r/canadaguns • u/EmperorSlim • Mar 19 '26
Buy recommendations SKS Current Prices Worth it?
Just got my pal and ive always intended to get an sks, but after 9 months of waiting the prices have gone up quite a bit since originally intending to buy one
in your opinion is the current price range of 700-1000ish$ worth it for an sks? i always see one of the main selling points as being cheap, but if a more modern rifles only a few hundred more at this price point is it really worth buying an sks still?
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u/SirKickBan Mar 19 '26
Your other options for Semi-auto rifles are either:
-Turkish Surprise
-Crusader Arms
-Three times the price
The price went up not because supply went down, but because they became one of the few options left.
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u/Flashy_Inspector115 Mar 19 '26
Valmet more like 5x the price
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u/mischling2543 Mar 20 '26
A Garand is around 3k, so 3x the current price of a Russian SKS in good condition
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u/No_Win_9797 Mar 22 '26
I say always go with one picked in cosmoline or a new Chinese As awesome as the Russian Tulas are, the barrels are usually shot to shit I got one that has never been shot, and I can get a 1-2” group at 100m with yugo surplus. My friends Tula can maybe do 4-5” groups
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 19 '26
G4C has some at a price that wont happen again. Just ve aware red box is cuŕently cheapest smmo around. Surplus has dried up
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u/Dantheislander Mar 19 '26
770 is showing for lowest in stock on their site for me…. Unless you mean the battered ones with replaced ati dodgy ones?
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn Mar 19 '26
Yeah dealer cost has crept up to that on chinese ones when i looked. If/when they restock itll be more than 770, probably around 899ish would be my guess for chinese.
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Mar 19 '26
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Mar 19 '26
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u/ProtoJazz Mar 19 '26
As long as they are desirable and no longer in production prices just go up. I think we've just seen them stay far more desirable
Now that's in general. For a specific one the price might go up, or down depending on condition. Eventually if it's in bad enough shape the price is just 0.
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u/Iokua_CDN Mar 19 '26
I'll share my thoughts and alternatives. So my searching is bringing up several sks rifles in the $650 to $730. For that price, I think definitely buy one. You get a reliable semi auto rifle, a good caliber to shoot cheaply, some heritage and history and such. If you want to modernize it a bit, that will cost you extra though. When prices start climbing past $800, that's when I start thinking it's not worth it.
Now some alternatives??
A 3006 Browning Bar can be had for 800 bucks. Ammo is going to cost more than with an Sks, however a 3006 can so much more of you are hunting with it. So its a solid option, though worse for plinking. Also much easier to mount a scope. I think it's worth it, but it depends what you want it for. For hunting, I'm picking the Bar every time. For the range? The Sks has the advantage in cost.
The Celik in 223 actually goes for as low as $1000 if you watch. Turkish quality and reliability means it might not be so good, but then again, neither were the Canadian made 223 semi autos. More expensive than an sks, but you do have some pros. Easy to mount an optic, they already got a rail. That's like an easy $100 dollars of value as it would cost that much to add it to an Sks. Also takes 10 round pistol mags. Again that would be AT LEAST a $100 of parts and a whole lot of labour to add that to an Sks. The ability to take pistol mags should not be underestimated. So if you find one at $1000, I feel it's a better buy than a $900 dollar Sks. However prices are often higher on the Celik, like $1250 is common, which I don't think it's worth it at that price. Wait and watch for sales. Also, 223 might not be legal for hunting depending where you live. Something to consider, because and Sks can be used to deer hunt no problem.
Henry Homesteader, similar to the Celik, when on sale, these get very close to $1000, however most of the time, price is $1200. 10 round pistol mags as well, though 9mm caliber, meaning this is even worse than the 223 for hunting. Maybe for hunting small game? No matter, this will be mostly a range rifle then if you pick this one. No included rail, meaning perhaps a bit more work to mount an optic but less than on an Sks of course. If you can get it on sale, I'd say it's worth it. If you want it for hunting or have to pay full price, I'd probably grab the Sks.
Now for some other options, as I think there are some manual firearms that should be considered too.
Starting with, cheaper lever actions. Things like the Citadel Levtac go for sale for $800, meaning The Sks is priced to compete with them now. A Lil 16 inch barreled Citadel will be much lighter, and shorter to carry around. If you go 357, ammo costs will be similar. 8 round capacity is actually better than the sks but it's much slower to load. Hunting wise, the pistol cartridges will fall behind, however something like a 44 magnum might be better for a close range animal protection. You also will have a much easier time adding an optic. It's not semi auto though, so it will be slower to shoot. Also, the pistol rounds don't have the range as a 7.62 x39 rifle round. Something to consider though, I find my cheap lever action overall to be a more fun gun at the range, and I have better hunting guns so I'm not worried a about that part.
Or you can try a cheaper bolt action. With lots of guns with 16-20 barrels, you have a lot of options that will be lighter and more handy than an sks. They will also be far more accurate, with options that can also have larger detachable magazines. Pricewise, the cheaper Savage rifles, CVA bolt actions, even CZ 600 Alphas are all around the $700-$800 mark, which I think makes them a better rifle for the money than an Sks. With a much easier time mounting scopes and red dots, far more accuracy, and a bunch of calibers to choose from, a bolt action has a lot of pros. The con is they are even slower to shoot than a Lever action. So unless you really want a semi auto, I think a bolt action rifle, especially in 7.62 x39 or 223, is better.
So you got options. Sks is still a great value and the cheapest way into a semi auto that isn't a 22lr, however it isn't the same no brain decision it used to be. If you watch for sales, the Homesteader and Celik both offer more features while still shooting affordable rounds. The Browning Bar throws affordable ammo out the window but instead is a very competent hunting rifle. And if you don't need a semi auto, there are a bunch of lighter and shorter bolt actions that will out perform the Sks. So you really got to decide what you want. Sks might be the best option for you, but just consider if it's actually worth while for you.
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u/I_Am_JackMasta Mar 19 '26
Good sir, may I ask where do you go to see a3006 browning bar for $800?
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u/EmperorSlim Mar 19 '26
Thanks for the recommendations, in your opinion what makes it worth it in the 650-750 range but after 800 not worth it anymore?
Bias from how cheap its been so many years or its actual shooting\whatever capabilities just dont warrant the price tag?
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u/Iokua_CDN Mar 19 '26
Just the value of it. Near 700 feels like an OK value for what you get, even a good deal.
Around 800... it didn't feel like a good deal. Now there are other good guns in that price range that make the Sks a passable deal but no longer a good deal.
Around 1000 now it's feeling overpriced and actively a bad deal for what you get.
At the end of the day, the pros of the Sks is that: 1. It's semi auto 2. It's reliable 3. It holds its value very well 4. Right out of the box, you can go shoot it. Irons and an internal magazine mean all you need is ammo. 5. The ammo is still cheap.
The cons are 1. They are old and used 2. They are heavy 3. You need to buy aftermarket parts to use a scope or red dot. 4. You need to do a lot of work to have it use a 10 round pistol magazine 5. They are not very accurate, like 3-4 moa when even the cheapest guns are 1-2 moa.
So really, on the pros list, you can get everything else but not semi auto with less cons in another rifle. So unless you really want/ need a semi auto, there are better options
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u/boozefiend3000 Mar 19 '26
The price is never going down at this point, buy now before it gets more expensive
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u/Wokeforpepe Mar 19 '26
SKS is always worth it. How many other sticks come with a complimentary retractable pointy end?
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u/starw24-ps4 Mar 19 '26
It’s the last trustworthy semi auto man. If you don’t buy one, you’re going to regret it. Go for it
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u/TroutDoors Mar 20 '26
I live in America and have unlimited access to awesome rifles, I’d still snag an SKS if I didn’t have one. They’re awesome rifles.
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u/EmperorSlim Mar 19 '26
Ive been thinking that myself as it looks like a fun range/general shtf gun, just cant decide if at this price now if maybe theres a better option
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u/JaxIsLoud Mar 19 '26
They ain't gonna go back down. There are still 400 dollar SKS but they likely need something. Mine needed a stock/stock repair which I didn't mind cause I wanted aftermarket anyways. But at the same time I saw someone trying to sell a Chinese for 950 at the gun show that he bought at the local gun store for 500 bucks. Deals happen but they are only gonna get more expensive.
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u/SkSMaN7 Mar 19 '26
Not worth it. Not even close!
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u/EmperorSlim Mar 19 '26
Is it just based off how well they were priced before or the capabilities of the gun that make you say that?
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u/brandon-568 Mar 20 '26
Agreed lol, $200 was good anything more is a ripoff. Glad I got mine back in the day.
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u/reportcrosspost Mar 19 '26
When I was 12 they came with a box of ammo and a free t-shirt for 200 bucks. I want one but that memory won't let me do it.
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u/throwmedownthewel Mar 19 '26
That was the heyday for sure.. my first SKS was $225 and came 300 rounds of Czech already in stripper clips in those green boxes. It is the best SKS I’ve ever bought… next to the 2fer desk I got for $300.
This is like 15+ years ago and i remember these being hard decisions cause I had no money, but damn if only we knew how things were gonna go.
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u/Brandon_awarea Mar 19 '26
The sks is a milled receiver Sami auto rifle that is incredibly reliable. If you were to start making them new again they would had a unit cost of far more than $700.
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u/RelativeFox1 Mar 19 '26
No. For $700 I would rather a new or used bolt action.
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u/EmperorSlim Mar 19 '26
How come?
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u/RelativeFox1 Mar 19 '26
I find my SKS’s are basically just mag dumpers at the range.
heavy, loud when loading, and not accurate enough for hunting. Not really a good tool for training for better accuracy at the range. When I bought them for $200, sure they were a cheap range blaster. But $700? You can get lighter, more accurate, and more ergonomic firearms for that price.
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u/Elite0075 May 11 '26
semi auto is the only reason these go skyrocket, theres no any better semi u can find in canada legally anymore
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u/Frreed Mar 19 '26
I think so. Yes, the best time to buy them was years ago, but we aren't years ago, we are now.
The whole "they used to be $150 +15 years ago!!" Argument isn't valid. In the late 70s and 80s you could get a classic 60s muscle car for dirt cheap because they were plentiful and not un common. Now they cost 20x the price they did new.
There will be no more SKSs made, the surplus will only continue to dwindle and the price will continue to go up.
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u/Fuck_you_all22 Mar 19 '26
I spoke to gentleman at a gunshop. They were selling a french tickler for $850. I mentioned back in the day it was like $30. Long long time ago. He said "back in the day if you bought ammo, you got a free sks."
The current price is just fear driven anticipating another liberal ban and sellers are taking advantage of the situation. Well, free market at work.
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u/PteSoupSandwich The 10/22 Dude Mar 19 '26
He said "back in the day if you bought ammo, you got a free sks."
Ah, the great Marstar deal, I remember those days :)
I paid $199 for my Russian SKS back in the day lol
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u/Accomplished-Beat779 Mar 19 '26
I paid 250 for a Russian SKS AND a White Westinghouse M91 from Century Arms in the 80s
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u/Beginning-Marzipan28 Mar 19 '26
It wasn’t a great deal… they charged double the price for the crate of ammo. You guys have rose colored glasses. I was well aware of that deal but never bought it
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u/PteSoupSandwich The 10/22 Dude Mar 19 '26
Still a better deal back then compared to prices now 🤷♂️
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u/jeffhaut Mar 19 '26
Going to list mine soon. I don't shoot it ever
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u/prosper_0 Mar 20 '26
yeah, most end up like this.
classic story:
buy sks and a shitload of ammo
blast the hell out of it in a gravel pit
get bored
dump a buncha money into accessories, lipstick that pig right up
realize it still doesn't shoot any better, and that your shotgun produces tighter patterns than the sks groups
realize you hate how much cleaning is needed to deal wit corrosive ammo
leave it in the safe the next time you go out
realize you dont even miss shooting it
sell it and get something more fun
even at $279 for an sks plus a crate of ammo, its overpriced and overrated
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u/TheSockington Mar 19 '26
It wasn’t my favourite range shooter and I’d have no ability to hunt with it. Rather than price gouge, I had a close friend that had helped me before and I gave him a deal since he loves them.
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Mar 19 '26
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u/EmperorSlim Mar 19 '26
What makes you love it so much? Ive always thought it was really cool but ive never actually used one before
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u/houstonman526 Mar 19 '26
That’s fucking crazy for an sks but I still remember 350$ aks so I can’t talk I guess .
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u/GiveElaRifleShields Mar 19 '26
Can still find good ones in gun post for 6-700$, but if it's nice with low price have to message the day it's posted usually
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u/[deleted] Mar 19 '26
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