Is the SKS sufficient enough for rural survival?

[Simo]

What are the Chinese ones going for these days? Last I looked they were near $300, the days of $79 Chinese Norinko SKS's are long over.

they average $250 sold price on auction sites.

[Rongo]

When you compare the prices on Chinese, Soviet, Romanian & Yugoslavian SKS rifles the Chinese variation is a real bargain in comparison these days. I've had many opportunities to buy a Yugo but have passed. I'm more than happy with my Chinese & Soviet examples.

[pacanis]

Dang! You got Hogzilla's head there, LC
Call Monsterquest!

[fenceline]

What are the Chinese ones going for these days? Last I looked they were near $300, the days of $79 Chinese Norinko SKS's are long over.

You enjoy your cheap Yugos and we'll enjoy our cheap Chinese rifles haha. One retailer up here will sell you one for $75 when you buy a crate of 1400 rounds of 7.62 surplus for about $250. And they are "aresenal grade" hehehehe.

[Longcolt44]

Dang! You got Hogzilla's head there, LC
Call Monsterquest!

, That's an average one. You should see the big ones.

[OLD OUTLAW]

The average person who is not law enforcement, or military, and will not be facing a hoard of zombies can get by just fine with a good .22 rifle. An SKS should be just fine.

we have quite a bear and coyote population here so a .22 is not good enough and for bear the 7.62x39 is a joke also but my main option is an SKS.

An SKS is not any joke to a Black Bear. That 154gr. SP has done a few in real quick. Just as well as a 30 30. They are basically the same. Keep your SKS!

[Greasemonkey]

Dang! You got Hogzilla's head there, LC
Call Monsterquest!

I don't know which I'd rather face the pig or the bear, that's a damn big pig No, not MonsterQuest, they keep questing and find nothing and the dudes voice puts me to sleep

Regardless of the country of origin, and other than random issues with the Yugo gas system(which can be easily fixed), any good condition and maintained SKS would suffice. In their stock form, they can be almost as robust and durable as the AK and slightly more accurate. Adding plastic stocks, hi-cap mags and receiver cover scope mounts is were a great number of issues come from.

I'd say find one that speaks to you, and give it a go My problem is a few of them have spoken to me

[fenceline]

^^^^ AWESOME PIC ^^^^^

[Junk Yard Dog]

What are the Chinese ones going for these days? Last I looked they were near $300, the days of $79 Chinese Norinko SKS's are long over.

You enjoy your cheap Yugos and we'll enjoy our cheap Chinese rifles haha. One retailer up here will sell you one for $75 when you buy a crate of 1400 rounds of 7.62 surplus for about $250. And they are "aresenal grade" hehehehe.

I only have the one Yugo, brand new rifle, bought it six years ago and the cosmoline is still in it. I do have two Chinese SKS rifles, one is a Vietnam War bringhome, and the other a "para" conversion with AK mag, mag falls out every second shot, waste of a perfectly good Chinese military surplus SKS. I have a Soviet one as well, that is the one that gets shot on the rare occasions I bring it out.

[SA1911a1]

My advice for the OP is you have to make your selection of defensive or survival firearms based on what conditions you expect to encounter. I see folks prepare for everything from a temporary weather related breakdown to a full scale nuclear conflict and everything in between. The variables are endless.

I think an SKS in skilled hands is a well rounded rifle, but if I were expecting to harvest survival food, I would rather have a .22. If I were preparing to meet hoards invading from the big cities, I might want a bit more firepower.

I believe that the best preparation for civil disorder it to avoid it. Vote, vote smart, and if possible vote often.

[Junk Yard Dog]

If it happens it's a high probability that you are f***'d no matter what you do, the chances of long term survival in a true collapse of social order situation are astronomically low. A Mosin 91/30 and a Marlin model 60 .22 use the extra money for a brick of .22 ammo. Forgot, you already have the Mosin, even less you have to spend.

[desdem12]

and if possible vote often

Apparently it is possible. Here in washington the dead folks are still voting..all for the democrats too.. THe last 2 elections here are the most corrupt things i have ever seen.

[SA1911a1]

and if possible vote often

Apparently it is possible. Here in washington the dead folks are still voting..all for the democrats too.. THe last 2 elections here are the most corrupt things i have ever seen.

Yea, well...I voted for Al Gore 18 times and see what it got me......

[mrb7]

...I believe that the best preparation for civil disorder it to avoid it. Vote, vote smart, and if possible vote often.

If it happens it's a high probability that you are f***'d no matter what you do, the chances of long term survival in a true collapse of social order situation are astronomically low....

This is what I tell people all the time. The best survival strategy is to not need to survive. The second best strategy is to know your neighbors well, and get along with them as a true functioning neighborhood that sticks together as a cohesive unit in face of adversity. You cannot make it as a lone wolf.

If you live in a rural area, and all the neighbors within say 5 miles actually form a reasonable social bond then you'll have a fighting change in case of true social collapse. The larger your community of collaborators the better you prospects of success.

What was that movie a couple of years ago with Daniel Craig about the fighting the Nazis in WWII?

[Junk Yard Dog]

[mrb7]

That's it. That is the ultimate SHTF scenario. And they survive because it is a community.

The lone wolf doesn't make it. People are not tigers. Even real wolves don't make it alone. They live in packs, just like people. Why do you think people and dogs clicked so well?

If you're making your bug out plan then your bug out plan darn well better include the neighborhood. You need them.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I am sure my bugout plan will start with a sudden flash one fine day, and just enough time to say OH FU.........before the shock wave hits.

[desertgunner]

My ,
IMHO, any SKS has the load-speed advantage over a Win 94 AE 30-30 (they are a pain to reload under time pressure). The safe hitting range is about the same, the effect on hit depends a bit on the kind of ammo used. Under same ammo conditions like FMJ I would prefer the SKS as referred to speed of loading and thus multi stopping power to get the job done.
However, for a bear or a razorback I would not start war with either two guns, if there were no higher calibre backup available (depending also how hungry my family is ) My 91/30 43 Tula with some Barnaul hunting ammo would be a better choice at 7.62X54r and 174 grain softnose or HP, I would even risk it with MFJ.

I have chickens, goats, dogs and cats and no matter how often I mark "my territory", it wears of in about a week and I have the cojotes and bobcats roaming outside my 6 foot chainlink fence. Last week my neighbor 2 properties over with her horses, goats,chickens and her kennell dogs had a mountain lion outside her fence, that would not go away until she put some .22s in the sand in front of it. She does not have anything else, so she was preparing to phone me to come over with a rifle. She would have been lucky, because I was off work.
By all means, she needs something like an SKS, too. Which would take me like 500 rounds and half a year of training....

Anyway, if somebody likes the SKS like I do, is aware of the real capabilities, wants an affordable semi and is willing to hoard some hunting ammo as well as the cheap MFJ (Walmart at $4.97 for 20 with no S/H costs) from Tulammo (Ishevsk Ammo Factory)....well, then I have to say it is the gun of your choice....cheapest works fine, too. It covers a hit range from easy 50 yards up to 200 yards. Do not expect less than 2x2 feet at 250, at precision shooting conditions.
So, 'nuff said , to give you a safe 150 yard perimeter around your house, expandable to 250 relying on conditions, the SKS will do just this, because it was designed to suppress in the near to medium range.
......and do not believe the stories of a "Yugo SKS" being a lesser gun because not chrome lined in the barrel....these people just do not want to clean their rifles right after use, as I got used to in the Army (this also applies to :"corrosive" ammo kills the bore )

Have a happy Mosin/SKS dream tonight , they are girls, too

[WeldonHunter]

...I believe that the best preparation for civil disorder it to avoid it. Vote, vote smart, and if possible vote often.

If it happens it's a high probability that you are f***'d no matter what you do, the chances of long term survival in a true collapse of social order situation are astronomically low....

This is what I tell people all the time. The best survival strategy is to not need to survive. The second best strategy is to know your neighbors well, and get along with them as a true functioning neighborhood that sticks together as a cohesive unit in face of adversity. You cannot make it as a lone wolf.

If you live in a rural area, and all the neighbors within say 5 miles actually form a reasonable social bond then you'll have a fighting change in case of true social collapse. The larger your community of collaborators the better you prospects of success.

What was that movie a couple of years ago with Daniel Craig about the fighting the Nazis in WWII?

I'm no expert but I would think an SKS in cabable hands could do most anything you need it to. Fine all around weapon. Dependable, powerful, accurate and easy to maintain. Like Steve suggested the 154gr SP is a bruiser of a round and shouldn't be underestimated.

I found this on a forum last year and though it was interesting. Food for thought.
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/guest- ... y-building

[WeldonHunter]

Did you notice the rifles are either left handed mausers or the film is being run reversed? 18 seconds into the preview.