Norinco SKS 7.62 x 39 Semi-Automatic Rifle Review

Overall 4.50 of 5 view all 2 reviews

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mrkstvns
Austin, TX

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The SKS Takes a Lickin' and Keeps on Kickin!

marksman, gun enthusiast

Pros

durable, dependable, affordable, reliable

Cons

crude workmanship, oft maligned by the ignorant

NOV

2008

Picking up an old communist-era SKS rifle was one of the best and most fun firearms investments I ever made. The SKS is probably the most mass-produced gun in history with MILLIONS of them produced in the Soviet Union, China, Yugoslavia, and other communist-bloc countries. From the time the Berlin wall fell up to at least the late 1990s, you could find these things sold in bulk at gun shows EVERYWHERE.

That's how I came to get mine. I was just meandering around a gun show in Frederick Maryland, looking for some deals on nothing in particular, when I came across a guy unloading a whole pallet load of SKS rifles for the insane blow-out price of $70. I figured there was no way I could go wrong, and indeed there wasn't. When I got the rifle home, it was a freakin' mess, layered in thick, stinky grease. Took me forever to rip the sucker down and get everything soaking in kerosene, then even longer to brush, buff, and oil every single piece before putting it back together. It was probably the filthiest gun cleaning venture I ever did, but the result was a delightful gun for outdoor fun.

The SKS was built for military service, so it's tough as can be. As far as guns go, it's about as butt ugly as they come. Crude workmanship. The stock is rough grained and the fixed magazine clip utterly ridiculous. The story I'd heard was that the Russians didn't design the gun for a detachable clip (as makes sense, IMHO) because Stalin thought soldiers would lose their clips. Don't know if it's a true story or not, but stranger things have happened.

The SKS was a child of World War II, but by the time of the Korean War, the Russians had largely stopped issuing the SKS and replaced it in service with the AK-47 (which was fully automatic and had a substantially larger magazine capacity --- same basic gun and same ammunition as the SKS though). The SKS was still in use by the Red Army though, and the Chinese are said to have built well over 8 million SKS rifles. During the Viet Nam war, the regular North Vietnamese army were issued AK-47s while the Viet Cong used the SKS. During the late 60s and early 70s, American servicemen would sometimes carry SKS rifles home as souvenirs of war, but they wouldn't clean them up and use them for another 15-20 years because 7.62mm ammo wasn't sold in the U.S.

That sure changed by the late 1980s! With some changes in U.S. gun control laws coinciding with the fall of communism in Russia and the modernization of armies in communist Asia, massive numbers of SKS rifles were available for sale, and with them, lots of 7.62 x 39 ammo. (I've certainly never had any problem finding it.)

As I said, the SKS is an ugly gun. The workmanship on the stock and aesthetics is crude. The original clips will take up to 10 rounds, but you often find them blocked or clipped to 5 rounds to comply with hunting regulations in some states. The real beauty of the SKS is that you will probably never encounter a more rugged, durable, dependable gun at any price. You can abuse them, maltreat them, take them out in the rain...whatever...they'll take it all and more.

They make for a great deer gun in rural areas because they are so cheap, so good in the field, and so accurate with an effective range up to 400 yards. It's an unbeatable combination, and with the fascinating history behind it, it's just a wonderful gun to have in your collection.

Norinco SKS 7.62 x 39 Semi-Automatic Rifle is recommended by mrkstvns

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Comments about mrkstvns’s Review

kid-kansas wrote on Nov 9, 2008 at 3:03AM

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Plus with an SKS you never have to worry about abusing it in the brush...I like them and used to have one until I messed up my back and couldn't deer hunt anymore....Great job Mark...;)