SKS or AK?

Kreutz · Post by **Kreutz** » Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:46:35

Or something else entirely?

I can get a surplus SKS for about 300 bux with the C&R, but other than cost is there any major benefit in owning an SKS opposed to the AK?

Heard of quality issues with imported AK's which makes me leery of them, but I figure the AK is still globally popular for a reason.

I don't have a semiauto rifle and wish to purchase one to "round out" the supplies as it were.

Don't plan on tricking either one out too too much, but I'd like to be able to fix good sights on it and have the capacity for over 10 round magazines.

brianj · Post by **brianj** » Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:51:37

I have owned both, and when a time came to sell something to raise some quick cash the SKS went. Not that it was a bad rifle, mine was an early Chinese model, very well built, accurate and reliable.

It just seemed that for what I wanted, the AK fit the bill a little better. It was shorter, lighter, and uses hi-cap mags.

That being said, I'd really like to have another SKS someday. You,d be hard pressed to find a modern rifle with a wood stock, that much machine work and a blued finish for $300. I've talked to many folks who feel the Simonov is just right for them.

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GeneFrenkle · Post by **GeneFrenkle** » Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:14:05

For what purpose?

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Kreutz · Post by **Kreutz** » Fri, 19 Oct 2012 18:29:00

GeneFrenkle wrote:For what purpose?

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Honestly? Fend off the hordes of "youths" that will inevitably come when the EBT cards inevitably stop working.

GeneFrenkle · Post by **GeneFrenkle** » Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:44:27

I'd go with the ak. You could clean it with diesel, lube it with used oil, and a hammer to maintain. They are a lot of fun, too.

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GeneFrenkle · Post by **GeneFrenkle** » Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:45:07

Oh.... Get a Saiga and build it out yourself!

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RocKor · Post by **RocKor** » Fri, 19 Oct 2012 21:49:47

If you want a fun shooter that can be used in a pinch for defense, get the SKS and keep it as it came in the country. (Detachable mags for it are unreliable, and trying to turn an SKS into a modern AK-like gun is a waste of time).

If you want a more serious defensive firearm, get the AK, get plenty of surplus mags, and a case or two of ammo. Get an Arsenal AK and forget about it.

I have both and love them both. And while I would hand the SKS to someone to use in a pinch (in a SHTF like scenario) it would NOT be my first choice for my defensive use (only because the AK is so much "better" in that role).

KaosDad · Post by **KaosDad** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 11:38:09

If you go with the SKS you get to play stripper clip roulette. I've found the clips to be about 50% reliable for easy feeding. Now, I have not tried anything on the clips like WD-40. However, I have found that the poly-coated ammo makes it easier.

Sometimes, it's faster just to hand-jam the ammo rather than try the clips.

If anyone has tips on making those things easier/more reliable - I'd love to hear them!

gunderwood · Post by **gunderwood** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 12:44:26

Kreutz wrote:
GeneFrenkle wrote:For what purpose?

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Honestly? Fend off the hordes of "youths" that will inevitably come when the EBT cards inevitably stop working.

I don't know your place, but if you only have 100-200 yards max to reasonably engage a threat, I'd vote for an AK or AR15 with 1x red dots/irons. If you need more range for whatever reason, you could go up to a FAL/AR10 or similar with a BAC ACOG. Those are really good options if you can only have one gun. In my case ~90% of anything I'd consider ever engaging is <100 yards so I have AR15s and red dots. However, for the remaining 10% I'd have to shoot from several stories up and then have opportunity out to nearly max ranges for big caliber bolt guns. The circumstances I would need distances greater than 200 yards are very, very specialize (and hard to imagine in general), thus I choose the two gun solution (AR15 and bolt gun). I would recommend a single .308Win semi-auto gun solution if the short and longer ranges blended together. Compromises either way.

Kreutz · Post by **Kreutz** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:27:08

We live in the 'burbs so realistically I'm looking at 25-100 yards.

I have 2 heavy caliber bolt actions (30.06 and 8.56) for anything longer than that, which is highly unlikely.

Seems like the AK is the winner. Shame theres nowhere to try one beforehand! Can anyone recommend a reliable maker/import? Specifically one ready to accept a sight? I'm not good with fiddling.

Post by **OakRidgeStars** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 15:33:24

Kreutz wrote:Seems like the AK is the winner. Shame theres nowhere to try one beforehand! Can anyone recommend a reliable maker/import? Specifically one ready to accept a sight? I'm not good with fiddling.

An Arsenal AK with a receiver-mounted side rail would be ideal. You might also want to consider a converted Saiga with a side rail mount.

gunderwood · Post by **gunderwood** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:40:46

OakRidgeStars wrote:
Kreutz wrote:Seems like the AK is the winner. Shame theres nowhere to try one beforehand! Can anyone recommend a reliable maker/import? Specifically one ready to accept a sight? I'm not good with fiddling.
An Arsenal AK with a receiver-mounted side rail would be ideal. You might also want to consider a converted Saiga with a side rail mount.

The milled receivers are nice, but they get heavy quick. A friend of mine had the Vepr K Synthetic and so far that is the best finished and accruate AK I've personally shot. However, it feels like a brick compared to an AR which is can be about 1.5-2lbs lighter unloaded. We use to have shoot offs, my RRA AR15 vs his Vepr K, at various distances (iron sights all around). Don't recall ever loosing a "match" unless we traded guns (in which case I always lost) as even a milled AK isn't as accurate as a decent AR15. The trigger pull doesn't help at all! However, for the task at hand it's plenty accurate and a lot less finiky. To each his own.

I also liked the Veprs handguard because it didn't seem to vent the gases right into your hand or heat up as quickly as other AKs I've shot. Hope that helps.

M1A4ME · Post by **M1A4ME** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 19:38:31

I've only fired one AK47 clone (face it, they aren't full auto, they are semi auto versions of a full auto AK47).

It seems to be pretty accurate (exceeded my expectations. It has been absolutely reliable with Wolf ammo.

All the magazines were used from the gunshow but all of them work (two new looking ones came with it).

We got a good one by all accounts. I read of lots of issues with front sights being canted, trigger/hammer issues (don't know if it's from the hammer or trigger not meeting correctly or something else). Many folks say that most AK47's are a combination of aftermarket semi auto receivers with surplus AK47 parts put together by a third party.

I do know that when I went to the gunshow today at the Show Place I only saw a couple of AK47's for $700. Most were $750 or a little higher. That's a big price jump since we got ours.

To be honest, I'm looking at a SIG 556R. The new/improved ones have a different lower receiver that the first model and they use AK47 magazines and shoot 7.62X39 ammo. I'm seeing lots of good stuff on the internet and a couple of forums that "talk" about AK47's a lot. It seems the new models have corrected the earlier issues.

The cartridge is very good for 300 yd. or less shooting. If you have an accurate rifle its a pretty good set up.

Post by **OakRidgeStars** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 19:45:10

My Arsenal AK has a stamped receiver and is much better built than either of my WASR-10's or even the Interarms AK. I can't compare it to a converted Saiga since I've never owned one.

RocKor · Post by **RocKor** » Sat, 20 Oct 2012 23:17:12

Yeah, the era of the cheap AK is over. WASR-like AKs are running a minimum of $500 it seems. Quality is still the same. However the offerings from Arsenal, Krebs, and Veprs are still worth the extra money if you're looking for something nice.

Fuldagapflieger · Post by **Fuldagapflieger** » Sun, 21 Oct 2012 09:55:25

I'm partial to my Yugo M70AB under folder. Every tool has a time and place.

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Kreutz · Post by **Kreutz** » Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:53:00

So should I expect to fork over about $500.00 for one? I was gonna get it for myself as a Christmas present, so I guess I'll have to tack 20% on todays prices sicne it is after the election and prices will go up. Again.

Why oh why didnt i buy a Saiga when it was $280.00?

Any particular importers/manufacturers to look into?

Danke!

Post by **OakRidgeStars** » Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:13:24

I've had dealings with Atlantic in the past. Have a look at what they are offering.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/

Hard to believe that they sell AK's in Maryland, but they do

Kreutz · Post by **Kreutz** » Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:08:37

Thanks, most seem to run 460-700 (before shipping and transfer, sigh)

I see mostly the WASR types mentioned, something called the VZ2008, the VEPR, something called the AMD-65, the Saiga, and the Zastava.

Better get researching.

wpoppert · Post by **wpoppert** » Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:47:00

Some places to look:
http://centerfiresystems.com/ak_firearms.aspx
http://www.jgsales.com/rifles-c-209_214.html
http://www.southernohiogun.com/longguns-2/ak-s (Requires an account with SOG)

Good luck! BTW, I recently picked up an AK receiver blank and am going to try building one from parts. It'll take a while, but I'll post pics when done.

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