Torn on SKS ownership...

Posted by striatedsumo7@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 37 comments

I need some advice on whether to keep my SKS or not. Its a norinco I bought from a buddy back in 2018 or so, I've yet to fire it as i hadnt been that motivated with guns until this past year, when I bought an AR ive been focused on. I would like to take it out and see how it shoots. But I also am kind of drawn to looking for a weapon thats abit more modern (magazines are a cool invention). I like knowing the SKS is built to last and can handle being treated like crap and still fire... is this a case where i do a trade for either an Ak or some other 30 caliber weapon, or should I just hang onto the norinco and save for another gun? My biggest concerns are reliability, durability, and of course ammo cost, so any recommendations that might match SKS rep would be fantastic.

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Sandman_LA@reddit

Never ever get rid of a firearm. While it may not be as useful as other firearms, you will most likely regret it. Forever.

I had an SKS. I gave it to a very good Pastor / personal friend for Christmas because I got wind about him always wanting one.

I had shot maybe 10-15 rounds through it all the many years I owned it.

My regret is minimal due to him being so happy.

But, it is regret nonetheless.

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sirbassist83@reddit

"no sell only buy" is dumb. ive sold a bunch of guns, including 2 SKSs, and i have very few regrets.

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mijoelgato@reddit

Exactly. I sold my SKS (2) for a tremendous profit.

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Sandman_LA@reddit

If a profit is good for you, I’m happy for you. Some people can look at firearms as an investment, me personally, not so much.

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mijoelgato@reddit

I certainly didn’t buy them as an investment. I was very young and couldn’t afford a AK, quickly got bored with them and they sat around for decades.

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Sandman_LA@reddit

Well thank you for alerting me to my low intelligence.

I personally have never purchased anything even outside of guns that I didn’t truly need or want. So, that is, and will continue to be my sentiment on this.

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Osight_Zach@reddit

Sending a gun to a good home makes it very hard to miss it. The real regrets are when you sell it to a friend on the cheap and he gunbrokers it to buy something worthless!

(Like an HK P7 which turned into a Hyundai Tiburon)

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striatedsumo7@reddit (OP)

This reminds me of when i sold my old 2000 cavalier (first car) to some guy who ripped his bumper off in front of me while coming to see it. I pray for that little beater every day lol.

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sirbassist83@reddit

oof

gif

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Osight_Zach@reddit

When you start shooting & collecting you'll invariably sell a couple guns that you don't love at the time, but later go crazy for. It's a nostalgia thing, or taste changing with age.... but the SKS is very much a "Wood and Steel have SOUL" kind of thing. If you're looking for function-first then a stripper-clip loaded antique that needs increasingly expensive ammo is not going to scratch your itch the same way a modern MSR would. I vote for selling it, or holding on to let it appreciate some more to sell it. THEN buy another one at 3x the price you paid in 2050 like the rest of us!

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Lower-Ad-1300@reddit

Just like I’ve done too many times in the pasr

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striatedsumo7@reddit (OP)

Lmao fair enough. It seems the general concensus is to keep it and as of now, other than looking onto getting a handgun, I'll be foxused on pitting my money towards my AR. So I'll probably hang on to it. If you have any recommendations for a more comperable alternative to eventually trade/sell for and keep my eyes out for I'd definitly appreciate it.

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Osight_Zach@reddit

I think you're still finding your taste. Some guys like stuff for the function, the performance, some like the older surplus stuff for quirkiness and history. The chase of collecting old guns is fun, and shooting them is a different pace and approach. It's really hard to recommend anything until you know what you love. Something with an older pedigree that takes 5.56 so you retain ammo commonality could be interesting. I love AKs but I haven't been shooting them for a few years because half the fun of owning them before was the cheap .30 cal ammo!

The other day I was shopping those Spanish CETMEs from Marcolmar. They're funky cold war 5.56 guns with a pic rail so you get some history and an oddball to run in a sorta-HK G3-ish platform. IDK about reliability but that kind of thing might be worth shopping. It's different from the average AR and offers similar functionality.

Like most recommendations, you probably won't like it, but that's good because now you have another data point on what you DON'T want! (Nobody never likes each others' recommendations.)

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striatedsumo7@reddit (OP)

Thats how it goes I guess, thanks for the pointers I'll keep all that in mind!

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sirbassist83@reddit

ill probably be a lone dissenting voice, but i dont see any specific reason you NEED to hold on to it. would you make a profit selling it, and have something in mind your put the money towards? a silencer, maybe? if the answer to both of those questions is yes, sell it. they are extremely outdated, not very accurate, and an AR isnt any less durable or reliable. yes theyre going up in price but i dont see that lasting forever. there are millions of them in the US and theyre decidedly inferior to basically any semi auto that can mount a scope and uses box mags.

i wouldnt sell it at a loss, and personally i wouldnt replace it with an AK. they use box mags but otherwise are still very outdated.

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striatedsumo7@reddit (OP)

Fair take, definitely something ive had in my mind. Like k said to a few others id love a rec for any more comperable alternative to eventually trade/sell for.

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LooksBetterWithDrops@reddit

I recently decided to sell my sks (and saiga 12). I bought my SKS in the 90s. It was nice when i lived in not-free states, but now i never shoot it. My AR is more practical and my M-1 .30 carbine is more fun, and fills that vintage niche.

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Lower-Ad-1300@reddit

Love the M -1 carbine. We all had them in the 70’s. All surplus ammo was so cheap.
Plus it’s a good looking gun

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sirbassist83@reddit

current market rate for an SKS is \~$500. there isnt anything comparable at that price range besides another AR. i have no idea what optics/accessories you have, but id put that towards a nice scope, aimpoint, or suppressor, personally. maybe a good carry pistol.

also, im not necessarily trying to talk you into selling it. if youve got a can, good flashlight and good optic, just hold onto it for now.

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Lower-Ad-1300@reddit

SKS was before the AK 47. They are pretty much indestructible .
Shoot the shit out of it

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Mdmrtgn@reddit

After 20 years the only things I have that are never going anywhere are the g45 and the ARs. ARs are cheap to upgrade and work on and very simple, you can build something that will go toe to toe with a DD for half the cost or less. Everyone should have at least a standard ar-15 with a chrome lined barrel, solid gas block, and high pressure bcg. Also Holosun and vortex are the absolute floor of what I will spend for Dots. Keep the sks and build a business rifle for ~7-800.

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bobroberts1954@reddit

SKS doesn't need a detachable magazine, it takes stripper clips.

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striatedsumo7@reddit (OP)

Correct yea.

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IanKelsonMD@reddit

I sold my last two Chinese sks for $350 each, what I paid for them, in 2016.

Now they’re re t rded high. (Mods are lame)

I’ll just blast my AK and ARs. Both have FRTs and mags. SKS has no place for me now.

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Stock_Block2130@reddit

I have a Norinco SKS with both the original (matching numbers) wood furniture and replacement AR style polymer furniture and detachable magazines. The wood is in a box along with the box magazine and bayonet. It could be reassembled to original condition if desired. How does it shoot? Like an AK but with a bit less accuracy and a bit more recoil. A bit heavy. But totally serviceable. I like its old style leaf sights, traditional charging handle on the right, and old style safety. I cleaned out the BCG when I got it so no slam fire issues. I will keep it although it will be used rarely. If the OP’s is in decent shape, my suggestion is to keep it.

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Legal-Management6969@reddit

Norinco SKS is a keeper.... I am in the USA so Norinco ANYTHING is a keeper in my book.... I am always jealous of Canada... They have brand new Norinco 1911s... 😭

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GamesFranco2819@reddit

Not anymore they dont

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striatedsumo7@reddit (OP)

You beat me to it lmao. RIP our brothers up north.

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cowboy3gunisfun@reddit

I would never sell a gun I've never shot. Trust me, I'm no fan of the SKS, but I know plenty of people who live for them. Take it out, fire a hundred rounds or so. Then decide what you want to go with.

Odds are good, unless you're a collector you won't be interested, but you won't know until you shoot it. It doesn't sound like you are now, but it could happen. When I was young and bought my first gun, I never thought I would end up with a collection, but now (30 years later) I've got over 50 firearms. (Including a Norinco SKS and a Russian SKS)

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gunsforevery1@reddit

They are great rifles. I love mine.

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Sufficient-Appeal503@reddit

I would only use it as a trade chip for something you want more than it. They’re sweet besides that. Just traded my Norinco for a Canik TTI combat. Just gotta wait for the right person to come along. So unless you find something cooler and someone wants to give up something more valuable I say keep it

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marc_879@reddit

Keep it. I miss my Norinco. One of the three guns I’ve sold that I wish I had kept.

The other two were a Kimber Classic and a late 1950’s model 36

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