RM
Actually, I had spent some time researching the SKS over the past months, found some websites with some good info, quite an interesting history.
With a lot of things going to keep me busy, and a lot of other demands on my wallet over the last 6 years, I just never got into running one down. However about a month ago I had visited a gunstore about 10 miles north of the range Jay and I go to here in CT, looking for some milsurp 5.56. In that same area of the store as the milsurp I noticed four or five Yugo SKSs, and the very nice price they were asking.
When we got into wringing out Jay's SKS at the range, that did it. After we finished we went up to the store and I "convinced one to follow me home". Jay's appears to have been made in early 1970 and mine sometime in 1977, based on some info Jay found on the web. Both appeared to be unissued, virtually identical when put side by side, except his launcher is ported and mine is not, and as to the stocks ... his is in nicer condition, mine looks like it was a store rack queen and was handled a bit, with resulting dings and dents. No matter. It may be a beater gun, but it's mine.
Jay's did quite well in its baptism of fire. Sights are crappy compared to the AR, but are pretty much right on, it was fun to shoot, and with 762x39 rounds at about 10 cents each, shooting it is easy on the wallet. You're right, they are very addictive.
Mine is lathered in the packing grease, and I expect to go through quite a bit of degreaser or mineral spirits to get it clean enough to even pick up without my hands smelling like Tito's old socks!
Have fun Saturday!