Picked up a surplus SKS recently. Haven't even cleaned off the cosmoline yet, but I'm already certain I'll have a few of these. Could have 4 for the price of a decent new rifle, so why not?
Question becomes what ammo to start collecting for it. Obviously I can get a box of corrosive surplus ammo for 200 something dollars. But that doesn't sit well with me, because of the extra rifle maintenance and the age of the ammo. A few decades might not be that old right now, but it could be alot older by the time it gets used in a SHTF situation. Most of it would probably fire (most) but it might not be that accurate, etc. Then there's the issue of having to clean the gun after each shooting. If I was depending on this as a hunting rifle those cleanings could be come a daily thing, and a drain on time and resources. I'd like the option to not be that fussy with cleaning, if the circumstances call for it.
So of the non-corrosive brands I can buy off the shelf, what's a cheap ammo that's also dependable in the SKS?
If it's for hunting you don't want surplus FMJ. Try the MFS soft points here:
http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_108_111
I'll second the MFS ammo. I use the full metal jacket and the soft point. I haven't had any problems with the ammo and the accuracy is good out of a SKS and a short barrelled Vz-58. I haven't had any issues but the only warning I was given was to make sure the chamber is cleaned well due to the lacquer on the cartridge case. A lot less trouble than using corrosive ammo. I don't clean my 7.62x39 rifles very well, basically a quick pull through and wipe down with oil and back in the cabinet they go. The MFS ammo hasn't caused any problems.
Looks like a good choice. I'm on it.
The Ammo Source is a decent supplier but I would recommend:
They are based out of Ontario and offer Free Shipping when buying cases of most ammo.
The money you save on shipping alone buys you a lot of extra ammo.
DaScribbler
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perfect. one less prepper buying up all my corrosive ammo!
See you all after.
Heh. There are numerous suppliers of bulk noncorrosive 7.62×39B. As for worries about ammo going stale, if you keep it clean and dry it'll perform as well in 50 years as it does now. If the S is still hitting the F then, well... I don't think anybody alive will have to worry about it.
There are tricks to maintaining firearms using corrosive ammo that make your life easier.
-S.
"It's not what you have, but what you have done".
-S.
Oh the spam can ammo is tempting, make no mistake. But maintaining a rusting rifle might be a luxury I can't afford in a bad situation.
Oh the spam can ammo is tempting, make no mistake. But maintaining a rusting rifle might be a luxury I can't afford in a bad situation.
Even in the field with modern firearms and noncorrosive ammo, keeping the rust off is a challenge. In field conditions whether the ammo is corrosive or not will not matter much. Due diligence is the standard.
-S.
"It's not what you have, but what you have done".
-S.
Oh the spam can ammo is tempting, make no mistake. But maintaining a rusting rifle might be a luxury I can't afford in a bad situation.
I prefer Non-Corrosive Ammo myself as well, but the SKS is truly a workhorse. I've seen SKS's so corroded and rusted the mere sight of them was heart breaking but they still fired fine. It's almost scary the amount of abuse they can take and still work.
DaScribbler
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Corrosive ammo is fine.......just clean your gun afterwards. SKS's are cheap enough buy several!