I am looking at buying an sks, it seems like a fun gun to shoot, what is the quality of the gun? what accessories would you reccomend? Thanks

If you are looking at an SKS, I hope you are looking at one of the genuine milsurp rifles, and not one of the Chinese imports. There were a bunch of Cjinese rifles sold, and some are good quality, but some are not so hot. QC among the factories cranking them out for export to the US was somewhat spotty, to say the least.
I would suggest a Russian made rifle, or one of the Yugoslavian imports that are here now. Both are good, solid rifles that will outlive you!
I'm sorta a collector (my wife says accumlator) and I hate to see any milsurp bubbaed up. I did replace the rear sight with a Williams aperature sight. Better sight picture, and it can be changed back to original military whenever I want.
Be sure you buy good ammo with your rifle. Some of the milsurp stuff isn't very accurate or consistent. Try several types before making a major ammunition purchase, if you buy milsurp ammo. All the major US manufacturers have 7.62x39 as well, and it has always done well in my rifles.
One more thing, if shooting from a bench, and you decide to use commercial ammo, and want to save your brass for reloading, remove the gas piston from your rifle. That will convert it into a straight pull bolt action, and keep you from having to crawl all over to find your cases. When done, simply re-install the piston, and you are back to a semi-auto.

That is one of the great things about the Yugo SKSes that have the grenade launcher, they have the gas port cut-off that allows you to shoot single shot as you mentioned, no need to remove anything.

are their any good websites that have info on the sks?

are their any good websites that have info on the sks?

Try this site: www.sksboards.com/forum

I picked up a Yugo SKS today. Boy this sucker is heavy, lol. And the bayonet screw was really tight. All milled parts though :-)
Andy
Another surplus rifle site with info on the SKS: http://www.surplusrifle.com

Here's a site
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/
that has excellent prices on Yugos. I took the launcher and bayonet off mine so I could use it for hunting. I also drilled the launcher to make it a muzzle brake. Haven't tried the brake yet.

In my opinion, Yugos are the best SKS's. I've heard that the Norinco and Russian ones are better, but I've felt both and still prefer the Yugo.

For Info on all things guns, try www.HK94.com

Could you be a little more in depth about removing your grenade launcher? Do you mean you took off the sights, or the launcher screwed onto the barrel? Is the thick section with the split ring part of the barrel, or does it unscrew like the bulbous end of the launcher. My bayonet lasted about 30 seconds after I got home, but I haven't been ambitious enough to remove the nite sights, grenade sight and launcher assy.
I do think the gas cut-off is really a good thing for us civvies to have, I know if I buy reloaded brass I would get really tired of chasing brass on semi-auto.
Last weekend, I and one of my sons took the Yugo out for a little shooting, and I was pleasantly suprised by the accuracy and lack of recoil. My son said it doesn't kick but it is too heavy.
Andy

If an SKS is your pleasure,definitely look for a Russian made or Yugoslavian made version, NOT the Chinese junkers. The European products are milled and made of real steel, and the Russians made the best ones in the mid 1950s. You will find many unused Soviet marked SKS rifles.

LLS

OK, to remove the launcher, you need to tap out the pin with an Awl. Then, using a pipe-wrench or vice grips, unscrew it. This does not involve removing the sight. Getting the launcher to move at first will be the hard part. It took me nearly 1/2 hr. If you are unable to remove it this way, try heating it with a blowtorch (not recommended).
You are only removing the launcher, not the think part with the ring.
It is a standard thread, so to take it off, turn it counter-clockwise.

WARNING- this will most likely ruin the finish on the launcher, but not the gun.

Hope that helps. Here's a helpful link-
http://www.hk94.com/hk/index.php?showtopic=9312&hl=launcher

I also discovered how to remove the grenade sight without damaging it.

Use an awl to punch the base-pin out FROM THE LEFT (as the gun faces away) but be careful when you take it off, one of the bumps that holds the sight in the upright position is spring loaded and will fly.

When finished, be sure to return the gas valve to the proper position (to the right) and you're good to go.

Rock on

If an SKS is your pleasure,definitely look for a Russian made or Yugoslavian made version, NOT the Chinese junkers.
LLS

Here're some nicely cheap ones-

www.centerfiresystems.com