AK or SKS

[durk]

What is your preference and from what country?

[CampingJosh]

I voted AK because of the removable magazine. It's certainly not the perfect weapon, but I think the AKs pros outweigh its cons.

Mine is from Romania. I know it's at the lower end, quality wise, but mine is a better example as far as the Romanian ones go, and there are SO many replacement parts available that I'll be able to improve it as I get more money saved up.

[ponycar17]

AK... It's no accuracy champion, and certainly just a plinker or short-range hunting weapon. But well, so is the SKS....

The AK's perk list is short for me, ending at the detachable magazine. My choice was an American-made AK with 7 US compliance parts (only 6 are needed), not including the American-Made magazine (which makes 10 total compliance parts). The guns are rugged and very dependable. I would not get a WASR that has been machined to accept double-stack mags but that's just me. While I have no experience personally with them, I've heard of magazine feeding problems and can completely understand this from the mechanics standpoint.

This is just my opinion and as always with opinions... Well, you know...

[Rommelvon]

Ya can't go wrong with either, I prefer the AK for looks, I find the accuracy and reliability to be equal with both, if you go for an SKS find a nice russian, they cost a tad more, but are much more collectable and have nice furniture

[durk]

Well guys, I just got the OK from the wife to spend 1K. So I might go with a AR15?

[Rommelvon]

Originally Posted by durk

Well guys, I just got the OK from the wife to spend 1K. So I might go with a AR15?

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!! she have a single sister? ya . get a nice AR-15 and deck it out...that's half the fun of having an AR...and it's one rifle that's going to be in even higher demand in the near future...I love mine

[CampingJosh]

If you've got $1000 to put to good use, go with an AR.

I had less than $450 to use, so I was very limited as to my choices.

Of course, for $1000 you can get one of the nicer AKs (a Russian at the shop near me is $550) and three cases of 7.62x39 (less than $150/700 round case including shipping from Aim Surplus).

[rowdyredneck]

I have both. I think the SKS is a great bargain, but I prefer the AK for appearance. I bought my SKS when I was a senior in high school, brand new Chinese Norinco and I only paid $80 for it. Those were the days....

[carver]

Originally Posted by durk

What is your preference and from what country?

I voted for the SKS. Mine is a Russian made paratroper model, it's my avitar.
(I own three) I have two detachable 30rd. mags. for it. What I like about the SKS is that once hunting season is open, I can put the 10rd. mag. back in it, as well as the original stock, and I don't look like a fool while out hunting. Maybe some of you more knowledgable folks can tell me if the Russian models are the only ones that can be fitted with a detachable mag.? As far as a hunting rifles go an SKS or AK, bullistically speaking, is a better round out past 100yds. than the 30-30. With practice, knowledge, and proper setup, either rifle is capable of 300yd. kills.

[Rommelvon]

Originally Posted by carver

I voted for the SKS. Mine is a Russian made paratroper model, it's my avitar.
(I own three) I have two detachable 30rd. mags. for it. What I like about the SKS is that once hunting season is open, I can put the 10rd. mag. back in it, as well as the original stock, and I don't look like a fool while out hunting. Maybe some of you more knowledgable folks can tell me if the Russian models are the only ones that can be fitted with a detachable mag.? As far as a hunting rifles go an SKS or AK, bullistically speaking, is a better round out past 100yds. than the 30-30. With practice, knowledge, and proper setup, either rifle is capable of 300yd. kills.

Any SKS can be fitted with a duckbill 30 rounder mag, just take the 5 round mag out and you are set....easy to do

[noslolo]

My choice was the SKS, too bad I can't afford any right now.

[pickenup]

In answer to your original question, I would go with the Valmet.
Buy you might be hard pressed to find one for $1k.

What AR are you thinking of getting?

[durk]

Originally Posted by pickenup

In answer to your original question, I would go with the Valmet.
Buy you might be hard pressed to find one for $1k.

What AR are you thinking of getting?

Today I brought home a Bushmaster model XM15. Now, time for accessories!

[Rommelvon]

Originally Posted by durk

Today I brought home a Bushmaster model XM15. Now, time for accessories!

Sweet man!!! Time for dress that black beauty up congrats on your new baby.....let's see some pics

[bluesea112]

Russian SKS.....only because I have never shot an AK and can't afford to buy one to try it out. I guess I should say, "SKS by default"

[durk]

Originally Posted by Rommelvon

Sweet man!!! Time for dress that black beauty up congrats on your new baby.....let's see some pics

OK, Here ya go.

[Rommelvon]

Originally Posted by durk

OK, Here ya go.

She's a beauty man, what kinda goodies are ya gonna put on her? I think a nice ACOG or eotech would look sweet resting on top

[islenos]

AK's are fun...but I prefer the SKS do to its' built in magazine.

In a real running firefight your not going to be able to retrieve your spent mags. Sooner or later you will be down to owning a single shot Kalashnikov.

With a stock 10 shot SKS, as long as you have ammo you'll stay in business.

This has been a hard lesson for me to accept but I have finally broke with my GI idea of the eternal resupply..........

[bizy]

I have the Mac 90. A cheap AK knock off, but when it comes to sending lead down range, I'll take the AK/MAC 90. I had an SKS. It's just not as good as the AK. I just bought a Ruger mini 30 that fires the 7.62 X 39, Very nice and accurite.

This is one ROCK'N forum!!!

[durk]

Originally Posted by bizy

I have the Mac 90. A cheap AK knock off, but when it comes to sending lead down range, I'll take the AK/MAC 90. I had an SKS. It's just not as good as the AK. I just bought a Ruger mini 30 that fires the 7.62 X 39, Very nice and accurite.

This is one ROCK'N forum!!!

Welcome to the forum Bizy.

[Haligan]

Well I have a Chinese SKS and a Romanian. I've shot some AK's berfore. Theirs just something about the SKS's I prefer. Never could get reliable feeding from the 30 round detachable mags though. So in that respect AK's got a fairly significant advantage. One thing I did find out, is, the accuracy of the 7.62 x 39 is very underrated and really does go where I tell em.

[CD Woods]

Any rifle you have can be a great one. I have a Norinco MAK 90 and love how it looks and shoots. I added a Scope to it. Then next I purchased a Yugo SKS decked out with a Drangonov Stock, a Scope and an attached Bi-pod, with the Grenade Launcher on the end of the barrel. I have noted that the metal detachable duckbill magazines in most cases are crap, until I purchased some TAPCO Zytel Magazines for it (also stay away from Promag plastic magazines). TAPCO function perfectly and come in sizes 5, 10, 20, and 30 round capacity. My last one is a Norinco SKS Paratrooper in original condition with the spike bayonet and a built in 20 round magazine. I also added a scope to this one also. I kept the original covers, for each one so at any time I could put them back to the original design without a scope. Each one is so different from the next, I can not pick a favorite. I'm just happy they all fire the same round and are in excellent condition.

[howlnmad]

I personally don't have the pleasure of owning either but have had the fun of shooting both. I like the SKS but I too prefer the AK for some reason. Maybe cuz it just looks meaner. My real question is, why is the SKS on the curio and relics list but not the AK? Anyone help me with that?

[CampingJosh]

Originally Posted by howlnmad

My real question is, why is the SKS on the curio and relics list but not the AK? Anyone help me with that?

Any firearm that is 50+ years old, in its original configuration, and not regulated by the National Firearms Act qualifies as a C&R weapon. It does not need to be on the list.

My understanding is that the list was made of firearms that did not already meet the basic criteria listed above but were still of significant collector's value.
The SKS spent only a short time in military service (1949 in Russia to sometime in the 1980s in China), so it's now exclusively a collector's weapon.
On the other hand, many countries still use AK variants as their basic assault weapon, so it is considered to have some military value.

The biggest reason is probably the NFA thing: the SKS was a semi-auto, so it's OK, but a true AK fires full-auto, so the US government doesn't trust citizens with it.

[Laufer]

Bizy:
You might want to try the newer Promag blued 10-rounder for your Mini 30. Is is supposed to be the best aftermarket, except for the older Thermolds (very high capacity). Newer Thermolds appear to be available, but guys at 'Perfectunion' (hit 'Mini 14', then 'magazine' forum) are skeptical, due to the low prices listed for them.

My brand-new Promag has operated 99% perfectly since the mag arrived two weeks ago. It is labeled Promag, and the two useless silver junk mags which arrived with my 30 were not even labeled (that says something).
The spring might actually be too tight (!), based on some Mini 30 owner's comments on a different website.
As of today, over 170 rounds with it and one single round did not strip from the mag on the first attempt.
Only Wolf and Monarch ammo.

For what it might be worth, last spring my Mini 14's Ruger factory mag misfed twice when I first bought the used ('90) rifle and used mag. These are supposed to be perfect, but it is old.