r/canadaguns • u/Cool_Guidance_4140 • Apr 21 '26
Buy recommendations Which SKS?
Just got my PAL today. So requisite which SKS to get post.
Cabelas has Chinese SKS with ATI stock for $700. $785 after tax if I go pick it up in store.
Canada's Gun Shop has a Yugo 59-66 for $850 +$15 shipping. No PST shipped to my province which saves me 7%. $907.67 total after shipping charges and tax.
Basic, matching SN, non French-tickler Chinese SKS $829. Same price as Yugo $906 after shipping and tax(also no PST).
I'm leaning to Yugo for the slightly more unique factor even though it's neutered (no grenade launcher or bayonet). I'm aware it doesn't have a chromed barrel.
Are there any others out there you guys would suggest? Is there anything wrong with the Yugo if I'm aware of the shortcomings?
I can't seem to find any wood stock SKS for less than ~850, and I don't hear great things about the ATI stocked guns that are only about $120 cheaper.
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u/MourningWood1942 Apr 21 '26
Find a French tickler
Don’t get that Ati one. They take heavily used worn out rifles they can’t sell and replace the stock so it looks newer.
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Apr 21 '26
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u/Cool_Guidance_4140 Apr 21 '26
Great idea actually!
But now I want to do that and also get a yugo. Rip credit card 😭
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u/Brandon_awarea Apr 21 '26
If you are thinking of restoring it most of those seem to have either cut barrels or bayonet lugs. Plus parts are pretty hard to find for yugos. They are shooters and not worth restoring unfortunately.
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u/No-Veterinarian-8834 Apr 21 '26
If you don't get the Yugo you're in big trouble young man.
Plus you can just buy an ATI stock later and swap that out on a regular SKS.
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u/Cool_Guidance_4140 Apr 21 '26
I think that's what I'm going to do.
Just ordered the Yugo because I think it's coolest of the bunch to me and they seem to only come in sporadic batches. Sucks they neutered this batch but what can you do.
Then I may order an ATI one at some point and install a wood stock on it as someone suggested. Then can sell the ATI if it sucks and sell it or hold onto it if I think I may ever want it. Seems the cheapest way to get an SKS actually.
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u/Itsivanthebearable Apr 21 '26
The Yugo is built to last. Take care of it and it will outlive your children
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u/No_Chipmunk_2656 Apr 21 '26
Get the French tickler
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Apr 21 '26
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u/Cool_Guidance_4140 Apr 21 '26
I have a hard time finding either a french-tickler or a serial matching Russian. Not sure if you know of anywhere that sells either online?
It seems the synthetic stock Chinese stuff is 700ish.
Chinese wood stock ~850
Yugo also ~850 - they seem a little rougher condition but I kinda find them more unique/cooler if they're the same price.
Russian ~900 and up. But all the Russian ones just seem to be generic listing without any promise of a certain build or condition or matching numbers. I was under the impression all else being equal the generic Russian rifles are actually inferior to Chinese or Yugo builds. So unless I was getting a nice serial matching example I dont really see the point in paying more.
Then there are folding stock listed ones for like 1300 which seems insane to me.
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u/CheesecakeEasy8952 Apr 21 '26
I remember we just looked at with a euuu comment at $150 The euuu is still relevant at $900 today
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u/Opening_Concert_3029 Apr 25 '26
Those ati hardware is pretty terrible. It needed filing to fit properly and it’s heavy for really shit feeling material. That is gonna feel worse after every shot. One major thing with shooting accurately is a not moving stock. Every single one of those ati stocks has play in it and it WILL get worse with every shot. Truly shit hardware for an awesome firearm.
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u/Equal_Intern2322 Apr 21 '26
Something seems off about that yugo. Its cheap. Too cheap.
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u/Cool_Guidance_4140 Apr 21 '26
This one is 859 (plus shipping) and there's a lot of others for 900 on other sites (with free shipping). It appears Calgary Shooting Center has decent reviews in general. I assume they're all coming from the same imported batch.
I'd like to be able to look at them locally but I'm in Manitoba and there aren't any Yugo's for sale here.
I see other posts on here and other forums regarding this recent batch and consensus seems they are in relatively rougher shape and have their bayonets and grenade launchers roughly hacked off. I assume that kills the value for a lot of people. But if its the same price as a Chinese one I don't really care. I just lean to it cause I think it's cool.
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u/Equal_Intern2322 Apr 21 '26
I would stay away from it personally. If you plan on shooting it id go for the bladed norinco.
Mint shooter sks > beat up an possibly rusty collector sks
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u/AdeptArt Apr 21 '26
The yugo is built heftier but it’ll be a shooter and not a collector. If you can find a french tickler at a reasonable price would be best though.