SKS Rifle FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the SKS rifle. If you have any other questions you would like answered please feel free to contact us and we will be glad to answer it.

What does SKS stand for?

The complete name is SKS-45. The SKS initals stand for Samozaryadnyj Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945. Translated from Russian, this means, Self-loading Carbine of the Simonov system. The 45 comes from its origination in 1945.

What round does the SKS shoot?

The SKS rifle shoots a 7.62x39mm round. The same round as an AK47.

What type of SKS do I have?

Here are some quick SKS identification tips for the most common rifles:

  • Soviet SKS – Tula or Izhevsk Armory. Can have spike or blade bayonets.
  • Chinese type 56- does not have a milled bolt carrier
  • Honor guard – chromed metal parts
  • Yugo PAP M59 – no chrome in barrel. Manufactured by Zastava Arms.
  • Yugo PAP M59/66 – has a 22mm grenade launcher

What is the price of a SKS rifle?

You can currently find an SKS rifle around the $350-$450 range depending on condition with more rare models (TULA) fetching over $500.

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