[Cliff R]

Steve, as a general rule, do NOT trust any of the imported 7.62 X 39 ammo to be safe to shoot in any SKS, AK or variants of those rifles, at least from a standpoint of not having to clean them afterwards.

We've seen all sorts of problems associated with much of the cheap offshore stuff, from hard to ignite primers, to dirtly power, to corrosive tendencies, even when the boxes or cases were marked "non-corrosive".

Many of the recent imported rifles (SKS's and AK's) aren't chrome lined anyplace, and even older versions with a chromed piston had it running in a non-chromed piston bore. Most SKS's that weren't maintained will have the piston sticking or seized in the bore from rust and unburnt powder build-up between those parts.

Bottom line, any weapon that you are going to count on to be dead solid reliable for you at all times should be thoroughly cleaned and lubricated after using it.

One distinct advantage the AK's have over the AR platform weapons, is simplicity. We used to call them "peasant proof" when I was on active duty. They just continue to function in conditions were most stuff would have stopped working long ago.

As far as accuracy, some of those guns would really surprise you as to how good a group they can print at long distances with a skilled marksman using them.

Even so, with all weapons that I've seen to date, the accuracy of them falls WAY off when the target is shooting back at you!.......Cliff