How many rounds does the SkS take?

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

I would like to know how many bullets it takes to put another player down as I swapped my fully geared M4 for it as I would like to try the new weapon. I have 60 rounds for it and I was just wondring if it was worth keeping or swapping for a mosin or M4.

[RawkMode]

IRL it would take one round from the SKS, although I have no idea how it works in game. The SKS is basically the Soviet copy of the U.S. M1 Garand, with a locking spike bayonet attached and chambered for the 7.62 x 39 rifle cartridge (as opposed to the M1's 7.62 x 54). It's a big bullet, that's a tad underpowered for it's size, but was made that way on purpose for reasons of economy and ease of use.

Despite being, "underpowered" compared to the big NATO .30 caliber rifles, the SKS should put a man down at any reasonable range, even if wearing body armor, like military Zs. I would define, "reasonable range," as any range at which you can actually hit the target.

If it helps, just think of the SKS as an AK-47 with a small ammo capacity that fires on semi-auto only. It's the same bullet and practically the same rifle in most important respects. It also may help to know that the SKS was designed with the same considerations as almost all Soviet weaponry prior to the late 90s:

1. The person firing/using the weapon/equipment will have poor or little training
2. The person firing/using the weapon/equipment will have, on average, a military career no more than 2 or 3 years in length.
3. The person firing/using the weapon/equipment will have little incentive for high performance or skill development other than personal survival.
4. Therefore, training, morale, leadership and individual skill will not be determining factors in battle.
5. Weapons/equipment must be able to do the job adequately, regardless of the deficiencies of the person firing/using them.

In other words, the Soviet/East Bloc equipment available in game is practically tailor-made for most internet warriors. You want a big bullet fired from a rifle that won't knock you on your ass when you fire it? SKS seems like a good option. You want high accuracy and ROF, along with low weapons signature and great ballistics...and can keep yourself supplied with ammo? Stick with the M4.

As a side note, the Mosin is a development of the standard Russian Imperial battle rifle, and comes from a totally different family of weapons design. It uses the 7.62 x 54R...which is roughly the size of a Volkswagen. I used to own one of them, and the muzzle flash, blast effect and kick were pretty tremendous. It's one of those rifles that leaves bruises on your shoulder after firing. I also owned an SKS, and in comparison it was like a friendly puppy that just wanted to hang out and beg for treats. Fast, relatively accurate and didn't create much ruckus.

For me, if I could find a way to keep it maintained and stocked with ammo I'd probably choose the M4. On the other hand, I doubt either of those things would be easy after the Zombie Apocalypse. In that case, I'd probably just forget the M4 and go with the SKS right from the start.

And don't forget, machetes don't need reloading.

[SERGEANT]

I've owned a couple SKS variants. You can fit them with a 10, 20 or 30 round mag which you load via stripper clips from the chamber.