My thinking for a first hunting rifle
- Thread starter afish29
- Start date
I haven't abandoned nuthin, might as well get an SKS if going with a short 308.
My recomendation was a 760 in 30-06 or 270.
Heck for deer at 50 yards the 22-250 will put deer on the ground faster than the 308.
The short 308 is a dud.
Yup 2000 ft/lbs at 100 yards and a 168gr bullet is a dud 
Actually, using Nosler's .490 BC figure for their 168gr Accubond and Ballistic Tip, we're looking at 2375 fps and 2103 ft/lbs at 100 yards.
Gonna be shooting the moose with 22-250 as well? Cause he said moose too. Bet its totally better than a 308 lol
Suuuuure. An SKS with with 1390 ft/bs tops with the absolute best cherry picked ammo one can find (while absolutely NOT doing the same for 308 Win lol) is just as good.
Whats 700 foot pounds, a bullet that's 43 grains heavier, and much better SD? Worth nothin! lol
Actually, using Nosler's .490 BC figure for their 168gr Accubond and Ballistic Tip, we're looking at 2375 fps and 2103 ft/lbs at 100 yards.
Gonna be shooting the moose with 22-250 as well? Cause he said moose too. Bet its totally better than a 308 lol
Suuuuure. An SKS with with 1390 ft/bs tops with the absolute best cherry picked ammo one can find (while absolutely NOT doing the same for 308 Win lol) is just as good.
Whats 700 foot pounds, a bullet that's 43 grains heavier, and much better SD? Worth nothin! lol
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- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
A dud eh, tell that to the exit hole my 20” barrel .308 and a 165gr interlock made at 60-70m lol. I’ll take that over an sks any day of the week.
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So use something else.
Ah its probably only packing like 850 foot pounds more with a much better bullet, what difference does that make lol
The only somewhat "affordable" 308 ammo around here is Remington and Prvi, how they do in the short 308?
The 308 was a fine cartridge for the 1890's, it was out of date even when introduced.
The short 308 is not in the same class as the 270 and 30-06.
You guys need to get out more if you think the short 308 outclasses the SKS as a hunting rifle inside 100 yards.
The 308 was a fine cartridge for the 1890's, it was out of date even when introduced.
The short 308 is not in the same class as the 270 and 30-06.
You guys need to get out more if you think the short 308 outclasses the SKS as a hunting rifle inside 100 yards.
You keep making these statements with no evidence or attempt to prove them at all. Almost like....there isn't any lol
So 700 to 800 foot pounds more energy and a 168gr bullet with SD of about .250 don't outclass a 125gr .311 bullet with 1390 ft/lbs at 100 yards and a whopping .189 SD on big game? You're saying those are the same?
Here's a pretty radical idea too. Use cheaper ammo to practice than you hunt with lol. Gonna have the same problem with 270 or 30-06
How does your practice ammo do out of a short barrel? Doesn't really matter lol. But I dunno. I'd be curious to see how 308 Core Lokt compares to an SKS from an 18.7" to 20" barrel. 130gr bullet at 3200 fps.....soooo out of date hahaha. Or those silly 150s at 2900. Who wants that? So 1890s. Yeah those are longer barrels but you're still gettin 2750 fps with a 150gr or 2900 fps with a 130gr bullet from your 18.7" 308 and even more from your 20"
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Yeah right, those velocities are pure fantasy in a short 308 with factory ammo.
The 760 in 270 or 30-06 is the way to go for the OP.
I can tell you, I have both Grizzlies and a Chronograph, I'd rather have an SKS in my hands than a short 308.
The 760 in 270 or 30-06 is the way to go for the OP.
I can tell you, I have both Grizzlies and a Chronograph, I'd rather have an SKS in my hands than a short 308.
For what its worth, if someone was dead set on an intermediate round they could at least go 6.5 Grendel and embarrass most 7.62x39 loads (and even best this cherry picked little star, the Sellier and Bellot)
They can even get it in a modern rifle that doesn't have crap tolerances, crap accuracy, crap sights, crap ergonimics and a crap trigger.
They can even get it in a modern rifle that doesn't have crap tolerances, crap accuracy, crap sights, crap ergonimics and a crap trigger.
Dude I posted a link to people cutting down 308 barrels and shooting over a chrony. They got those velocities.
Did they do it in fantasy land?
You're continuing to post no evidence, btw, while handwaving away actual data with "those numbers are fantasy". Not a good look but if thats what you wanna build a case on, cool lol. "I reject your reality, and substitute my own!" it is.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Corelokt’s shoot moa in all my .308’s, Win superX and Hornady American whitetail as well. All still readily available and on the lower end of the price scale. No way would I choose x39 over .308, not saying it won’t kill deer but why would I choose an sks over a modern bolt gun. It’s just not even an option lol.
Bittereinder
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ontario (GTA)
Welcome to the Thunderdome, OP.
You mean you don't like wildly differing bore sizes, crap iron sights, 5 MOA accuracy and gross triggers? Shame lol. Nah I agree. IF someone wanted to go 7.62x39 (and I do, btw) I'll go with somethin better.
ht tps://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/ruger-small-frame-autoloading-rifle-sfar/471350
Would ya look at that. 16" barrel, 168gr factory ammo, 2511 fps.
Think of that out of an 18.7" or 20" barrel like the OP said lol.
ht tps://www.americanhunter.org/content/review-ruger-sfar/
20" barrel which is something the OP said is within his wants.
Federal Premium 175gr Terminal ascent 2592 FPS.
Remington 180gr Core Lokt Tipped 2575 FPS.
Tell me more about the SKS lol. And think that would dramatically change if you cut 1.3" off the barrel to have the 18.7" Ruger Scout? I doubt it.
More fantasy?
20" barrel which is something the OP said is within his wants.
Federal Premium 175gr Terminal ascent 2592 FPS.
Remington 180gr Core Lokt Tipped 2575 FPS.
Tell me more about the SKS lol. And think that would dramatically change if you cut 1.3" off the barrel to have the 18.7" Ruger Scout? I doubt it.
More fantasy?
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Hahaha, don’t get me wrong Joel. I’ve had hunting capable sks’s before. A couple that shot repeatedly 3”-3.25” five shot groups @ 100m with fmj to soft points, they’re great rifles for what they are but they aren’t a light/modern/moa capable hunting rifle. Nor are they ideal to mount an optic on, there’s better choices as far as I’m concerned.
If it’s all I had to fill the freezer I’d run with it, but I’m not in that position thankfully lol.
If it’s all I had to fill the freezer I’d run with it, but I’m not in that position thankfully lol.
That's not half bad shooting, especially compared to say a 30-30 with irons...yeah, I am being harsh hahaha. But I'm with you on "there's better".
Really don't mind hunting with 7.62x39 at all either but...308 Win it is not, even from 18 inch and especially not from 20 inch barrels.
your also describing your last rifle, .308 check, 20" check (muzzle blast/noise...that's the number, also speed, it's just the right 308 barrel length), stainless...tikka, sako 90 peak, ruger Hawkeye hunter or the other ruger you mentioned
arguments they can all cycle quickly, 90 degree bolt on the rulers, could be a thing with larger eye piece scopes especially mounted low? the Finns cycle like greased lightning and have less degrees on bolt lift, the tikka with factory mags arguably the fastest...the sako is uber close, saw comments from a wet land owner of both Finns and ruger stainless that polished ruger stainless is much better at corrosion control than the finns...the tikka in lite needs a barrel chop and going 5 round mag it hangs down but is still comfy and warm to carry against, tikka optic mounting to get low to lite stock can be a challenge if wanting super robust, big aftermarket support for the tikka, best triggers likely go to the finns, they are light and handle quickly...would not look at heavier model tikkas, or rugers, you have to start as light as possible to keep the handy up once done putting their make up on
trade offs on all of them
the sako 90 peak has it all, I have it and a tikka set up to mirror it, love them both, the sako trade off is money lol, but it as the 20" threaded (with dust cap/brake), it starts the lightest at 5 lb 10 oz (on my scale), no plastic anywhere, just stainless or aluminum (trigger guard), even sling swivel studs are stainless, it's aluminum/stainless detach 5 round mag is flush and you'd never need to take it out if you don't want as it top feeds like any decent hinged floor rifle, I prefer top feeding it on the range especially because it's almost a two handed affair to remove the mag as you have to push up on it before you can hit the button...you won't lose a mag from it, it's got a higher comb than the tikka combined with integral picatinny rails means you can get lower than useful with scope mounting, I actually had to go up from x-low to low ARC M-brace rings...amazing imo, and more on those rings, if robust is your jam...they are a robust as one could imagine, super easy to level a scope to this rifle, you could also have a picatinny mount red dot pre sighted in as back up optic should you want either scope or red dot options, not hard to keep a couple Allen wrenches in the rifle case pocket, for scope I chose trijicon accupoint 1-6 German #4 green dot, will be doing a Kenton speed dial turret under dust cap, but what a reticle, it can do speed and precision, nice fine center with small illuminated dot (battery free, glows like a bugger at night also), and reputation as a tough scope to lose a zero on or have unreliable tracking should dialling be a thing...I'm out west so I like option to go longer if only option and coyotes etc.
the sako landed at 7 lb 3.5 oz, is 40" long, and the most bombproof thing I could think of, the adventure model would be good too, bit heavier and adjustable comb
the tikka I could go on for awhile about possible scope mounting options, lot more frigging around there, will save it, I've yapped about it somewhere here, still not settled on scope for it as I want an lpvo but it's not going to end up as light as the sako when done right with an equally stout 30mm lpvo, it will crowd 7 1/2 lbs likely, I did high desert alum. bottom metal, the vertical grip (actually does feel better even for speed work, the sako already came that way...forward thinking sako really does have it all), the 5 round mag etc.
I think the ruger Hawkeye hunter in proprietary stainless rings would be a dandy, just really well seal the stock finish and 4+1 as it's sort of miss in meeting the 20" barrel 5+1 of the finns but it would be a lifetime sweetheart with some soul as compared to the finns, I think the long term smiles would be more from it, I may have to build one to scratch the itch.
Good luck man...it's a lot of agonizing and facking around and finding out lol
arguments they can all cycle quickly, 90 degree bolt on the rulers, could be a thing with larger eye piece scopes especially mounted low? the Finns cycle like greased lightning and have less degrees on bolt lift, the tikka with factory mags arguably the fastest...the sako is uber close, saw comments from a wet land owner of both Finns and ruger stainless that polished ruger stainless is much better at corrosion control than the finns...the tikka in lite needs a barrel chop and going 5 round mag it hangs down but is still comfy and warm to carry against, tikka optic mounting to get low to lite stock can be a challenge if wanting super robust, big aftermarket support for the tikka, best triggers likely go to the finns, they are light and handle quickly...would not look at heavier model tikkas, or rugers, you have to start as light as possible to keep the handy up once done putting their make up on
trade offs on all of them
the sako 90 peak has it all, I have it and a tikka set up to mirror it, love them both, the sako trade off is money lol, but it as the 20" threaded (with dust cap/brake), it starts the lightest at 5 lb 10 oz (on my scale), no plastic anywhere, just stainless or aluminum (trigger guard), even sling swivel studs are stainless, it's aluminum/stainless detach 5 round mag is flush and you'd never need to take it out if you don't want as it top feeds like any decent hinged floor rifle, I prefer top feeding it on the range especially because it's almost a two handed affair to remove the mag as you have to push up on it before you can hit the button...you won't lose a mag from it, it's got a higher comb than the tikka combined with integral picatinny rails means you can get lower than useful with scope mounting, I actually had to go up from x-low to low ARC M-brace rings...amazing imo, and more on those rings, if robust is your jam...they are a robust as one could imagine, super easy to level a scope to this rifle, you could also have a picatinny mount red dot pre sighted in as back up optic should you want either scope or red dot options, not hard to keep a couple Allen wrenches in the rifle case pocket, for scope I chose trijicon accupoint 1-6 German #4 green dot, will be doing a Kenton speed dial turret under dust cap, but what a reticle, it can do speed and precision, nice fine center with small illuminated dot (battery free, glows like a bugger at night also), and reputation as a tough scope to lose a zero on or have unreliable tracking should dialling be a thing...I'm out west so I like option to go longer if only option and coyotes etc.
the sako landed at 7 lb 3.5 oz, is 40" long, and the most bombproof thing I could think of, the adventure model would be good too, bit heavier and adjustable comb
the tikka I could go on for awhile about possible scope mounting options, lot more frigging around there, will save it, I've yapped about it somewhere here, still not settled on scope for it as I want an lpvo but it's not going to end up as light as the sako when done right with an equally stout 30mm lpvo, it will crowd 7 1/2 lbs likely, I did high desert alum. bottom metal, the vertical grip (actually does feel better even for speed work, the sako already came that way...forward thinking sako really does have it all), the 5 round mag etc.
I think the ruger Hawkeye hunter in proprietary stainless rings would be a dandy, just really well seal the stock finish and 4+1 as it's sort of miss in meeting the 20" barrel 5+1 of the finns but it would be a lifetime sweetheart with some soul as compared to the finns, I think the long term smiles would be more from it, I may have to build one to scratch the itch.
Good luck man...it's a lot of agonizing and facking around and finding out lol
That's been suggested by a couple of the guys, though many hunt with whatever they've got including bolt guns. My BLR idea came from that, but I guess I didn't want my only gun for the next year or two to be a lever, guess it could be. I'd thought I'd get a BLR in 243, but I do like the look of the takedown in .308.
