[Chicken Shoot]

I will only buy Russian or Yugo manufacture SKS. The chinese stamped receivers don't really appeal to me. The fit and finish of the Chinese is not even close to that of the Russian or the Yugo. Sure... the Yugo won't have a chrome lined bore, BUT the build and finish is VERY close to that of the Russian built SKS and the Yugo will drop into a Russian stock with no modification is that's any indication as to just how closely they are manufactured. (Chrome lined bores have pro's and con's as well) VERY VERY early chicom SKS's were good and used milled receivers/bolts ... anything after those first few years and they are NOT desirable. (from a collector stand point) They tend to be problematic guns. The chinese versions were BANNED from importation because of poor quality, 3-5 shot bursts weren't uncommon due to slam firing and quite a few injuries and other consumer complaints were recorded. Please note ... NOT ALL NORINCO'S are bad. Many have proven to be very reliable and go BANG everytime. I owned one Norinco that was very reliable and very accurate. Basically, you won't have problems with the Yugo SKS and the receiver is much better quality as is the bolt and trigger. The furniture is better on the Yugo's in most cases as well. Unissued Yugo's are very common and many coming in now were manufactured in the late 80's and stored away since. Hitting an 18" target at 200yds is no problem once you learn the gun and adjust the front sight as they are almost always off from the get go. Good luck with whatever you purchase. I love the SKS!! Great gun and lots of fun and cheap to shoot.

One more thing ... if you buy one, which I wouldn't hesitate to do, ... MAKE SURE ALL COSMOLINE IS OUT OF THE GUN!! That's the number one reason for problems in any mil surp guns.

 

[Chicken Shoot]

I have a nice Yugo that I am in the process of cleaning the ton of cosmo off. I thought about removing the grenade launcher and while doing research, it appears there may be issues with this "conversion" as it may take it out of C&R status. Can anyone weigh in on this?

It WILL remove it from C&R status. You have then altered the weapon from it's original configuration.

 

[Chicken Shoot]

So being mine is missing the bayonet and the cleaning kit parts is it no longer C&R? And do I need to make mine 922(R) compliant?

No ... it was very common to see them imported without the cleaning rod, bayonet and tool kit located in the buttstock. That won't remove it from the list. Removing a feature such as the grenade launcher WILL remove it from C&R status because you removed a "feature" of the gun that also makes it a curiosity (the real reason they are on the list to begin with considering the Yugo's being imported now are late 80's manufacture) ... you still won't have to worry about 922r compliance. The gun is missing a pistol grip AND detachable magazine so it's not considered an "assault" weapon to begin with which is why the muzzle device is allowed on it. Not to mention ... it's preban. (it would REALLY drop the value as well if that launcher was removed.)