Im buying a norinco SKS....

I have my mind set on buying one of these rifles in the next few days and I was interested on opinions from SKS owners or even those who have fired them.
Especially those with expierence with the Norinco rifles. I thinks its a model 56 milled on russian equipment in china.

opinions please?

Depends what you're paying for it.

Is it the full size or the paratrooper, what condition is it in.

Generally Norincos lack the quality of a Russian SKS, and they are not as robust as a Yugo 59/66. But they do work just fine and have no major failings.

For a price guide check out gunbroker.com

I own two of the Yugo type SKS rifles. They seem to be well suited to what for I made this purchase. Every fault I have had with them has been mine not the fault of the weapon. Mine have the grenade launcher sight and a gas port made for switching tot the grenade launcher position..which blocks the gas port.
If you have this type of set up you must make sure the gas port switch or operator is in the correct position or the gas will not be properly ported to cycle the action. You will get ejection malfunctions. This happened with both of my rifles...due to operator error..not the fault of the rifle.

I have not been able to get these rifles to malfunction as of yet outside of my operator error. This rifle even cycles my cheap reloads without problems.

I did however remove the bayonet as I have no use for this piece of equipment.

I am accustomed to better sights on a rifle than these but they will do for the caliber for which this rifle is chambered.

I tend to agree with Retseh about the quality difference but I am sure that they will work fine. By the way X Philesfan..for what do you intend this rifle for...Hunting..target shooting ..defense et al...What ?? Curious here.

By the way ..Its up to you but I dont recommend the magazine modifications for which so many seem to be wont to do. Keep it simple with this rifle..seems to be the motto. At heart this seems to be a simple reliable design...which is fine with me. Always this is my first requirement of any tool..not flash and looks.

Thanks,
Orangetom

Images

Appears very nice, I would suggest it if that was your style of rifle. Fully customizable as the rest and obviously functional, and it is a collectors choice.



Norinco

Originally posted by orangetom1999

By the way X Philesfan..for what do you intend this rifle for...Hunting..target shooting ..defense et al...What ?? Curious here.

By the way ..Its up to you but I dont recommend the magazine modifications for which so many seem to be wont to do. Keep it simple with this rifle..seems to be the motto. At heart this seems to be a simple reliable design...which is fine with me. Always this is my first requirement of any tool..not flash and looks.

Thanks,
Orangetom

Target shooting mostly.... you cant hunt in my state with rifles unless they are muzzleloaders.

I dont have any intention of modifying the magazine or to make any other modifications to the weapon. just keep it clean and have fun shooting it.

thanks for the comments

I would try to get an AK myself just so I didnt have to deal with stripper clip nonsense, but thats me. How much are the SKSs that you've been looking at? I've seen AK deals for like $300

I have seen WASR's going for real cheap, 270 dollars at some places, but generally it's in the 310~350 range.

I would recommend the Yugo or Ruski SKS over the Chinese SKS, from what I heard the Chinese SKS is of lesser quality and not necesarilly cheaper, they do accept Hi-caps (some do).

My only advice to you is: I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

Actual quote posts starring my dad:

"Thing couldn't hit the broad side a of a barn from the inside, give me an SLR."

The old man's was a brand new Chinese Type 56 assault rifle and it was a complete piece of #e.

It wouldn't hold zero, it was heavy (too heavy for civilian hunting) and it was crude (well, duh! I hear you say).

Allow me to explain, there is a difference between rugged (or tough) and crude. This rifle was crude.

If that's what the PLA are going to war with, the US shouldn't do too badly against them, that's all I will say.

Orangetom bought a Yugo job, try and get a Czech one for even better quality. if you want a club, buy Louisville, much cheaper.

I agree with Howlrunners position about Czech weapons being the best of the lot.
YOu will most likely have to pay more for them but that is your decision. I have chosen the Yugo models because they were inexpensive and it is a tool/weapon I can afford to lose or get taken. It is also a weapon a woman can use ...both in expense and use...compare this to my M1 Garand or my 1903 Springfield. Most women could not handle a weapon like this ..some men too.

Ammunition is cheap too. You can buy in volumes and set plenty back. Compare this to something like a .308.

The rifle I have always admired...for years now ..is the FN/FAL series. These rifles by comparison are very expensive to both feed and purchase. THey are good rifles..but then again ..they are not particulary a rifle a woman can use well by comparison to... like the SKS.

My plans are to get a aftermarket stock for my SKS rifles. THe fiberglass type..
One Monte Carlo type and one folder.

I have never wanted the AK 47 type rifles. I prefer a longer sight radius on my rifles if I can get it. But that is just me.

Thanks,
Orangetom

Thanks orangetom and others...

I have bought the rifle and fired a box of ammo through and I am actually impressed by it.

It is very rough.... I mean the way this thing is assembled it is clear that the design is of russian origin.

Big parts, and lots of give between them.....not small parts.

it fired 5 inch groupings or less right off the rack with no sight adjustment whatsoever.

I obliterated a 2x4 that was standing on the range....

Im impressed for such an old rifle.

Well I planned on getting a Norinco SKS for good grades at the end of the Semester, It looked really cool. thanks for the information.

Originally posted by Ford Farmer
Well I planned on getting a Norinco SKS for good grades at the end of the Semester, It looked really cool. thanks for the information.

Its worth it man...

It has already become one of my favorite rifles.

I havnt gotten mine yet, but my friend's father has one and he let us shoot it. It surely was wicked. thats why I plan on getting one.

Congratulations. Guns make neighbors more neighborly.

Originally posted by arius
Congratulations. Guns make neighbors more neighborly.

do you mean that or is that an anti-gun statement?

Dude I am anything but anti gun. I'm from the south.

ok lol....I wasnt sure ....

I am the same way....was brought up around guns, and I am from a military family.

Its a fun and enjoyable hobby if used responsibly....

Originally posted by arius
Dude I am anything but anti gun. I'm from the south.

Rockdale County Georgia

Ok i own a Norinco sks and for all thoes who dog them ive shot about a 1000 rounds threw it and it comes with a crome barrel easy forcleaning it has been bad azz gun never jams on me I have the dragoonov stock on it and i can hit a quarter size target at 75 t0 50 yards pretty damn good and it acurate at 200 yards plenty for taken down a big deer I bought it for deer hunting and it has the power 2500 feet per second and it takes 155 grain hollow point now thats power. I paid $200.00 us for it I love the pistol grip with the dragoonov stock i can shoot from my hip and it looks mean you pull that son of a bitch on a home intruder he will # his pants.

Crkill,

I envy you your time for shooting. MY work schedule of the last four months has not left me much time for shooting on the outdoor rifle range.
When I can squeeze in time I shoot indoors but one cannot use any rifle over .22 caliber.

I miss shooting my heavy barreled rifles outdoors. Will be on this schedule for at least another four months. MOney is good ..thats the only saving grace here.

Also just renewed my membership. Will not be getting much range time this year.
Must make haste now to shove off to work.

Thanks to all for their posts,
Keep them in the X ring folks,

Orangetom