sks as mbr

[andyn1976]

Can a sks be a reliable main battle rifle?

[Hawkeye]

While not ideal, I think yes it can. One just needs to make sure you do a lot of practice with reloading, etc.. I've seen some folks who were quite proficient with one.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

They are great rifles in their own right. Make sure you get stripper clips and practice the reloads as Hawkeye stated. I started with one and have owned several over the years but folks just want to give me more than their worth in money or trade and I just couldn't seem to hang on to them:)
I knew of several sheriffs dept. that used to issue them a "within the budget" rifle. I remember none of the deputies complaining about being under gunned at the time.

[eeyore]

Our enemies have used them and AK against service men for a long time, and with great success.

[Bearman202]

I haven't owned an AK, but I have owned an SKS, which was the precurser. The problem I had with it was that shot one was good, shot two was a little off, and by shot four, I knew the round was going down range, but not much closer than that. The accuracy was horrible. Made a great spray-n-pray rifle, but I wouldn't hunt with it. I think as the barrel got hot, the accuracy went away. I love their reliability, though. I have owned an AR, and I couldn't keep that thing from jamming. I don't think I ever had a jam on the SKS.

[Gordon]

Plenty reliable. Like said above, get plenty of stripper clips and a good manual on caring for an SKS. Buy ammo in the sardine cans and stack it deep. Get one of the "Chinese wonder bra" chest ammo carrier. I keep one and some ammo for it in case I need to arm somebody. They were built to be GI proof.

[rice paddy daddy]

Can a sks be a reliable main battle rifle?

Yes it can. They were used very effectively during the Vietnam war. I have a Chinese model. It would be one of the last rifles I'd ever part with.
Keep them original to ensure the most reliability. Avoid the aftermarket hi-cap magazines and use the built in 10 rounder. I've also heard of people having problems after scoping one.

[Benn Gleck]

I have a Chinese sks that I wouldn't part with. It's one of the "Cowboy Carbines" meaning it was shortened, but it's never failed and it's as accurate or more than my AK47.

[Bobjr59]

Yes it can. They were used very effectively during the Vietnam war. I have a Chinese model. It would be one of the last rifles I'd ever part with.
Keep them original to ensure the most reliability. Avoid the aftermarket hi-cap magazines and use the built in 10 rounder. I've also heard of people having problems after scoping one.

I've had a few and they all were very reliable right now I only have 2 Yugoslav's 1 M59 and 1 M59/66 and 1 Norinco and trying to come up with funds to pay for my 2nd Norinco

[andyn1976]

I have no real concerns about reliability just concerned about accuracy out to 200yards or less? Any experience with that would be appreciated.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Should not be an issue. It aint gonna shoot 1/2inch groups at 200 but it should be more than satisfying

[guardian]

The SKS is a damn good gun for the money. Tapco makes a nice 20 round mag that is very reliable. They also make a nice collapsable stock to make the gun more user friendly. I'ved used them for hunting for years, although I shoot 100 yards or less. The 7.62x39 tends to tumble after a 100 yards which makes it not as accurate as .223, but the 7.62 has more knock down power at a closer range!

[Hawkeye]

The 7.62x39 tends to tumble after a 100 yards .........

What do you base this on?

[Urban Survivalist]

I have a Chinese SKS I use Tapco 20 Rd mags with it and found it to be very accurate using Ammo I load myself. When grouping, Wolf ammo is a little more spread out but the Russian stuff in a tin can wont group for SH#T. All in all I would trade the gun for another Ruger Mini-14 or AR-15 platform. It is not my favorite gun. With that said, if we get into a SHTF situation That SKS will be spiting lead down range without fail.

[buttebob]

I had one that I bought in 1997 for $75 new in the box. I bought a case of 1000 rds plus a couple hundreds in boxes. Shot a 100 rds through it and sold it and the case of ammo about 10 years later and bought an M1 Garand. I've never shot one past 100 yds. If memoir serves it shot about 3 or 4 MOA at 100 yds.
I've known 2 friends that hunted with them. One had a scope mounted and went Antelope hunting in eastern Montana. He said he had to tighten the scope mount every 10 shots as it had loosened. He didn't hit anything. The other friend carried his SKS after mule deer down south of Dillon, MT. He was walking down off a ridge and I had taken the truck down and around the ridge to pick him and the other 3 hunters up. While waiting for them I grabbed my rifle and walked through the sage brush to the bottom of the ridge. I came across 2 deer in some pines and shot both of them, one a spike buck and the other a doe. As I got to them I heard shots and looking up saw a doe running about 50 yds away. When she stopped running I shot her. My friend had been shooting at her from about 150-200 yds away. He had hit her in the lower jaw and in the lower leg.
Ten shots and two hits. Not great, but the deer was running. My friend was 150-200 yds away standing up. So I think it would work fine out to 200 yds or so. What would worry me would be the guys at 500-600 yds with 308's or 30-06's. But, I'd rather have a SKS than any handgun.