Picked up Chinese SKS from Cabelas

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UtahHunting

New member
Went to Cabela's door buster sale yesterday and stood in line for the chance to get a Chinese SKS imported by Century Arms. There were about 15 to choose from and I got one with all matching numbers. All of the SKS's were gone within 10 minutes of the store opening. Glad I got there in time.

Let me say this thing is rough, one of the roughest SKS's I have ever seen. It looks like it has been in every war known to man. Still in cosmoline, looking to get it cleaned this weekend and go shoot it.

Anyone else try one of these latest imports yet?

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tahunua001

New member
I got one of those chinese SKS back in december. it was really rought as well, it's a 1959 factory 26. I put a ramline stock set on it and swapped the sights for a set of tech sights TS200 apertures... it's surprisingly accurate and I would take it over an AK clone anyday of the week and twice on sundays...
 
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okiewita40

New member
Nice carbine you picked up. I have to agree that the stock is rough. Makes mine look like a safe queen. And that is with some of the beauty marks I have added to it while hunting.

But congrats to you.
 
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UtahHunting

New member
If you don't mind my asking, what are they selling for?
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I paid $299 at Cabela's during their sale. 6 months ago I would have said that was too expensive, now I was happy to pay it. I sold all my SKS's and have regretted it ever since. They are still one of my favorite rifles to shoot and the Chinese rifles have been my favorite of all the SKS's. Going to clean it up and keep it as a shooter. 7.62X39 ammo can still be found with ease around here so that is a plus as well.
 
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BerdanSS

New member
Those are selling for $239 at a local gin shop here in Indiana....but the one you bought looks like brand new compared to these.
 
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UtahHunting

New member
BerdanSS, there were a few at Cabelas that had trench art on them, unmatched serial numbers, splinters, etc probably like the ones you describe. I got there early enough to get one of the better ones. This one has very little rust and some of them had a lot of rust. I wish I could have found one for $239 like you mention but there are none to be had here. Everyone is asking $450+ on the secondary market for these types of SKS's. Crazy times right now. Hope it is a good shooter once I get it out.
 
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tahunua001

New member
Those are selling for $239 at a local gin shop here in Indiana....but the one you bought looks like brand new compared to these.
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I got mine for $239 as well, doesn't look in worse shape and was all parts matching before I started bubbafying it but that's all good.

I wouldn't say that they are my favorite but they are great for what they are; a fairly accurate plinker that doesn't break the bank on ammo always makes a nice project gun if you're looking for a summer hobby.

I'm still very much an AR guy but the SKS is a close second for me.
 
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stu925

New member
Boy that rifle has seen better days at least the stock has. Metal doesn't look too bad on it though. I'd probably look around e-bay for a take off stock for it unless you can clean that one up a bit. She'll probably shoot pretty well as long as the bore is good. I think in this current market you did reasonably well price wise even at $299, take a look around gun broker at what they're going for.

Stu
 
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UtahHunting

New member
Stu i plan to do just that ....going to pick up a different stock. The metal and bore are actually pretty good. The bluing is about gone but there really isn't much rust.
 
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tahunua001

New member
if you're going to swap stocks, try to find a ramline stock, I tried a tapco on my chicom SKS and it wasn't happening at all, the ramline fits it like a glove.
 
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xtphreak

New member
Go read up on 922(r) and the parts count list when modifying an SKS (changing the stock)
It sucks, but without changing enough original parts for US made parts, you may be making it illegal.
FYI
 
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tahunua001

New member
here's a link to a 922R comliance work sheet.
the easiest thing to do would be to go with a tapco magazine in addition to the stock to make it legal, more expensive and harder replacement parts are the trigger, sear and hammer and the piston but they would allow you to keep the metal magazine.
 
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UtahHunting

New member
Very interesting on the 922 stuff. I like to keep these rifles stock, I am not a big fan of putting tapco stuff on them, I was just thinking a bit nicer stock for when I am out shooting, but I prefer to keep the gun as original as possible, hence the reason I won't just refinish the stock that is on it. Going to take a closer look at this 922 rules.
 
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Come and take it.

New member
These came from a large stockpile here in the US from before the import ban.
They were holding them back waiting for a good opportunity to place them out there and make a few dollars on them.
 
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tahunua001

New member
These came from a large stockpile here in the US from before the import ban.
They were holding them back waiting for a good opportunity to place them out there and make a few dollars on them.
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not the case anymore, any SKS older than 50 years old can be imported as a C&R which is exempt from 922R restrictions, only once you chance the configuration do you have to worry about 922R compliance. many of these SKS people are seeing are older than 1963 and therefore legal for importation again...
many of the ones I've seen are 1959s
 
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Come and take it.

New member
I am just going on what I read from CAI back some months ago when they started selling them. If they are importing these through laws C&R perhaps they can flood the market with them.

Only wish america would open the restrictions on ammo from China. That would solve a lot of problems right now.
 
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