One of those "Help me choose" threads

Arcamm · Aug 27, 2015

I have no money because of my "home addition from hell" project, but I've never let logic or reality get in my way when I want something. So since I've made so much progress on the project, I feel I deserve a reward. So I might just buy myself a rifle.

But which one.

I like the "unissued Yugo SKS'" because all I have is Type 56 SKS', so that's a possibility.

But I have no "Made in USA" C&R stuff and every time I go look at CMP, they have less to offer. So not owning a Garand is getting to be more and more risky at some point those are going to be history.

So which one?

SKS : Ammo already in stock.

Garand : 'Merica!

mopar92 · Aug 27, 2015

SKS but what's your budget?

frednek9 · Aug 27, 2015

I recommend CMP Garand, like everyone says you never know how long they are going to last.

DC-W · Aug 27, 2015

Can you get a Garand barreled receiver and build the rest when funds aren't as tight?

I would like to go this route on day. I have a Garand stock here just waiting to be fitted with parts.

Arcamm · Aug 27, 2015

mopar92 said:
SKS but what's your budget?

Max I could go would be the $730 for the Garand. The SKS is only $460ish shipped.

DC-W said:
Can you get a Garand barreled receiver and build the rest when funds aren't as tight?

I would like to go this route on day. I have a Garand stock here just waiting to be fitted with parts.

Can you build a complete Garand for less than $730?

DC-W · Aug 27, 2015

Arcamm said:
Max I could go would be the $730 for the Garand. The SKS is only $460ish shipped.

Can you build a complete Garand for less than $730?

Good question. Quick research almost makes it seem like it isn't worth that route...

fivepointstar · Aug 27, 2015

SKS first....take your time and buy a really nice M1

fidelity · Aug 28, 2015

Arcamm said:
Max I could go would be the $730 for the Garand. The SKS is only $460ish shipped.

...

Are you budgeting for Garand ammo (30-06)? Already have enough?

You already have certain sunk costs in the SKS platform such that additional associated costs with a second SKS will be less. As a collector, it's also nice to have two or more related (or identical) items for comparison, in part when showing to others, and in part, if one fails, you have everything in place to use the other to its fullest potential.

You are of course correct that the cost of the Garand will increase faster than inflation the longer you wait. Despite this acknowledgment that you might eventually be priced out of this market (or lose more money to get into it), I'm so far your only 'SKS' vote in the above poll. The other guys favoring the SKS must be on their phones (which don't always show the polls).

K31 · Aug 28, 2015

Do you want it for accuracy, SHTF, or just collecting?

Arcamm · Aug 28, 2015

Mostly collecting and occasional shooting. Ammo is pricy and I wouldn't stock pile a lot of it.

Abulg1972 · Aug 28, 2015

If you are only considering those two, a Garand, hands down. They will be gone and you will be paying double in a few years. As soon as you shoot your SKS, it's not "unissued". They will be around for a long time.

Bolts Rock · Aug 28, 2015

You now have an excuse to visit north Alabama, CMP south store in Anniston is two hours away. Get your documentation lined up, come down and we'll go buy our genuine Walt Kowalski lawn protectors. Bonus...I have a nice scotch collection to sample.

Melnic · Aug 28, 2015

The poll says if you can only choose one.

If you are a collector, M1 Garand, hands down.

If you are a prepper/survivalist and this is your only weapon, SKS hands down. and buy Walmart Tulamo.

BradMacc82 · Aug 28, 2015

A rifle carried by the greatest generation? Or another SKS?

No hesitation, Garand.

DennisCA · Aug 28, 2015

Depending on your budget:
1) If low get the SKS (all though a un-issued Yugo SKS maybe pricy and stock up on ammo.
2) If you have the money to spend - def get a Garand.

Just as food for though Arcamm - Have you thought about getting a Chinese Type 56 SKS? You can get a decent one for a fairly reasonable price and the ammo is pretty cheap!

I recently picked this sino-soviet type 56 SKS for a decent price:

(All matching numbers except for the stock; it didn't have any numbers on it)

I've only had it to the range one type but I fired several different types of ammo through it with zero problems.

Abulg1972 · Aug 28, 2015

DennisCA said:
1) If low get the SKS (all though a un-issued Yugo SKS maybe pricy and stock up on ammo.

Do you think this stuff is going to get more expensive? I have around 700 rounds and haven't really thought about buying more.

DennisCA said:
Just as food for though Arcamm - Have you thought about getting a Chinese Type 56 SKS?

He stated that he already has a Type 56 SKS in his initial post.

Here are my thoughts on the Yugo, based on recent experience. I have a Chinese SKS that's all matching. It's in very nice condition as Chinese SKSes go. I recently purchased a Yugo M59 SKS from Dan's. I thought about buying one of the unissued M59/66s from SOG, but I just hate the grenade launcher and rubber butt pad, and I knew that the M59s were a lot less common. I ended up shipping it back to Dan's yesterday because he described it as "original" and just about every part was a replacement with huge gold EP on it. It looked almost identical to my Chinese SKS, so it really wasn't a hard decision for me. I like SKSes and I hope to get a nice Russian example one day, but they don't really speak to me like a Garand, a Mauser, a Swiss rifle, etc. To each his own. As I said above, if you only have room/money for an SKS or an M1 Garand, I'd pick the Garand all day long.

Boom Boom · Aug 28, 2015

Either a nice, all-matching Russian SKS or a service-grade Garand.

Unmolested Russian SKS's are not easy to find, steadily increasing in value, and have been banned from importation since the 90's. Arcamm, you're about a five-minute drive from me. If you want to see nice Russian SKS's to compare with T56's, PM me.

rdc · Aug 28, 2015

Garand. No brainer.

clandestine · Aug 28, 2015

Garands can be money pits, even CMP guns. Do some checking on part prices and make sure your purchase is not some worn out junk gun. Price out a spring kit. OP Rod, and a barrel on top of the original price. I saw this alot when I was smithing.

I think the Garand is a fantastic piece of American history, but it's damn expensive to get parts for.

If you are a collector, a Garand makes sense, if you are a shooter an SKS is a no brainer.

Threeband · Aug 28, 2015

Garand, of course.

One of those "Help me choose" threads

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Which rifle would you choose? If you could only pick one.

Yugo SKS, unissued

M1 Garand, Service grade

Both, because I didn't read your first post.

Neither, save you money for something else.

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