Updated with link because AzAgLover is the only person on Arfcom who can’t find PSA

Here’s why:

1. PSA is a site sponsor, and that’s the best kind of sponsor. Support PSA.
2. Bored with ARs and AKs? Want a different and interesting gun?
3. Fewer and fewer milsurp rifles hit the market every year and the US may have reached peak gun ownership (at least within the past few generations). Your kids may never get to experience cosmoline!
4. They’re Chinese rifles and there’s been a moratorium on importing Chinese arms for about 30 years.
5. As China and domestic Marxists continue to attract our attention over the coming years, a quintessential Chicom gun may have some appeal, kind of like K98 after WWII.
6. They’re old school fighting carbines! Hard wood, blued steel, and milled parts. They’re stout like an M1 Garand but in a small package.
7. Much nicer than an AK47. The trigger housing, dust cover, receiver, and gas tube are all milled steel, not sheet metal. Hammer forged, chrome lined barrel. Chromed bayonet. Unless you mess something up “gunsmithing,” the only part that should ever need replacing is the recoil spring.
8. Unlike other milsurp rifles you might find (like the currently available 6.5 Carcano), these use Ammo that’s still in production, inexpensive, and widely available. (7.62x39)
9. It’s an auto-loader that holds 10 rounds. Stripper clips are fuckin cool. Bolt actions are boring and AK mags and STANAG mags are so overplayed.
10. For under $400 shipped, this is probably the only bargain gun currently available. You won’t find a cooler gun for anywhere near this price.
11. You need more bayonets in your life.
12. Even though this is a “cool” and “fun” and “cheap” gun, you could legit war with this gun.
13. Good lord, that spiker bayonet does not fuck around. There is no way that thing isn’t going all the way through.
14. It is, in fact, pleasant to shoot. It could easily become one of your “range regulars.”
15. Of the 3 I purchased, they were all matching numbers (other than 1 dust cover that didn’t match).
16. Albania’s loss is your gain.
17. “But I remember when these were $89 when George HW Bush was President.... I’ll pass.” With inflation, these are cheaper now than they were then. Also, they were much more plentiful then. Also, these will only appreciate in value.
18. Perfect if you live in a shithole state that prohibits things like standard capacity magazines, drinking straws that work, and meritocracy.
19. There is no cheaper, more reliable rifle on the market today.

Nah I’ll continue shooting steel case in my AK’s, my next gun will be a PCC in 10mm

I bought one when they were $299. Spent 2 hours cleaning cosmoline and it probably needs 2 more hours. Attached File
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"Here's why you should buy this thing I'm not going to include a link to."

Fucking fail, rated troll.

They were $600 at the fun show this weekend.

Item 10 is the only one that beats a field grade from CMP.

ETA: buying from the CMP isn’t providing a market for  chicoms.

Funny you should mention that, I was just looking at those. I even had the urge to get into AKs.....because, why not.

Why buy them when the Chinese will leave all kinds of guns on the ground when they attack us.

They got more? I thought they were sold out weeks ago

I've already got one. (Well, an SKS anyway)

I would but they don't accept a C&R and I'm not driving to the lgs to transfer an sks.

Join date, post count. Checks out.

“It would require me to drive to a gun store” is a stupid reason to not own a gun.

The c&r lets me hide my shame when buying things such as sks's. I buy good guns at gun stores.

This is what I like hearing my NOS SKS from the 90's continues to get more valuable...  $1k here i come...

I love SKSs.   Solid, overbuild, fun, and accurate enough.

Mine is Chinese with the blade bayo.   For random shooting I prefer it over all of my AK's and some of my AR's.

Wonder what my like new Tula is worth.

I bought mine from classic last year. Sold my Russian years ago and missed it. OP you are right.

Damn good deal.

Back in the day when I could get a used one for $69 I loved em and when a new one could be had for less than $100 I was good with them, but honestly there's other stuff I can spend my money on at the $300 and up price point.

Plus I have been there done that after owning appx 30 plus SKS rifles there's other more interesting stuff out there.

Refurb Russians have been commanding 500 and 600 so with the spike in demand you may get more.

Rather spend $400 at RMR bullets than own a SKS again.

Not worth adding another caliber to my list of ammo to buy.

Eh,....that might end up being a deal.  After Sandy Hook I went to a 'show and my old (Gun dealer) boss had a few tables set up.  On one of the tables was the most BEAT-TO-SHIT SKS I'd ever seen and he had an $800 tag on it.  I told him "Jerry, nobody but nobody is going to give you eight hundred bucks for that thing".  I was still talking to him 5 minutes later when a couple of guys walked up and bought it.....

I have one that I paid 169 for.
It's Russian and CCCP marked.

I'll pass on a chicom one.

lol link is broken

Owned a few Yugo's I always sell them.

I didn't buy one when they were $70 I sure as shit ain't spending $400 on one.

Pricey but given the current environment

I also recommend the SKS.  I bought a Yugo SKS from a guy on the FALFiles many moons ago for $125.  I spent nearly that much to have ADCO thread the barrel for a QD FH for the can.  It's one of my favorite guns.  It's my favorite centerfire rifle to shoot with irons.  On second thought, it's my only centerfire rifle I shoot with irons, but I still enjoy shooting it.

The only reason to pick an SKS over a homebrew AR15 is when you live in a shithole state.

You've made the rounds.   Someone younger than us that's never owned a heavy, well made, rifle from that era should experience it.

I'd liken it to the FAL/G3/M14.     Not in quality of course but it's designed and built in the same philosophy of that time frame.

No, it's not the ultimate in efficiency, but it's a breath of fresh air from the latest uber aluminum and plastic fantastic plaguing the firearm world today.

Of course you can scratch the itch other ways, but it's still the most affordable and possibly the most indestructible.    

I've sworn for years the post nuke apocalypse Earth will be populated by radioactive cockroaches driving Buick LeSabres armed with SKSs.  

My brothers best friends dad, former Navy SEAL, sold my brother this for around $200 a couple of months ago. It's communist equipment, but it feels solid.

I have 2 in my safe, absolutely SATURATED in cosmoline, that I have yet to shoot.

All because I don’t want to spend 2 days removing said cosmoline.

I do, though, have a 3rd, that is a FANTASTIC shooter.

I use it as a progression step for new shooters.  Newbs shoot the SKS, then move up to AK/ AR.

It’s a joy to shoot.  Damn near zero felt recoil (for a .30 round) or muzzle rise.  Chicks dig it.  

Seriously, women love shooting the thing. That counts for something quite a bit.

ETA:  none of my SKS’ were from PSA.  They were bought years ago.

That said, I will agree - the PSA offering is as good as we’ll ever see again.

Lol really?

I got one.  Took a couple weeks to get the cosmoline out of it.  
The things have seen some action and does have some rust on them.  
After removing the crap from the barrel, the bore was nice and shiny with no marks.  

So now it just sits in the safe.  
Would I get another.   I don’t think so.  

thats 400 towards night vision


you already have enough guns. get the other important shit.

Particularly if you don't already have a decent stash of 7.62.39 - which is another item that isn't nearly as cheap as it used to be, BTW.

The main appeal of SKS's was that they used to be cheap, reliable guns that shot cheap, readily-available ammo.

Neither the gun nor the ammo is particularly cheap nowadays.

Ew no

Bought one for the he'll of it, it will go with my yugo

12. Even though this is a “cool” and “fun” and “cheap” gun, you could legit war with this gun.

LOL...you could legit dead with it too.  There is no way the SKS is my primary battle rifle these days.

14. It is, in fact, pleasant to shoot. It could easily become one of your “range regulars.”

It actually is nice to shoot.  Much better than the AK, mainly due to the longer barrel I'd wager.  The AK is just loud.  The machining is also far superior (on my SKS vs. my AK).

I paid $200 for mine, but that was many years ago.  Good part of a collection imo.

...and the cost of the ammo kinda made up for it's maybe not always particularly awesome performance if it did manage to hit something.

I would but I have no place to shoot rifles any more.

Of course! Shithole states! Another good reason to own one. I’ll update the OP.

If someone just wants a shooter to blast with or Tapco-fuck, then those would be an OK buy.  If looking for a fully matching and decent condition military rifle, you take a big chance of getting that, or a mismatched, broke stock, fucked over rifle.  All the same price.  I learned many years ago to not buy military surplus weapons unless I can handle, field strip and fully inspect before purchase.  Shit, even new weapons can be fucked up so buying sight unseen is not really recommended in my book.

$89 for 1000 rounds of 7.62x39 was certainly nice.

It’s not reliable or cheap to shoot... compared to what?! Please, point me in the direction of a cheaper, more reliable firearm. I’ll buy a dozen!!

They're still pretty fuckin reliable.  

I am happy to help a young man live that dream too they just need to save up that walter mitty money ...   I did the FAL thing for years when kits and IMBEL gear logo receivers were cheap and plentiful , oh and all that wonderful cheap South African , Aussie and British 7.62 Nato could be had at $119 per 1000 rounds.

In fact there were quite a few years where I did not load any ammo because I couldn't load it as cheap as the surplus. What wonderful times those were.

LOL , no I love the SKS but not at that price. Im not going to back in my day they were 79.99, but at Damn near $400 with shipping and transfer thats a hard pass.