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Were compare the Chinese Norinco SKS (Paratrooper model) to the Romanian SAR-1 AK47. We chose these two for the test because they are about the same weight and length.

AK-47 vs SKS
we put the AK47 head to head with the SKS

Russian SKS in US made black poly stock and optical scope, Yugo SKS with grenade launcher and bayonet, Chinese Norinco SKS with red plastic stock and blade type bayonet and optical scope and butt pad, Chinese Paratrooper SKS with Russian wood butt pad and screw on pistol grip
From the top: Russian SKS in US made black poly stock and optical scope, Yugo SKS with grenade launcher and bayonet, Chinese Norinco SKS with red plastic stock and blade type bayonet and optical scope and butt pad, Chinese Paratrooper SKS with Russian wood butt pad and screw on pistol grip

We took a few SKS rifles and put them head to head with the AK47

Yugo SKS with a Romanian SAR-1 type AK47

Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47	Were compare the Chinese Norinco SKS (Paratrooper model) to the Romanian SAR-1 AK47. We chose these two for the test because they are about the same weight and length. In this picture they both have 30 round magazines. Both are shoulder fired. Neither have optics or scopes, neither has a folding stock.
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 without the magazines. The SKS has a full wood stock, the AK47 has a metal receiver that creates a gap between the wood up front and the stock
Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 from the other direction. Both eject from the right side (like almost all rifles & pistols)
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 the stock on both of these rifles contains a small 'pill' cleaning kit accessed through a hole on the end.
Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 The SKS has a short stock so an extended but pad was installed to add about an inch to the length. Both of these rifles have their rear sling mount screwed to the bottom of the wooden stock. As with many military rifles this position changes
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 The safety on the SKS is on the right side of the trigger guard. It's flipped up to be ON safety, and flipped down to be OFF and ready to shoot. The AK47 safety is the same on all versions, countries and years and is the large lever on the side of the AK47
Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 because they use the same round (bullet) the actions of these rifles is similar in shape and size. But the AK47 uses a sheet metal or 'Stamped' receiver while the SKS uses a machined block of steel or a 'Milled' receiver.
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 the bayonet on the SKS folds under the barrel and into a slot in the wood stock, It pivots out of it's closed position and swings into place as an extension of the barrel, There is a moving part that locks the bayonet either forward or closed (rear) and that same moving part has a loop to catch the barrel of the SKS. Because of this the SKS with a working bayonet can not add any muzzle breaks The AK47 bayonet is stored on the soldier's belt in a sheath. It is attached with a loop around the barrel and a clamp that catches the lug under the gas block on most AK47s
Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 Front sling mount on this SKS is on the gas block and on the AK47 it's on the lower handguard. As with many accessories these locations change by country and year of production
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 Breakdown is similar even though they are built quite differently. Both rifles break down into very few parts for cleaning. Aside from the magazine there is a bolt, bolt carrier, recoil spring and receiver cover on both rifles. Top handguards remove in almost the same way on both versions and the wood (or plastic) is removed from the top handguard with the same method on both rifles.
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 closer look at the similar but different parts of both rifles
Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47	Chinese Paratrooper SKS looking down the sights of the SKS
	Romanian SAR-1 AK47 Looking down the sights of the AK47
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 Looking down from the top at these two rifles side by side
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS Shooting the SKS is like a hunting rifle, so your hand is around the whole stock and your trigger reaches forward to the trigger and the tip usually is all that reaches the trigger.
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS trigger / finger position from another angle, more from the side, this picture shows the angle the finger must make to reach the trigger. The finger is right on top of the safety in this position and it can be felt to be on or off easily
	In contrast on the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 with it's pistol grip the finger wraps into the trigger naturally the trigger guard is large enough to allow the finger to move off the trigger easily even with gloves. The finger must be moved off the trigger (and off the pistol grip for some people) to disengage the safety
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS for the other hand the SKS front handguard offers a indented channel to grip to. This is better than nothing, but not much better.
	Romanian SAR-1 AK47 has raised areas ont he lower front handguard to make griping very natural. Because they are wider (fatter) than the rest of the rifle they offer a very solid grip on the rifle. This style changes from year to year and from country to country though so shop around for replacement aftermarket stock sets (most AK47 stock sets fit other Ak47s)
	Now the good stuff, bayonets
	Yugoslavian (Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and bayonet Romanian SAR-1 AK47 The SKS uses either a blade or spike bayonet, as does the AK47, but most AK47 bayonets you'll ever find are the blade (knife) type. They detach from the rifle and are stored on the soldier's belt here is the Yugo SKS with a blade bayonet and the SAR-1 with a Romanian type 2 (fairly early) bayonet
	Yugoslavian (Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and bayonet and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 both are strong rifles, both attach well the their bayonets. I think the AK47 style bayonet lug should work better and with it's shorter design I would assume it breaks less.
	Yugoslavian (Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and bayonet and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47 another angle of these two bayonets and the rifles that follow them.
	Yugoslavian (Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and bayonet and the Romanian SAR-1 AK47
	The Chinese Norinco MAC-90 type of AK47 rifle and Russian SKS with US made Stock and scope (no bayonet) with detachable 30 rounds magazine
	The Russian SKS with US made Stock and scope (no bayonet) with 10 round standard magazine and the Chinese Norinco MAC-90 type of AK47 rifle
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and a mock up of a German AK47 two carbine versions of the larger rifles. Both with 30 round magazines
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the German AK47 the same two rifles with the German AK47 with folded stock to show how much shorter it can get.
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS and the German AK47 mockup the front ends of these two rifles Their parts are similar and serve almost equal roles in the operation of the rifles but they look quite different when next to each other.
	Russian SKS with US made Stock and scope (no bayonet) weighs 9 pounds 14.4 ounces
	Yugoslavian (Yugo) SKS with grenade launcher and bayonet weighs 8 pounds 7.5 ounces
	Chinese Norinco SKS with red plastic stock and blade type bayonet and optical scope and butt pad weighs 9 pounds 6.3 ounces
	Chinese Paratrooper SKS with Russian wood butt pad and screw on pistol grip weighs 8 pounds 2.3 ounces
	The Chinese Norinco MAC-90 type of AK47 rifle weighs 9 pounds 8.7 ounces
	The standard 10 round magazine and the US made 30 round detachable type SKS box magazines.
	The same two magazines. The smaller standard 10 round SKS magazine opens to show the spring and well which pivot on rivets. the after market detachable SKS magazines have no parts other than the follower and mag plate
	Standard 30 round AK47 black poly waffle mag made in the US and a US made SKS 30 round detachable box mag
	From the front it is also apparent these two magazines work differently

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