Pictures of both of these rifles can be found in the little firearm photos link section at the top of the page.
An SKS is a 7.62x39 rifle developed in Russia and used by the communist countries. Many of these were made and imported into the U.S. from China by Norinco, some were imported from Russia, and currently some Romanian ones are being imported and can be had for about $150. These pretty much escaped the "assualt weapons" ban because they had a fixed 10 rd mag (some were modified to accept AK mags, also some 20-30 rd mags that were detachable but fit the standard fixed mag attachment were manufactured here), no pistol grip stock, and no flashider, bolted on folding mount bayonet. The Chinese guns were cheap, and fun shooting, for quite a while you could get one for around $100 or less, fairly accurate-no tackdriver but around 4", ammo was dirt cheap, it went up some, now it is around $100 for a 1000. They ammo ballistically is about the same as a .30-30, about the same trajectory and power but using a lighter bullet.
The Belgian developed FN FAL (Fabrique Nationale Fusil Automatique Leger) is a 7.62 NATO (.308) rifle. It has been used by something like 90 countries, and was even tested by the U.S., but we went with our own design, the M14. The FAL is a full power accurate, easy to maintain battle rifle. None are being imported (banned because of all of the evil features, detachable 20 rd mag, pistol grip, flashider), but many are being assembled here and can be had for anywhere from just over $500 for a Century gun to $1800 for one by DSA. Most currently available are built from parts kits from the Austrian STG-58. Assembling them from kits seems to have gotten almost as popular as building AR's.
HTH
bergie
WOW!!! Did that question get answered by several people at once!!!
I must be the slowest typist
there were no other answers when I started composing.
[This message has been edited by bergie (edited May 14, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by bergie (edited May 14, 2000).]