Thread: Guns Guns and MORE Guns

Originally Posted by BobH

I am in Canada and at that time, 30+ years ago, there was no shortage of ammo in mil surp calibers. No idea of what it is like today and don't much care because I have had my fun.

Bob

And your done?

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

And your done?

Yup, been done for decades.

Bob

Are you allowed to have guns in Canada? I mean for personal protection and concealed carry?

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

Are you allowed to have guns in Canada? I mean for personal protection and concealed carry?

Yes, you can own guns in Canada. Basically for the purpose of hunting and target shooting so for personal protection is out as is concealed carry for most citizens. In the house guns are to be stored empty and locked up in a separate location from the ammo which is also to be locked up. Personally, I have never felt the need to have one for personal protection much less felt the need to carry concealed.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I am in Canada and at that time, 30+ years ago, there was no shortage of ammo in mil surp calibers. No idea of what it is like today and don't much care because I have had my fun.

Bob

The mil surp ammo situation ain't what it used to be even five years ago. Then .303 surplus was already really scarce, but eastern bloc surplus was incredibly cheap. I really don't get to the range much these days, and when I do I don't play with my SKS as often as I used to simply because it used to be dirt cheap to shoot whereas now it's only kinda cheap. Now, ammo prices give me pause and I seriously consider whether it's worth the hassle of dealing with the post-corrosive ammo cleaning. I don't think I've put any rounds through the SKS this year, now that I think of it.

I started loading .303 because it was usually over $1/shot, and surplus had become so scarce it's a collector's item and the opposite of cheap. Hand-loading brings that down a fair bit, and with the lower volume and slower pace of the bolt actions (and I usually appreciate the slower pace of them) probably makes it cheaper to shoot that than the 7.62x39. Higher cost/shot, but much lower volume.

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, you can own guns in Canada. Basically for the purpose of hunting and target shooting so for personal protection is out as is concealed carry for most citizens. In the house guns are to be stored empty and locked up in a separate location from the ammo which is also to be locked up. Personally, I have never felt the need to have one for personal protection much less felt the need to carry concealed.

Bob

That must be real handy when you need it fast....

Originally Posted by Cangooner

The mil surp ammo situation ain't what it used to be even five years ago. Then .303 surplus was already really scarce, but eastern bloc surplus was incredibly cheap. I really don't get to the range much these days, and when I do I don't play with my SKS as often as I used to simply because it used to be dirt cheap to shoot whereas now it's only kinda cheap. Now, ammo prices give me pause and I seriously consider whether it's worth the hassle of dealing with the post-corrosive ammo cleaning. I don't think I've put any rounds through the SKS this year, now that I think of it.

I started loading .303 because it was usually over $1/shot, and surplus had become so scarce it's a collector's item and the opposite of cheap. Hand-loading brings that down a fair bit, and with the lower volume and slower pace of the bolt actions (and I usually appreciate the slower pace of them) probably makes it cheaper to shoot that than the 7.62x39. Higher cost/shot, but much lower volume.

Let me ask you something, and no offense intended, but are the SKSs as junky as I've heard? My buddy told me that when they found some of them, they would pile them up and pee on them. He said that they rusted in a few hours because of the piss and humidity, l have never had the opportunity to play with one. This was in the jungles of nam.

Easy, Griz!

Some of us live in peaceful pockets. Makes us lax in max defense.
I sometimes get into a routine to be able to counter going's-on and soon realize I may shoot a chod for being himself.....
Sooo, I back off and park the pistol for a while. I figure the training is still there If I need to power-up again quickly.
I seem to do it often, but not SO often.

Like Bob, I am not angry most of the time. No need to shoot anyone.
I just don't let the possibility expire.
Defense has to be practiced and training ingrained. Responsible gun ownership.
It is always with some of us.

Then, I have some friends who are always packing. I leave it to them and practice ducking!


Oh...The SKS is likely the finest military semi-automatic weapon of war ever built. Likely one of the most produced ones as well.
Crazy-reliable. High-quality.

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

Let me ask you something, and no offense intended, but are the SKSs as junky as I've heard? My buddy told me that when they found some of them, they would pile them up and pee on them. He said that they rusted in a few hours because of the piss and humidity, l have never had the opportunity to play with one. This was in the jungles of nam.

I can only speak to my experience with a grand total of one SKS. I do know that like other Soviet rifles, they were made in a bunch of arsenals in a bunch of countries, so my understanding is quality can vary widely. They were also made with both solid wood and laminate stocks, with different bayonets, etc. That having been said, mine is rock solid. If I remember right, it was made at the Tula Arsenal in maybe 1953? I'll try to remember to check that. It has matched parts, has run perfectly since day one, and the only issue I have run into was a dodgy batch of ammo in which there were a few misfires. But in the six years or so I've had it there has not been a single jam, misfeed, stovepipe, or other general problem. Oh, and I'm pretty sure mine was NOS. It arrived caked in cosmoline, but under that it looked pristine, the rifling perfect. It's loads of fun to shoot, and the only thing I've changed was adding a butt pad because the length of pull is really short.

The one annoyance that I mentioned earlier is that the cheap ammo is corrosive surplus, so you really need to take the whole thing (receiver, barrel, gas system) apart and give it a good cleaning after use. As you'd probably expect, it's a simple straightforward system, so easy to strip down and re-assemble, but being a cheapskate when it comes to ammo, I inflict that process on myself every time it goes to the range. You can of course shell out for non-corrosive ammo.

So based entirely on my very limited experience, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one for someone who is looking for a fun range gun, plinker, or even for some hunting. I'm not a hunter, but I know quite a few people do hunt with an SKS. But you definitely don't want to use the surplus ammo for that: the steel core will get you in big trouble if you do. At least up here.

Not having peed on mine, I cannot comment on that.

Har! Nice rifles in the right condition. Esp as in the right configuration..
Never saw any 39 in corrosive? Must be really old ammo?