7.62x39

Sorry, I don't know who Tom Brown is. A google search comes up with the weather anchor for CTV Toronto.

Now we're really off topic..........

He's a survivalist-tracker guy. The deer thing was a vague recalling of a story from one of his books.
h ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brown,_Jr.
 
I noticed that skokie does all his deer hunting with a Win. 92 in .44 magnum, many deer hunters use something similar. Why are these hunters
doing this? What are they getting out of these lower powered cartridges so that they don't bother with 30-06? The challenge? Easier?

Not wanting to incite a discussion about a truly under-powered cartridge like .22LR!

When you hunt in the thick Algonquin bush, you don't need a scope, your shots are likely 50 yards and under and a 92 is a compact, quick cycling package with plenty of power for deer or black bear, but with a cast bullet it nicely takes the head off a rabbit, squirrel or grouse on the ground. Its relatively quiet, cheap to reload as I cast my own bullets and I shoot it alot so I'm very comfortable and confident with the gun. I also hunt with an 870 and slugs, and will be moose hunting with a Sharps this year, and probably a .58 percussion for deer. I like iron sights, I like old fashioned firearms and I really don't see the need for a .30-06, I have owned a .303 brit , .270 win, .270 wsm, .308, 7.62x39, .22-250 etc... but I always come back to the .44 mag. The .44 mag is hardly underpowered, my hunting load is a 265 gr jsp at about 1900 fps. Just personal preference really, plenty of cartridges and would do the same thing. I now promise to shut up about the .44 mag for the rest of the day.
 
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^^^^^ Good for you!
Similar conditions here, I have taken a few moose with the 30-30, and regularly hunt with it, the '92 in 44-40, the 45-70, and my "high powered rifle" a model 88 in 308.
I usually take two into camp, have to make that decision soon, and work up some loads. Might take the long range Ross rifle and maybe the SKS this year we'll see.
There are places I hunt with longer ranges, and when I go there, I just choose the appropriate rifle, or, choose to limit myself, or stalk closer.
The long range guys are missing a great deal, in not stalking closer. You can learn a great deal watching game like this. With practice, you can get a lot closer to deer, and moose, inside a hundred yards is usually not too hard.
Sold my 338WM years ago, loved the cartridge, just don't need it.
 
When you hunt in the thick Algonquin bush, you don't need a scope, your shots are likely 50 yards and under and a 92 is a compact, quick cycling package with plenty of power for deer or black bear, but with a cast bullet it nicely takes the head off a rabbit, squirrel or grouse on the ground. Its relatively quiet, cheap to reload as I cast my own bullets and I shoot it alot so I'm very comfortable and confident with the gun. I also hunt with an 870 and slugs, and will be moose hunting with a Sharps this year, and probably a .58 percussion for deer. I like iron sights, I like old fashioned firearms and I really don't see the need for a .30-06, I have owned a .303 brit , .270 win, .270 wsm, .308, 7.62x39, .22-250 etc... but I always come back to the .44 mag. The .44 mag is hardly underpowered, my hunting load is a 265 gr jsp at about 1900 fps. Just personal preference really, plenty of cartridges and would do the same thing. I now promise to shut up about the .44 mag for the rest of the day.

^^^^^ Good for you!
Similar conditions here, I have taken a few moose with the 30-30, and regularly hunt with it, the '92 in 44-40, the 45-70, and my "high powered rifle" a model 88 in 308.
I usually take two into camp, have to make that decision soon, and work up some loads. Might take the long range Ross rifle and maybe the SKS this year we'll see.
There are places I hunt with longer ranges, and when I go there, I just choose the appropriate rifle, or, choose to limit myself, or stalk closer.
The long range guys are missing a great deal, in not stalking closer. You can learn a great deal watching game like this. With practice, you can get a lot closer to deer, and moose, inside a hundred yards is usually not too hard.
Sold my 338WM years ago, loved the cartridge, just don't need it.

Both of these posts^^are great! There are benefits, both practical and theoretical, to hunting with a lower powered cartridge or limited platform rifle.
 
If you want to plink,shoot cans and have fun,use an SKS and buy a case of ammo.If you want to shoot deer ,moose and bear use a Mosin Nagant and a case of ammo...I just don't see the the rationale behind deliberately using marginal equipment for hunting when for the same money you don't need to...
 
JMO;

SKS = Not a fan...
Surplus Ammo = Not a fan...
7.62X39 cartridge = Fan...


I love loading and shooting the little X39 case... inexpensive fun... and in my bolt action rifles, it is as accurate as any other at 100 meters, where I do 80% of my shooting.
 
^^^^^ Good for you!
Similar conditions here, I have taken a few moose with the 30-30, and regularly hunt with it, the '92 in 44-40, the 45-70, and my "high powered rifle" a model 88 in 308.
I usually take two into camp, have to make that decision soon, and work up some loads. Might take the long range Ross rifle and maybe the SKS this year we'll see.
There are places I hunt with longer ranges, and when I go there, I just choose the appropriate rifle, or, choose to limit myself, or stalk closer.
The long range guys are missing a great deal, in not stalking closer. You can learn a great deal watching game like this. With practice, you can get a lot closer to deer, and moose, inside a hundred yards is usually not too hard.
Sold my 338WM years ago, loved the cartridge, just don't need it.

Moose with a 30-30 .... BLAHHH.... can't be done .... total non-sense .... blasphemy ....... impossible .....must have been a 30-30 Norma Mag .. :bsFlag: :rolleyes: ... where's that head running around in circles icon ?
 
I have lost track of this thread :) Is this about the SKS or the 7.62x39 cartridge? I thought that the OP wanted to know why anybody would buy a higher grade rifle in 7.62x39? If that is the question, I think that the answer is obvious: better accuracy (through both the use of a more stable scope mount and a more precise action). I think that some of the arguments here have become pretty circular and focused on the SKS. I am not a fan of the SKS but acknowledge that it can be used in "hunting situation" and 7.62x39 is not a marginal caliber unless you push it beyond it's effective range. Are there better caliber choices? The answer in my mind is: "it depends". If you are wealthy enough to get a more powerful cartridge and buy lots of ammunition (either through reloading/factory) than I would recommend getting a more powerful cartridge and be proficient with it. If all you can afford is a Zastava M85 and case of ammo to practice than I would definitely recommend that than buying a .300 Win Mag and the nominal 20 rounds that I see a lot of hunters doing frequently every year. I think we can all agree that we would like to see more proficient shooters going hunting - no?
 
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Moose with a 30-30 .... BLAHHH.... can't be done .... total non-sense .... blasphemy ....... impossible .....must have been a 30-30 Norma Mag .. :bsFlag: :rolleyes: ... where's that head running around in circles icon ?


Nope, it had to be the 30-30 Ackley Imp Norma Magnum, everybody knows you get another 500 fps when you AI it..............Anything less would obviously be unethical...........
 
The long range guys are missing a great deal, in not stalking closer. You can learn a great deal watching game like this. With practice, you can get a lot closer to deer, and moose, inside a hundred yards is usually not too hard.
you are leaving a lot on the table if you only choose one style of hunting. Learn it all so you are prepared as best as possible for the situations that can arise in the woods.
 
Nope, it had to be the 30-30 Ackley Imp Norma Magnum, everybody knows you get another 500 fps when you AI it..............Anything less would obviously be unethical...........

Thanks for the addition, you are indeed correct :redface:
 
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