SKS or Ruger 10/22?

[Mike.357]

pistol or rifle.

I have a Glenfield Marlin Model 60 I bought over 25 years ago. No telling homw many rounds have been through it over the years. It is still accurate and has had no parts replaced on it. Can't go wrong with on IMHO.

As for a pistol I think a Single Action revolver is a must have in any gun collection where the collector enjoys shooting .22's

[Guest C-ya]

Well, I guess I'll jump in on this one. I think an SKS is a fine rifle, and would be the equal to any AK as far as reliability and function when the crap hits the bladed oscillator. I bought an SKS as my first rifle, because is doesn't look "evil" (ha!), has a similar gas system to an AK, and has a reputation for being as reliable and durable as the AK.

There are ways to make changes to the SKS w/o voiding it's C&R status. You'll just have to read 922r and check at SKS Boards for the many posts on reconfiguring your SKS. I changed the stock on my '58 Romanian (argued to be equal to the Russian SKS in workmanship, durability and shootability) w/o having to do the 922r dance.

If you are going to be bugging in in a SHTF scenario, does it really matter how heavy your rifle is? I agree that one should have a .22 of some sort, but don't dismiss the SKS out of hand due to weight alone. Stripper clips are a hinderance? I'd rather carry 20 stripper clips which would give me 200 rounds than six or seven 30-rd or ten 20-rd magazines for other platforms. You can charge an SKS using strippers in a matter of a few seconds. If I am using strippers, I can reload them faster than I can a mag, and I can get them for much cheaper than I can a 20 or 30-rd magazine.

The SKS is a reliable platform that should be given serious merit in SHTF planning. Let's face it, we should all be planning for some type of SHTF - weather, political turmoil, riots, you name it. Anything can be a SHTF scenario if you are in the middle of it. I seem to remember the Koreans using their SKS's to good effect in the LA riots after the Rodney King incident.

That being said, I have several rifles - an SKS, an AK, an FAL and two .22's (one bolt, one semi), as well as a K-31, a couple of shotguns and a BP rifle. I feel that will pretty much cover all my bases. My pistol selection is the same - different pistols for different functions. And before anyone says they can't afford all that, I didn't buy them all at once either. I work for a living. If I found a good deal and if I had the cash, I jumped on it. I bought my first firearm in 1997 (a pistol) and have been looking, learning, building and buying since then. Getting a C&R is a good idea. I have gotten some of my firearms with it, and helped others grow their collection by encouraging them to get a C&R.

Nice to see some good thought in this thread, tho. Good ideas and info on the different platforms. I just wanted to say my peace about the SKS.

bkelm, get 'em while the getting is good. They are going up in price. The Romy's and Russian's are now about equal in value. Surprised the crap outta me as I am still looking for a Russkie. I have my eye on a couple for sale in the $300-350 range. If you find a Romy that has mismatched S/N's on the parts, that's not a biggy. There are hardly any matching Romy's. My Romy doesn't have one single number on it that matches another and it is a GREAT shooter. I had a Yugo for a bit (both versions - the 59 and the 59/66). Both were great shooters. The Yugo doesn't have a chrome bore, but it isn't a big deal these days as there is hardly any ammo in x39 that is corrosive.

[Guest GlockFD]

i am currently looking at the ruger my self. I will be getting it as soon as my tippmann paintball marker sells. My father in law has a sks with a bayounet, I hope to get my hands on it later. he does not shoot it at all. I would deffinatly put it to use at the range.

[mrming]

yet another idiot with a SKS tossing in some opinions...

Stripper clips can be a pain to get working consistantly. I ordered a bulk, ended up working over just a dozen of them to the point of reliablity. Don't bet on them working out of the box. However, they are better than the 223 clips I've had. Same can be said for 308.

The sights are mediocore, the capacity is low, the original stock is too short for most people and it isn't uncommon to find corrison to the point that the bolt won't fully cycle. Yes, mine was one of those unlucky ones. Yes, it came as part of a bulk order with a few friends. The gas block had just been eaten too far away (or was always undersized). Finally found a undersized tube that fit tight enough to work.

On the brighter side? If you like tinkering giving them a decent trigger job isn't hard, and they can be made into decent, non-evil looking truck guns.

I'd skip the 10/22. Sure, I like rebuilding them into tack drivers and in oddball cartridges. But, marlin model 60's tend to be more accurate out of the box, slightly cheaper, and have no mag to lose.

[Guest atomemphis]

Ah, the Ruger 10/22.

'twas my first rifle. For some unknown reason I decided to sell it to a friend on the cheap a few years ago. I kick myself everyday for doing it.

Get the Ruger 10/22. I think its one of the finest 22's around, and if you ever get bored with it, there are plenty of upgrades that can be done.

Hands down, dumbest move I've made in a long time was to sell that gun.

Now I'm on the hunt for another.

[molonlabetn]

Get the 10/22 first. Then decide whether you want to get an SKS too, or trick out the Ruger... meanwhile you can shoot all you want for next-to-nothing.

[Guest strelcevina]

+1

on getting 10/22 first, it's must have gun:)

[Guest C-ya]

yet another idiot with a SKS tossing in some opinions...

Wow, that's one of the nicer things I've been called. That's what this site is for - sharing opinions. You just go ahead and leave the SKS's to me and people like me that like and appreciate them. I'm getting ready to buy a Russian to go with my Romanian since they suck so bad. Maybe if you hadn't gotten a bad one, you'd have a better opinion of them.

Yep, strippers are not great right out of the box. Work 'em while you're sitting in front of the tube and they'll work when you need 'em.

Mediocre sights? Maybe you need to adjust them or put a scope on it. They are iron sights that work at the intended ranges of the round. What did you expect from a rifle designed to be a battle rifle for the masses? Since the AK has the same sights, I guess they are mediocre as well, huh?

Whatever, dude. But, just remember - I'm the idiot.

Edited March 2, 2008 by C-ya