1st semi auto rifle - SKS vs M31 Suomi

[bnc]

I've been thinking of adding a semi-auto to my pair of bolt actions, but I don't have a lot of experience with them. Not looking for anything fancy or terribly expensive, don't really want an AK or AR (I like the prone position so pistol grips are not my favorite).

I do like cool surplus guns that shoot reasonably affordable ammo, so the 7.62x39 and 9mm both seem like good choices (already shoot 9mm in handguns). This gun would be primarily for range fun (possible 3-gun, maybe someday) and could be used in home defense if things get ugly.

How I see it so far without having handled either one, assuming gun prices are roughly equivalent for guns in similar condition, which seems reasonable:

SKS advantages - very easy to find, large support online, widely available and affordable ammo, plenty of power, lighter (maybe a con?), bayonet

Suomi advantages - very unique and cool, high build quality (from what I hear), slightly cheaper ammo, larger capacity (especially with the drum), lower over penetration risk for defensive purposes

The disadvantages are basically the opposite, so no need to list (unless there is a specific issue that I don't know about).

Anyone have any opinions on either or both? I'm not in a rush, so I have no problem taking the rest of the year to think about it.

[cheezit]

Experance with an sks... Mine has been 100% problem free for many years. sure its a little on the crude side, but its a blast and works well. dont know what else one would want from milserp.

[Mike1951]

I would suggest reading this thread:

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... -Suomi-M31" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It was enough to dissuade me.

Then, there's the 100% reliability of the SKS.

[sookandy]

Experance with an sks... Mine has been 100% problem free for many years. sure its a little on the crude side, but its a blast and works well. dont know what else one would want from milserp.

[glbedd53]

I have a Russian SKS and two Chinese. All three are reliable but the Russian looks like a lot better quality. I've had all three for close to 20 years and at the time I got them the only one that was legal to have the bayonet was the Russian(curio-relic). I don't know if that law still applies. I would check, my grandma told me "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime", and that's federal.

[threoh8]

My wife has an SKS. It's a little rough, but it works just fine. I shot it in a High Power Rifle match once, and didn't finish last. I'd like to see what one could do with a decent barrel, sights, and load development.
At one point, someone was rebarrelling them to 6PPC, IIRC. I cringe when I think of that expensive brass being dented and flung far and wide, as SKS's tend to do.

A friend and Vietnam veteran friend says this of the SKS over there: "Everyone I saw who had one was dead."

[Jasonw560]

I loved mine. I'm in the process of buying it back. That's how much I loved it.

In fact, a fraternity brother of mine still has his. We bought them at the same show in Corpus in '92.

[MadMonkey]

Nothing wrong with a good SKS... lightweight, fast handling, reliable and accurate enough. I'm thinking about getting another and a chest rig full of 10rd strippers to match

[bnc]

I have a Russian SKS and two Chinese. All three are reliable but the Russian looks like a lot better quality. I've had all three for close to 20 years and at the time I got them the only one that was legal to have the bayonet was the Russian(curio-relic). I don't know if that law still applies. I would check, my grandma told me "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime", and that's federal.

That's one thing that is keeping me researching is trying to figure out which SKS is the best kind to get. I'm leaning away from the Yugos since I bet the grenade launcher throws off the balance of the gun a bit and they don't have chromed barrels (though all reports say they work just fine, so not a huge deal). I heard good things about the Chinese models, so I'm a bit surprised that your Russian one is much nicer, but I might be missing what type of Chinese ones are consider good etc. I think the bayonet is perfectly legal, the non-C&R models J&G is selling have them and say nothing about being in a special class.

I would suggest reading this thread:

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... -Suomi-M31" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It was enough to dissuade me.

Then, there's the 100% reliability of the SKS.

I'm about half way through, pretty discouraging, especially for a non-gunsmith like me. I'm hoping for a happy ending to the thread, but without a really strong consensus that the current M31s are solid then I'll probably stay away. A shame since they are very cool and are said to be well made.

[cheezit]

the russian is the way to go. do some digging around you may find a deal

[glbedd53]

I forgot to mention that my Chinese SKSs are paratroopers. They're about 4 inches shorter than the other SKS and more fun to tote around and plink with.

[ELB]

I don't know anything about the Suomi, but I have two Chinese SKS paratroopers, and they are great, handy rifles. You can bubba them up with all sorts of aftermarket stuff, but if you want to use them for self-defense, keep them stock and they will be reliable.

I have experimented with putting on a Williams peep sight and a Mojo peep sight, both of which replace the existing open sight. This position makes the eye relief a little long for a peep sight, but it works out OK. If you go this route, I recommend the Mojo version -- it is much more rugged than the Williams sight, in keeping with the overall ruggedness of the rifle. Having done this, I recommend you stick with the open sight.

Techsights (I think that is the name) also makes a peep sight that goes on the rear of the dust cover, which puts it in the traditional position for a peep sight. I wondered how removing and replacing the dustcover for field stripping would affect the zero, but I have read it doesn't affect it.

[zigzag]

I have the Chinese, Russian, Yugo and ALbanianSKSs. The only one i dont have is the Romanian which are hard to come by.
All of them shoot well and havent had a problem with jamming whatseover. My most accurate is the Yugo M59 66 with the grenade launcher. The Yugos used a heavier gauge barrel and nonchromed . Makes for an accurate rifle , believe me ive shot my share with it.

[bnc]

Do you like how the Yugo is balanced with the extra weight up front? I didn't realize it had a heavier barrel, you'd think that would make them more popular (the vibe I get on the SKS board is that they work just fine like all the rest but aren't as desirable due to the lack of chrome).

[LongHairedRedneck]

+1 for the SKS