7.62 X39mm Choices - The Firearms Forum

Tony Mig · 08-26-2003, 05:36 PM

Been thinking about either the Yugo SKS's that I see advertised all over Shotgun News, or a Ruger Mini-30. So far the way I see it, the good and bad between the both are as follows....

SKS.....plus's.....good iron sights, well made, functionally reliable, and cheap to purchase.
minus's......fixed 10 round mag, discontinued foriegn manufacture may mean that in time spare parts could be a problem....

Mini-30......plus's.......action based on the Garand is very reliable, integrated scope base on receiver, removable mags, plus the availibility of various types and size of mags.
Minus's......iron sights sub standard, incoccistant production, and accuracy problems with many rifles.

I like buying American, but I'd have to go with an SKS before I'd go with a Mini-30.........what say the rest of ya........?

1952Sniper · 08-27-2003, 07:43 AM

Every single person I've talked to who bought a Mini-30 and then shot an SKS, wished that he had bought an SKS.

For the price, you can't beat the SKS. They are functional, reliable, and made to last. The Mini-30 is a waste of money IMHO.

Don't be put off by the fixed 10-round magazine. I'd take that any day over these 30-round detachables.

vonotterskull · 08-27-2003, 09:54 AM

Hey Tony Mig, I'm going to agree with Sniper on this one. I have a Yugo SKS and it's the best purchase I've made in a long time. These guns are workhorses. Easy, cheap and a blast. I went shooting with a bail bond buddy in Florida and he had a mini-14(.223) that he has had for 5 years and never shot.

Kept it under the bed. I know, what a waste of a gun. Well anyway, we went to a range in Miami and my sks had him so greeneyed it wasn't funny. His magazine kept falling out, it was a real pain to sight in, and just a uncomfortable gun to shoot and operate overall. I on the other hand was having a blast. We had some SWAT guys a few lanes down come over and see what all the hoop-la was. Got some nice comments on my Yugo.

I really suggest SKS. For more info go to www.sksboards.com great place for SKS info.

Tony Mig · 08-27-2003, 04:55 PM

I had a Mini-14 years ago, and I couldn't hit the broad side of a bard with that thing. Also had an AR-15 that would knock a flea off a coke bottle at 100 yards away. I like the Garand type action of the Mini's, but they do suffer from accuray problems.

I've lurked on the SKSboards, and have been absorbing as much information as possible about these rifles. My situation as it stands is that I'll probably only buy "one" rifle that I'll be shooting for a long time. My wife and I "may" see a small financial windfall in the next couple of weeks, and it'll be the last of it's kind until I retire in 7 years or so. If this windfall pans out the way I hope, I'll be shopping for either a Springfield M1A, or an M1 Garand, if it doesn't pan out, I'll probably go for the SKS.
The range I shoot at has organised matches for Garands and M1A's, and I'd like to get involved in them, but if the $$$ just isn't there, then I'll stick to recreational shooting of paper and bowling pins.
The one really attractive thing about the SKS is the ammo can be had so cheap. that .308 can get a little pricey, as the .30-06 can too, but they fellas down at the range kinda turn thier nose up at someone trying to enter a Garand match with a Soviet Block firearm......

rayra · 08-28-2003, 01:50 AM

Either choice, unless you are like 5'2", you are going to want to re-stock the rifle as the length-of-pull of either weapon is miserably short.
I put a ramline drop-in stock on my SKS, and it is much more enjoyable. One of these days I'll get a Hogue over-mold stock for my Mini-14.
I'm only 6', 'normally' proportioned, and I find the hunching necessary to shoot either rifle in its stock configuration very uncomfortable.

08-28-2003, 09:22 AM

I am not tall by any means (thank GOD) at 5'6" but the stock lengths on those guns are fine for me.

Quote:

but they fellas down at the range kinda turn thier nose up at someone trying to enter a Garand match with a Soviet Block firearm......

That would be reason enough to whip them with a Soviet Block firearms. Money and common sense be damned.

1952Sniper · 08-28-2003, 10:19 AM

You'd have to be pretty darn good to bean an M1 with an SKS. I'm a huge SKS fan, but even I realize it ain't anywhere near the M1 in the accuracy department.

As for the length of pull, I'm 5'-7" and I find the SKS comfortable in its original stock.

08-26-2003, 05:36 PM	#1
Tony Mig Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Sorprano State Posts: 716	7.62 X39mm Choices Been thinking about either the Yugo SKS's that I see advertised all over Shotgun News, or a Ruger Mini-30. So far the way I see it, the good and bad between the both are as follows.... SKS.....plus's.....good iron sights, well made, functionally reliable, and cheap to purchase. minus's......fixed 10 round mag, discontinued foriegn manufacture may mean that in time spare parts could be a problem.... Mini-30......plus's.......action based on the Garand is very reliable, integrated scope base on receiver, removable mags, plus the availibility of various types and size of mags. Minus's......iron sights sub standard, incoccistant production, and accuracy problems with many rifles. I like buying American, but I'd have to go with an SKS before I'd go with a Mini-30.........what say the rest of ya........? __________________ "I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know." New Jersey Politician's oath of office O /\ (( -------------v- -->

08-27-2003, 04:55 PM	#4
Tony Mig Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Sorprano State Posts: 716	I had a Mini-14 years ago, and I couldn't hit the broad side of a bard with that thing. Also had an AR-15 that would knock a flea off a coke bottle at 100 yards away. I like the Garand type action of the Mini's, but they do suffer from accuray problems. I've lurked on the SKSboards, and have been absorbing as much information as possible about these rifles. My situation as it stands is that I'll probably only buy "one" rifle that I'll be shooting for a long time. My wife and I "may" see a small financial windfall in the next couple of weeks, and it'll be the last of it's kind until I retire in 7 years or so. If this windfall pans out the way I hope, I'll be shopping for either a Springfield M1A, or an M1 Garand, if it doesn't pan out, I'll probably go for the SKS. The range I shoot at has organised matches for Garands and M1A's, and I'd like to get involved in them, but if the $$$ just isn't there, then I'll stick to recreational shooting of paper and bowling pins. The one really attractive thing about the SKS is the ammo can be had so cheap. that .308 can get a little pricey, as the .30-06 can too, but they fellas down at the range kinda turn thier nose up at someone trying to enter a Garand match with a Soviet Block firearm...... __________________ "I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know." New Jersey Politician's oath of office O /\ (( -------------v-

08-28-2003, 01:50 AM	#5
rayra Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: PRK Posts: 595	Either choice, unless you are like 5'2", you are going to want to re-stock the rifle as the length-of-pull of either weapon is miserably short. I put a ramline drop-in stock on my SKS, and it is much more enjoyable. One of these days I'll get a Hogue over-mold stock for my Mini-14. I'm only 6', 'normally' proportioned, and I find the hunching necessary to shoot either rifle in its stock configuration very uncomfortable. __________________ The Friend of My Enemy is My Enemy

08-27-2003, 07:43 AM	#2
1952Sniper Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 5,138	Every single person I've talked to who bought a Mini-30 and then shot an SKS, wished that he had bought an SKS. For the price, you can't beat the SKS. They are functional, reliable, and made to last. The Mini-30 is a waste of money IMHO. Don't be put off by the fixed 10-round magazine. I'd take that any day over these 30-round detachables.

08-27-2003, 09:54 AM	#3
vonotterskull V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 86	Hey Tony Mig, I'm going to agree with Sniper on this one. I have a Yugo SKS and it's the best purchase I've made in a long time. These guns are workhorses. Easy, cheap and a blast. I went shooting with a bail bond buddy in Florida and he had a mini-14(.223) that he has had for 5 years and never shot. Kept it under the bed. I know, what a waste of a gun. Well anyway, we went to a range in Miami and my sks had him so greeneyed it wasn't funny. His magazine kept falling out, it was a real pain to sight in, and just a uncomfortable gun to shoot and operate overall. I on the other hand was having a blast. We had some SWAT guys a few lanes down come over and see what all the hoop-la was. Got some nice comments on my Yugo. I really suggest SKS. For more info go to www.sksboards.com great place for SKS info.

08-28-2003, 10:19 AM	#7
1952Sniper Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 5,138	You'd have to be pretty darn good to bean an M1 with an SKS. I'm a huge SKS fan, but even I realize it ain't anywhere near the M1 in the accuracy department. As for the length of pull, I'm 5'-7" and I find the SKS comfortable in its original stock.