Which of the SKS variants is the best mechanically? Are there good quality trigger groups available to
replaced the incredibly crude ones on some of the SKS's?

OEH: I have had Chinese, Russian and Yugoslavian SKSs and my preference is for the latter. They are still available at good prices. All milled and with the gas shutoff valve you can turn them into "bolt actions" and extract handloaded brass without the usual beating it takes in semi-auto mode. Triggers are lousy, but can be improved. The Yugo 59/66 barrel is not chrome-lined, so it needs the usual attention at the cleaning bench if you are shooting corrosive ammo. These come with a rubber butt, too.

I have a Chinese and a Yugo 59. The Yugo certainly has a more solid feel about it, (more machined parts). Both function 100%

+1 for Yugo 59.

I have a couple 59/66s with the granade crap but I really like the Yugo 59 better than my Russian or Chicom. I have Williams Fire sights on them and they work better than stock sights at most any range.

I just cut a 66 down to 16 1/2" barrel and will be putting it into a Choate folder to come up with a neat and lighter carbine about the size of an AK for less than half the price....and, I believe a better gun with milled parts.

I think what your are going to find is that the SKS is like the bumblebee. According to all aeronautical engineering tests and standards, the bumblebee by design can't fly. But the bumblebee doesn't know this and goes ahead and flys anyway.

For me the SKS is like the bumblebee. It goes against all my "gotta-be-pre-64, pre-war, Mauser, FN, machined, matching numbered", etc. notions that a gun should be. It is a peasants rifle that is rather ugly, crude, and cheap.

But it works. In fact it works very well. I've never had a failure to feed or eject in over 2000 rounds in either of them. Just leave it the way it was designed and give it an appropriate cleaning after shooting it. Don't try to make an AK out of it or try to mount a scope on it.

From a collector's standpoint early Russians that haven't been messed with are desireable. I like my Yugo 59. But the tinny Norinco I have shoots just as good and reliably, Reliable is real big in my book.

Matt,

Good points and nice analogy.

What I'm doing is trying to make a usable weapon out of 3 parts guns and a plastic stock. Nothing of value is being chopped up and ya know, ugly women sometimes have the most fun!!

My Russian and Chicom are both spotless and retired at this point.

I have the 1 Russian, 2 Chineese, 10 Yugos, 1 Romaninan, and 10 ALbainian.

First order, the Albainians are crap and the rest are ok.

Second order, I like the Yugo mechanically, and one Chineese is the most accurate.

The Chineese have different factories and veriations. The best Chineese is way better than the worst. All of the rest are consistant.

The Albainians have intitials carved deep in crappy wood. The metal is fitted with a grinders. It is amazing that they even shoot.

Much as I like Yugos, custom glass bedding, trigger job, drill and tap Choate cast scope mount, and careful handloads, still no accuracy.

I have given up on accuraizing SKSs, AK47s, and FALs. I do ok with Garands and Brit Enfields. I do great with 91/30s, M39s, and Mausers.

The SKS is for blasting with cheap ammo and open sights. I can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. No 6mmPPC Hart barrels on SKSs for me.

I have had a chinese politec and a norinco. the politec was a much nicer firearm. I now have a Soviet made one. The soviet is with out a question the best. the milled reciver is of a heaver stock and the millwork is much smother. thats my vote.