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02-14-2017, 03:21 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Grande Prairie
Posts: 73
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Any tips on buying SKS?
Hi guys, I am planning to add an SKS to my gun safe, and i need your wisdom.
I have been doing my own research, like look down the barrel for silver lining, or make sure all parts numbers are same. But i dont think this is enough.
Anyone want to teach this grasshopper how to choose best one in the bunch?
Thanks.
__________________
Guns and bullets don't kill people. Uneducated people do.
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02-14-2017, 05:32 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Md of Foothills
Posts: 1,540
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Go google yooperj. It'll give you background info on the SKS from all over the world. Best to see them in person so that you can have a look down the bore and open up the gas tube to make sure there's no rust or corrosion.
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02-14-2017, 08:16 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Big Valley
Posts: 75
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I was also told that on the front sight close to the muzzle there is a number stamped in the metal. Supposedly this number shows the accuracy of the rifle (if there is such a thing as an accurate sks) but #0 being the most accurate and #5 being the least. This may only be on the Russian models I am not sure about Chinese.
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02-14-2017, 08:26 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 810
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here's a tip
save yer money and don't buy an sks
spend it on a way better rifle
you will understand this tip
after you have had it for awhile
__________________
If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time,
then the true meaning of the chase Eludes you all together
you only get a second
shoot where their
going not where they been,
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02-14-2017, 08:40 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 80
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people who don't like sks...
It's all personal preference but i love my sks its a 1952 tula, all matching serial numbers except the 5 round magazine
Main thing is if your looking for a good shooting sks look for a Russian not chinese or Vietnamese version.
Field strip it in the store and inspect it for rust, or corrosion on the gas piston, make sure you have no wobbling or movement in the stock or again the gas tube near the front site and make sure the rifling looks good aswell and it hasn't been shotout.
Don't expect anything beyond 100-150 yards with it before being off by a good chunk...also clean it after ever use old military surplus ammo is very very dirty...
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02-14-2017, 08:52 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,939
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel_wiesel
here's a tip
save yer money and don't buy an sks
spend it on a way better rifle
you will understand this tip
after you have had it for awhile
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x2
I've had a few friends with these things...can't see why anyone wants a 'minute of pie plate' gun.
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02-14-2017, 09:02 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 459
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x3 dont bother.
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02-14-2017, 09:33 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobtodrick
x2
I've had a few friends with these things...can't see why anyone wants a 'minute of pie plate' gun.
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Totally agree,, they are fun for about 10 minutes,, then you find out they can't hit anything further than that beer box out front of you...
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02-14-2017, 09:40 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Parkland County
Posts: 961
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buschy03
Totally agree,, they are fun for about 10 minutes,, then you find out they can't hit anything further than that beer box out front of you...
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Oh, I don't think so. They are fun guns. I've taken a coyote with one. Plinked consistently out to 200 yards. They eat anything really. Very inexpensive.
Everyone should have at least one....maybe two.
Last edited by 6MT; 02-14-2017 at 09:56 AM.
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02-14-2017, 09:45 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,543
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Wouldnt take one if it was free
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02-14-2017, 09:56 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Parkland County
Posts: 961
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To each their own.
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02-14-2017, 10:39 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Alberta
Posts: 85
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They are cheap fun rifles to have, especially when coupled with a surplus crate of ammunition. Unless you are looking for one for collection purposes then I agree with BiggieB. Check for general condition of the rifle, if it doesn't appear to be worn out and the parts are in good shape then you are good to go.
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02-14-2017, 12:02 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lacombe, AB
Posts: 1,404
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Liberals hate them, that's reason enough to toss one in the back of the safe.
I own one. Don't shoot it too much due to the absurdly short LOP and the corrosive clean up; but, it is fun to shoot every once and awhile. Cheap and mine holds about 3.5 MOA even with a smoking hot barrel. Accurate enough to practice some positional shooting. It is also a good rifle to practice how to reshape a sear/do your own trigger jobs and learn about postive/negative sear engagement. I say this because the sear is huge and has enough meat that you can fix most mistakes.
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02-14-2017, 12:44 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 5,509
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I do own an SKS, it was the first RED rifle that I got. Awesome gun for its purpose. I then bought the rest of my red army collection and now owe an SVT-40, Mosin M36 and 91/30. Love those guns, they are all awesome and fun to shoot.
Go buy one and have fun, enjoy it. But be CAREFULL, those red rifles have a tendency of multiplying in your safe... you can never have "only one"....
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02-14-2017, 12:48 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 5,509
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The best quality SKS you can get from the West rifle in BC, he has a hand picked units. A few dollars more but worth it if you want to get an almost new unit.
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02-14-2017, 01:10 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 16
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Good to see so much negative advice. Keeps the hype down and extends availability for the rest of us :-).
As for buying: disassemble, check the barrel well, like with any other gun. Crown is important and could have been damaged by improper cleaning (without protector) with steel rod from the muzzle. Bolt (especially face) and chamber will show wear if shot a lot. Gas piston should shine. That's about it - any rust anywhere else can be cleaned fairly easily. Remember that in your first week you'll probably send more rounds though it than it had in all its previous life.
I would not buy anything but Tula, but that's just my preference and reasons and purposes, yours may vary. Early model (pre-1955?) has springed striker in the bolt - safer from slam fire by more pain to clean that spring :-). But then the same earlier model has easier gas tube latch (that you can open with the finger rather than with the supplied tool). I am personally in favor for the eariler model.
Final note: if your new sks seems to shoot a little off - don't rush to tweak it. They are all factory-zeroed pretty well, and hold zero quite solidly. So, chances are, you just need some extra time to get used to it and figure out aiming. Especially if you did not have much practice on 100m+ with iron sights.
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If you travel East, check your brains.
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02-14-2017, 01:27 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 288
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Make sure serial numbers match, limited damage to the wood, no damage to the metal, disassemble and look at the bolt carrier group. Other than that they're $200 buy three!!
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02-14-2017, 01:34 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 102
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Get one that is tight in the stock with no back and forth movement or you will have to shim/bed it to get it to shoot proper. Easy to do but I would never pay someone to do it. And keep the original stock on it for it has a front lug for consistency.
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02-14-2017, 01:42 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 5,140
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Buy 2.
__________________
Former Ford Fan
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02-14-2017, 03:23 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 2,510
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They are fun, my son and I just bought 1 from Canadian tire in airdrie 220, then my son and I put the ati tactical stock as out first project..now to hit some tannrite..
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02-14-2017, 03:32 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 66
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They aren't really anything special, if you want to plink away with a center fire rather than a rimfire they are fun, good for varmint control if you want to slap a scope on it.
Or buy one for a collectors piece- the expensive route
If you want to buy one for target shooting get a YUGO, you can flip the switch on the gas tube so it doesn't cycle another round. Basically a cheap bolt action with semi auto option.
$0.02
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02-14-2017, 03:51 PM
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 580
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for the price, it is a great semi auto to shoot with surplus ammo... and to be honest, they are a very well designed gun.... may not be the most accurate, but so beit. Don't let the gun snobs get you down... sks gets a bad rap because of the first time gun buyers shooting up stuff at the gun range... just don't be that guy
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02-14-2017, 04:25 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Grande Prairie
Posts: 73
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Hi guys. OP here. Im simply looking for a plinking rifle. Something cheap and easy to shoot. I have been shooting rimfire and I want to move on to centrefire that wont break my back.
Im not planning to take this out on hunting, just to the range and shoot.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I appreciate it.
__________________
Guns and bullets don't kill people. Uneducated people do.
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02-14-2017, 05:28 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,031
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobtodrick
x2
I've had a few friends with these things...can't see why anyone wants a 'minute of pie plate' gun.
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X3 unless you want a inaccurate rifle that shoots rapid on occasion! Many people put too much money into a rifle that had had 500000 rounds down the pipe!
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02-14-2017, 05:47 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 592
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Each to their own. Some people like them some do not.
I got one from Canada Ammo when I bought some 7.62x39 ammo which worked out to be like $125 for the SKS. Never fired it, but damn it was heavy! Was surprised at how heavy the gun was. As I said never shot it and ended up selling it to a guy here on AO.
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02-14-2017, 06:39 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Lacombe, AB
Posts: 1,404
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morinj
X3 unless you want a inaccurate rifle that shoots rapid on occasion! Many people put too much money into a rifle that had had 500000 rounds down the pipe!
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If the rifle is slam firing or double firing it is the owner not doing the proper maintenance. The firing pin must rattle back and forth when you shake the bolt. If not there is crud in there and the rifle will slam or double fire.
Most SKS refurbished were probably shot very little. The SKS was the Soviet service rifle for only a short period of time. Most were in service a short time and then put into long term storage.
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02-14-2017, 06:47 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Medicine hat
Posts: 299
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Diesel_wiesel
here's a tip
save yer money and don't buy an sks
spend it on a way better rifle
you will understand this tip
after you have had it for awhile
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Bingo
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02-14-2017, 07:14 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Near YVR
Posts: 1,236
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Its an SKS built for communists by communists to repel the threat of the evil empire.
Buy one if you want one, they are inexpensive and can be found almost anywhere.
They are nothing special other than they are cheap to buy and defend oneself against the Zombie Apocalypse , should it arise.
Rob
__________________
We sleep safe in our beds because rough men & women stand ready in the day/night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.
RIP Pte Terry J Street 2nd Battalion, PPCLI, Shilo, Man. EOT, April 4 2008 Panjwayi District Afghanistan,Constable Jimmy Ng,RCMP EOW,Sunday, September 15, 2002
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02-14-2017, 07:17 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 102
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If it is the next step from a rimfire I would go 223 or 308 and stay away from corrosive ammo. You can get surplus ammo for either. The SkS even if you do some accuracy tricks will never shoot as accurate as the cheapest bolts. If it is a learn to shoot gun that could work but the triggers are brutal if not tuned is frustrating if trying to group. The SKS is more of an addition to the guns than a staple gun. Oh and if range shooting it takes a effort to clean up your casings cause it throws them all over the place.
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02-14-2017, 07:39 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Ontario~looking west
Posts: 1,158
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WesternAlien
As for buying: disassemble, check the barrel well, like with any other gun. Crown is important and could have been damaged by improper cleaning (without protector) with steel rod from the muzzle. Bolt (especially face) and chamber will show wear if shot a lot. Gas piston should shine. That's about it - any rust anywhere else can be cleaned fairly easily. Remember that in your first week you'll probably send more rounds though it than it had in all its previous life.
I would not buy anything but Tula, but that's just my preference and reasons and purposes, yours may vary. Early model (pre-1955?) has springed striker in the bolt - safer from slam fire by more pain to clean that spring :-). But then the same earlier model has easier gas tube latch (that you can open with the finger rather than with the supplied tool). I am personally in favor for the eariler model.
Final note: if your new sks seems to shoot a little off - don't rush to tweak it. They are all factory-zeroed pretty well, and hold zero quite solidly. So, chances are, you just need some extra time to get used to it and figure out aiming. Especially if you did not have much practice on 100m+ with iron sights.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Masterchief
for the price, it is a great semi auto to shoot with surplus ammo... and to be honest, they are a very well designed gun.... may not be the most accurate, but so beit. Don't let the gun snobs get you down... sks gets a bad rap because of the first time gun buyers shooting up stuff at the gun range... just don't be that guy
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^this. I was (quietly) a bit of an anti-SKS guy after the same kind of experience Masterchief described happened every time I went to a particular range. I'm there to do load testing and/or zero a scope and I have steel cases raining down all over my bench. As he put it so well; "just don't be that guy".
However, I eventually "saw the light" and picked-up a 1954 Russian, birch stock..pretty bare balls gun but almost no sign of wear, all matching except the mag. Speaking of the mag, not all of them are all pinned the same way. Mine has a small section of steel rod welded to the underside of the follower~so nothing visible on the outside of the mag. (which looks ugly to me) Doesn't impact function either way. Anyhow, someone told me to look for one with a "gold" bayonet suggesting that the gun wasn't used/handled much. Not sure I believe that...but took that advice, inspected the gun thoroughly..and have been very satisfied with it. I don't shoot it allot but have only run non-corrosive (Barnaul) ammo through it so far. Even bought some soft point in case some saucy groundhog is near my truck when I pull into a field. I've yet to get a bead on one that way...but it still comes along for the ride.
Anyhow, to me..the gun is a $225 piece of military history at the very least. A robust, cheap-to-shoot semi-auto that will be an interesting learning tool. Getting comfortable with stripping it is a good idea, a very well-engineered thing worth getting to know. Even though a bit of the novelty factor has worn off for me, I smile when I see it in the safe..and new shooters (given the chance) will reach for it ahead over any other gun I have with me during casual range trips. It would never be a gun I'd suggest as anyone's "first"...but I do think it's worth having one. I didn't for a long time...but I do enjoy having it now that I do.
Edit: I'll add one thing.. About 1/2 the SKS's "charm" (if you can call it that) is the rifle in it's original configuration. They're not rare/valuable guns so at the end of the day...if you feel like making it a "tactical" looking rifle with lots of add-on crap, that's your call. Have fun. The only "upgrade" to mine is something you can't even see~a finer, "target" front sight post. Got it from Hi Cal but don't see it listed on their site now. Worth asking. That, and an AK front sight adjustment tool. I had to drift my front sight slightly to get things running just right. As for accuracy~my late buddy Andrew shot mine off a bench at a turkey target the day we patterned our shotguns. The first 3 shots were touching each other on the target @ 50 yards. Best I've ever seen an SKS shoot, even if I can't achieve that myself. Good to know the rifle is capable of it.
Last edited by Groundhogger; 02-14-2017 at 07:46 PM.
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