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SKS as a hunter ...

zipperzap
I have an extensive collection of mostly handguns. That's been my primary interest in the last 50 years, however, I'm never beneath picking up a new and interesting firearm if it comes along and tempts me!

I have always assumed that Russian military semi-auto rifles were pretty 'loose and sloppy' - much to loose for much accuracy. Well, was *I* wrong!

I picked one up a couple of months ago, a '54 Russian SKS restocked (with a black Butler Creek nylon-like stock) and scoped with a 4x25 scope - it looked sharp and caught my eye.

I went to the range yesterday and compared it to my Springfield MA9106 M1A1 and a grandson's M4 - both scoped, as well.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when the little Russian SKS (no, I don't sell them) kept right up with the other two out to about 300 yards.

Now, here's the question ... have any of you used an SKS to hunt mule deer? One of my grandsons wants to take it out and use it as a hunter - he likes the weight/balance of it.

I'm very impressed with the 7.62x39 round but know nothing about it. Any advice from someone who has actually used one in the field (medium brush to light forest) would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Scott
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Comments

14 comments

Date Votes
  • agman1999
    I've never used mine, mainly because I've never seen any ammunition that I felt was suitable, but they're generally considered to be fine as a brush gun, with similar ballistics as a 30-30, effective to about 100 yards for whitetail. Never talked to anyone who used one on mule deer.
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    A friend of mine has hunted black tail deer with his and shot at least one. I notice that the sporting ammo makers do make hunting loads for it. Ditto the 30-30 ballistics.

    Aberdeen.gif
    81st FA BN WWII...Thanks Dad
    U!S!A! ALL THE WAY!!
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  • Blckhrn
    First, I recently purchased an unissued Russian SKS and the workmanship on it is excellent. Russian milled AK's are also sought after. I have a preban Norinco SKS that is a little loose and far inferior to my Russian. Military self feeders generally are a little on the loose side to prevent jamming under more extreme conditions.

    I'm a northeastern frozen brain and we only have whitetails here. Some of them get pretty big but an SKS and 7.62x39 ammo is adequate for the terrain and the usual whitetail shot that comes along. This is generally within 100 yards.

    The problem with the russian cartridge is bullet weight availability due to its use ( gas operated autos) and limited capacity for propellant. Remington provides a ballistics table for anything they make. http://www.remington.com/ammo/ballistics/centerfire/comp_ballistics_results.asp

    http://www.remington.com/ Should get you to their home page. Pull down menu at top under ammunition->Ballistics

    This pretty much gives you the whole story and should tell you what you want to know. Assuming you've hunted mule deer before and recall the load you were using you can compare. In the first link I chose the 7.62, 30/30 and 30/06. Bullet weights from 125 (all) to 220gr (30/06)

    "You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
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  • Bill Costik
    I grew up, if you can call 19 grown up, shooting a .270 Winchester for deer. I don't hunt brush, just forests, so I may be biased. IMHO, if you want a fast ahndling gun, go with a lever gun in .308, or maybe a auto-loader in .30-06 or .270. Much longer range, and still fast handling.
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  • Ray Boone
    You might want to avoid using one in Wisconsin.
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  • Blckhrn
    "I'm very impressed with the 7.62x39 round but know nothing about it. Any advice from someone who has actually used one in the field (medium brush to light forest) would be appreciated."

    It was rather effective against two legged prey in the more dense forests of Vietman.



    "You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
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  • Xracer
    RayB......only if you're Hmong. [:D]
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  • gruntled
    There may be laws regarding the magazine capasity. If so there are drop-in replacement 5 round magazines.
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  • zipperzap
    Thanks for the info agman1999, MT357, and Blckhrn.I've heard that
    they are pretty comparable to 30-30s. Glad to have that confirmed.
    My second rifle was an old Model 94 - an old true friend.

    gruntled, the capacity is 10 rounds in California. I've never
    needed more than one to down a deer with a scoped rifle - except
    once. Some friends set up a decoy (homemade) buck to make
    a fool out of me - after the third shot (I *KNEW* I was putting
    them right in there, on the money, each and every time) their
    laughter confirmed that they had succeeded, beautifully! That day
    marked the beginning of my 'more humble period.'

    Incidentally, Bill, my favorite long distance rifle, for years, was a
    Winchester 270. I'd probably still be using it if I hunted any more.
    Now, I'm pretty much a range lizard. Time tends to catch up with
    one, eventually - after about 60 they start making those damned hills
    and mountains a lot steeper ... and the days longer, too. Sad.
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  • sharpshooter039
    I dont know about mule deer but I have a safe full of longguns and my teenage son always picks up his SKS to hunt whitetails.He takes two or three a year with it,to this day has never lost one he shot but we burn ALOT of powder and he is an excellent shot with it.

    [image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/869284/nogunnextdoor.gif[/image]
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  • Ray Boone
    zap- reminds me of a story I read about 25 years ago, a guy took a mounted deer head, a hair-on hide, a 55 gallon drum and some 2x4s. set the thing up on some posted land, in sight of the public access. You know what happened.
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  • heavyiron
    Hi Zipperzap,

    The SKS would make a fine hunter.

    Many people scoff at it because there did not used to be good hunting bullets available for the 7.62x39. However, this is no longer true! All the major ammo makers factory load a hunting round for the 7.62x39 so excellent bullet performance is currently available. Additionally, if you do not like the factory loaded hunting ammunition, all the major ammunition makers also make components for the 7.62x39. There is no reason that military ammo has to be used in the SKS any longer.

    As far as ballistics are concerned, the 7.62x39 spitzer bullet will do everything and more the FN or RN .30-30 will do. At 100 yards, energy and velocity for both are almost the same, but at 200 yards, the 7.62x39 has 20% more energy/velocity than the .30-30 due to the more effective ballastic coefficient of the spitzer bullet. Therefore, performance from the 7.62x39 will generally outperform the .30-30 at distance. The 7.62x39 can easily do everything the .30-30 can do.

    Regards,

    Heavyiron[8D]

    bullitt_county_4199_small.jpg
    "If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix
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  • Blckhrn
    Sharpshooter, nice idea for a billboard for my lawn, HeavyIron, good point on the spitzer points.

    "You can build a man a fire and keep him warm for a couple hours or douse him with fuel oil and keep him warm the rest of his life"
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  • Frogbert
    Wolf makes a 154 grain soft point that leaves the barrel at better than 2100 fps. Out performs the 30-30 especially over 100 to 400 yards. It is available from Cheaper Than Dirt.com.

    Frog.

    RRiBBButt...
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