Mostly rumors, and they relate more to the US. It wouldn't surprise me. Tempted to snag a few more rounds.

The one thing we have on our side is the lack of a weapons trade embargo with china. We can still get Chinese surplus; mind you, last month it was announced that the cargo carrier from china stopped shipping 5.56 from Norinco, and no other cargo supplier has picked it up yet.

There are a few popular bargain brands of ammo on the US market that actually originate in Ukraine (Tulammo, Bear, etc). Not sure how this will be impacted but when I read reviews for these brands, I'm not too concerned I would miss them.

Stopped by Wholesale Sports today and there's currently lots of Russian 7.62x39. Hopefully it stays that way. Picked up a few boxes of Barnauls to be safe.

There sure was a lot of it at the Chilliwack Gun Show this weekend, with no sign of ridiculously high pricing. Powder seemed to be a in demand.

Preppersaurus

Hey Preppersaurus, or anyone else...have you ever had any experience with an SKS? I see some pretty good deals on the internet, mostly for the Norinco Chinese Type 56. Apparently they are brand new and only 75 bucks if you buy a case of 7.62 ammo. Seems too good to be true. Any thoughts?

I have one and have put a couple 1000 rounds through it. Not fancy, won't shoot MOA, but when you squeeze the trigger, it goes boom. There sure are some good combo deals out there, but be careful as most of the ammo is corrosive, so shoot then clean right away, then clean again a week later. Good thing is that it comes apart very easily.

I have a few Russian surplus and still haven't gotten around to shooting them (busy life).

But I'll tell you what I like. The SKS is a pretty self-contained system in that the cleaning kit and rod both stow onboard. The magazine is built in, which is a pro and a con. But you won't lose it and it's less likely to get damaged in hard use.

While most don't seem to care for the bayonet, I'll tell you something: even if you run out of ammo nobody wants to crawl through a window if the guy inside has something pointy.

And finally, the guy with the black rifle and vest is more likely to catch hell from police and army during a SHTF event than the "shed man" with a flannel jacket and a wooden rifle.

bajapablo,

Yes I have one myself. I don't have the Norinco, I have a Eastern Blok unit. Can't speak for the Chinese stuff, but mine is pretty darn accurate at 100 yards, with the iron sights. I Tapcoed the heck out of it (stock, removable mag, case deflector, bipod etc etc) If you are going to keep it stock, start saving up those springer clips, cause you don't see them in the ammo anymore. I have about 1500 I have collected, but don't need them with the removable mags.

Preppersaurus

Thanks for all the info. I think I will proceed and purchase. Apparently the SKS rifles are harder to get a hold of and the dealer mentioned the prices will triple. Cabelas is completely sold out. Marstar is running out and prices are rising in the US. I have been seeing a lot about replacing the firing pin (Murrays Gunsmithing) with a spring type pin to avoid "slam fire". Sounds like a good first upgrade. Dreading the whole cosmoline experience! Instead of chemicals, I think I will try hot water and a heat gun on low power. Cheers!

I've heard that 'prices will triple' for about 6 months now. The prices haven't changed. The slam fires usually happen on the Chinese rifles. Due to the lack of spring. As for the cosmoline, I have yet to see any sold with a lump of cosmo, encased rifle. Try Wanstalls, Wholesale Sports, even Chilliwack Dart and Tackle. The 'prized' rifles are the ones with the star stamped in the top of the receiver. After a couple hundred rounds of springer clip loads, you will start to look at those modification kits from Tapco, ATI etc Enjoy, it's a fun one to shoot.

P

They come up for sale on Canadian Gunnutz all the time, often with all of the tacticool additions already in place. Also, several of the Facebook gun selling/auction sites have one or two each month.

The russian is the preferred as mentioned above, if you can find one.

http://www.chilliwackdart.com/siminov-sks-7-62x39mm the going price. I would be leery about buying some of this stuff used. They always say it has only had a couple hundred rounds through it .... was it corrosive ammo? was it cleaned afterward? couple hundred?

Well here I was minding my own business when all of a sudden I walked in to a pallet of 7.62 x 39mm ammo in 1400 round crates, and in of all places. Would you believe it the Canadian Tire store in Chilliwack. Fair deal too.(if ya want the price phone them) Couldn't say if it was corrosive or non, no markings on the crates and the sales kid couldn't tell me. He said he believed it was Chinese. I only buy non corrosive for the same reason it says "NON CORROSIVE"