Opinion required on SKS for hunting
- Thread starter rosh7674
- Start date
Instead of buying a rifled barrel for your rem 870 have a look at one of these savage rifle packages with a scope for not much more money.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=590194
Ps don't buy a magnum for a starter rifle.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=590194
Ps don't buy a magnum for a starter rifle.
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
If money's tight then get a Lee-Enfield .303 sporter and put a basic scope on it, the ballistics are fine out to 200 yards and the scope will give you accuracy. If your off-hand shooting sucks, get a Harris Bipod and get into a prone or seated firing position, you'll be amazed! The .303 with 150 grain bullets will work well for deer and not have as much of a rainbow trajectory as the 180 grainers, which you would use for moose if you decide to try hunting them one day. Some .303s have barrels that are in better condition than others, I'd make sure you can exchange it for another if your sight-in at the range reveals you have a bad shooter.
If your budget allows, get a .270 or 30.06 in one of those Savage packages, even better!
If your budget allows, get a .270 or 30.06 in one of those Savage packages, even better!
Thanks guys, I have a 870 express with changeable barrel. As far why I did not find out all this before shooting a living thing. All I can say is that I was a dumb ass, because through my research on CZ858 I knew sks cartridge was adequate enough to kill a deer. I do know that it is more of a user error than the actual gun. I know many people have used this gun to hunt. But my question is how can I make it accurate in terms
How to hold the gun properly so it doesn't move.
Should I put scope on the gun so I can see the target more clearly, then using the ironsights.
Any info provided will be appreciated
How to hold the gun properly so it doesn't move.
Should I put scope on the gun so I can see the target more clearly, then using the ironsights.
Any info provided will be appreciated
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pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
I would get a bipod for the SKS (you'll have to remove the bayonet) and practice shooting it with the bipod at 100 metres. When you can put three or four shots in
a six inch circle at that distance all the time, then you'll know you can use the SKS for deer up to 100 metres. The SKS isn't a very good hunting rifle, you would be better served with an old Lee-Enfield in .303 British, with even a cheap scope you'd be good
to past 200 yards on deer. I wouldn't bother scoping the SKS, your max range with practice would go from 100 to 150 metres.
a six inch circle at that distance all the time, then you'll know you can use the SKS for deer up to 100 metres. The SKS isn't a very good hunting rifle, you would be better served with an old Lee-Enfield in .303 British, with even a cheap scope you'd be good
to past 200 yards on deer. I wouldn't bother scoping the SKS, your max range with practice would go from 100 to 150 metres.
rosh
I have spent many hours tinkering with my ChiCom 56. I have adjusted the sear for a positive hammer movement, polished all the bearing surfaces in the trigger group and lubricated them with molybdenum disulphide. I fully bedded the receiver and relieved the front stock. I installed a Weaver "Convert a Mount" and Leapers scope.
On a good day I can hold a 2-3" group at 100 yd using Czech Mil Surps.
That all said, for deer I use an M96 sporter in 6.5x55SE.
Game deserves the first round to be accurate and lethal. Even with all the work I have done on my SKS I cannot guarantee that first round.
There are many rifles available, used and new, that are inexpensive, accurate and are chambered for suitable proven large game calibres.
Keep your SKS for plinking and having fun.
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
Exactly, why limit yourself to 100 yard shots on deer when there are inexpensive options?
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
A scope wont help you hold the gun steadier. In fact it will probably frustrate you more because you'll be chasing the bulls eye with the crosshairs as youy can see it better.
It comes down to practice, and that the SKS is not a good hunting rifle. Its heavy (especially in the front end) which typically hunting rifles are not. 7.62x39 is OK for deer at short range, but it is far from the best hunting cartridge out their.
I'd purchase some Federal soft ooints and try those. You said you used some russian soft point, perhaps they are the problem.
mike shickele
Regular
I had one, and I sold it in 2 weeks; just after I'd gone to the effort to mount a scope on it. As they sit, they're probably not the best hunting rifle (mine had horrible accuracy), but I don't doubt that someone has had the time and the money to figure out how to make one shoot with good ammo. I'm not against using an "assult" rifle for hunting. An m14, or m16 can be made to shoot very well. Oddly enough, a negative stigma has been placed on them EVEN BY HUNTERS!!!???
Guess they don't understand what freedom is.
(I hunt with bolts BTW)
Mike
Guess they don't understand what freedom is.
(I hunt with bolts BTW)
Mike
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Oh theirs no question, they are definitely NOT the best hunting rifle. They werent designed for it and it shows plainly so.
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
The stigma has nothing to do with "assault rifles" it has everything to do with an inaccurate super-mass produced rifle chambered for a cartridge that has to be handloaded for best performance. AR's and M-14's are a huge leap forward over an SKS for hunting.
mike shickele
Regular
In that sentence I was actually talking about the M14 and M16, of which, down south, are both being used to very good effect. I have also seen examples of SKS's that would hit objects the size of an orange at 50 yards with milsurp ammo, and origonal sights, so I wouldn't totally dismiss even the SKS.
I have spoken to hunters that would prefer that it was just illegal to hunt with any form of semiauto (the rights exist when it only benifits them). This is wrong; a firearm is a firearm. It is up to the person holding it weather they will shoot one well placed shot, or just blast away in hope that they hit something.
Mike
Perhaps you need to investigate the "cartridge's performance". The SKS is a mass produced, hit or miss accuracy rifle. I have 4. One shoots about 2" - 2.5" groups at 100yds. One shoots 3" - 4" groups. One shot 6" groups at 100yds when I got it. I counter-bored 3/4" of the muzzle and now it shoots to the same 2" - 2.5" groups as the first. Just got the 4th this winter and haven't fired it yet. That is an SKS, with Milsurp ammo.
Taking that same ammo and firing it in a better rifle. I get just over 1MOA out of my Remington 799 with Norinco Silver box ammo. Now, who the hell thinks that the cartridge is inaccurate as is? Not me. There are factory rounds out there that don't give that kind of accuracy. Federal PowerShocks just barely beat it giving me 1" groups. Granted, the best is the PRVI soft point ammo. I can get 3/4" groups with that.
That being said, more reliable rifles are out there for hunting, but show me where, as gatehouse said, the SKS will not hit in the 8" kill zone o f a deer at 150yds.
People have stated that the x39 round is underpowered even compared to the .30-30. I call bullsh!t!! Check the numbers.
italics added by me.
See, in real print. Try some real experience as well. This round will take deer humanely and effectively at 150yds with a 125gn bullet and at 200yds with a 150gn bullet. I know real hunters that think a 3" group is fantastic shooting!! More than good enough to hunt with, using their factory semi-auto hunting rifles.
As I stated earlier this winter on this forum...I will load 180gn bullets this year and report the results from both my SKS's and the 799.
mike shickele
Regular
I would actually think of a 150gr ballistic tip for this rifle. Most of the 180gr bullets may not expand enough due to the lower velocity, but a quick expanding 150gr bullet should work very well.
Mike
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
I've got an SKS for fun, Mike, and I agree that some older hunters have a bias against "assault style" rifles being used for hunting, but most of us don't. There
are several models of these rifles that are quite accurate and the 6.8SPC and the
.308 are decent hunting cartridges. I get about 4-5" groups at 100 yards with
commercial ammo from my SKS, and that's NOT anywhere good enough to make
the SKS a deer hunting rifle of mine! I use a Ruger M77 in .270 Win for deer(MOA),
and a glass-bedded custom bolt rifle in 30.06(.6 MOA) for elk and moose...
are several models of these rifles that are quite accurate and the 6.8SPC and the
.308 are decent hunting cartridges. I get about 4-5" groups at 100 yards with
commercial ammo from my SKS, and that's NOT anywhere good enough to make
the SKS a deer hunting rifle of mine! I use a Ruger M77 in .270 Win for deer(MOA),
and a glass-bedded custom bolt rifle in 30.06(.6 MOA) for elk and moose...
Thanks guys. I used the Prvi Partizan Soft Points ammo 123gr or 124 gr can remember. I know for sure that it is I not the gun as far accuracy is concern. I have seen people on youtube hitting 1" at 100, 200 and 300 yards. I was told that in Alberta most deer are taken with in 60 -150 yard range. I know 7.69x39 is capable of killing deer at 150 yard because I took one last year. I might buy SVT40 or M14 to give it a try too. What you think
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blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
What do you have against an actual hunting rifle? They are lighter and more importantly - meant for hunting!
You can get a Savage or Stevens rifle/scope package for like $350, in a legitimate hunting calibre.
This is very true. My beef is not that the OP should get a hunting rifle, but that people are stating that you can't hunt with an SKS. You CAN, and effectively. You just need to know your limitations with it. I also think that no matter what the OP gets, it won't make any difference if he doesn't spend lots of time shooting for practice.
