So I'm thinking about getting my daughter an SKS Type 56 and was hoping to get a little feedback/critique on the rifle. Please let me know what you think. I find 7.62X39 all over the place so ammo seems readily available.
my ruskie is too. when my eyes were better, 150yds iron sigts from a rest with my then 20 yr younger eyes and light glasses fro distance was fine. now.. that would be 100yds max, with thicker glasses..
I'm feeling your pain, Soundguy. My next pair of eyeglasses will be coca-cola bottle bottoms. Got a catarac in my shooting eye. With my insurance and Obozocare, (Cadillac Plan?) Ole Doc won't do surgury for at least 3 years. I think they're hoping I'll kick the bucket by then. They'll call me Mr. Magoo by the time they get around to it.
Don't know about you guys, but even when I could see, the best I could squeeze from either Ruskie or Chicom SKS was about 3 inches at 100 yards with steel core ammo. My MAK-90 is a milled receiver, and it is nowhere close to even an SKS for accuracy. Kind of 'Point and pray' affair. I'd be jumping with joy if it shot close to 4 inches at 100 yards.
I'm feeling your pain, Soundguy. My next pair of eyeglasses will be coca-cola bottle bottoms. Got a catarac in my shooting eye. With my insurance and Obozocare, (Cadillac Plan?) Ole Doc won't do surgury for at least 3 years. I think they're hoping I'll kick the bucket by then. They'll call me Mr. Magoo by the time they get around to it.
Don't know about you guys, but even when I could see, the best I could squeeze from either Ruskie or Chicom SKS was about 3 inches at 100 yards with steel core ammo. My MAK-90 is a milled receiver, and it is nowhere close to even an SKS for accuracy. Kind of 'Point and pray' affair. I'd be jumping with joy if it shot close to 4 inches at 100 yards.
Too bad about the cataract. My eye doc kept trying to get me to get the surgery. When my right eye got to being almost legally blind and iron sights were a dim memory, I finally did it. SO glad I did! Like having new eyes! Open and peep sights are now good again.
For the SKS, the single best way to improve accuracy is to use GOOD ammo! My current Chicom "Psuedo-Sino-Soviet" (proper features but too late a serial) shoots 6" at 100 yards with Wolf, 3" at 100 yards with Ulyanovsk white box ammo, and a solid one inch group with Remington or Winchester FMJ and my handloads, using a fixed 6X scope. Same with my old Yugo SKS, but it was stolen. The SKS is very capable, in good shape. If it rocks in the stock, it can be shimmed to a tight fit. The Yugo has an advantage with the on-off gas valve. Shut it off, it becomes a straight-pull bolt-action and the scope doesn't get dinged. Lack of all that reciprocating mass helps accuracy too.
Thanks, Bigdog. Doc might yet to me this month. The best hand loads I've shot yet with the 7.62X39 have been with BLC-(2) and 125 grain Hornady bullets. My old Myman manual didn't list BLC (2), but did list IMR-4227 for one of it's powders. Loads with even mid-range loads either blew the primers or stretched the primer pockets and ruined the new Winchester brass. The newer powder works much better.
I know this thread has taken a turn but let's see what happens. Just found this rifle in my LGS for $595 which seems high to me but what do I know? Absolutely nothing about these particular rifles. Don't think its been force matched, the stock, receiver, bolt and trigger guard all match. As you can see it still has the cosmogoop throughout the action. Looking for opinions on price, condition, etc...
It is a pretty good looking rifle. It may be worth it now, but I could not see myself spending $600 for it. It was not all that long ago that they could be bought for $149.99 at places like AIM surplus, Century, or Centerfire systems.
Thanks guys for reinforcing my suspicions. I'm looking at a Winchester Model 12 that has good metal and rough wood at the same shop for $250.00. Thinking that's a pretty decent deal. Maybe I'll mention what you've told me and offer them $600 for both. I doubt they'll take it though as the SKS just showed up.
I have a Factory 26 SKS 1958 manufacture date. Paid $400 for it last year in new condition. Cosmolined up. Sure is fun to shoot and I can group 3" with iron sites at 100 yards easy with cheapo Wolf ammunition. Here is my son shooting it:
It came with 300 rounds of Norinco ammo, and goodies.
Russian models gain some value. Paratrooper models get more dollars on the market.
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