SKS questions(help me choose my first rifle)

[JDA58]

Okay I see.

Two possible issues.

1. I’ve never seen a mid or carbine length triangle hand guard.

2. A1/A2 style rifle (fixed carry handle) are now considered “Retro” and that brings a much heftier price tag. You can go with a Standard mid length rifle and add the A2/A1 stock and removable carry handle easy enough.

.

They can be found..This is one of my rifles..
It now has a 3 prong and standard round hand guard... not the best pictures . Don't remember where I found the triangle hand guard
but they are out there.. I got one here I'm not using LOL

[McSull]

Whatacountry.com

https://whatacountry.com/colt-m16a1-parts-kit.aspx


Add a Nodak Spud lower, or Brownells.

[DerpSchnitzel]

They can be found..This is one of my rifles..
It now has a 3 prong and standard round hand guard... not the best pictures . Don't remember where I found the triangle hand guard
but they are out there.. I got one here I'm not using LOL

Yes, that right there is pretty much what I'm looking for. Even nicer if it had wood furniture, but I'm not paying for all that.

I found the handguard again: https://retrorifles.com/607-triangle-handguards/

[JDA58]

Yes, that right there is pretty much what I'm looking for. Even nicer if it had wood furniture, but I'm not paying for all that.

I found the handguard again: https://retrorifles.com/607-triangle-handguards/

Looks like you will need to buy the triangle cap for the front... some come with it in the price and others don't

[eatmydust]

I didn't read the entire thread, only pages 1,2 & 6. The rifle below seems to be what you ultimately desire, in the AR15, it is obtainable as you can see. The best part of the AR15 platform is it's convertibility, start with a PSA lower, add virtually any upper and then modify to your heart's content. Start with a lower that has the adjustable stock, add an A2 rifle lower later on, slap on a rifle length, 20" upper and add the carry handle and wood furniture later, and voilá.
outdoorhub-pictures-of-great-looking-wooden-furniture-for-ars-2016-02-03_21-28-17-800x600.jpg

[Hawk]

I've own 2 Yugo SKS's and sold both of them off because they sucked with regards to acurracy and I didn't like the frigging grenade launcher adapter on the muzzle.
I recently bought a 1957 Chinese SKS and I love it! I had to try different ammo until I found one that it liked (2-3" groups at 100 yards).

Chinese SKS:
Pros:
Fun as heck to shoot
Cheap ammo
Very low recoil
No problem using stripper clips to load the internal mag ( I won't convert it to external...ever!)
Can still find them under $400

Cons:
Trigger pull (can be made better with a little work)
Can't use a sling to stabilize it. Any pressure on the front sling mount will change your POI
Scoping is problematic
Not much you can do in aftermarket accessories as compared to the AR platform
It will never be as accurate as an AR

[W2MC]

My 0.02 -

I've had M-1 Carbines, Norinco SKS, and ARs. I've shot AKs.

I still own an AR and an SKS.

I prefer ARs. They shoot, and they shoot well.

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

Honestly I think it all comes down to how much you want to spend. We are living in Bizarro world times with AK prices going for AR prices just a few years earlier, and AR prices going down to previous AK prices.
Regardless, the SKS can still be had relatively inexpensively, it is reasonably accurate. It's only real drawback is the 10 round internal box magazine, but as mentioned previously that could be a bonus if you live in Blue states as its probably not restricted.

An AR will be more $$ will generally be more accurate, and many more options to modify to fit your tastes.
An AK will be more $$ will generally be the same accuracy wise, and does have options to fit your tastes.

All 3 will shoot, and shoot well.

[Willie D]

I’m going to agree with the above poster: SKSs were wonderful when they were cheap and now they make less sense unless you are a collector of milsurps. You can build an AR for ~$450 any day of the week (or you could a month ago). It’s a no brainer.


I briefly Tapco-ed an SKS and it was trash so I put it back in wood. It ran 100% in its original condition and you could feed it fine with stripper clips.

[DerpSchnitzel]

Alright, I guess I'll just get the AR... And maybe I'll try to build some wood furniture myself.