| The SKS rifle is one of the most affordable | | | | The genius behind this over eighty year old |
| sports rifles on the market. Since the | | | | design is the short stroke gas piston |
| beginning of the SKS rifles, in 1945 the SKS | | | | operating design, which can be found in most |
| has been produced by a handful of countries | | | | modern firearms. Although never officially |
| around the world. The SKS rifle was | | | | adopted by US military, the US government |
| originally designed in Russia by Sergei | | | | actually wrote SKS manuals for soldiers who |
| Gavrilovich Simonov, a famous military | | | | might be forced to use enemy confiscated |
| weapons engineer. With a price tag of fewer | | | | weapons. Now the SKS rifle is slowly falling |
| than three hundred dollars, this has become | | | | into the back seat of popular battlefield |
| the working man's hunting rifle. This makes | | | | weapons, and making way for the AK47 rifle |
| SKS hunting rifles, popular and cost | | | | and other variants. |
| effective rifles for all walks of life. | | | | |
| | | | Regardless of the military market moving |
| The SKS rifle had been one of the top | | | | toward a more reliable weapon, that accepts |
| innovations of the former Soviet Union, which | | | | magazines, the SKS rifle still remains a |
| had soon replaced the SKS with the more cost | | | | civilian favorite, with ease of use and low |
| effective AK-47 rifle. Due to the lack of | | | | cost, makes the SKS rifle ideal as a first |
| military interest a great number of SKS | | | | hunting rifle. The SKS rifle is easy to use, |
| rifles have made their way into the USA, and | | | | and maintain, as well as customizable for |
| instantly became hunter's favorites. Unlike | | | | many features of other popular rifles. The |
| the Kalashnikov the SKS rifle was accurate | | | | SKS rifle has had a few set backs in the |
| almost four times further, but needed | | | | civilian market, with the limited imports of |
| machined parts to function properly, unlike | | | | Chinese produced SKS rifles, due to the |
| the stamped metal design of most AK47 rifles. | | | | Clinton administration. Despite the short |
| | | | comings of a few SKS variants, they have |
| Now the surplus SKS rifles can be found in | | | | found their way into the hearts and hands of |
| almost every gun shop around the USA, and | | | | a great number of American shooters. |
| have been preserved to excellent condition. | | | | |
| Despite the popularity of these former | | | | After nearly a century you can still find the |
| military rifles, the civilian market wanted | | | | SKS rifle making its mark on the shooting |
| more. A handful of companies began producing | | | | scene, despite the phasing out of most |
| SKS parts, like stocks, grips, and optics to | | | | military application. The most affordable |
| cater to more price conscious hunters. Now | | | | repeat action rifle will remain the SKS |
| the SKS rifles are some of the easiest rifles | | | | rifle, with its innovations still appreciated |
| to find after market accessories for to cater | | | | in the civilian markets. I'm sure that the |
| to the needs of hunters and sports shooters | | | | SKS rifles are going to continue to be a |
| alike. | | | | hunting rifle, which will attract a specific |
| | | | audience, for the next century to come. |