Practicality....deciding what to do with purchase?

[tynimiller]

Okay guys so here's the question?

I understand some of you have the ability to simply have a mass collection of firearms, to an extant this may not apply to you much, but roll with me for a second still. I recently bought an SKS, not much of a practical purpose because I'll never use it to hunt (illegal in IN for deer, my primary species I hunt) I also don't consider it a great coyote round as it seems a touch excessive on that size of animal, however I used that to justify purchase to wife .

I now find myself wishing I hadn't been bit by the bug of an un-needed rifle. Yeah I put a Tasco stock on it, ordered a few mags and tons of ammo...but for what? I was definitely taken by the idea I "needed" that semi-auto rifle that held lots of ammo in case SHTF type day occurs.

Have any of you been in this boat too? I considered selling it or trading it towards a more practical rifle, like a lever action .357 or .44. Would be able to be used for deer legaly in my state and would serve an actual purpose that is practical. I love the SKS but just wish it served a practical purpose...

 

[SHNOMIDO]

if you like it so much, go to the range (or your backyard or whatever) once a week and shoot 50-100 through it. Call it a recreation piece, which is what it is.

theres nothing wrong with shooting just for the sake of shooting. Just because russian commandos arnt parachuting over the midwest doesnt mean you cant own and have fun with a military style autoloader.

And bag a coyote once or twice a year for the misses!

 

[Art Eatman]

I saw an ad for a 125-grain hunting load which oughta be just fine for coyotes. And, yeah, it's a good plinker gun, anytime. Plenty good for home defense, as well.

 

[big al hunter]

I had an SKS for many years. I decided I did not need it and traded it for a computer. Now I regret that decision It was fun to shoot and cheap ammo. At the time I thought it was a good idea, I miss my gun.

 

[farmall]

I wouldn't feel too bad about having an extra SKS laying around. They are not terribly expensive, and will only increase in value, given proper care.

I'd keep it.

That said, If I had to liquidate a gun for cash, my SKS would be the first to go, just because it could be replaced easily.

 

[jimbob86]

I saw an ad for a 125-grain hunting load which oughta be just fine for coyotes.

For coyotes, a FMJ would not tear the pelt up: pencil in, pencil out.

Having a sturdy, reliable gun and a bunch of ammo for it on hand can't be a bad thing, these days.

 

[ndking1126]

I bought an SKS a couple of years ago. I thought a reliable, sem-automatic rifle with a decently powerful round would be fun. And it really was, for awhile! In the end I lost interest in it because it shot 5" groups at 50 yards.. just not practical enough (there's that word again!)

I don't regret selling (I actually made money off of it thanks to the Obama scare) but I decided from their on out I wouldn't sell any guns anymore.

I would hold on to it. You never know when you'll have an itch to go shoot it. On the other hand, I do think you would like a .44 lever action because they are practical.. you can do a lot and that's a fun round to shoot in rifles.

 

[trublu]

I once had the chance to buy an SKS but I thought "what do i need it for ?" and didn't buy it. Now semi-auto rifles are banned in this country. You don't realize how lucky you are...the USA may be the only free place left in the world ..

 

[Cornhusker77]

If I bought guns based on practical, I'd never have any fun
I've got 3 SKS and 2 AKs (3 if you count my Saiga 223), and I don't really have a use for any of em, but I like em and I'm gonna keep em.
I could shoot the occasional coyote with them I guess, but that's what ARs and Mini-14s are for

 

[Daekar]

I once had the chance to buy an SKS but I thought "what do i need it for ?" and didn't buy it. Now semi-auto rifles are banned in this country. You don't realize how lucky you are...the USA may be the only free place left in the world ..

Free? Ha! The chains get tighter every year, they just keep shouting about freedom and nobody notices.

As for the SKS, I disagree that it's an impractical rifle. It's perfectly fine for range fun, and it's a very nice coyote gun - I used to know several gentlemen in Texas who purchased them specifically for that purpose.

It's also a reliable SHTF weapon.

In fact, I would almost call the SKS the perfect generic gun. Why? It's in a middle caliber/power with middling magazine capacity and it's neither a black rifle nor an old bolt action (although the Yugo variant can behave as either, thanks to the gas valve cutoff). Especially with the bayonet + lug removed, it's not particularly threatening in appearance. With a bit of work, it's more than capable of middling accuracy out to middling distances. It's capable of accepting a wide range of aftermarket parts, but it doesn't need them to be useful. Ammo is cheap or expensive, and easy to find.

I think the reason why people try to mutate their SKSs into something else is because they don't know what to do with a generic gun that seems like a jack of all trades. For me, it's a gun I wouldn't want to be without!

EDIT: 5" @ 50 yards!? Holy crap! I've never seen one shoot that badly. Sounds like yours needed a recrown and possibly a stock bedding. You can get through the bad trigger with some practice, or you can send your trigger group to Kivaari, who will spiff it up for you.

EDIT2: OP, I think part of your problem is you tried to turn it into an AK. That's really a compromise of the rifle's identity, and makes it more suitable for tasks that you hopefully will never have to handle, while making it worse for others. I would return it to stock and think of it as a semi-auto 30-30 that happens to have cheap ammo available and a long invisible ammo tube. Why can't you hunt with it? I know the midwest is turning into a flatter and colder version of Kalifornia, but surely autoloaders are allowed... that would just be sad if they weren't.

 

[egor20]

they don't know what to do with a generic gun that seems like a jack of all trades. For me, it's a gun I wouldn't want to be without!

It's my "go to gun", if I'm not teaching Dressage or screwing around at Polo (no Salahi jokes please) then there is always an SKS in a scabbard when I'm riding. It's bare bones, except for the bayonet and lug being removed, its the same as it was from Tula.

Sorry you can't use it for deer tynimiller, its a great rifle for hunting.

 

[Joe the Redneck]

As I see it...

Someguys have thousands invested in golf clubs, scuba gear, season tickets to football games, bass boats, games systems, tv sets, expensive sports cars, what have you.

For all the complaining, living here in the US gives us free time and spare cash. Being poor in America is better than being average in most parts of the world. We have a good thing here.

So we spend ou money in different ways. Guns are my hobby. That's what I collect. If some of them have no practical reason for being, that suits me fine.

 

[L_Killkenny]

I'd sell it while the selling is good. It is true that it makes a fair short range deer gun but that has no bearing for you. Also true that it makes a fair ranch gun but that also doesn't apply to you either and no way would I want one for a dedicated coyote gun. OK for HD but I'll stick with a 12ga and for a range toys I'll stick with .22's and centerfire handguns.

What many have not noticed is your place of residence. A .357 or maybe a .44 lever gun makes about a thousand times more sense for you and in many way's is a better range toy (ammo cost) and not far if any behind the SKS in any of the other assets folk have mentioned. Other options would be a better coyote/varmint gun or maybe a Ruger 77/44 for deer hunting.

I have no use for a gun that may see daylight once a year especially if I can trade it on a gun that will see much much more use. I had a Mini-14 ranch eight or ten years ago which compares to the SKS in many categories. Sold it off. About once I year I wonder why I sold it and the other 364 I'm so happy I did. My hobby is shooting not collecting or accumulating. Every one of my guns has a niche to fill and I don't want/need dust collectors or multiple guns for each niche. I'd rather have half a dozen guns that get shot a lot than 50 guns that get shot a little.

LK

 

[tahunua001]

sorry buddy, I've never been in that boat. my state doesn't have ammo cap limits on hunting and the only bullets that are illegal are rimfires so every one of my guns is a legal shooter except for a 10/22 and it's for getting rid of skunks, racoons, stray cats, stray dogs, and when I get really bored tree rats and tweety birds. I wouldn't want to take half of them out for deer unless it was a life or death situation but it's always an option

 

[Gehrhard]

Be A Responsible Citizen First

My friend, a man on these pages should recognize that he probably has a responsibility to be armed with such a rifle. You realized it intuitively, know it or not.

I remember the SKS first hitting our shores en masse amid a sea of cosmoline, angering a certain party's politicians, and realizing THEN that at $199 for an SKS with accessories and 1,200 rounds of ammo, China had become the arsenal of American democracy.

No, you need to keep that SKS my friend. Doesn't matter if you ever shoot it or not. Restore it, find some stripper clips, and bury it if you like, but you have a duty to perform, not a choice to make.

I know this makes things harder for you and easier at the same time, citizen.

 

[roberto mervicini]

Hi Tynimiller, yes I had that urgency twice. The first time about 25 yrs a go I bought a Tokarev that a canadian importer converted for a 303 british cartridge, I keep it for couple of year and fire few 20 liters buckets of cartridges . I sold it to buy a brno ZKK .375 H&H.
Four yrs a go I got a CZ58, the first month I fire a case of 900 military rounds, smooth weapon almost no recoil and surprisingly accurate for iron sight.
I am not planning to hunt with it, even if I reload some brass with hornady spire tip. This one is a keeper.
_______
roberto

 

[jimbob86]

Being poor in America is better than being average in most parts of the world. We have a good thing here.

You are almost right: Being poor in America is better than being chichi rich in the third world: Even the well to do in Italy, Pakistan, even France must live behind walls with armed guards to secure the same creature comforts that the poor in middle America take for granted ........ Hell, I have more guns than many local English Police Deptartments, and certainly more familiarity with them ....... today I shot more rounds at a bowling pin match than many cops shoot in a YEAR...... These facts just drive the "Gubmint Knows Best Crowd" bonkers.....

Keep your SKS if you can't find something better suited to your needs..... or sell it to finance something you do like.......

 

[Kimbertron]

I have been thinking about getting an SKS for an affordable semi auto range gun. The only "need" i would have for it is that i don't own a semi auto rifle nd want one lol. So i am with everyone that says you might still enjoy it alot without having a real reason to own it other then fun. But if you do choose to sell it for something fun and practical my Marlin 1894 .44 is my favorite rifle and you couldn't go wrong with it IMO.

 

[jimbob86]

My only concern is the "punch", or "lack of punch" the 380 delivers.

Carry what is comfortable, so that you will Carry always.

2" Snubby stoked with CorBon 125 gr .38 Spec develops about 900 f/sec and 225 ft/lbs Muzzle Energy ...........

A Ruger LCP loaded with 90 gr Buffalo Bore JHP +P give 1050 f/sec and 220 ft lbs ME ........

ME and MV are a wash....

5 shots or 7?

Flat gun or Round gun?

Nobody wants to be shot with anything, unless they are in a seriously altered mental state..... in which case, you won't likely stop them immediately with 5 rounds of .357 Mag, either ........

I Carry a Springer EMP in 9mm ....... if I were to take up jogging, I'd get a SIG 238, as I like the SA 1911 platform ...... no sense in wasting time learning to deal with a crappy trigger!

 

[tynimiller]

Aaah.....you guys are terrible for the practicality side of guns haha! The plan is to keep the SKS unless I find some amazing deal on a 44 or 357 rifle that I just can't pass up and wouldn't have enough saved back up in the "slush" fund.