i don't really know if one is better than the other. it might be more of a numbers game as a whole lot more sks chinese rifles have probably been inported than the russian version
The chinese ones 1st started comming in before the AWB and had bayonet lugs and such. Then to get around restrictions they started to ship them without the lugs/baynonets but at about that time it became illegal to swap out the fixed 10rd mag for a detachable 20 rdr. This was good ole' days when we also could get those good norinco 1911 pistols, chinese torkerov pistols, and such.
i've been told the chinese sks were not really "surplus" but were really of recent manufacture and made to import to America as there was a market for them. There's been debates about some differences in the chinese such as threaded barrel vs. pinned barrel and such. Shot both and don't see much difference in function.
The russians are surplus made years upon years back. Some of these have chrome line bores but told some do not. I have seen better wood on the russians, about the biggest negative i have seen on some russians is the safety. I've seen some click and snap into position as they should but i've also seen some that were "friction" position. The russian ones i have seen have a year of manufacture on them. I've heard that some under the table dealings with our govt and economic aid/trade practices have happened and that is the reason no more russian sks's are imported.
I guess if you really want a piece of history, get the russian. If you just want a shooter, it don't matter.
The main thing i would look at in either is the serial number. its stamped everywhere so what i do is check the # on the receiver to the number on the trigger guard, stock, magazine, etc to see if the match. If they don't, its a parts gun thats been put together therefore it should be cheaper than an all orginal.
My experience with the scopes on sks has been terrible as the receiver mounted covers tend to be loose. B-square makes a good one but required a permenant modification to the rifle.
The chinese ones 1st started comming in before the AWB and had bayonet lugs and such. Then to get around restrictions they started to ship them without the lugs/baynonets but at about that time it became illegal to swap out the fixed 10rd mag for a detachable 20 rdr. This was good ole' days when we also could get those good norinco 1911 pistols, chinese torkerov pistols, and such.
i've been told the chinese sks were not really "surplus" but were really of recent manufacture and made to import to America as there was a market for them. There's been debates about some differences in the chinese such as threaded barrel vs. pinned barrel and such. Shot both and don't see much difference in function.
The russians are surplus made years upon years back. Some of these have chrome line bores but told some do not. I have seen better wood on the russians, about the biggest negative i have seen on some russians is the safety. I've seen some click and snap into position as they should but i've also seen some that were "friction" position. The russian ones i have seen have a year of manufacture on them. I've heard that some under the table dealings with our govt and economic aid/trade practices have happened and that is the reason no more russian sks's are imported.
I guess if you really want a piece of history, get the russian. If you just want a shooter, it don't matter.
The main thing i would look at in either is the serial number. its stamped everywhere so what i do is check the # on the receiver to the number on the trigger guard, stock, magazine, etc to see if the match. If they don't, its a parts gun thats been put together therefore it should be cheaper than an all orginal.
My experience with the scopes on sks has been terrible as the receiver mounted covers tend to be loose. B-square makes a good one but required a permenant modification to the rifle.
