While I totally agree with your sentiment, I think the OP had bear hunting in mind when he posed the question.
Although, bear defence is slowly creeping into this thread.
7.62x39 for bear
- Thread starter LiGuang
- Start date
While I totally agree with your sentiment, I think the OP had bear hunting in mind when he posed the question.
Although, bear defence is slowly creeping into this thread.
A Chukchi hunter (indigenous Chukotka people http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukchi_people) who put out an untold number of white bears with standard FMJ bullets from his old SKS rifle answering a similar question on a Russian forum said: " I have never heard of a bear which did not fall after the 5th bullet..." So don't worry and just keep shooting
The 7.62x39 would be fine but the FMJ part will bring you grief (IF IT IS LEGAL) Pick your shots and make sure you are hitting the precise location you are aiming at . Would I hunt bear with a 7.62 fmj NO .
SKS with 123gn SP would work on a bear. They are not bullet-proof. Charging bear, now that might be different.
OP, I will tell you what I have told others here. Handloads are your friend for improving SKS accuracy.
Below are some rounds I loaded for a friend's SKS.
50 yds, bipod, Canadian Tire rifle. Lower hole was my sighting shot. Adjusted to that, fired for effect.
Measured group, admittedly, slow, relaxed shots.
Fastest bullet in a string of 10
Slowest in the string
Not really any feed issues, just had to polish the ramp a tiny bit.
Good luck, Ted.
OP, I will tell you what I have told others here. Handloads are your friend for improving SKS accuracy.
Below are some rounds I loaded for a friend's SKS.
50 yds, bipod, Canadian Tire rifle. Lower hole was my sighting shot. Adjusted to that, fired for effect.
Measured group, admittedly, slow, relaxed shots.
Fastest bullet in a string of 10
Slowest in the string
Not really any feed issues, just had to polish the ramp a tiny bit.
Good luck, Ted.
A sks is not a bad choice for a first time rifle get a case of surplus ammo and practice take your time make every shot count no spray and pray rambo stuff
After you shoot off the case of surplus ammo you should know the round and rifle pretty good then you will have the experience to know for yourself whether or not you can hunt with it and how fare you can safely shoot accurately
I hunt with 7.62x39 but mostly in a bolt action but sometimes I pick up a sks when it is going to be a ugly hunt in crappy weather or crappy conditions
But only hunt with hunting ammo SP
After you shoot off the case of surplus ammo you should know the round and rifle pretty good then you will have the experience to know for yourself whether or not you can hunt with it and how fare you can safely shoot accurately
I hunt with 7.62x39 but mostly in a bolt action but sometimes I pick up a sks when it is going to be a ugly hunt in crappy weather or crappy conditions
But only hunt with hunting ammo SP
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bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Why does everyone associate deer calibers as being fine for bear hunting? You guys should realize not every black bear is 2 years old and weighs under 150 lbs.
If the OP wants to hunt fall bear with his SKS, there's a chance he can have the opportunity at a 500 lb+ bear. Is 123 gr. at under 2000 fps a good choice for that, especially a novice hunter? You might want to rethink your choice of caliber.
If the OP wants to hunt fall bear with his SKS, there's a chance he can have the opportunity at a 500 lb+ bear. Is 123 gr. at under 2000 fps a good choice for that, especially a novice hunter? You might want to rethink your choice of caliber.
I suppose for a different reason than some folks like to hunt with the maximum? SKS is an all around fun gun for folks on a budget...I've shot a few deer with mine, it suffices if power levels are respected.
BTW, Bear makes a 154 gr that ( guessing here ) would be more suitable for Bear. No pun intended.
statixstorm
Regular
- Location
- At the gettin' place.
IIRC FMJ is illegal to hunt with, get yourself some decent soft points, and you should be neck deep in meat all winter.
after shooting a 1000 or 2000 rounds he will realise he is better off with a different rifle and caliber but he will have gained a ton of experience by fall
I would hope someone that lives near him will take him out shooting and let him try out some different rifles and mentor him ,after all it's just a place for him to start
Nope. There's only 3 pages of posts to browse through. Half of them address your comment. FMJ hunting in ON is dumb, but not illegal.
I always carry some 7.62x51 FMJ with me when hunting to use for signal shots.
statixstorm
Regular
- Location
- At the gettin' place.
Why would I read 3 pages of people bickering?
...he bickered quizzically.
If you don't want to read pages upon pages of people bickering, you are in the wrong forum my friend. ;-)
Hell, come to think of it, you're in the wrong HOBBY!
That and we are still on the first page lol.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The 7.62X39 is a decent enough cartridge for hunting deer, wolves, or barren land caribou, but the SKS, as issued, is usually a miserable platform, despite some promising results that have been posted on here by Gatehouse and others. But chambered in a small bolt action rifle like the CZ-527, where the benefits of a suitable stock design, a good trigger, and quality sights, work to the advantage of the hunter, the 7.62X39 needs to be evaluated in a fresh light . When loaded with 130-150 gr bullets, which provide a balance between sufficient penetration and good bullet performance, due to an impact velocity in excess of 2000 fps, and when fired in a quick handling, easy to shoot rifle, it isn't a bad choice.
When the question of bear defense comes up, that is not the optimum application for a 7.62X39, although if its all you have, it will have to do. There are probably more 200 pound black bears killed by hunters, than there are 500 pound bears, so my association of the challenges related to, and the cartridges that are suitable for, problem bears weighing half a ton, might be seem excessive. That said, bear hunting, can become bear defense if things go poorly; a fact that I discovered as a youngster. So my preference for a bear gun, even a black bear gun, starts with cartridges in the .30/06 class, and its little wonder that .270s, .303s, .308s, and 8X57s have accounted for so many black rugs in front of an equal number of fireplaces.
When the question of bear defense comes up, that is not the optimum application for a 7.62X39, although if its all you have, it will have to do. There are probably more 200 pound black bears killed by hunters, than there are 500 pound bears, so my association of the challenges related to, and the cartridges that are suitable for, problem bears weighing half a ton, might be seem excessive. That said, bear hunting, can become bear defense if things go poorly; a fact that I discovered as a youngster. So my preference for a bear gun, even a black bear gun, starts with cartridges in the .30/06 class, and its little wonder that .270s, .303s, .308s, and 8X57s have accounted for so many black rugs in front of an equal number of fireplaces.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
But since we don't know the size of the bear we may encounter ahead of time, it's best to match the caliber to the largest possible specimen. That goes for all animals.
