AK or SKS, which would you choose?

[BlueLineFish 615]

You want a mini 30 and keep finding ways to justify one. So save all this debate and get what you want...a mini 30.

[edwill86 0]

^ +1

[Pew Pew Plates 358]

...You can get an unconverted saiga 7.62 for around 500 give or take. Then when you get some extra cash you can do a conversion to a full AK style for around 200 or so.

 

Find me a way to do a FULL conversion for $200 and I'll love you forever.

 

Changing out the gas block, front sight base, threading the muzzle, adding slant brake or 74 brake, welding it on, buying a new trigger, all new furniture, adding bullet guide, adding cleaning rod, will exceed $200 every time.

 

Now if you really meant to say you can do a pistol grip only conversion for 200 or so, you are right.

 

But that's not full AK style...

 

 

[edwill86 0]

 

Find me a way to do a FULL conversion for $200 and I'll love you forever.

 

Changing out the gas block, front sight base, threading the muzzle, adding slant brake or 74 brake, welding it on, buying a new trigger, all new furniture, adding bullet guide, adding cleaning rod, will exceed $200 every time.

 

Now if you really meant to say you can do a pistol grip only conversion for 200 or so, you are right.

 

But that's not full AK style...

 

 

I apologize I miss typed . you are right a "basic" conversion for about 200. A full conversion is a bit more.

[RecessedFilter 222]

Shooting isnt a cheap hobby. You can make somewhat inexpensive by buying a $300 cheap gun and shooting 2 nice of ammo once every two months. But compare a mini 30 or AK or sks (price range of $400-700) to many other offerings. Examples PTR, AR15, garand, etc and you are well over $1,000. I understand your in college but your gonna have to put money aside if you really want a rifle that is going to last. You buy once, you cry once. Dont forget buying 10+ mags, ammo, and range time are all going to be additional expenses.

 

As Blue line said, it sounds like you really want a mini30 but are debating other rifles that you dont really want but others like. Get the mini30, 10 mags, a case of ammo and call it a day.

[Pew Pew Plates 358]

BTW, the mini 30 shouldn't be more accurate than the SKS.  SKS is short stroke and the mini-30 is long stroke.  In theory the SKS will be more accurate if you get a good bore

[RecessedFilter 222]

A chinese sks cant be beat. Externally, they will look pretty used but if you get one with a shiny bore and sharp rifling (which is easy to find), it will shoot wonderful.Sks' have good sights, comfortable to shoot, not much recoil, and stripper clips load quickly. Chinese ones can be bought from $200 and up, most fall in around $250-275.

[W2MC 1,699]

My experiences and thought processes on SKS/AK/Mini14/AR.....(two cents, if you think it's worth that)

 

I've had an SKS for quite some time; I bought mine back when the chinese SKS were coming in by the crate, and one could be had new for $100 to $125.  They're great shooters, but now that they're $350 and up, I don't think they are the bargain they used to be.  At that time, the SKS-AK price delta was high (3-4x), and, being essentially cheap, I never considered an AK...the SKS was more than enough.  Now, with the increasing SKS pricetag and dropping AK prices, the delta is under 2x...and I'm not sure what you 'lose' with the SKS versus the AK is 'worth it' anymore.  The only 'advantage' the SKS has over the AK is its not so 'sinister looking' in the minds of the population as a whole.

 

I looked at the Mini-14/30's; both the .223 and 7.62x39, and I kind of like the overall 'look' of them...polished steel and walnut just looks better to me than black plastic and aluminum.  'Made in America' is also a big plug, in my view.  But their accuracy reviews are so-so, and the price!  Too much for me!

 

I then looked at the S&W M&P 15 Sport.  Yes, its a 'low-end' AR, but the price wasn't so bad, and reading the various reviews...what you lose (dust cover and forward assist) isn't such a 'loss', anyway.  Even though there isn't any polished steel or a sliver of walnut on it, I was sufficiently impressed that I took the plunge.  Straight off, I could see why everyone likes the overall layout and function of the AR platform...and at the range, it easily out-shot my SKS...keeping it on a pie-plate at 100 yards is no problem.

 

So....given the choice between an SKS, and AK, or a Mini-30?  I'd pass on all three and go with the S&W.

[Newtonian 453]

I chose a Russkie sks because:

 

* I like old commie guns

* Much cheaper (although the one I bought wasn't that much less)

* Would not freak my wife out (she's used to seeing me working on Mosins)

* Much less likely to be affected by any NJ craziness

* The modern military look doesn't do much for me

 

However, my first project after moving, when I'm 93, is to buy a mint Russian AK with a wood stock and several NJ-illegal mags. The Kalashnikov was my favorite chess opening for several years.

 

 

 

[Kaiser7 33]

 

So....given the choice between an SKS, and AK, or a Mini-30?  I'd pass on all three and go with the S&W.

 

I actually own an AR15 I built. Back a few years ago I owned only a .22 bolt, and a VZ24, and thought "I want a semiauto", so I posted a "WTB Mini14" thread, (It's probably apparent, but my favorite rifles are anything similar to M14s). A lot of people brought up some fairly valid points, said I should just go with an AR instead, and so I ended up nixing the Mini-14 then, and built the AR. Truth be told, I've shot it once, and that's it. I like it though, and i feel as though it is a good, dedicated 5.56/.223 platform (I built one capable of shooting both rounds). BUT, the 7.62x39 offers different capabilities, and in truth would be my primary SHTF gun.

 

It's also not a total question of choosing between an AK, Mini, or SKS, it's a matter of which one am I going to get Now. I want just about every gun out there, with the exception of a glock (they just don't do it for me), so it's inevitable, barring some bullcrap laws that I will own all of these at some point, as they all offer different advantages.

 

Lol, actually, it's funny, my gf is totally supportive of my gun-related hobbies. I'm going to take her shooting for the first time once we're both done school for the semester. She's telling me to buy either all of them, or just keep saving for a Socom. She actually offered to give me money to help buy them XD.

[Kaiser7 33]

Looks like it doesn't matter anyway. Apparently the state issued a seizure against my employer because of a tax error, even though my boss paid the taxes, the state can't find the records or something. So until further notice I'm out of work.

 

...Plus Friday is payday, so now I'm not sure I can even pick up my check...

[BlueLineFish 615]

I was just about to say based on your other thread that this thread is pointless now

[Kaiser7 33]

I was just about to say based on your other thread that this thread is pointless now

 

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I predicted this somewhere on NJGF recently. There has never been a time in my life I started getting a little extra spending money that something  bad didn't happen to me financially, whether it be getting laid off, having a store shut down, Getting my car totaled by a driving instructor, not being able to drive said car after it's repaired (at a super-cheap rate) because the engine light is on for a factory defect that costs more than the car is worth, to getting multiple nails in brand new tires, etc.

 

There hasn't been a time I've had a bank account balance of more than $600 that something bad didn't happen, wiping out my money. So much for following one user's advice and making sure I enjoy myself once in a while XD