostly in the Appalachian Mountains foothills It’s the perfect rifle for the heavily wooded hills and hollers of the mountains Ammo is super easy to find and cheaper than most anything else So it’s a semi auto 30-30 to me
Bought my yugo sks in Oklahoma City in 2008 for $105 in legit pristine condition. Only reason I got it is cause I listened to a country song where he talks about buying a sks and and steel core ammo and hunting LOL!
Good video. For me #7 was #1 and #8 was #2 since I'm in a restricted state. Got it for less than $100 waayyyy back in the day and love it. I did get the tapco stock for it though since the pull length on the Chinese rifles is just so short. Turns out there's a place that makes longer wood stocks too, so I might just switch over to that.
Love my 1965 vintage Triangle 26 Chicom SKS. At this point, 3 years into the future, the SKS is more expensive than the budget ARs. Yep. Thanks for the vid
I remember seeing the SKS and 1,000 rounds of ammo for $100 when I was a kid. Finally got a Chinese one for about $500 a few years back. Definitely reminds me of going to the gun store when I was a kid.
@@BattlefieldCurator I am a minor league gun collector. My last living buddy from Nam reminded me of that day. The nva soldier who shot me was taken down and they fired his sks as I waited for a medivac. soon I will have one.
Honestly if you get a collectible milsurp SKS with matching numbers, keep it as is. It's a piece of small arms history and I always cringe whenever I see one bubba'd.
Got mine for 75 bucks. It has been a dandy ranch rifle. Only regret I have is I didn't pick up a crate of them at that price. They are great rifles for their purpose but are overpriced today. It would have to be an exceptional specimen at 350 tops to get me to bite, or I'd just go with an AR-15. Thanks for the vid.
you got yours early on, good deal. I have talked with quite a few enthusiasts and shop owners who all wish they would have held on to a crate of them. Shorter supply and higher demand keeps the values going higher, i don't know if they will ever come down at this point
@@BattlefieldCurator The only way prices will come down is if the feds decide to allow imports again, and we all know the likelihood of that happening is pretty much zero.
It's basically a spear that goes boom. What's not to like. I love mine. Idk what happened to it between 1958 and 1993 but some trench art tells me in 93 she was in Kukes Albania.
I was really shocked when I was banging the gong at 100 yards using the iron sights shot after shot. I managed to picked up a bunch of cheap ammo so I am set
I've had 3, one was bubbafied but it also came with all the original parts. The second was the Paratrooper version missing the bayonet and scoped with that silly aftermarket scope mount receiver cover thing (that can't hold zero). Both of those are gone now. The third I've kept. Got it covered in cosmo, all numbers matching, and 1k rounds of ammo for $200 back in 2012. I think the guy just didn't want to mess with cleaning it. Sorta wish I'd kept the Paratrooper model also...
@@BattlefieldCurator i have one of the paratrooper models. It is my favorite rifle. The only ammo it doesn't like are hollow points. Anything else it eats like crazy.
@@gelnat7100 understandable… one of the things I realize about the SKS is the lengthy barrel and those “paratrooper” models being shorter make it convenient for modern time usages.
I have a russian red 1954 sks with blade bayonet. Very beautiful rifle design. I love it for my bush rifle. Ive had 10 sks in my years of collecting and sold them all. Now i got 1 again ill never get rid of it. My buddy has a svt40 and a m14 and 2 sks. Very cool guns.
I am the same, owned several SKSs over the years, bought a Norinco today, it will be with me for keeps, I am getting out of cycling through firearms and now buying nice examples of the ones I liked over the years to keep for good.
Aw yeah. The old sks. The shtf gun thatll last to the end of the world. If i couldnt own but 1 gun it would deffently the sks. It would last longer than an AK or AR.
I have two! The first is a heavy Yugo with a rough barrel that was perfect for burning up cheap corrosive primer surplus ammo 15 years ago. Then I got a beautiful Russian that I only use modern ammo in. Along with my WASR-10/63 bought in 2007 I'm pretty well set for 7.62x39.
Got an SKS a few months ago and love it. Lucked out on getting a 1950 model. That one has a spring on firing pin. The negatives is it not all matching numbers and does not have chromed barrel. A few months later i get another SKS. This one a 1954. (both sks Russian) Has matching serial numbers on all parts and has chrome barrel. Has floating firing pin so i ordered a kit that has a new firing pin with spring. Love how easy they are to take apart for cleaning.
Got my Tula 51 for $230 and 1700 rnds of ammo for $350. Trained and drilled with it and it can ( barely) hold its own with modern combat rifles ( but can do the job). You just have to know iron sights and how to manipulate them to produce the required strike pattern.
I wished I owned a couple, when I got my first semi auto rifle I couldn't afford one so I bought a ak47 instead, I wished my ak47 had a bayonet lug. I still wished I had two sks.
I think both the AK and SKS platforms are a must have, at least you have one platform. Chinese Type 56 SKS carbines can still be found on Palmetto State Armory and J&G webites
They were at first popular because in the early 90s they were dirt cheap: a Russian SKS sold for maybe a hundred bucks while the Chinese ones were about $70. You could not touch another semi-auto rifle of that quality and reliability for anywhere close to that. And 500 rounds of 7.62-39 was selling for about $65 in 2000 (the prices went up during the war in Irag).
Own 2 Chinese 56's. Very underrated rifle for what it is.
7.62X39 doesn’t have much kick, can shoot a few hundred rounds and you still have a shoulder at the end of the day
Yeah I couldn't say that for my 458 Winchester magnum.
Lol yeah after shooting my Mosin this feels like a .22 lol
And on top of that, this round packs a punch!
@Rick Christopher and is easy to maintain and the round packs a punch!!
@@marckcarbonelloifveteran410 how many kills do you have?
SKS makes you more manly and a hit with the ladies
Indeed!
Great minuteman rifle. It can be grabbed and fully loaded in seconds. I keep mine ready to go in a quick amount of time, always on standby with ammo belt. Its not the best in any field by any means. Its a loose jack of all trades but can be brought to life quickly.
so true! well said!
The history I love is that I got mine for 95 bucks right after the LA riots.
Nice! lol
I bought mine for $175.00 with a scope, made in China all serial # are the same. Is a military SKS. Very accurate, I reload my own 7.62 x 39.
That's about when I got mine David
My first one was in 2004 I paid about 179 for it now they run about 400bucks
Man I wish lol I'm trading an ar for an sks tomorrow the most pristine condition sks I have ever seen in my life looks brand new I'm super excited
Enjoyed your video. Carried one back from Vietnam. Great weapon. Also enjoy seeing CW relics come out of the ground in your other videos. God Bless Pap
Thank you, I hope to find other civil war sites with my friend Eric. Thanks for your service!
Mishaco (Misha) has a brand new EXTENSIVE history, numbers, etc. video on the SKS.
As a prepper and survivalist I found uses for the spike bayonet. I used it for digging and splitting wood as well as frog gigging. Actually I found many uses for it. It can even be use for setting animal trapping
Very Interesting!
Do you know why the Chinese went to the spike bayonet??? The reason is that the wound is very difficult to close up. A slash from a blade bayonet is much easier to close.
@@JohnDoe-zl6ph interesting. Thanks
Found one in bubba configuration at a LGS... it was a yugo in great shape so I bought it and bought the original parts for it and brought it back to yugo glory... keep up with the great vids!
Great job restoring one to original!
I love my Chinese SKS. The poor man's Garand.
indeed!
I think of mine as the poor man's Ruger Mini-30.
The sks is nowhere near a Garand....
@@hossman8499
I agree. M1 Carbine would be a closer comparison, though still a bit of a stretch.
@matt thomas
Maybe in caliber, but not weapon.
Reliable, hard hitting, plentiful ammo - and unmodified ones are not on most gun ban lists. Key word: Unmodified.
Still affordable.
I love my SKS. 👍👍
You should do a series, “Why you should own...”
Yes!!! lol
The SKS is a good basic rifle that is reliable and simple to maintain. It's pretty accurate for what it is and I really like the 39 cartridge for knock down power. Wish they were cheap like they used to be. Anyway, gotta have at least one in your collection
The real question should be " Will you be able to own an SKS", seeing how expensive and sought after these rifles are.
I saw milsurp AK values really climb over the last 7ish years... SKS is going the same way
I got my dad's 1956 Russian he bought for $90 ..30 years ago 😃😃😃
The 7.62x39mm and .30-30 Winchester have very comparable ballistics... albeit with a 122-154gr bullet as opposed to the 150-170gr in the .30-30
One of the best rifles to own. I got mine for 100 bucks and its a Paratrooper Model. I have enjoyed it for many years and a great SHTF choice to put game on the table. Keep it clean and it will run very well. Military Collectable and reliable
Awesome! Saw a Chinese Paratrooper SKS for 1000 at a shop recently lol
I found and secured for later inspection Sandy dirt and dried up plant matter deep inside the stock during initial inspection after receiving said from classic. It was cracked stock Vietnam era. The wood furniture does have some stories to tell. Small Crack was fixed. Anyone else ever find a surprise bonus like that?
I just picked up a NORINCO from the late 80s, matching numbers and still in cosmoline and never fired.. Its never been molested with stupid aftermarket junk. It will be my new wilderness weapon for the Alaska wilds in its normal configuration...
awesome! hope it serves you well!
Just get the stripper clips
Nice. It will do well even against a charging brown bear if you use all 10 rounds. And it is fast enough to shoot all 10 rounds in rapid succession.
That's why I have 6 of them, both Chinese and Russian. including 2 "paratrooper" versions.
Impressive! They are very desired!
It's reliable and fairly accurate. I have a Chicom Type 56 SKS made at Factory 26 in 1966. It wss a gift from my dad.
nice!
Same here factory 26 cut down to paratrooper length from 1967
Now people want $800 for one's in decent shape or $500 for rusted trash.
that is the sad reality, but you still have the chance of finding an underpriced one in rural shops
and PSA still has some under that 5 bill threshold
I ended up finding a really good condition chinese in a pawn shop for 250$ . ( found it about a month or 2 into COVID when gun prices were already skyrocketing)
@@benjamenanderson9840 Great acquisition!
@@BattlefieldCurator yep! I really got lucky that day. With COVID and the riots I didn’t think I’d be able to find anything. And I didn’t ... No Ars, No Aks.
Went to my local pawnshop and found 2 Sks’s . A yugo and a Chinese. Picked up the Chinese.
( was going to get the yugo too but didn’t have enough cash on me. Went back the next day and it was already gone.)
But is it worth 500$? Maybe.
It is now 2024
Let's just say the age of $75 ChiCom SKS, just like the days of the 10-Cent icy-cold Coke from vending machines, are gone and will never come back. So live with it and quit complaining!
Word of advice, if you are going to Bubba it and add a detachable mag, there is a good chance you will have feeing issues, the standard 10 round fixed mag is the best bet.
true, some detachable mags have known to be problematic
pro tip : watch series at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching a lot of movies lately.
@Maximiliano Erik Yup, I've been using Flixzone for years myself :D
I have a Chinese 5 round magazine in mine . Works fine ! I also have a Chinese Star 20 round magazine that works fine too.
@@benjimenfranklin7650 20 rounders are cool!
I passed over these when they were $65.00 but I did get when they reached $119.00. I have never regretted getting it either.
Awesome, that’s around 1/5th of the cost of what they go for now
I only have my right arm, I served in the conflict in Angola in 1976 against the South African Army and the right wing guerilla movement UMITA. I was trained with SKS and than we were given AK47, after returning to communist Cuba. My parents lost their business and home, I never was a communist, but it was mandatory to serve in the military or be thrown in jail and accused of treason. After returning I escaped to the USA. I am a conservative, there is no doubt this is the land of the free, home of the brave, and the land of opportunity, I started several business, in some I lost and in others I was successful. I am a HVAC retired contractor. Own a SKS and loved, getting a little old but still can handle it at 68, I lost my arm above my elbow and that is what I used to whole the rifle cause I am right handed. Thanks for your video. God bless you and the USA.
That’s an impactful story Alfonso, thanks for sharing. It is shocking how many Americans don’t take advantage of all the opportunities here in this country. After seeing Iraq and Kuwait while overseas, I sure was thankful for how good we have it in America.
@@BattlefieldCurator
Amen my b rye other. I am grateful for my adopted nation. People that complain the most are the most lazy. In regard to racism, and income inequality. That comes from the Marxist communist Doctrine. Create division, public schools and Universities indoctrination, remove the history or foundation and create a fake history in accordance with their Marxists ideas. I am ready to defend and give my life to preserve the last bastion of freedom in this world. If we lose it, we are done.
Amen. Our liberal folks are so ignorant.
I bought mine a couple years ago and I LOVE IT. It's my go to hog hunting rifle, battle rifle? Yes, I'd still take it into battle simply because it was designed for fighting. I'm building a 5.56 AR as I type this and it will also see service as my hoggin rifle and my SKS will be relegated to home and land defence but I will NEVER sell my SKS.. it's also the first semi auto rifle I've ever owned.
I have owned three. I respect them having fought in Vietnam. They have what is called acceptable accuracy. That in a nutshell is why I don’t have one now. Always ended up trading for something else.
SKS is a staple of Canadian gun culture. We love them up here. Pretty much everyone I know owns at least one.
Yep, that and the Enfield rifle variants seem to be popular with you guys up there. I’m sure you guys have a lot of Russian ones with the beautiful red stocks!
We definitely have lots of nice ones. Mosin Nagant are super popular here as well. Carcano is gaining popularity here now too.
When I got into collecting my first ones were the 54r Chi Type 53s super under appreciated rifle and tough as nails, then the SKSs. Great Yugos from the conflict years and a mil M59 (original first run B series-not 59/66 but who does not like a grenade launcher!). A couple of the Yugos are VERY accurate for this round as is the old M59 but my truck/all around is a Chi Type 56/Arsenal 26 1963ish. Light, accurate and bullet proof-plus it was in amazing shape and inexpensive at the time! Its just hard to beat an SKS for reliable simplicity and ammo is still reasonable.
“I bought mine in 1973 for 15 dollars, and it came with 60,000 rounds. It also came with a free svt 40”
That’s amazing! …wouldn’t happen these days!
Bought a Norinco in 1989 for $75 ... still my favorite and I own more modern weapons now.
SKS has always been a fan favorite, even Jerry Miculek, world record competition shooter, has done a video on the SKS
When my buddy picked one up years ago for $89 he asked me if I wanted one. I don’t usually make bad decisions but I definitely did that day.
My favorite also, a Norinco, versatile, loads in 2 -3 seconds, nice sights, cleaning kit in butt stock and a bayonet when you run out of bullets. Paid $150 in the '90's, a few months later $99. Should have bought more.
The sks used to be cheap and affordable now completely ludicrous
#'s matching Chicoms are selling for 500-700, and up in CA - when you can find one.
Ludicrous depends on whether you're buying, or selling! If you're wanting to buy one it's pretty bad.
It cost more to make a SKS than a stamped AK
Just bought one still in cosmoline from Atlantic Firearms for $450. It is still cheaper than an AK.
@@xfirehurican I am a Californian and I just bought one from Atlantic Firearms still in cosmoline for $450. Matching numbers!
Yea l love the SKS the way it is , l bought one a week ago, l liked it so much l bought another one. The bayonet just adds the cool factor.
Everything you said... it's FUN to shoot.
I own a Yugo, that is in immaculate condition. I have 20 and 30 round clips for it as well. I live on Texas and find that it is about as all purpose as you'd ever want. Its a good truck gun when out in the country. Its great for hog and deer, etc... And its a good brush gun. Its a solid defense choice, as well. I like being able to transfer to the standard 10 round clip when hunting... and have the option to go to 20and 30 clips if it were ever necessary. Next to the AK it is probably the gun with the most surplus parts available, as well as original accessories such as ammo pouches, slings, cleaning kits, etc... There's also a veritable cornucopia of aftermarkets parts swaps, and add-ons. You can dress it up significantly if thats your thing.
Someday when the s#!+ hits the fan... and you run out of ammo.... Theres a good chance you will find some 7.62 somehow...somewhere. There will never be a global shortage of it. In really bad situations...theres a good chance for battlefield pick ups of SKS's... which you would already be familiar with....and you could put it back into service...or use it as spare parts, or whatever.
well said! The SKS is such a versatile platform
The only problem with the yugo is that with a 30 round mag she's a 10 1/2 pound brick but her weight also gives her a better rapid grouping for me.
Just picked up a 20 round internal mag. Rather uncommon and it looks damn cool
Great! Those are a bit hard to find and are highly desired. Did you find it locally or online?
@@BattlefieldCurator picked it up at a gunshow actually. Haven’t seen one in quite sometime. Definitely had to have it!
I bought one back in 1994 for about $125.00 in California. It's Russian made by Tula in 1953. Very good shape. Shoots great. Easy to clean. Good video. It's a good low cost home defender . I now live in southwest Arizona.
Awesome! If only we could go back in time to those prices
I bought 2 Russian ones from CA around the same time and same price, pristine condition, gorgeous laminated wood stock.
I have a Chinese version I bought back in the late '80's which was brand new unfired still in factory cosmoline with bayonet, in stock cleaning kit and oil bottle when they were being imported and sold by some big box stores for less than $90 U.S.D.
These were brand new unfired with matching serial numbers not refurbished used rifles.
Over the decades I have also owned AK's including a couple of the higher end Russian Arsenal new variants and I have sold off the AK's but still have my SKS.
I am one of those that feels we will within the foreseeable not so distant future see another "Assault" weapon and high capacity magazine ban.
In my opinion it is not an if but rather when.
I also think that as far as high capacity magazine possession unlike the last ban this time there will be no grandfather clause which allows their possession or use.
There will probably be a grandfather clause on AR/AK style weapons but only within the scope of using the lower capacity magazines of the capacity they approve to be allowed.
To be honest when the original Assault weapon and magazine ban was allowed to sunset and end I was really surprised that it occurred.
Another reason for the SKS even out in the field hunting use the SKS is basically viewed as any other wood stocked and will not draw unwanted attention or scrutiny.
A "black" rifle on the other hand may well draw more scrutiny and unwanted attention from others.
Most people do not like the talk of weapons restrictions but all one needs to do is look around the world at what has occurred in other developed nations and the climate worldwide is less citizen firearm oriented than ever in our past.
SKS is a fine under the radar SHTF or just hunting weapon whether others are banned or not but if another ban does come into effect something like a SKS greatly increases in desirability!
Great write up! But I do think the SKS is not totally under the radar. There’s so many mods for it that I’m sure it’s not off the radar as much as we would like to think. Though if I remember, it wasn’t banned by name in Canada yet.
@@BattlefieldCurator Here in the states all the current attention is based on weapons which look like more current versions of military weapons of war and on higher capacity removeable magazines in both pistols and rifles.
Seems the magic number on the maximum rounds for a magazine will be 10 or under although that could change.
Many jurisdictions have for decades limited magazine capacity for a legal hunting weapon to 3 in the magazine, one in the chamber.
Actually most tube magazine fed shotguns for hunting use when sold new had a wooden dowel installed in the magazine to limit the capacity to 3 shells and the user if not using it for hunting or in a place that did not have that requirement the user could remove the spacer and have a magazine capacity of 5 shells.
Here in the U.S.A. the AR variants many are priced so cheaply now that you never hear anything about the SKS any longer.
Also the new fad besides the ar's and ak's is long range precision rifles with adjustable cheek pads, many with adj length of pull and a super honkin scope on top in flatter shooting calibers to try and hit targets from 800-1500 yards.
Old average military rifles used mainly in places like Vietnam and Africa by third world countries such as the SKS is not tacticool enough for todays wannabes.
Hell not even Bubba want the SKS anymore it does not have the mounting options for the rails to hang all of his tacticool garbage and flashlights from when he wants to pretend to be Rambo!😂
@@billwiley7216 true, ARs are pretty cheap and abundant. It would be cheaper to get and mod a AR15 than an SKS these days. Even though the AR and AK platforms remain popular, the SKS can still be had for under an AK price. There are still bubbas making SKS’s into tacticool rifles. There are still a decent amount of SKS rifles out there, especially the Chinese ones, that most people don’t care to more them. Aftermarket FAB Defense, Pro Mag Archangel and ATI stocks are still pretty abundant out there for those who wants to turn the SKS into a cool looking rifle. There’s even bullpup kits out there,like CBRPS. A cheaper option for mounting an optic is the dust cover with the rail, but the better one out there is the Magwedge, which is more stable for a scope mount. Archangel makes removable mags with a built in lever for quick release. So many possibilities out there for the SKS enthusiasts these days
Yep. Bought mine for $90 in around 1990…. It’s never misfired or had any problems at all. Great rifle! 😎👍🏼
50 yards out to 100 or even 150 yards ....Accuracy sucks ! Might get a 6 inch group at 100 yrds. Use a spear instead !
I own 4 of them.
They are perfect for guests walking through the woods.
Hog control, coyotes e.t.c.
I should buy an SKS, because I only have one right now.
Lol
Customizing an SKS is herecy!
Nonsense gussy that bitch up. You want your girl to like like a little house on the prairie daughter or a super model?😉
the way I look at customized military surplus Firearms is if its yours do as you wish just like a classic car you can chop the top and tub it out, if its yours and you like it its all that matters
1953 Tula Arms is my personal SKS I love it 🥰
I have a late 52, wanted a 53, special year to me. Great rifle, made me buy AK.
@@stoegerstewie8351 I want an AK I love the AK series but I still admit proudly that if I was out in the bush or in a survival situation I’d rather have my SKS and all the ammo I can carry rather than an AK
Great rifle for sure, I just like the fact it's easy and you need buy nothing for it but ammo ( and it's 30 caliber )
Yup! And the ammo is one of the most common you can find
I did the detachable magazine bubba home job on my new Norinco a few years ago. The transition went very well. No feeding issues at all and the rifle remained accurate as hell. So, not all of the horror stories will apply to everybody. If you are reasonably proficient with tools, you can convert to detachable mags.
MrGunny2009 ...I completely agree. Every high capacity detachable magazine that I own...i've fitted the mag to the rifle(by lightly filing, and sanding the mag where it was tight)not carve on a beautiful rifle. If I need to reinstall the original 10 rounder...the rifle will be in unmolested condition. It's a very capable, useful platform.
The sks I bought came already customized with a bipod and scope and 35 round detachable magazines and I’ve never had a feeding issue with them it’s a fantastic rifle
I rescued a bubba sks, but sadly, there was no saving it. Drilled holes in the receiver, the only choice was to make it the nicest bubba rifle possible, had a custom made wood stock from a local wood shop, and love it until this day.
Those countries you mentioned from Europe were USSR via Warsaw Pact.
They are just a lot of fun.
Yes!!!
An aftermarket 5-round magazine sits flush with the stock, making it easier to carry for deer hunting. I Accraglassed my Norinco and worked on the trigger, resulting in a pretty accurate rifle.
As a sks collector. 7.62x39. do not bubba mod.. you need couple thousand rounds, no mods.. learn the rifle
The reason to own a SKS is its a fucking blast to shoot. No other reason needed
😂
Great video. Touched on all the good reasons to own an SKS. Own two myself: Chinese commercial and Yugo. Never go to the rifle range without 'em.
I have a 53, it made get into AKs as I am late to SKS game.
I have a 53, it made get into AKs as I am late to SKS game.
picked up 3 in Nam, but never had the rank or the connections to get one home. bought one when I got home, a type 56 as a collector. shoot it, but it's not my "go to". I display it in my gun room next to my ar 15's in kind of a nod to Nam.
I’ve lived and hunted mostly in the Appalachian Mountains foothills
It’s the perfect rifle for the heavily wooded hills and hollers of the mountains
Ammo is super easy to find and cheaper than most anything else
So it’s a semi auto 30-30 to me
It's a fun rifle/carbine, low recoil, simple to maintain, accurate enough and up until recently was "cheap" to shoot.
definitely!
Still is cheap compared to my AR-15
@@dukeofbanfe None of it is cheap any more.
i bought 2 in 1994 $85 each
2 is 1 ONE IS NONE
Nice saying! Yea, can’t just have one lol
Bought my yugo sks in Oklahoma City in 2008 for $105 in legit pristine condition. Only reason I got it is cause I listened to a country song where he talks about buying a sks and and steel core ammo and hunting LOL!
Lol 😂 never heard of this song, do you remember the name of it?
I love the SKS
I love sks so much I just paid 650.00
But it's very very nice.. Chinese
enjoy it!
@@BattlefieldCurator Thank You!
I pick it up Tomorrow.. paid in full.. Had to wait about 12 hrs, as usual on the paper work
this dude acts/sounds like he's drunk/high... nice...
I have one, no regrets go ahead and keep your pee shooter AR, I will keep my SKS
I love my SKSs I'm down to 3 that I'll never get rid of. One of em has put alot of deer meat in the freezer. Y'all stay safe and God bless
Great rifle for putting food on the table!
We got warrior poet at home
In Vietnam they were the ultimate bad guy gun in addition to the AK.
I was gonna put a new chassis on one
Good video. For me #7 was #1 and #8 was #2 since I'm in a restricted state. Got it for less than $100 waayyyy back in the day and love it. I did get the tapco stock for it though since the pull length on the Chinese rifles is just so short. Turns out there's a place that makes longer wood stocks too, so I might just switch over to that.
Glad you were able to get one back in the earlier days!
Love my 1965 vintage Triangle 26 Chicom SKS. At this point, 3 years into the future, the SKS is more expensive than the budget ARs. Yep. Thanks for the vid
Glad you enjoyed it
I remember seeing the SKS and 1,000 rounds of ammo for $100 when I was a kid. Finally got a Chinese one for about $500 a few years back. Definitely reminds me of going to the gun store when I was a kid.
Ah yes. The SKS was very abundant back then and one of the first that I was introduced to
Back in Africa, the 7.62x39 is used to kill all kind of animals up to elephants.
Interesting, didn’t know that. The caliber is very common and so are the weapons that fire 7.62x39 so I guess that makes sense
You can kill anything provided you shoot them enough times. Elephants too.
@@rmwtsou In Africa the poachers have no mercy for the animals.
I just bought a Yugo SKS for 600 yesterday. Yeah the prices have changed......a lot. But I figured I grab mine now then later.
Great! Yea I have a feeling the next one or two years might be great for finding deals
Just ordered one today, I was shot with an sks in Nam in 1970.
Oh 😯! Glad you made it out, thank you for your service. I’m sure that SKS will mean a lot to you
@@BattlefieldCurator I am a minor league gun collector. My last living buddy from Nam reminded me of that day. The nva soldier who shot me was taken down and they fired his sks as I waited for a medivac. soon I will have one.
Pity the fool that doesn't own an SKS.
I have a Yugo I bought packed in grease in 2002 for $189.00. It's been nothing but 100% reliable. Ain't for sale.
Nice!
Honestly if you get a collectible milsurp SKS with matching numbers, keep it as is. It's a piece of small arms history and I always cringe whenever I see one bubba'd.
I agree
Cool
One? Should be 2 or 3 - minimum.
Indeed!
Palmetto State Armory has them in stock.
I'm surprised they haven't sold out yet
i love 7.63x39 round, great round for ar15. 7.62 is a great bush cutter.
Indeed!
Great vid!
Obtained 'several' pristine /26\ SKS's, #'s matching, w/bayonet - before prices topped $100. My fav semi-auto in 7.62×39.
good thing you jumped on those early!
Got mine for 75 bucks. It has been a dandy ranch rifle. Only regret I have is I didn't pick up a crate of them at that price. They are great rifles for their purpose but are overpriced today. It would have to be an exceptional specimen at 350 tops to get me to bite, or I'd just go with an AR-15. Thanks for the vid.
you got yours early on, good deal. I have talked with quite a few enthusiasts and shop owners who all wish they would have held on to a crate of them. Shorter supply and higher demand keeps the values going higher, i don't know if they will ever come down at this point
@@BattlefieldCurator The only way prices will come down is if the feds decide to allow imports again, and we all know the likelihood of that happening is pretty much zero.
@@JW-fq1pp yea true… but not gonna happen
It's basically a spear that goes boom. What's not to like. I love mine. Idk what happened to it between 1958 and 1993 but some trench art tells me in 93 she was in Kukes Albania.
that trench art must be cool looking
yeeyee
I was really shocked when I was banging the gong at 100 yards using the iron sights shot after shot. I managed to picked up a bunch of cheap ammo so I am set
Awesome!
I've had 3, one was bubbafied but it also came with all the original parts. The second was the Paratrooper version missing the bayonet and scoped with that silly aftermarket scope mount receiver cover thing (that can't hold zero). Both of those are gone now. The third I've kept. Got it covered in cosmo, all numbers matching, and 1k rounds of ammo for $200 back in 2012. I think the guy just didn't want to mess with cleaning it. Sorta wish I'd kept the Paratrooper model also...
Yea I’ve seen a few of those paratrooper models… Actually, I saw one recently at shop a few towns over
@@BattlefieldCurator i have one of the paratrooper models. It is my favorite rifle. The only ammo it doesn't like are hollow points. Anything else it eats like crazy.
@@gelnat7100 understandable… one of the things I realize about the SKS is the lengthy barrel and those “paratrooper” models being shorter make it convenient for modern time usages.
I have a russian red 1954 sks with blade bayonet. Very beautiful rifle design. I love it for my bush rifle. Ive had 10 sks in my years of collecting and sold them all. Now i got 1 again ill never get rid of it. My buddy has a svt40 and a m14 and 2 sks. Very cool guns.
I definitely like the look and authenticity of the Russian SKS rifles with the red stock. Can’t go wrong with the other ones your friend has either.
I am the same, owned several SKSs over the years, bought a Norinco today, it will be with me for keeps, I am getting out of cycling through firearms and now buying nice examples of the ones I liked over the years to keep for good.
Didn't the French have a bolt action sniper rifle that was sks but in French?
MAS49 and MAS49/56… looks a bit like a SKS lol
Aw yeah. The old sks. The shtf gun thatll last to the end of the world. If i couldnt own but 1 gun it would deffently the sks. It would last longer than an AK or AR.
💯
I have two! The first is a heavy Yugo with a rough barrel that was perfect for burning up cheap corrosive primer surplus ammo 15 years ago. Then I got a beautiful Russian that I only use modern ammo in. Along with my WASR-10/63 bought in 2007 I'm pretty well set for 7.62x39.
Got an SKS a few months ago and love it. Lucked out on getting a 1950 model. That one has a spring on firing pin. The negatives is it not all matching numbers and does not have chromed barrel. A few months later i get another SKS. This one a 1954. (both sks Russian) Has matching serial numbers on all parts and has chrome barrel. Has floating firing pin so i ordered a kit that has a new firing pin with spring. Love how easy they are to take apart for cleaning.
Very cool! Those Russians are getting hard to find!
I too think everyone with a leather jacket and youtube channel should own an SKS!
Lmao 🤣
Got my Tula 51 for $230 and 1700 rnds of ammo for $350. Trained and drilled with it and it can ( barely) hold its own with modern combat rifles ( but can do the job). You just have to know iron sights and how to manipulate them to produce the required strike pattern.
That’s awesome! There’s been a lot of videos with folks speed shooting the SKS. Practice definitely helps!
Best thing I ever bought. They are good for hunting too.
Yes, tried and true!
I wished I owned a couple, when I got my first semi auto rifle I couldn't afford one so I bought a ak47 instead, I wished my ak47 had a bayonet lug. I still wished I had two sks.
I think both the AK and SKS platforms are a must have, at least you have one platform. Chinese Type 56 SKS carbines can still be found on Palmetto State Armory and J&G webites
@@BattlefieldCuratorwith inflation going I i keep looking
Ha! 50 bucks try 700 nowadays 🤣🤣
@John Beige damn
Now that Russian ammo is banned this didn’t age too well..
Lol just my luck haha
$89 out the door in light oil, not cosmoline and a case of 1440 on strippers (corrosive) for $99. THE GOOD OLD DAYS
The sks is a very pleasant shooting gun. I wish I bought mine YEARS AGO. Also shooting steel case is hella cheaper than other mil surp rifles
Indeed, steel case is cheap and it works well with the SKS carbines