Where is the best place online to get an SKS rifle?

Favorite Answer

http://wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100000439&dir=700|701|1029...Show more

Gunbroker, or else try to negotiate with some of the local shops. You might also check pawn shops, and see if they can give you a better deal.

Once you pay shipping and FFL fees, you'll probably save very little over just biting the bullet and buying locally. Shipping could be anywhere from $15-$75, I would guess, and FFL fees could run about the same. You'll pay at the very least $30 more than the price listed on the website, and that's a very conservative estimate.

Just as an example, ground shipping on one Yugo SKS auction on Gunbroker was $25. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that local FFL dealers where you live charge a fairly high price for transfer fees. Let's assume $35. Some places actually charge $125 for certain guns, especially NFA items, and as another example, one local store charges $25 from most places, but $50 from Cheaper Than Dirt and a couple of others. So for simplicity's sake, let's say $35.

$25+$35=$60. Add that to the price tag online. For the same Gunbroker auction mentioned above, the rifle is selling for approximately $379. After fees, you'll pay about $440 for the rifle.

Yes, you might find one cheaper, but think of the issues you might encounter. For example, when ordering online, you can't really inspect the firearm to confirm that it functions properly. You can't disassemble it to ensure that the gas valve is not corroded (which was the problem with my Yugo SKS). You can't look for missing or damaged parts.

By all means, search online for an SKS... but also reconsider purchasing from a local source. You never know- if you tell them up front that you'd prefer to buy locally if they can make a deal for you, they might just lower their price. Maybe it won't be as cheap as online, but it might be....Show more