Chinese Type 56 SKS

Shooting and discussing the Chinese Type 56 SKS in 7.62X39.
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[@glengrandstaff9695]

In 1987 a group of my buddies and I purchased a case of 10 unfired Chinese made SKS type 56 for 500 bucks. They were completely coated in cosmaline. We all got together in my garage and spent several hours with mineral spirits clearing the gunk out of the action, barrel and stocks. We also purchased a can of Russian ammo. Some fun shooting. The guns never jammed or failed. For $50 bucks a piece the value could not be beat. Sold it 20 years ago for $ 150 bucks. Wish now that I had kept it.

[@Triangle26]

Terrific presentation Hickok. I dang near dropped my phone when you mentioned my channel in the same sentence as Ian and Misha. Truly happy to have played a small role in your rediscovery of this old warhorse!

[@Boltjams]

Dude, your videos are top shelf. You're a very good speaker.

[@Triangle26]

@@Boltjams I really appreciate that.

[@BingoPanic]

Im glad he shouted you out, gonna check out your channel after this since my SKS is a triangle 26 as well

[@1371CEA]

​@@Triangle26dude, you are hands down in my top 5 list of guntubers. Love your content.

[@bumpercoach]

you got like a TRIPLE mention especially since the way he worked his way to the name after mentioning Ian and Misha counted as double for how it really clarified TRIANGLE 26

[@angrydingus5256]

Ugh. I'll never forget walking out of the gun store with my dad in the early 90s. I was 5 or 6.... but one was for him and one was for me, eventually. $110.00 out the door, and each rifle included 2 boxes of ammo. Those were the days. Im not sure what build they were, as they were unfortunately taken during a home invasion/roberry while nobody was home. Along with many other classics.

[@terrykelsey2472]

Sorry to hear about the robbery but that's a great memory with your father

[@angrydingus5256]

@@terrykelsey2472 Oh we have many, and Im lucky he's still around these days. It's just crazy how much gun prices have risen. 50 bucks for an sks was awesome, and we'll never see that again. We even upgraded one to take AK mags at one point before they were taken. If I had those 2 now, that would be well above 1400 bucks. Guns are a definite investment, just don't keep them in an open closet lol

[@angrydingus5256]

@@terrykelsey2472 these things happen. Looking back he should have invested in a safe much sooner. Of course he has one now but at that price there is no replacing them. Im glad they didnt take my marlin .22 That was my first gun, handed down from my gpa. And then I was later gifted a 410 from a fam friend. and Im lucky to have both still. Also some new stuff but those are the priceless ones

[@terrykelsey2472]

@@angrydingus5256 You just convinced me to get a safe instead of building an AR. Lol. Thanks. Also need to get my dad to expunge his record so he can join the fun. I hope you and your dad are able to make many more memories together. God bless

[@angrydingus5256]

@@terrykelsey2472 Thank you. And yes while new toys are always a temptation whatever amount of security you can afford to protect those (major these days) investments are worth it. What's the point of building a premium AR just for some rando to walk in while nobody is home and take it? Hopefully you can get a safe and still start building soon enough.

[@anthonyrichard461]

Was first trained on the M16 when I got out service my first rifle was a Russian SKS 1957 very reliable and still have after 40 years.

[@marktaniguchi7901]

Got a Type 56 SKS from my co-worker who served in Vietnam. It was wrapped in a tattered Viet Cong flag and surprisingly the rifle was in very good shape. Shoots well and I will always treasure it.

[@WAKIZASHI158]

Question how many rounds can the SKS hold? Just want to know

[@Undeadsloth94]

@@WAKIZASHI158 10 rounds, its why its a favorite of people in states that have restrictions on ammo capacity.

[@WAKIZASHI158]

@@Undeadsloth94 thanks

[@h.ch.24]

Layer

[@JesusIsGoodTruth]

@@Undeadsloth94*Cries in Canadian*

[@TyTwoFly]

The Chinese SKS I got off of Buds from their lot of SKSs has an Albanian SKS stock that was retrofitted to fit into a Chinese SKS Rifle. You can tell because when you take off the buttplate, there is two cleaning kit holes in it which Albanian SKSs have, instead of one. It also has a sling swivel drilled into the side instead of on the bottom through one of the cleaning kit holes. After I cleaned all of the cosmoline out, I found trench art on it and the soldier who owned it wrote his name into the handguard and scratched his name onto the bottom of the magazine. I even found a piece of striped cloth he may have used to clean the guns bore out. It was so neat discovering these things and just thinking what this guns history was.

[@finscreenname]

In the 90's we bought 5 Chianese SKS for like $90 each, right out of the import create then fully cleaned of all the cosmoline and gave them out as Christmas bonuses. Went through a ton of ammo it was just so cheap and endless. Still have mine in perfect condition today.

[@BigT27295]

Yea i kick myself in the ass for not buying truck loads.

[@chada267]

same here..got mine at dicks sporting goods in 94..richmond va..still blastin rounds today

[@davidgaines8607]

Someone suggested diesel fuel to clean the cosmoline when I got mine way back in the day. All I had was gasoline. Hahaha. The dumb stuff I did back then , like not keeping that gun. Ammo was like 2 or 3 bucks , and there was a wide variety of "speciality" ammo available at the gun shows.

[@medicstew]

Bill Goodman's Gun and Knife Show, cheapest I remember was 59.00. For $ 100.00 you could get a rifle a cleaning kit, stripper clips and chest carrier and 500 rounds of ammunition. On Sunday end of show special was a crate of ten rifles packed in cosmoline and wrapped in brown paper for $500.00 out the door.

[@finscreenname]

@@medicstew Ya we got the bandolero/oil bottles, cleaning kits and a bunch stripper clips also. You know you are going through a lot of ammo when opening the metal cases is considered a pain in the a$$ more then a You Tube video event. 🤣🤣

[@js2407]

I bought a Type 56 that looks like the lighter colored one in this video in 2009. Almost put it back while handling it over being Chinese until I realized three other gents were eyeballing it too and asked their opinion. One of them gave it a look over and said "You'd be stupid not to buy it." Best $200 I ever spent.

[@STEVEARABIA1]

This was my first rifle aside from a .22 when I was a broke student. Ammo was $2 a box. Still have it, it has never malfunctioned.

[@gjp627]

bought 1 at Fort wayne gun show early 1990, got 1000 rnds for $85 more. Still have it never had a malfunction. First introduced to them in 1969 south east Asia, seemed to be a favorite of the enemy.

[@JasonNomNom]

SKS was my first rifle. They are a blast to shoot and really accurate.

[@TheOfficialCaseMade]

Even my Dad, who is not impressed by anything, raves about the "tack driver" SKS.

[@Boltjams]

Ah, the gun of Canada.

[@Thetoucanman918]

Justin

[@keithagn]

Soon to be banned.

[@oldpain7625]

I'm so sorry.

[@keithagn]

@@oldpain7625 thanks. Never give up your 2nd!

[@shadowdeslaar]

@@keithagn fight back. If they come. Warn them. If they proceed you proceed. If you die. You died for a reason. If they died. They died for nothing. Nothing at all. What did they die for? Your Freedom? What if days after a man breaks into your house and Overpowers you, and Kills your family. Or a tyrannical Government that wants your freedom.

[@kbjerke]

"Because it's Chinese does not mean the quality is poor." That is *SO* true. I have a couple of "sanitized" 1911s made by China North Industries for an allegedly cancelled supposed Third World military contract. Darn things are tight, accurate, and very well made. If it's made for military, odds are that the quality is pretty good.

[@contractki11er]

The Chinese manufacturing market is very much “you get what you paid for” it just so happens our consumer market is filled with cheap stuff because that’s what is good for business numbers.

[@StopFlaggingVideos]

i forget whose video i saw this from. but they were also of the opinion that a chinese 1911 they had was actually better in quality than american. i think the reasoning was that the infrastructure in china wasn't as niche or capable; their factories would source the same raw material steel that they would use for their ships, tanks. so the gun could end up being of unnecessary quality, just because it was easier to get the good stuff from the closest/easiest place

[@Trump2024Kentucky]

I bought a Chinese SKS when I was in high school and I gave well under $100 ($59-$69) for it. Can’t remember the exact price but several guys in my class bought one because they were so cheap. That was in the mid-late 70’s. Looks just like yours and I still own it. 👍🏼

[@canjo4588]

Crazy to think how accurate they are especially how old they are I bought one that looked like it fell off a bluff landed in a tree and smacked every branch on the way down and it’s accurate as can be love it

[@doronstauber7285]

The SKS is definately on the shortlist of SHTF go to weapons.

[@taotao98103]

The SKS is very familiar by generations of Chinese because they had to learn this gun when they went through military discipline during the first year of college. Even the Chinese guard of honor today still carries this gun.

[@jackqin9699]

大学军训我五发打了45环。永远记得那天躺在泥浆地上下着大雨。

[@taotao98103]

@@jackqin9699 你躺在泥漿裏，那槍也應該都是泥，不影響操作吧？我只記得小時候單位上有個叔叔，不知道是不是剛剛訓練完，跟我玩的時候讓我摸過這槍。非常沉。根本拿不動。聼他說這叫半自動步槍。我心想，那零自動的是不是就全部自己來，像彈弓一樣？全自動，是不是摸都不用摸，它自己會射？

[@mattberry954]

Love the Triangle 26 shoutout! His videos are so comprehensive

[@Disastrous_panique]

I love your videos. I really appreciate how humble you are and sharing the channel of another fellow KZbinr that’s very knowledgeable in this matter. Keep up the good work ! So we can enjoy all these videos for a long time!

[@no8lc7c39]

What i love about my sks is the built in cleaning kit in the stock and the bore extension above the bayonet.

[@rongarrett1366]

I read somewhere that SKSs were popular on the Navajo Reservation because they were cheap and reliable.

[@CaptnSpoon]

I haven’t seen anyone with an sks yet but almost everyone that owns a gun has a .22

[@toastedt140]

​@@CaptnSpoonsurplus 7.62 used to be pennies on the dollar. .22 was and always will be popular but 7.62 lets you take larger game with poorer shooting. You can take a deer with high load .22, but you have to be a good shot.

[@ericharris5299]

I love the sks. I think they're amazing machines. Never had a malfunction with my type 56

[@bryanrabel5081]

Back in 82 I bought an SKS at a pawn shop dirt cheap($65.00?) and a 700 round spam can of Yugoslavian 7.62x39 for $40!!!! It was so much fun!! Great guns!!!

[@mrunlucky3024]

Dang, the video started & I almost hit the floor ! Thank you Mr. Hickok. 😊

[@ChiefleafKazuki]

I got one from a friend recently and I absolutely love it! It’s a fun gun to shoot.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

Got my first SKS at a gun show in Colorado. To say I paid too much is an understatement. I'm just glad I secured ownership of one while the prices were reasonably low.

[@JesusIsGoodTruth]

I can say the same. I paid $550 for mine. The gun is so legendary that even in today’s prices I had to get it before it’s too late

[@redwinger4281]

Thank you for the video Greg

[@g54b95]

The Yugo version (Zastava M59/66) has some great features like a grenade launcher, a folding blade bayonet and tritium night sights. I replaced the vials on mine about 2 years ago, so good for about another 8! Love my type 56, too.

[@FartyMcNuggets]

I’ve got 5 of them from multiple country’s, 3 of them will hold 60rd sks mags, and 1 will take any style AK mag (sporter model) - all of them have been flawless rifles !!!! Keep up the great work buddy !!!!!

[@andyzagray7962]

I like how you said I've grown to appreciate them over the years...

[@timsmith9645]

Absolutely beautiful rifles thank you for sharing Hickok45

[@thendofspace]

Been waiting on this on for a while

[@BadWolf762]

The late '80s/early '90s gun shows were the best. Loaded with low priced military surplus firearms and pallets of cheap ammo. I still have 2 unfired Chinese type 56 in grease, just as they were when I picked them up in 1994. My truck gun behind the seat is also a Chinese SKS.

[@boomman1234g]

My grandfather left an sks to my father and i always loved shooting it growing up, beautiful gun in my biased opinion

[@steveoliver4479]

Just got home from gal bladder removal just wanted to lay in bed and watch your videos. Been a subscriber since your beginning. Thanks for helping with my recovery with quality educational videos

[@walterkretchik44]

Great video. Very important to disassemble the bolt and remove the firing pin and spring and clean thoroughly before firing. My 1990s bought Russian SKS was fine but some are really gummy. Brownell's has a nice SKS video series that is helpful.

[@Sleeperdude]

Excellent video. I miss my SKS

[@GShileikis]

Anything that goes FULL-AUTO is fine with me. Nice Video Hickok!

[@blackhawk3456]

Thanks for the video, Hickock. I love the SKS.

[@chrislang5659]

Triangle 26 is a good source of information, and he will respond to your questions in the comments! He helped me a lot! Found out mine is not as old as I thought. Doesn't matter still one of the most fun in the collection!

[@williamsweet7511]

love military history and firearms. Never been a fan of the sks but still have one in my collection... never fired it.

[@mustangtonto5862]

Long before I knew anything about them a buddy told me we should go look at ‘em on our lunch hour. We did. An individual had a crate of them in his home, off Keystone, in Indianapolis. We each bought one. It was in the late ‘90’s. Less than 200 bucks. I like the overall short length of it…very manageable inside the home.

[@jeremiah7855]

Love the sks glad to see this video edit... Mines like the third sks on the right from the beginning on his video

[@nonamegiven5744]

Thanks for posting !…have had mine since the 80s ; less than a hundred with ammo at a gun show. No issues and Accurate ..I really like it . ☕️🎸✌️

[@toaster3822]

Ive got a 1969 type 56 sks here in Canada. Absolute beauty that was likely a balkan service rifle. No cosmoline or wrapping like most came with, covered in trench art, and the sear was warn to nothing.

[@G78.]

Great video HK45 I’d love to see your gun cabinet 😊thanks from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@toddkern333]

I always learn something from you. Sadly this time I learned when I saw those crates of Chinese sks’s on the gun store floor years ago I should have purchased one. 😂

[@chada267]

i got sks and a 46 mossen..along with the rest of my arsenal..love em both

[@allanrevoyarknet]

QUICK LOADING: No stripper clip. Rotate the rifle mag facing up, Open mag cover drop your rounds in from the bottom. It is a little quicker than pushing them in one at a time, stripper clip is quick if you have some, but if you don't. Just thought I would share that. Thanks for the video have watched you off and on for yrs now. One of my first place to go on a firearm review. thank you Got that from Gary the speed shooter, good tip.

[@bbbbbbbbbill]

Love my SKS and love my Garand. Wish I could dual wield them, having them one in each hand would be sweet. Life is good.

[@laindoer333]

ive been able to shoot this specific gun many times and ive had so much fun with it. very easy to get your hands on where im from.

[@CyborgZeta]

My Chinese SKS is one of the commercial ones with the lighter-toned wood like show in this video. Mine came with a sling, but it's missing a bayonet.

[@armorer94]

There was really no difference between military and commercial SKS's other than the stock.

[@angelreyes5206]

My first rifle as a 18yr old a couple of years ago when i wanted a 762 and couldn’t afford an ak. $300 not as good as a $80 but still affordable for a great shooter with history behind it

[@skippadadippa2412]

A tip with the sks clips is to use them like mosin clips by lifting the first bullet up and pressing down

[@generaljackripper666]

I've got a Type 56 that shoots like a dream. Love that gun. Well I love all my guns.

[@kellywelch3]

Awesome video! I love my type 56. Got it in the early 90s for $79!

[@OferActual]

Seeing this as a Tula SKS owner makes me happy

[@RyanSmith-is8lr]

I got one from Classic firearms a few years back. Also came in from Albania soaked in cosmoline. Mine is in the 11 Million range. I love the thing!

[@lastminuteman]

I like them… very utilitarian and reasonably accurate 👍

[@Bonethizzle]

Learned alot from triangle 26 channel. He’s awesome

[@theoriginalOSOK]

Thanks Hickok = always enjoy your vids. I just bought a 1965 copy of the Norinco - well worn with cosmoline but I know what to do with that...

[@nuclearoutdoorscampingtips5850]

Bxn clips work flawlessly

[@oldmangreywolf6892]

The trick to using the clips. Take the top bullet and tip it up slightly then push down by the rim. It has worked with both the SKS and Mauser clips.

[@gradybrowning3976]

I bought a couple in the early 90s for $90 bucks a piece and they still shoot great today!

[@shelbyspeaks3287]

The SKS is such a beautiful gun

[@pappybugington]

If you're thinking about getting into an SKS be careful to keep those firing pins clean especially when you 1st get them. They're free floating and if they get stuck it can slam fire.

[@glorytokekistan824]

Thats not a bug its a feature

[@ChristianConstitutionalist3192]

My Brother Use To Have An SKS (It Took AK-47 Mags). When I Was 14 The SKS Became The First Gun That I Shot; The SKS Is An Extremely Fun Gun To Shoot And Very Reliable.

[@benputnam623]

I really do have a thing for sks and AK47 there's so many different looks between them. They're each like a snowflake ❄ 😂❤ I personally have 3 sks. 1 Chinese sporter with the wooden thumb hole stock and takes a.k. mags I have 1 Yugoslavia I most recently snagged a deal on. And I have 1 that's the type 56 I love each of them super fun to shoot. The kids love to shoot em too

[@jacobcarolan1172]

I have a triangle 26 type 56 sks and I have an ak103. Between the two the sks is more accurate and has been just as reliable as the ak103(100% reliability). Once you get it perfectly zeroed using the correct method it will consistently hit clay pigeons at 100 yards

[@sammyprestwood3182]

I remember buying the SKS Chinese made rifle from roses for around $89 I use to take the 10 round Box magazine out and put the 30 round magazine in it the 30 actually held about 50 rounds and I had a 50 round magazine that held over 75 rounds I had a police officer tell me that actually wasn't legal to have those Magazines but you could buy them anywhere

[@peternorton5648]

I bought two back in the day I think I paid $80 for them still in the cosmoline. A yugo model, and two Chinese models. Used one for a deer gun until my daughter started hunting she stole it from me and has been using it for 15 years or more. That X39 with decent quality ammunition drops a deer where it stands. I like them a lot.

[@darenmh]

I bought mine in California of all places when I was living there about 15 years or so ago. It came from that company in Ohio that no longer exists, but I paid a little over $200 for it. Got a lot of Golden Tiger ammo for about $200 a case too. Those were the days. It's dead nuts accurate by the way.

[@acountryboycancookwarnack5290]

I love all of your videos...I have never seen you post about a 22 Hornet...I took my 1st whitetail with one. I know it's small. And I'm sure not allowed in some states for large game. A great round, that will get the job done..my 1st deer, using a H&R topper/22 Hornet

[@armorer94]

I've gotten clips from RTG parts that work quite well.

[@smlee7348]

I was in same boat and didn't know.... but when I got my 1st and learned, developed great respect and lasting friendship in collection.... good day

[@HSmith-uk9hl]

I have a first year of production (1956) Chinese SKS. It's mismatched and likely rebuilt. Blade bayonet and serial number begins with an X followed by four digits. The triangle 26 is behind the serial number rather than in front as later guns were marked.

[@marshalllapenta7656]

Now a separate video for the Yugo Sks!

[@davy1458]

Hickock45 looks like such a boss dumping that ak like that...

[@jschoon212]

Buying one at today's prices seems crazy... but you'll probably still be glad you bought it.

[@thomasharhen2168]

I love that sks rifle!! Its amazing

[@rhombifer566]

Great video

[@floydteter4323]

Great video - appreciate ya. The Chinese SKS typically has inferior machining finishes to the Russian and Yugo models. But on the upside, they're also typically a bit lighter. Personally, I love 'em all.

[@tigerboy60]

They were a Main Battle Rifle and would probably out perform a M16 in the desert or jungle.

[@rumpleforeskin5064]

Shout to the triangle 26 mention that guy rocks

[@daviddavey1727]

SKS. Tough as nails and it just works!

[@praticalmechanical1986]

These are awesome firearms, important piece of history.

[@oldmangreywolf6892]

I love my Norinco SKS. My only downside is the stock length. Like Hickok, I have to add for the draw. But I just like shooting at the hundred yard range with just the sights.

[@WizGallo]

My 1st rifle. Got one that was made in 1978, armory 26.

[@akmsks21hill4]

I have had Russian SKS for years now. My wife favorite 7.62x39 platform. To much recoil on the AK’s for her follow up shots. Gray guns!!

[@user-rt2kq2xb1t]

Sks is solid machined end to end the AK was made cheap stamped sheet metal with rivets to hold it together.

[@macready12G]

AKs and SKS is when "Made in China" is actually a good thing

[@haolu6939]

Too bad the US no longer import those Type56 or any rifle from China any more... but Canada still does, they are smart and lucky.

[@davessparetime83]

Take a wire brush to the groove part of the stripper clips. Also when loading from the clip, hold up the tip on the top round and push down near end of the casing when pushing down the rounds into gun.

[@supergreenproduction2847]

been watch ur video for years, forgot to sub lol sorry just subed and liked.

[@savageater57]

Yeah , bought mine back in the late 80's for @$70 and several tins of ammo . Still have a couple tins .

[@Polish1245]

Nice vid

[@RobinRiver-sw4ic]

I own one type 56 and built another from random spare parts.. I run archangel magazines and I think they are the one upgrade that I wouldn’t sell!

[@FayazAhmad-yl6sp]

My son has Chinese SKS 26 factory, 24 series number means made in 1979 it is in very good condition barrel is blueish, all matching numbers.

[@Mike-qv3ob]

Had three of them sold all I have a mini 30 and a ak 47 now

[@MrVegasTube]

Catalpa wood on the Norinco, birch on the Russian I believe. Also the Norinco's barrel is chrome lined.

[@tripletap1]

I remember seeing the sold by the case at $79 bucks a piece, but I was a kid and just didn't have that kind of $ then, would love to have a case of them as a coffee table right now.😢