Which to get, an SKS or a M1A?

Question

I am looking to buy carbine rifle and am thinking either an SKS or an M1A. I will be shooting it 99% of the time on a range, not for hunting. Anyone with experience with one or both, what are the strengths and weakness of these two rifles. Also, how much can I expect to pay for each type. Thanks in advance for the advice.

Answer 1

these two rifles are at opposite ends of the spectrum as far as I'm concerned. The SKS can be had cheaper by far at anywhere from $200 on up to $400 on average. firing 7.62x39mm it is roughly equivelent to a 30-30 winchester as far as hunting performance. It is not an overly accurate rifle, but adequate for military use, and for general fun plinking. It is sufficient for taking up to deer sized game at reasonable ranges. Avoid the chinese copy as the metallurgy in China is not all that great and I have seen many of the chinese SKS rifles shoot themselves apart, othe ones, help up OK. You just never know with their weapons and quality control. I would recomend the Yugoslavian model, it can be had from shotgun news for around $175.00 and is very well made. Ammo is fairly cheap and abundant.
The M1-A is very expensive at over $1000.00 for a "standard" Springfield rifle new. Out of the box, it is fairly accurate, and can be made deadly accurate with a little work. The magazines are expensive, running from $35.00 to $50.00 each (right now, but heaven help us when hillary re inacts the magazine ban as part of the "assault weapons bill) Then they will go up to around $100.00 each. Right now .308 winchester ammo is getting hard to find in bulk, at any kind of a good price because all the ammo is going to the war. What you can find is expensive. Remember too, that you really should not fire commercial hunting ammo in the M1-A because the lighter primers can cause a "slam fire" and destryo the rifle or hurt someone. Military primers designed for semi auto or full auto rifles are made heavier, set deeper and have a crimped collar to hold them in place so they don't back out under recoil in the magazine.

Answer 2

You mean M1A as in Springfield's current manufacture 7.62x51 rifles?

The SKS will be a lot cheaper and if you can find a Russian one in good condition it will probably be pretty accurate.

The M1A will be a lot more money but is capable of target grade accuracy with the right ammo, if you get the right model.

If money were no object I'd get the M1A, but if I was looking for a gun to shoot for fun it would be the SKS. But to be honest I hate shooting something a lot less accurate than me, so I'd be cautious of the SKS.

If you did mean the M1 Carbine then just buy the SKS. Last time I looked that 30 Carbine ammo was unreasonably priced.

Answer 3

Whoa.......You are talking opposite ends of the charts here.The SKS Carbine is a surplus semi-automatic 10 shot Carbine that are available from different countries and manufacturers depending on whats available at the time you buy. They shoot 7.62X39 Surplus FMJ bullets or you can but factory loaded ammunition for a higher price.. The rifles themselves vary in price from about $125-$300 depending on what model and condition you choose.

The Springfield Armory M1A on the other hand is a top of the line Semi-automatic rifle that fires 308 caliber ammunition. It comes in several variations, including a carbine version but the prices start at around $1400 and go up from there, again depending on what model/configuration you choose. This is a quality rifle and in most cases newly manufactured, as compared to the less much less expensive SKS Surplus rifle...

*NOTE If by chance you meant to write M1 Carbine like those issued to U.S. Military during WWII (Although you specifically listed an M1A)...They are expensive now too. The DCM (Departmen of Civilian Marksmanship) sells M1 Carbines at $600 and up for a "Standard" M1 Carbine and in most cases these guns are re-barreled and have been arsonel re-finished

Answer 4

Springfield Armory M1A all the way.

With a standard model M1A, with factory mil-surp 7.62x51 (WCC 06), that thing will do better than 1 inch groups at 100 yards (which is saying a lot!). Steel gongs at 2, 3, 4, 5 hundred yards? No problem!

The SKS is a fun plinker, but the M1A while more expensive, and a bit more expensive to shoot, is superior in every other way.

Answer 5

That would be like asking should I get a Porsha or a Pinto.The SKS is basicly a poor mans assault rifle,And the Springfield M1A is top of the line.Get what ever you can afford.If I had to choose between the two I'd get the M1A.

Answer 6

I just bought an SKS and im also getting an M1 soon, you will pay anywheres from $150 to $250 for the SKS, dont get the chinese version, only Russian or Yugo..... the M1 will go for $500 and up depending on the manufacturer and condition.... 6 different manufactures made the M1, the Inland division of General Motors made 80% of all M1's..... try to find a winchester, IBM or Rockola.... but the M1 fires a smaller .30 cal by 33mm round with a short range of 300 meters, really effective to only 200-250 meters, the SKS firing the 7.62X39 mm effective to 300 meters easily and alot more powerful than the M1.

You will pay alot more for an M1 but they are both great weapons.... for target practice I like the SKS, it has alot more power..... the M1 is also fun, just a less powerful gun with shorter range.....

Answer 7

The MIA made by Springfield Armory is a good gun compared to the junky SKS.

Answer 8

SKS will be cheaper to purchase, cheaper to shoot, easier to maintain, and will deliver better accuracy at longer distances. I own several SKS carbines of various countrys, they all shoot consistantly well, all are more than capable of hitting steel gongs at 200 and 300 yards and farther!, Try consistantly hitting a steel gong at 300 yards with a 30carbine, ya can't.
Check on gunbroker.com and centerfiresystems.com for great deals on SKS.
SKS parts are more readily available than M1cabine parts, and they're cheaper too.