Today I managed to conduct three tests at the 100 yard range that I have been looking forward to for a long time – but never got around to doing.
I compared a 7.62x39 Norinco BushRanger to a Russian SKS using 3 different kinds of ammo.
I tried several different handloads in an Australian #4.
Results:
The #4 has a 12X scope on it. Shooting off a pair of sandbags, the handloads with Sierra 175 match, 155 match and 125 softpoint produced groups around 1.6”. The best was the 125 softpoint, at 1.45”. Recoil was very mild, too. I was hoping for better groups.
The Norinco BushRanger has a 8X scope and an excellent trigger. It averaged 3.65” out of three different flavours of ammo. Wolf hollow point, Czech surplus and Yugo surplus. The Wolf has a stinky smell. The Yugo has a very different sound and kick. I was hoping for better groups.
The Russian SKS is one of those recent minty ones. It sports a cheap ($20) 4X compact scope. I get the impression it does not group quite as well as my old Norinco SKS rifle I bought 20 years ago for $100. The Norinco was supposed to be part of this test but I could not see the aiming mark well enough through the peep sights to shoot it. I needed a different aiming mark.
The Russian averaged 3.8” (100 yards)
There was no pattern to the group size by ammo brand. Groups ran from 2.45” (Yugo in BushRanger) to 4.75” (Wolf in SKS).
I compared a 7.62x39 Norinco BushRanger to a Russian SKS using 3 different kinds of ammo.
I tried several different handloads in an Australian #4.
Results:
The #4 has a 12X scope on it. Shooting off a pair of sandbags, the handloads with Sierra 175 match, 155 match and 125 softpoint produced groups around 1.6”. The best was the 125 softpoint, at 1.45”. Recoil was very mild, too. I was hoping for better groups.
The Norinco BushRanger has a 8X scope and an excellent trigger. It averaged 3.65” out of three different flavours of ammo. Wolf hollow point, Czech surplus and Yugo surplus. The Wolf has a stinky smell. The Yugo has a very different sound and kick. I was hoping for better groups.
The Russian SKS is one of those recent minty ones. It sports a cheap ($20) 4X compact scope. I get the impression it does not group quite as well as my old Norinco SKS rifle I bought 20 years ago for $100. The Norinco was supposed to be part of this test but I could not see the aiming mark well enough through the peep sights to shoot it. I needed a different aiming mark.
The Russian averaged 3.8” (100 yards)
There was no pattern to the group size by ammo brand. Groups ran from 2.45” (Yugo in BushRanger) to 4.75” (Wolf in SKS).
