What is an SKS rifle?

The SKS is a Russian Rifle from the 1950s that ended up being an evolutionary dead-end since it was produced at the same time as the AK-47, which was a more effective rifle. Millions made by China ended up in the US at gun shows during the AWB of the 1990’s.

[skorza]

He tried to do it with a bubba’d SKS?

These guys are making Oswald look like a genius with his shot out Carcano.

[josephbishop]

Hitting torso size targets out to 400+meters are completely within the capacity of the SKS. Generally it's the shooters or ammo that would fail before that.

[imjustsam]

Growing up in the country in the 90s, it was the go-to cheapest you could find deer rifle.

[mrmatt]

Say what you want, but i wouldn't be very confident with my odds if someone was firing an SKS st me from 300yrds away. At this distance, a 7.62x39 still has plenty of energy, and this rifles accuracy is capable of placing bullets into the vital area of a silhouette target.

[mikekruger]

The SKS was one of the first guns i shot as a kid with my dad, and it was actually really accurate and the most "point and click" gun i had shot for most my childhood. Its definitely not a bad rifle.

[timothylockard]

Two friends of mine and I went to the local outdoor range with a variety of our guns. However, we each had an SKS. At one point, we were taking turns, standing at the firing line, shooting unsupported at an 18"x18" steel target set at 300 yards, using the stock iron sights. If we didn't rush our shots too much, each of us would land between 7-9 hits per 10 round magazine. At the next "Cease Fire" a couple of guys wandered down to our table, and asked what we were shooting. We showed them the variety of guns we had, but then they asked what specifically we had just been firing at the steel target. We told them we'd been using the SKS. They shook their heads, and said they'd been working for over an hour, shooting a scoped and sandbagged .270 bolt rifle from the bench, and had yet to place a single round onto that steel target.

Now, I'm obviously not suggesting that the SKS is more accurate than a bolt rifle. But, my friends and I are not Navy Seals, or anything...just rather average shots (at best). But the SKS is *not* inaccurate, at the reasonable ranges for which it was intended to be used.

[thewampire]

The AK-47 was supposed to be given to submachinegun infantrymen to replace their ppsh models, while the SKS was provided to their riflemen. That didn’t last long, and both roles were combined under the AK

[rywmiller]

Im fortunate enough to own a 1951 russian sks made in the Tula factory. One of my favorite rifles in my collection.

[michaelknight]

I'm going to show my age now I remember them being 79.99 at the gun shows lol

[Moabno]

In Canada, it’s really popular with indigenous hunters because it used to be cheap and easy to maintain, and lots of ammo.

[karuneshsaroya]

Lots of Canadian gun owners, including myself, have an SKS in their collections. It’s one of the cheaper rifles on the market and it’s good for hunting.

[ebdhudnav]

I'm going to stop you right there where you criticize the accuracy. I got to use my friend's SKS years ago with cheap Russian ammo. I was able to hit a 20x20 inch target at 300 yards. Yes, it's accurate but like the M1 garand, it's not practical for modern war. That's like you saying that a hunting rifle can't take out a target at 400 yards because it was made in 1960s but the Marines and army used, basically a hunting rifle, in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm not in the service nor ever was but I love old guns.

[michaelpalodichuk]

In summary, the rifle is of the same quality as the shooter.

[WillfulTangent]

I miss the days of walking into any gun store and seeing crates of Mosins and SKS’s everywhere. Practically a buy one get one affair back in the day.

[booferzz]

As an sks owner, and someone who’s practiced proficiently on it, in an ambush scenario where you are only going to get 10 rounds of maximum regardless, there is almost no difference between an SKS and an AK-47. If anything, the SKS is easier to use in the prone position! But this guys was bubba’d out so I’m doubting his choices

[sidneylittle]

Even tho the SKS isn't the best long range rifle, it is good out to 300 yards, uses the same ammo as an ak47 . It's issue is velocity is low(spin is slow) so it begins to tumble. Packs a serious wallop. Definitely a super dependable firearm.

[jamesb]

It appears it was a sporterized SKS. Hence the detachable mag, poly stock, etc. not an uncommon rifle to come across at your local gun shop.

[JasonDeville-fidh]

They are for totally different situations. The SKS is a great weapon.

[tomparker]

Every Australian and his dog had a Norinco SKS before 1996

[michaeltuohy]

I love my SKS. It's a fun-shooting dead-reliable weapon. I'm not a great shooter, but at 100 yards I'm spot on with iron sights.