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Thoughts on SKS-M

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14K views 22 replies 10 participants last post by  AL Bundy's Dodge  
#1 ·
Im considering picking up a 1994 SKS-M. I have no experience with sks's, but have always wanted one.

I know the SKS-M was produced/imported in 1993 & 1994 and was neutered to a degree, to comply with new laws of the day.

Do they function well? Are the barrels chrome lined?

What would you consider a fair price to be, for one in excellent condition? Not nib, but close.


http://chinesesks.weebly.com/m.html
 
#2 ·
No experience with the Norinco model M "paratrooper " that takes AK mags...... But I have had a few outstanding Russian SKSs over the years back when they were cheap. They were reliable with the factory fixed mag, were well build and just plain fun. Think my most expensive one was an unissued Russian for $150 with 500 rounds thrown in. But those days are long gone. They have become less attractive as prices have climbed to the same level as more modern rifles.

For just something different, they are great in a collection.

Here is one for sale on gunbroker with no reserve.....

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/679834909

Looks like they sell for about $500, which seems high to me.
 
#3 ·
Prices are up for sure. I would love a Russian, but those are too crazy now.

Sks's on armslist all seem to be modded too much or are beat to death bfpu guns

Id prefer a surplus refurb, but nice ones are super expensive

I saw yugos for sale for under $400, but im not liking the grenade launcher, adjustable gas port valve.
 
#8 ·
Im considering picking up a 1994 SKS-M. I have no experience with sks's, but have always wanted one.

I know the SKS-M was produced/imported in 1993 & 1994 and was neutered to a degree, to comply with new laws of the day.

Do they function well? Are the barrels chrome lined?

What would you consider a fair price to be, for one in excellent condition? Not nib, but close.


http://chinesesks.weebly.com/m.html
Do they function well? Yes.

Do they have chromed bores? Don't know and don't care.

Because of rarity, they won't be cheap. I've seen them ranged up to $700 for a really good condition one.
 
#9 ·
Here’s some things to check, if it is an “M” it will have a 16.5” barrel. The stock will have a Monte Carlo style hump. The bolt will not have the stripper clip notches. The side of the receiver will be stamped SKS M along with one of two importers names, C&A out of Virginia Beach, Virginia or Briklee Trading Company (BTC) South El Monte, California. The front sight block has a cleaning rod holder in place of the bayonet lug. This is the most common of AK mag capable SKS rifles to be imported in to the USA with approximately 62K of the M. Other than the stocks, the M shares many similarities with the Sporter model that uses the thumb hole stock. The Sporter had something like 49K imported. These guns were commercially produced factory new for importation and are not rebuilt used guns. The Paratrooper had the same 16.5” barrel but had a bayonet and did not use AK mags.

The value of these continue to go up. People collect them and they are very fun shooters. I always hear people say you could have an AK47 for that price. Two completely different guns, it’s like saying why buy an M1 Garand when you can have an M1A that takes mags. People don’t collect SKS’s because they are almost AK’s, they buy them because they don’t make them anymore. I say for $525 buy it and have fun, and if you don’t like it somebody else will buy it down the road and likely for more than you paid.
 
#12 ·
I have one and I love it. Also have a Yugo M59 (not the one with the grenade launcher) and a Chinese letter SKS. All are as reliable as you would expect from a Russian designed rifle. The M does have a chrome lined barrel and as far as reliability/durability, I would put it against any AK I've ever owned (that includes 2 Arsenals) or shot (that would be quite a few). The only thing I don't like/understand...it likes 29 in the mag but not 30, it likes 19 but not 20...Other than that, mine at least, is an excellent rifle. There is no way I would sell mine for even close to that price.



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#14 ·
I have one and I love it. Also have a Yugo M59 (not the one with the grenade launcher) and a Chinese letter SKS. All are as reliable as you would expect from a Russian designed rifle. The M does have a chrome lined barrel and as far as reliability/durability, I would put it against any AK I've ever owned (that includes 2 Arsenals) or shot (that would be quite a few). The only thing I don't like/understand...it likes 29 in the mag but not 30, it likes 19 but not 20...Other than that, mine at least, is an excellent rifle. There is no way I would sell mine for even close to that price.



View attachment 344541

Great post, thanks!
 
#19 ·
Sadly it's been 20 years nearly since firing one so my memory is not accurate. I had thought it went out of battery after firing the last round I always used the detachable 30 round mags is all I remember. I want another one but at todays prices I can't pull the trigger I mean I bought all my previous ones for no more than $150 yet I feel they are worth todays prices
 
#20 · (Edited)
Im considering picking up a 1994 SKS-M. I have no experience with sks's, but have always wanted one.

I know the SKS-M was produced/imported in 1993 & 1994 and was neutered to a degree, to comply with new laws of the day.

Do they function well? Are the barrels chrome lined?

What would you consider a fair price to be, for one in excellent condition? Not nib, but close.


http://chinesesks.weebly.com/m.html
I picked up a type 56 1958 Russian made SKS (the type 56 was the model sold to China, but mine had all Russian ser. #'s & it was stamped made at the Romania foundry). Serial numbers didn't all match & the stock was replaced with a Butler Creek sporterized synthetic stock. There are a lot people in Western Washington state that deer hunt with that rifle. I cleaned it real good (it was filthy). And it was the most fun rifle to shoot. Accurate to 440 yards with a red dot. And the ammo is cheap! $5.56 a box of 20. Russian stuff at wal-mart or Horiday hollow points for $5.95 a box at Cabellas. And ck. on line. You can buy it bulk for less.
I love the 7.62x39. And it's just fun to shoot!!!!!
Ck. online, there are a lot of aftermarket parts.
I spent many hours at the range. It never left a bruise or even a red mark even after 86 rounds.
 
#22 ·
I tried it out this weekend

One of the Chinese flat back mags produced constant failure to feeds, stove pipes, etc.... the other two Chinese mags worked great. The 5 round Chinese mag worked fine too.

I had 4 blued east german mags and 3 worked well with no issue. The other one had one instance where the bullet got lodged halfway into the chamber. But, it worked for the most part. The 2 problem mags are in great shape and the springs seem fine.

The Chinese mags all seated fine loaded up with 30 rounds but the east german mags refused to seat with 30 rounds, 29 was no problem. Go figure

All mags were basically brand new. I didn't try the 3 Bulgarian "bullet" plastic mags. They have been never loaded.

Before i shot it, i completely disassembled it and cleaned it. Firing pin wasn't as free as it should have been and the gas piston was frozen in the tube. I also cleaned the mags.

The gun looked hardly fired and had a few minor dings on the stock from getting banged around in the safe. The internal parts looked like new and the action was rough, like a new ak rifle before being broken in. I fired 300 rounds and the action was much smoother, so id guess it was only fired 100-200 rounds before i bought it.

After the failure to feeds, i looked closer at the gas piston and it seems kind of a tight fit, but not stuck in position. Im going to do a more thorough job of cleaning it. I sprayed some kroil oil in the tube and i could see i had a gas leak where the gas tube inserts into the gas block. It appears normal though and not the cause of any malfunctions

Can anyone tell me how free the piston should be in the tube? An ak piston seems much more free in there.

Anyway, i shot it from 20 yards out to 200 yards and it was plenty accurate. It was zeroed by the previous owner and the 300 yard "battle " setting seemed to work best.

Pretty sweet little rifle.

Im 95% sure the two mags are the cause of my malfunctions, but I'm not really in the mood to chase down any other gremlins that could potentially have caused the problems

Since its a factory ak mag sks, with a shortened gas system, trouble shooting info isn't easy to come by.