• SKS

    From JIMMY ANDERSON@OTHETA to ALL on Saturday, April 18, 2020 02:05:00

    I've decided I'm in the market for an SKS...

    Two people local to me have them for sale - one wants
    $450 FIRM - the other $450 OBO - and has already said
    he'd take $400 cash.

    Right now Classic Firearms has them on sale for $299.
    Shipping and tax is another $60, roughly, plus I'd have
    to pay a local FFL and the TICS fee, so it would be
    pushing $400 anyway.

    The ones from Classic are Chi-Com surplus, with
    bayonets, and are COATED in - oh me the name is
    escaping me - the 'line' stuff that they protect
    that stuff with. They are also true surplus, so
    they will have 'wear and tear,' which actually
    intrigues me!

    So - any thoughts on this? Any advice?





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  • From Grease@DARKMATT to JIMMY ANDERSON on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 08:42:00
    On 04-18-20 01:05, JIMMY ANDERSON mumbled to ALL about SKS.


    I've decided I'm in the market for an SKS...

    Two people local to me have them for sale - one wants
    $450 FIRM - the other $450 OBO - and has already said
    he'd take $400 cash.

    Wow! I bought two in the early 90's for about $85 each. Nice rifles.

    Right now Classic Firearms has them on sale for $299.
    Shipping and tax is another $60, roughly, plus I'd have
    to pay a local FFL and the TICS fee, so it would be
    pushing $400 anyway.

    Would have to see what condition. Sometimes the "previos owner" ones
    are sometimes in better shape than the import ones.


    The ones from Classic are Chi-Com surplus, with
    bayonets, and are COATED in - oh me the name is
    escaping me - the 'line' stuff that they protect
    that stuff with. They are also true surplus, so
    they will have 'wear and tear,' which actually
    intrigues me!

    Cosmoline. Cleaning that stuff off of a rifle will teach you excellent
    gun cleaning skills. But once it's gone, you'll know it's clean.



    So - any thoughts on this? Any advice?


    Are you wanting to update stocks? Add-ons? Or just keep it stock and just shoot? They are very accurate to about 200 meters with standard sights
    once you get it locked in. Watched a pro in a youtube vid pick one up and
    hit at 400. And that was 1 out of 5. It was a good grouping though, just
    to the left of the target.


    Grease
    Dark Matter BBS

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  • From Moondog@CAVEBBS to Grease on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 14:41:00
    Re: Re: SKS
    By: Grease to JIMMY ANDERSON on Tue Apr 28 2020 08:42 am

    On 04-18-20 01:05, JIMMY ANDERSON mumbled to ALL about SKS.


    I've decided I'm in the market for an SKS...

    Two people local to me have them for sale - one wants
    $450 FIRM - the other $450 OBO - and has already said
    he'd take $400 cash.

    Wow! I bought two in the early 90's for about $85 each. Nice rifles.

    Right now Classic Firearms has them on sale for $299.
    Shipping and tax is another $60, roughly, plus I'd have
    to pay a local FFL and the TICS fee, so it would be
    pushing $400 anyway.

    Would have to see what condition. Sometimes the "previos owner" ones
    are sometimes in better shape than the import ones.


    The ones from Classic are Chi-Com surplus, with
    bayonets, and are COATED in - oh me the name is
    escaping me - the 'line' stuff that they protect
    that stuff with. They are also true surplus, so
    they will have 'wear and tear,' which actually
    intrigues me!

    Cosmoline. Cleaning that stuff off of a rifle will teach you excellent
    gun cleaning skills. But once it's gone, you'll know it's clean.



    So - any thoughts on this? Any advice?


    Are you wanting to update stocks? Add-ons? Or just keep it stock and just shoot? They are very accurate to about 200 meters with standard sights
    once you get it locked in. Watched a pro in a youtube vid pick one up and hit at 400. And that was 1 out of 5. It was a good grouping though, just
    to the left of the target.


    Grease
    Dark Matter BBS

    QWK: DoveNet, fsxNet, SFNet, SciNet
    FTN: AgoraNet (46:10/135), Fidonet (1:106/101), TQWNet (1337:3/120)

    A couple of years ago some real rough grade SKS' came on the market. They looked well worn and the stocks had minor cracks while others looked
    horrible. Whatever type of bluing/ parkerizing was also worn to bare metal. IIRC they were selling for $299.i would've spent a little more for a Yugo - Zastava SKS with the gas cutoff and grenade sight. I have a Russian SKS made in the early 1950's and a Chinese "paratrooper" model that takes AK mags.
    The 1990's AWB compliant "thumbole" stocks. Looked like a 5th grade woodshop project made from recycled plywood. The cosmoline it was packed in made the finish soft and tacky until it finally cured by laying it in the sun for a
    day to cook out the cosmoline.

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  • From JIMMY ANDERSON@OTHETA to GREASE on Saturday, May 16, 2020 03:57:00
    GREASE wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

    I've decided I'm in the market for an SKS...

    Hey - thx Grease for the reply! Havne't been able to
    get back into the BBS to read/reply til now...

    Two people local to me have them for sale - one wants
    $450 FIRM - the other $450 OBO - and has already said
    he'd take $400 cash.

    Wow! I bought two in the early 90's for about $85 each. Nice rifles.

    Yeah - LOL - even a few years ago I think you could buy them
    for aobut $200...

    Right now Classic Firearms has them on sale for $299.
    Shipping and tax is another $60, roughly, plus I'd have
    to pay a local FFL and the TICS fee, so it would be
    pushing $400 anyway.

    Would have to see what condition. Sometimes the "previos owner" ones
    are sometimes in better shape than the import ones.

    No doubt, but I love the idea of getting a surplus one that no
    one has shot in twenty years and having some 'character' to it...

    The ones from Classic are Chi-Com surplus, with
    bayonets, and are COATED in - oh me the name is
    escaping me - the 'line' stuff that they protect
    that stuff with. They are also true surplus, so
    they will have 'wear and tear,' which actually
    intrigues me!

    Cosmoline. Cleaning that stuff off of a rifle will teach you excellent
    gun cleaning skills. But once it's gone, you'll know it's clean.

    Yes! That's it! LOL I watched a couple of videos on cleaning it and
    thought that's a great little exercise to break it down and learn the
    ins and outs (no pun intended) of the rifle. I haven't broken down my
    S&W M&P Shield .40 all the way to 'parts,' but other guns I've owned I
    have just to learn how they tick...

    So - any thoughts on this? Any advice?

    Are you wanting to update stocks? Add-ons? Or just keep it stock and
    just shoot?

    I love the idea of having a late 60's Chi-Com surplus gun (whether I get
    it packed in cosmoline or not - LOL) with original wooden stocks, etc. My
    wife had an SKS and gave it to our youngest son, and he's been modding
    it. That's one of the things that made me get interested in having one again... She has an AR-15 rifle and now an AR-15 pistol, and they are fun, but I like the 'historical' side of the SKS...

    They are very accurate to about 200 meters with standard
    sights once you get it locked in. Watched a pro in a youtube vid pick
    one up and hit at 400. And that was 1 out of 5. It was a good grouping though, just to the left of the target.

    Yeah this one our son has now, when we had it, was very fun to shoot!


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  • From JIMMY ANDERSON@OTHETA to MOONDOG on Saturday, May 16, 2020 04:00:00
    MOONDOG wrote to GREASE <=-

    A couple of years ago some real rough grade SKS' came on the market.
    They looked well worn and the stocks had minor cracks while others
    looked horrible. Whatever type of bluing/ parkerizing was also worn to bare metal. IIRC they were selling for $299.

    Could be this same batch...

    I'm not as concernrd about the looks - I like the idea of the history
    and the character.

    i would've spent a little
    more for a Yugo - Zastava SKS with the gas cutoff and grenade sight. I have a Russian SKS made in the early 1950's and a Chinese "paratrooper" model that takes AK mags. The 1990's AWB compliant "thumbole" stocks. Looked like a 5th grade woodshop project made from recycled plywood.
    The cosmoline it was packed in made the finish soft and tacky until it finally cured by laying it in the sun for a day to cook out the
    cosmoline.




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  • From Moondog@CAVEBBS to JIMMY ANDERSON on Monday, May 18, 2020 00:51:00
    Re: Re: SKS
    By: JIMMY ANDERSON to MOONDOG on Sat May 16 2020 04:00 am

    MOONDOG wrote to GREASE <=-

    A couple of years ago some real rough grade SKS' came on the market. They looked well worn and the stocks had minor cracks while others looked horrible. Whatever type of bluing/ parkerizing was also worn to bare metal. IIRC they were selling for $299.

    Could be this same batch...

    I'm not as concernrd about the looks - I like the idea of the history
    and the character.

    i would've spent a little
    more for a Yugo - Zastava SKS with the gas cutoff and grenade sight. I have a Russian SKS made in the early 1950's and a Chinese "paratrooper" model that takes AK mags. The 1990's AWB compliant "thumbole" stocks. Looked like a 5th grade woodshop project made from recycled plywood. The cosmoline it was packed in made the finish soft and tacky until it finally cured by laying it in the sun for a day to cook out the cosmoline.




    ... Velcro - what a rip off!!!

    My concern over the very worn rifles is whether it's only external wear or if there's serious internal wear. In the 1990's there were warnings about SKS's coming in the country with firing pin spring (or something like that)
    missing, and cautioned that you should load two rounds the first time you
    fire it to verify it doesn't slam fire when the bolt closes.

    My brother collects Mausers, and he received one that appeared to be transitional between the WWI pattern and WWII K98 model. The firing pin
    would stick on occasion, so pulling the trigger would either result in a hang fire or may not fire at all. We stripped the bolt down and cleaned it thoroughly, however my guess was parts either need to be further fitted, or replaced completely. In the past, any gunsmith worth a hoot would have a cox of spare bolt parts, or knew how to machine and polish parts. Nowadays, most will do the same thing a customer could do and take a chance on getting parts from Gun Parts Corp.

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  • From JIMMY ANDERSON@OTHETA to MOONDOG on Friday, May 29, 2020 01:52:00
    MOONDOG wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

    My concern over the very worn rifles is whether it's only external wear
    or if there's serious internal wear. In the 1990's there were warnings about SKS's coming in the country with firing pin spring (or something like that) missing, and cautioned that you should load two rounds the first time you fire it to verify it doesn't slam fire when the bolt closes.

    Yeah I would probably break it down before I shot it, just because I'm interested.

    I just ordered a part for my wife's newest gun - a SUB 2000. I'm getting
    her a two finger charging handle and while I was there - mcarbo.com - I
    was watcing the video on their 'trigger kit' and polishing of the various internal parts for my S&W M&P Shield .40 that is my daily carry. I decided
    to get the trigger kit, plus their polishing kit (dremel bits that are polishing pieces, along with their polishing "goop" that they sell).

    I need to polish the feedramp on my Browning SA-22, so again looking
    forward to finally getting an SKS and tearing it down!

    My brother collects Mausers, and he received one that appeared to be transitional between the WWI pattern and WWII K98 model. The firing
    pin would stick on occasion, so pulling the trigger would either result
    in a hang fire or may not fire at all. We stripped the bolt down and cleaned it thoroughly, however my guess was parts either need to be further fitted, or replaced completely. In the past, any gunsmith
    worth a hoot would have a cox of spare bolt parts, or knew how to
    machine and polish parts. Nowadays, most will do the same thing a customer could do and take a chance on getting parts from Gun Parts
    Corp.

    I'm not scared to do basic cleaning/polishing/replacing of parts... That's
    what youtube is for. ;-)




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  • From Moondog@CAVEBBS to JIMMY ANDERSON on Friday, May 29, 2020 21:47:00
    Re: Re: SKS
    By: JIMMY ANDERSON to MOONDOG on Fri May 29 2020 01:52 am

    MOONDOG wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

    My concern over the very worn rifles is whether it's only external wear or if there's serious internal wear. In the 1990's there were warnings about SKS's coming in the country with firing pin spring (or something like that) missing, and cautioned that you should load two rounds the first time you fire it to verify it doesn't slam fire when the bolt closes.

    Yeah I would probably break it down before I shot it, just because I'm interested.

    I just ordered a part for my wife's newest gun - a SUB 2000. I'm getting
    her a two finger charging handle and while I was there - mcarbo.com - I
    was watcing the video on their 'trigger kit' and polishing of the various internal parts for my S&W M&P Shield .40 that is my daily carry. I decided to get the trigger kit, plus their polishing kit (dremel bits that are polishing pieces, along with their polishing "goop" that they sell).

    I need to polish the feedramp on my Browning SA-22, so again looking
    forward to finally getting an SKS and tearing it down!

    My brother collects Mausers, and he received one that appeared to be transitional between the WWI pattern and WWII K98 model. The firing pin would stick on occasion, so pulling the trigger would either result in a hang fire or may not fire at all. We stripped the bolt down and cleaned it thoroughly, however my guess was parts either need to be further fitted, or replaced completely. In the past, any gunsmith worth a hoot would have a cox of spare bolt parts, or knew how to machine and polish parts. Nowadays, most will do the same thing a customer could do and take a chance on getting parts from Gun Parts Corp.

    I'm not scared to do basic cleaning/polishing/replacing of parts... That's what youtube is for. ;-)




    ... COMMAND: A suggestion made to a computer.

    I also don't mind performing repairs at an armorer's level. Finished parts
    or parts that need minor fitting or stoning are way different than using a lathe or mill to create a prototype part from brass, then repeat the process with a billet of tool steel and heat treat it. The Midway USA and Brownells videos on how to convert old large bore rimfires to centerfire and bore out shot out barrels to install rifled sleeves amazes me. In the old days, a gunsmith could buy a box of 1000 random sized surplus Enfield bolt faces, and fix the headspace by digging around and finding one that fits right. Smiths with big teardown bins of parts recovered from damaged guns are hard to find.

    ---
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  • From JIMMY ANDERSON@OTHETA to MOONDOG on Monday, June 01, 2020 12:29:00
    MOONDOG wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

    I'm not scared to do basic cleaning/polishing/replacing of parts... That's what youtube is for. ;-)

    I also don't mind performing repairs at an armorer's level. Finished parts or parts that need minor fitting or stoning are way different
    than using a lathe or mill to create a prototype part from brass, then repeat the process with a billet of tool steel and heat treat it. The Midway USA and Brownells videos on how to convert old large bore
    rimfires to centerfire and bore out shot out barrels to install rifled sleeves amazes me. In the old days, a gunsmith could buy a box of 1000 random sized surplus Enfield bolt faces, and fix the headspace by
    digging around and finding one that fits right. Smiths with big
    teardown bins of parts recovered from damaged guns are hard to find.

    I don't know that I've ever met more than one actual gunsmith... I've met
    a few that claim to tinker but only one local that actually sounds like he knows what he's talking about. :-)




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  • From JIMMY ANDERSON@OTHETA to ALL on Monday, June 01, 2020 11:39:00

    I've decided I'm in the market for an SKS - any thoughts
    here?

    Classic Firearms tempted me when they showed the big
    batch of Chi Com units that have been packed in Cosmoline
    for 20+ years! I watched the video where they tore one
    down and cleaned it and reassembled it. I loved the
    "character marks" on the stocks and such!!!

    Anyway, I'd like to get one, but locally when they are
    sold they go for abour $400. That's about what I can
    get one for from Classic, after paying shipping, a local
    FFL to handle it, tax and the $10 TICS fee. If I'm going
    to pay that, I'd rather have one no one has done anything
    with or to for 20+ years! :-)

    I was checking Acadamy and Gander and other site for deals
    on ammo and Gander had a 'used guns' section, so I clicked
    on it. SKS - Cosmoline - 20+ years - all that, basically
    the same thing - $342, plus a $15 'shipping charge' to the
    local store. No FFL transfer fee, just tax and the $10
    TICS (Tennessee Instant Check System) fee.

    Hmm... I really wanted to click it and purchase, but
    I didn't... yet... :-) We are in Indy visiting for a few
    days, so I thought no need in it just sitting at the local
    store, and I might just get lucky and find something
    somewhere. :-)

    So - any thoughts?




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  • From Moondog@CAVEBBS to JIMMY ANDERSON on Tuesday, June 02, 2020 11:35:00
    Re: SKS
    By: JIMMY ANDERSON to ALL on Mon Jun 01 2020 11:39 am


    I've decided I'm in the market for an SKS - any thoughts
    here?

    Classic Firearms tempted me when they showed the big
    batch of Chi Com units that have been packed in Cosmoline
    for 20+ years! I watched the video where they tore one
    down and cleaned it and reassembled it. I loved the
    "character marks" on the stocks and such!!!

    Anyway, I'd like to get one, but locally when they are
    sold they go for abour $400. That's about what I can
    get one for from Classic, after paying shipping, a local
    FFL to handle it, tax and the $10 TICS fee. If I'm going
    to pay that, I'd rather have one no one has done anything
    with or to for 20+ years! :-)

    I was checking Acadamy and Gander and other site for deals
    on ammo and Gander had a 'used guns' section, so I clicked
    on it. SKS - Cosmoline - 20+ years - all that, basically
    the same thing - $342, plus a $15 'shipping charge' to the
    local store. No FFL transfer fee, just tax and the $10
    TICS (Tennessee Instant Check System) fee.

    Hmm... I really wanted to click it and purchase, but
    I didn't... yet... :-) We are in Indy visiting for a few
    days, so I thought no need in it just sitting at the local
    store, and I might just get lucky and find something
    somewhere. :-)

    So - any thoughts?




    ... If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.

    The Gander Mt deal sounds good. Back in the 90's I bought a Russian SKS for $125 and my brother bought a Chinese SKS for $89. A year or two later I
    picked up an SKS "paratrooper" model that used AK mags fo $139.

    ---
    ■ Synchronet ■ The Cave BBS - Since 1992 - cavebbs.homeip.net
  • From JIMMY ANDERSON@OTHETA to MOONDOG on Tuesday, June 02, 2020 09:18:00
    MOONDOG wrote to JIMMY ANDERSON <=-

    I was checking Acadamy and Gander and other site for deals
    on ammo and Gander had a 'used guns' section, so I clicked
    on it. SKS - Cosmoline - 20+ years - all that, basically
    the same thing - $342, plus a $15 'shipping charge' to the
    local store. No FFL transfer fee, just tax and the $10
    TICS (Tennessee Instant Check System) fee.

    Hmm... I really wanted to click it and purchase, but
    I didn't... yet... :-) We are in Indy visiting for a few
    days, so I thought no need in it just sitting at the local
    store, and I might just get lucky and find something
    somewhere. :-)


    The Gander Mt deal sounds good. Back in the 90's I bought a Russian
    SKS for $125 and my brother bought a Chinese SKS for $89. A year or
    two later I picked up an SKS "paratrooper" model that used AK mags fo $139.

    Yeah - I know you used to could get them SUPER cheap :-) But I missed
    the boat on that years ago! LOL The one our son has was given to my
    wife by her uncle several years ago. He had had it a long time, so it
    was probably one of the 'cheap' ones. :-)

    Thx for the input - read about Empire Arms as well, but still thinking
    the Gander deal might be the best one for one that will be 'mine' and
    not someone else's for the last 20+ years...





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