SKS for deer

[tokguy]

You're talking out of your hole.

The x39 has plenty of power to properly anchor deer or moose at reasonable distances. A good friend of mine has a titanic set of moose antlers from the bull that he shot with his Ruger M77 in 7.62x39. Does the platform somehow determine the propriety of a round for hunting? Is the x39 in the Ruger bolt action somehow superior to the x39 in the SKS? Or is it the semi auto platform that offends your sense of decency? Would a Ruger Mini 30 be less offensive? Every platform has it's limitations, but to pillory someone for using a round or platform that you feel is improper is the height of conceit and self importance. Are there better choices than the SKS for deer hunting? I would say yes, but the SKS is far from the worst choice and as it is perfectly adequate given a set of parameters, why should we discourage it's ethical and legally permissible use?

Well spoken.
From my locale I'd rather see a guy with an SKS than a 300 Win Mag or 7mm Rem Mag. Lots of 'S' curves in the creek with relatively thick bush around it means shorter shots and way more knowledge / disipline about field of fire. Just too many houses that are on 'the other side' of the thick willows; big rifles carry so much further, more energy.
I've several 'Bigger' calibers that have to go for outings elsewhere.

 

[Superbrad]

You're talking out of your hole.

The x39 has plenty of power to properly anchor deer or moose at reasonable distances. A good friend of mine has a titanic set of moose antlers from the bull that he shot with his Ruger M77 in 7.62x39. Does the platform somehow determine the propriety of a round for hunting? Is the x39 in the Ruger bolt action somehow superior to the x39 in the SKS? Or is it the semi auto platform that offends your sense of decency? Would a Ruger Mini 30 be less offensive? Every platform has it's limitations, but to pillory someone for using a round or platform that you feel is improper is the height of conceit and self importance. Are there better choices than the SKS for deer hunting? I would say yes, but the SKS is far from the worst choice and as it is perfectly adequate given a set of parameters, why should we discourage it's ethical and legally permissible use?

The op isnt asking about the round.... he is asking about the platform..... he is admittedly a new deer hunter and is asking opinions on the platform which he says he feels comfortable with out to 100 yards....

A few questions come to mid right off.... can he tell the difference between 100 and 150 yards in a live game scenario?.... has he hunted enough to have steady nerves when that buck walks out at 100 so that he and his chosen platform can perform as well as they do on "paper" as he puts it?..... if you were mentoring or starting off a new hunter would you suggest this as a good starter rifle?

 

[Superbrad]

This summer I watched numerous brand new shooters hit a gong at 100 yards with both scoped and iron sighted SKS rifles. Sometimes they planted both elbows on the table while standing, sometimes they did it from offhand. Often they missed by an inch or 2 with a few shots, but hit several others.

They only usually got 10 shots, but most connected on at least a few. Brand new, never shot before that day shooters. .

You have much better vision than I do if you can see by how many inches someone misses a gong at 100 yards....

 

[FLYBYU44]

Making a comparison between a crossbow/bow and SKS/hunting rifle is not at all the same. Most archery hunters sit in stands, spend hours if not days waiting for the ethical close range shot and have multiple stories of huge animals within easy rifle range that are passed due to the limitations of stick n twine.

What is the ethical distance for a Whitetail for the 7.62x39, i would doubt that range is any further than a crossbow. The crossbow would also be more ethical at the same distance, more lethality and accuracy.

This is not the first thread talking about the SKS and 7.62x39 for hunting, not the second either. My take, you bought a range toy to shoot thousands of rounds of cheap surplus. That was the purpose...period. It is not a hunting rifle or round. You made your choice and bought the toy. Ethically taking game animals is not for toys. Want to hunt, buy a hunting rifle.

I know I'm new to hunting, but not to shooting, and this is possible the most ignorant thing I've read regarding using an SKS for deer. For starters, the 7.62X39 round is very similar in energy to a 30-30 with pointed bullets, how many game animals have fallen to a 30-30? I don't like to use scopes, have never cared for them, I've had other "hunting rifles" and I'm more accurate with my SKS then any of those rifles, which have included a Winchester model 70 with iron sights in 30-06 and a Marlin 30-30.

 

[FLYBYU44]

The op isnt asking about the round.... he is asking about the platform..... he is admittedly a new deer hunter and is asking opinions on the platform which he says he feels comfortable with out to 100 yards....

A few questions come to mid right off.... can he tell the difference between 100 and 150 yards in a live game scenario?.... has he hunted enough to have steady nerves when that buck walks out at 100 so that he and his chosen platform can perform as well as they do on "paper" as he puts it?..... if you were mentoring or starting off a new hunter would you suggest this as a good starter rifle?

Actually I wasn't asking about a platform, I have that, I was asking about good hunting rounds and if people who have actually use an SKS for deer hunting had any tips or personal experiences to share. Seems like many people did not read my original post and instead piled on the SKS is a horrible hunting rifle bandwagon. That was not my intention.

 

[theshootist]

And how will you feel if you fail your challenge?.... And what are the consequences to your prey?

Sometimes irons can be an asset depending on the circumstances

 

[FLYBYU44]

If a deer fails to come into range 100yards and under I will not shoot, same as grouse hunting, if I don't feel confident I either move in closer or simply walk away. That is why it's called hunting and not shopping. Don't want to come off as a ####, but some people felt the need to bash my choice instead of adding something constuctive to the thread. I was mostly interested in what people used for a hunting round as I heard some of the cheaper soft point rounds did not work as well as they should. As for to whether the SKS is a perfect hunting rifle, I know it isn't, nothing really is, eveything has comprimises in design. I would rather use a SKS then a Savage Axis, it is cheaper, far better built and has a wood stock.

 

[nowarningshot]

You're talking out of your hole.

The x39 has plenty of power to properly anchor deer or moose at reasonable distances. A good friend of mine has a titanic set of moose antlers from the bull that he shot with his Ruger M77 in 7.62x39. Does the platform somehow determine the propriety of a round for hunting? Is the x39 in the Ruger bolt action somehow superior to the x39 in the SKS? Or is it the semi auto platform that offends your sense of decency? Would a Ruger Mini 30 be less offensive? Every platform has it's limitations, but to pillory someone for using a round or platform that you feel is improper is the height of conceit and self importance. Are there better choices than the SKS for deer hunting? I would say yes, but the SKS is far from the worst choice and as it is perfectly adequate given a set of parameters, why should we discourage it's ethical and legally permissible use?

Well i said my peace. People with 200+ trades and 10,000 plus posts think its completely ethical to hunt with these. Makes me wonder, if you have 200 + trades dont you have a better choice, and 10,000 posts better judgement.

Who would choose to spend Ruger M77 money on the x 39 round, and also think it was a good idea for Moose? The x39 round might be minimally capable energy wise, but we have three things here...available energy, capability of the platform (SKS), and the judgement of the hunter. The first two for game are to be generous...marginal...by justifying those two i question the judgement of the hunter. Have nothing against semi rifles, own several. If the OP is offended by my honest opinion then why did you ask that opinion. Have some doubts yourself?

 

[Superbrad]

Actually I wasn't asking about a platform, I have that, I was asking about good hunting rounds and if people who have actually use an SKS for deer hunting had any tips or personal experiences to share. Seems like many people did not read my original post and instead piled on the SKS is a horrible hunting rifle bandwagon. That was not my intention.

You didn't ask about platform?.... your thread is titled "sks for deer".... not once did you even mention the round in your original post. sks IS the platform.... and you were asking if it was suitable....

I personally say no.... but then again I dont like the 30-30 round (or lever platform) either.... opinions are like axholes.... everyone has one... and if you open a thread asking for them you are going to get them...

 

[BeaverMeat]

Guess one other point not made above....People buy these too have fun....go ahead and do that. But if you spent your firearms budget on a fun ...toy.....dont try and kid yourself into thinking its the right tool for the job....Why would one choose to use something like a SKS if you have another center fire rifle for taking deer? If you only have money for one rifle and bought a SKS....no Deer for you ...one year.

I don't buy tools or toys for fun. I buy weapons.

To OP: The SKS will work fine if you know it's limitations and practice, practice, practice. That's the advantage of cheap ammo. You can shoot the crap out of it and learn the ins and outs to counter the accuracy variable.

Is it the "right tool" for the job? There is no "right tool". I prefer the term adequate. Is the SKS adequate for deer? Yes.

I chose the Vz58 for this year deer season just because. Why not? I have other "better" guns for hunting. I just want to piss off guys like nowarningshot.

 

[Gatehouse]

You have much better vision than I do if you can see by how many inches someone misses a gong at 100 yards....

Not hard to see the bullet hit the sand pile behind the gong.

 

[Gatehouse]

It's funny. A few here that have never hunted with an SKS are very opposed to it.

All I can think is : If a deer was foolish enough to walk in front of me at 100 yards while I had an SKS in my hand, that deer would be going in my freezer!

Actually, that's a good question for the naysayers-

Hypothetical situation: You have an SKS in your hand loaded with an appropriate expanding bullet. You've shot a few hundred rounds through this SKS and know it well.

The biggest buck you have ever seen walks out at 100 yards. It's giant, a massive trophy buck!

Do you shoot? Or do you stick to your principles that the SKS is unsuitable for hunting?

 

[tokguy]

Heck, if it was a Boone & Crockpot buck it'd be down just as fast.
The SKS works. It's an awkward, ill-balanced thing; the Rodney Dangerfield of Long arms in Canada, IMO.
But it's likely just as effective as any old Win 94 30-30.
Young fella's ( gals too, my girls like the SKS) banging away with the surplus raises some hackles; Bah...long as they practice safety, crack on.
If the naysayer's were young again and had a chance to thrash out an SKS they probably would. They are fun.
And surprisingly effective.
I've lately wandered into higher dollar, larger caliber rifles. Still keeping the old Laminate Ruskie around though.
Even my gal wants the SKS around if coyotes get to persistent. It's a simple platform; insert stripper, thumb down to load, throw out the empty stripper, tug back on the charging handle, aim and fire 5 rounds til it locks back. Not noisy with minimal recoil and works (pretty much) always.
What's not to like?
Do not understand the hate...

 

[Superbrad]

Heck, if it was a Boone & Crockpot buck it'd be down just as fast.
The SKS works. It's an awkward, ill-balanced thing; the Rodney Dangerfield of Long arms in Canada, IMO.
But it's likely just as effective as any old Win 94 30-30.
Young fella's ( gals too, my girls like the SKS) banging away with the surplus raises some hackles; Bah...long as they practice safety, crack on.
If the naysayer's were young again and had a chance to thrash out an SKS they probably would. They are fun.
And surprisingly effective.
I've lately wandered into higher dollar, larger caliber rifles. Still keeping the old Laminate Ruskie around though.
Even my gal wants the SKS around if coyotes get to persistent. It's a simple platform; insert stripper, thumb down to load, throw out the empty stripper, tug back on the charging handle, aim and fire 5 rounds til it locks back. Not noisy with minimal recoil and works (pretty much) always.
What's not to like?
Do not understand the hate...

I can speak only for myself, it is not a "hate" for me.... my line of thinking is this, what do you feel the top 3 to 5 best characteristics of a good hunting rifle are?.... mine are (in no particular order).... accuracy, weight, balance, reliability, cartridge chambered in.....

I don't think the sks excels or could even qualify as "average" in any of these categories.....

"Boone and crockpot".... I like that

 

[nowarningshot]

Well Beavermeat, your opinion doesn't carry enough weight with me too piss me off. Just cant understand it unless you like stirring the pot or feeding coyotes, especially since you profess to have other choices and know better.

Would i use a SKS for Deer, you betya, if i was starving, had no other alternative. I am not, have other choices. Gutshot animals two provinces away have little impact on me. My time in the field is too important to me and i have more respect for the game i pursue to even make a comment like that.

 

[Superbrad]

It's funny. A few here that have never hunted with an SKS are very opposed to it.

All I can think is : If a deer was foolish enough to walk in front of me at 100 yards while I had an SKS in my hand, that deer would be going in my freezer!

Actually, that's a good question for the naysayers-

Hypothetical situation: You have an SKS in your hand loaded with an appropriate expanding bullet. You've shot a few hundred rounds through this SKS and know it well.

The biggest buck you have ever seen walks out at 100 yards. It's giant, a massive trophy buck!

Do you shoot? Or do you stick to your principles that the SKS is unsuitable for hunting?

Flawed question.... I wouldnt put the myself in that position in the first place.... I always make sure I have a good tool to accomish the task at hand.... a better question is what is a novice hunter like the op going to do when the same deer walks out at 200?... think back to that time he hit a gong from a bench at 200 6 out of 10 times?.....

And no... I have never hunted with an sks.... I have never tried to field dress a deer with a spoon either.... why woukd I when there are so many more suitable tools to do the job?

 

[Gatehouse]

Flawed question.... I wouldnt put the myself in that position in the first place.... I always make sure I have a good tool to accomish the task at hand.... a better question is what is a novice hunter like the op going to do when the same deer walks out at 200?... think back to that time he hit a gong from a bench at 200 6 out of 10 times?.....

And no... I have never hunted with an sks.... I have never tried to field dress a deer with a spoon either.... why woukd I when there are so many more suitable tools to do the job?

I expected a response like this. It's the easiest way to respond- don't actually answer!

It's hard to commit to answering this question honestly, of course. Makes people look themselves in the mirror and that can get uncomfortable for some.

Question is still on the table for anyone who actually wants to answer honestly.

 

[Nester]

Bang....dead.


Great bush rifle and that bayonet is great for cooking kubisa on. Every rifle has it's limitation and a 100M shot with and SKS is quit doable...



http://2.bp.########.com/-mH_OSDUwZxc/TxtNKdaAaQI/AAAAAAAAAEw/6wmwX_f21qE/s640/7.62x39-ballistics.jpg

 

[tokguy]

I can speak only for myself, it is not a "hate" for me.... my line of thinking is this, what do you feel the top 3 to 5 best characteristics of a good hunting rifle are?.... mine are (in no particular order).... accuracy, weight, balance, reliability, cartridge chambered in.....

I don't think the sks excels or could even qualify as "average" in any of these categories.....

"Boone and crockpot".... I like that

This disagreement is remarkably civil; and I'm going to strive to keep my end civil too.
Superbrad - The SKS as it stands is mediocre when it comes to balance and accuracy, above average if weight for horsepower is considered ( like a hummer; big and underpowered). But reliability is above average, they are like a Jack-all that way. And the round is potent enuogh for deer sized game.
But nowarningshot; I do not understand how a platform you dislike equates to gutshot animals?
And, personally I respect the animals enough that a gutshot animal bothers me whether it's the next field or across the country. To only have respect for the game that you are personally hunting seems somewhat lacking in empathy.
Enough pontificating...stay safe guys

 

[BeaverMeat]

Well Beavermeat, your opinion doesn't carry enough weight with me too piss me off. Just cant understand it unless you like stirring the pot or feeding coyotes, especially since you profess to have other choices and know better.

Would i use a SKS for Deer, you betya, if i was starving, had no other alternative. I am not, have other choices. Gutshot animals two provinces away have little impact on me. My time in the field is too important to me and i have more respect for the game i pursue to even make a comment like that.

Partial pot stirring.

I think your angst of the SKS being used for hunting is lack of accuracy... Or perceived lack of accuracy leading to a wound not a kill. I know most people are narrow minded and if they have one inaccurate SKS, they MUST all be inaccurate.

By my calculations and using my collection for comparison. I would say 0.8 out of 10 (4 out of 50 or... 1,200,000 out of 15,000,000) SKSes will have decent accuracy, lol