johnf Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 I've been thinking of getting either an SKS or AK for playing around with and maybe using for a varmint gun. Are the AK's really worth 2X's what an SKS cost? If so, why? Is it an accuracy or reliability issue. Those are the only things I really care about and don't see paying that much more because of the way it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Neither will give you any kind of great long range accuracy John. The 7.62 round is just not a long range round. Have had an sks for several years, actually killed my first deer with that gun with open sights at about 50 yards, and the deer pretty well dropped in its tracks. My step father used to have several AK's back when he was into collecting, probably shot a few of them, really do not remember them being any better with accuracy. If I was just getting it to play around with, I would go with the sks, if I was getting it to add to a collection and could justify the extra $, would go with the AK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 The plan is really just to have something bigger than a 22 that I can go bang, bang, bang real fast. I've also considered the HI-Point 40cal carbine, but you can't hardly find them and I don't really want one in 9mm. But you do see them(9mm) a lot and usually around $150 here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 The sks is a fun gun to shoot John, and ammo can still be found reasonable enough to keep it fun to shoot. My oldest daughter shot mine when she was just 6 years old, she might have weighed 45 lbs at that time, tells you how light the recoil is with it, considered letting her deer hunt with it, but never did scope it, and ended up buying her a .243 of her own. They are decent shooters at short range, but really lack the velocity to make longe range rifles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Wouldn't plan on using it for deer at all. I've got a 243, 223 and 7mm-08 that would be put in my kids hands for deer much quicker than an SKS. Something about that thought is a little disturbing to me. If I used it for any hunting it would probably be a 75yard max gun for hogs or yotes and the first order of business would be putting a red dot on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 One other thing, the 7.62X39 is about equal to a 30-30! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 One other thing, the 7.62X39 is about equal to a 30-30! In accuracy, power, or both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 One other thing, the 7.62X39 is about equal to a 30-30! I like my 7.62 x 54:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 ....Gosh, what a coincidence.........another article in one of this month's rifle or hunting magazines that specifically relates to a thread question here! .......This might be interesting info, John...I found it informative . "AR'S FOR VARMINT RIFLES"...in March's RIFLE Sporting Arms Journal http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/ri236partial.pdf .........and , an excerpt with an opinion on the accuracy or, lack thereof) of the 7.62 x 39 http://www.bobtuley.com/terminal.htm Also: YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: An article in this month's;) "LONG RANGE RIFLES" mag. entitled...."THE .204 RUGER GOES AR!" ....A Les Baer Custom .204 Super varmit rifle,"increibily accurate out to 600 yards"....10 rd magazine. ....Just a great article to read, nonetheless... ...couldn't find it right off, on line..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 I do good to get a 3 inch group out of my SKS (with a good 4X scope) at 100 yards. But I bought it for the same reason you mentioned - cheap ammo and high volume shooting. One good thing about it, I've never had a jam or misfire, even with the cheapest remanufactured ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 In accuracy, power, or both? All of the above! Not very accurate and they certainly don't have much power! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 I do good to get a 3 inch group out of my SKS (with a good 4X scope) at 100 yards. But I bought it for the same reason you mentioned - cheap ammo and high volume shooting. One good thing about it, I've never had a jam or misfire, even with the cheapest remanufactured ammo. What's a good price on an SKS these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Dont know about now John, gave $100 for mine when I bought it about 16 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 That's exactly what I gave for mine too. $100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 I have seen them at gun shows here in NYS for like $200 and better. Most of them are the eastern European makes. The AK is a stamped steel gun(most of them) and the SKS is milled. I bought a Russian/CCCP SKS w/blade bayonet, mfg mid 40's back in the 80's. I paid $125 for it. Very well made and OK shooter. Can do 2-3" groups at 100 yards with open sights. The steel case ammo is much cheaper to shoot than any brass cased one. These guns, the AK and SKS were built around that cheap commy steel case ammo. Good medium range punch that wont coat ya an arm and a leg....yet:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooBear Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 I like the SKS better than the AK. The AK has a detachable mag. and a 16" barrel vs the SKS 20" barrel and fixed mag. Both were designed to engage man sized targets out to 300 meters. They will do that very well. I watched a Park Ranger put down a large male buffalo with one shot to the head with a 7.62X39. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 IMHO,I have never heard of a AK or SKS being accurate enough to be considered a varmint rifle, one could even throw the Ruger ranch rifle in with them. My choice would be in the AR platform in .223/5.56 for the relatively cheap ammo available. Another caliber choice would be in the .204 Ruger, the downside of them is the cost of the ammo. If you are just looking for a cheap firearm/cartridge to shoot then go for the SKS. I know just about any 17 HMR will shoot circles around the ak/sks at 100 yards and be just as effective on critters upto and including the coyote but you dont have the rat a tat tat factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted March 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Not really worried about "real" downrange accuracy. Anything that I want to shoot past 100 yards real bad I'll use my 243 or 25-06. I just want something that will go bang bang bang real fast and will kill the occasional unlucky varmint that gets close enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowana Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Either rifle will make you a great plinker. The 7.62x39 is probably one of the cheapest center fire rifle rounds you could shoot. Its power factor is a mute point. Its sole purpose is a medium range defense round that was designed to cycle through actions at a high cyclic rate. Even by todays standard I considerate it the best military round going for small arms weapons. I had a few shot at me during my "vacation" in Honduras in the 80's. The crack of that rifle round is distinct. I also had some dumb 101 airborne yaahoos who didn't understand the term "shift fire" sooo...I know the distinct sound of a crack issued by an M-16. I think you will have loads of fun shooting that "commie" rifle. I'd go with one of the AK47 variants, but its you money to spend. I personally own a Ruger Mini-30 with a Choate folding stock and an Bushnell red dot. In the fall after Halloween, we raid the pumpkin patch and take them to our hunting lease. We then engage in some wonderful "pumpkin slaughtering" with the AK's. Once all the pumpkins are open we wait a few days and come back with our bows. Deer love em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlriggins Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 dont forget the AK74 variant in 5.45x39 it is the commie answer to the M16 and should have range close to the 223 rem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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