7.62x39 brush gun SKS v.s. Mini 30?

[steelgray]

Quite a long time ago, I used to hunt in a hunting party where we would “chase deer”.

The way that goes is one group of four guys or so parks themselves in the woods and another group of four or so would go to the far side of that bush lot - say a mile or so back and would walk toward the first group - making noise to flush the deer toward the shooters. It was a pretty productive way to hunt and people didn't mind being the deer chasers - since the odds of getting a deer were about the same whether you were part of the moving group or the stationary group. Weirdly enough, in those days, pretty well everybody I hunted with had a bolt action in 270 or 30-06. That seems to be weird now - since the deer were always flying through the bush and were always very close whenever you had a chance to get a shot off.

That type of hunting also involved a lot of loading and unloading your gun every time you got in and out of the truck - as you move from one place to another. Most of the bolt action shooter guys, I was with, ended-up dumping their rounds every time they finished one part of the hunt and shoving rounds back in the fixed box magazine for the next segment. A detachable mag would have made perfect sense - but nobody I hunted with had one. Open country shots were few and far between - although these became the stock of big boasts when a person did get a chance to take a deer on the far side of a farmer’s field, or something like that.

Neither the Mini 30 nor the SKS were really on the scene then. Obviously, they would be good choices for that kind of hunting situation now. Which would you choose? Lots of folks - but not all - would say that the Mini 30 is a better gun but, heck, it's like 3 times the money. Your thoughts?

 

[TK-Hryciuk]

I’ve hunted plenty of deer in the bush with an SKS with appropriate hunting loads. They make for awesome and fast brush guns

 

[conor_90]

Sounds like the cz 527 with its box mag, light weight, short barrel and iron sights would be perfect for this.

Classic CGN answer I know.

 

[ljones]

Ruger American Ranch bolt rifle in 7.62X39. 16.5" barrel and it uses Mini 30 magazines. Mine is dead nuts accurate with factory Federal Fusion ammo. Short fast to swing rifle for the kind of hunting you are describing. Or the Howa 1500 Mini action bolt rifle in 7.62X39. Both use detachable mags. Put a lower powered scope like a 1-4 power or a 1-6 and you have the setup you need. I like the SKS and Mini 30. But these will perform better in my opinion for what it is worth.

 

[Gnome75]

I would grab an SKS. Accurate enough and if the deer comes at you, your bayonet may save your life. But seriously why spend $1000 when you can spend $200 to accomplish the same job. Is $800 worth the detachable mag and a slightly lighter gun? You could even write off the detachable mag if you buy one for the SKS.

 

[Galt]

As much as I am a fan of the Ruger Minis..even. I cant justify the money over an SKS or even the Norc x39 version of the M305 if you want that rotating Garand type action and bonus is AK mags are cheaper than Ruger mags.

 

[Suther]

Sounds like the cz 527 with its box mag, light weight, short barrel and iron sights would be perfect for this.

Classic CGN answer I know.

Ruger American Ranch bolt rifle in 7.62X39. 16.5" barrel and it uses Mini 30 magazines. Mine is dead nuts accurate with factory Federal Fusion ammo. Short fast to swing rifle for the kind of hunting you are describing. Or the Howa 1500 Mini action bolt rifle in 7.62X39. Both use detachable mags. Put a lower powered scope like a 1-4 power or a 1-6 and you have the setup you need. I like the SKS and Mini 30. But these will perform better in my opinion for what it is worth.

Isn't the whole point of the thread to look at SEMI AUTO rifles that are chambered in intermediate cartridges? lol

I have no experience with the mini30 (or mini14) but I would think they are likely lighter than the SKS? The SKS isn't super heavy (mine weighed 7lb 12.5oz, and thats without the sling or bayonet, no optic, no ammo) but its certainly not a light rifle either - my Savage Axis is only 6oz heavier with a sling, 4rds ammo, scope and one piece mount.

The SKS is super reliable though. Factory configuration isn't a detachable magazine and the duckbill mags are far too bulky IMO, but the hinged floor plate style magazine from the factory are very easy to empty into your hand. The alternative would be one of the AR mag adapters - but thats even more weight. If you're talking shots of 100yds or less, an SKS with a red dot is likely a fine choice. Longer than that and you probably want some sort of magnification, and with an SKS that leads to a really bad cheek weld unless you build the stock comb up somehow.

If you already own an SKS, I would say try it out. If you don't like it, you can always go back to whatever you're using now... But in all honesty, I don't think it really matters whether you have a semi or bolt or whatever, but if I can't get a well-aimed shot I'm not shooting. YMMV.

 

[9.3mauser]

Neither. I think the cartridge is a poor choice for deer that are on the fly and may be hit around the edges.

 

[Jmcc]

do you still hunt this way? We've move to tree stands and are far more successful.

Would the SKS be stock or tapco detachable mag?

The wood stock would feel more natural in the bush but the detachable mag sure would be more convenient getting in and out of vehicles

I like my SKS's (i had a few but sold them all last week to Mike) but the accuracy isnt as good as like for well placed shots at middle distances. I know id hit the deer for sure, just not necessarily in exactly the place i want.

 

[saskcop]

I have owned a number of Mini 30's over the years and although I am a fan of the platforms, they just are not worth the money these days. Get an SKS.

 

[Suther]

Neither. I think the cartridge is a poor choice for deer that are on the fly and may be hit around the edges.

I think the idea of shooting running deer far more of an issue than the cartridge chosen. A bad hit is a bad hit, regardless of the caliber, sure you'll be better off with a marginal hit with a bigger caliber but you'll also lose more meat... Some guys use 223s here in BC with good success, but we don't hunt the same way as some guys back east...

 

[LarryG]

I'm a great fan of the sks, but I think I would rather take a peep sighted or low power scoped 30-30 lever action or savage 99c, or a pump action remington 760/7600. The 99c and 760/7600 give you a detachable mag. which as you mentioned, would be useful. Guns like this run at $400-600, about 2x the sks price, but more accurate, lighter, shorter etc.

here's a 99c currently listed.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1904133-Savage-99-C-in-308?highlight=savage+99

 

[geologist]

Sks

 

[Kosmonument]

I love the Mini 30.

 

[Butcherbill]

Sks

Same here, mine shoot well out to 200y with sp hunting ammo. I would be confident hunting deer with one.

 

[45CAT]

Before you lay out any money, are these rifles going to be around in 21 days ( SKS, Ruger Mini )

 

[Jmcc]

Before you lay out any money, are these rifles going to be around in 21 days ( SKS, Ruger Mini )

I think Mike (in Canmore) has bought them all anyway...

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Before you lay out any money, are these rifles going to be around in 21 days ( SKS, Ruger Mini )

Good point on that. If the Turd gets flushed on election day, then I'd definitely take an SKS for fast work at ranges inside 100 yds. I've taken deer with the SKS's I owned years back and had no complaints with the performance of the rifles for accuracy, killing power and dead nuts reliability in the field. Use good ammo & a good low power scope or red dot unit and ye be good to go.

 

[ljones]

Neither. I think the cartridge is a poor choice for deer that are on the fly and may be hit around the edges.

Don't hit around the edges. If you can't hit accurately with the 7.62 then you won't hit accurately with any other semi or other caliber. You can use a magnum but if you miss the sweetspot it will get away wounded.

Besides if a bolt action 7.62X39 is used you can reload and rev up the cartridge. That is why I suggested the bolt over the semi auto earlier in this thread. I am using 150 gr Sierra Prohunters pushed out at the same velocity as the 123 gr pills in my Howa. Sub MOA accuracy. It is a very capable cartridge. I will using it this fall for my deer.

 

[Suther]

Before you lay out any money, are these rifles going to be around in 21 days ( SKS, Ruger Mini )

The sks won't be banned. Yet.

Wood stock, fixed magazine, no pistol grip, no shoulder thing that goes up... It lacks literally every quality the msm would be against - except the whole part where it was actually used by a military, but they don't actually care about that part.

The mini 14/30, with its detachable mag, Pistol grip, and connection Ecole Poly on the other hand... That could make the list...


Either way, they're both NR. The Libs won't know you have one. Good luck confiscating what they don't know you own. They're worth far more on the black market than the govt will ever pay you...