need guidance with a red hunting rifle

Jäger1

Jäger1

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I need a reasonably cheap .30 cal deer rifle! Shots won't stretch beyond 150 yards so optic mounting is a non-issue. I have a limited budget at the moment so I'll be sticking to red milsurps.

My choices are:

Russian SKS
CZ 858
SVT 40

Which offers the best value as a sub 150 yard deer rifle?

I already own a chinese SKS, which is reasonably accurate but since it's a Norinco it's a no-go for the US (which is where this hunt will be taking place). I only own the SKS so my experience with it helps me little in the decision making because I have no other experience to compare it to.

Please help me out by sharing your experiences hunting with these rifles. Which has the best iron sights? Which is most accurate? Which offers the best value for your money?

Leaning towards the 858 because I already have a ton of 7.62x39mm on-hand.

Thanks in advance
 
Jäger said:
I need a reasonably cheap .30 cal deer rifle! Shots won't stretch beyond 150 yards so optic mounting is a non-issue. I have a limited budget at the moment so I'll be sticking to red milsurps.

My choices are:

Russian SKS
CZ 858
SVT 40

Which offers the best value as a sub 150 yard deer rifle?

I already own a chinese SKS, which is reasonably accurate but since it's a Norinco it's a no-go for the US (which is where this hunt will be taking place). I only own the SKS so my experience with it helps me little in the decision making because I have no other experience to compare it to.

Please help me out by sharing your experiences hunting with these rifles. Which has the best iron sights? Which is most accurate? Which offers the best value for your money?

Leaning towards the 858 because I already have a ton of 7.62x39mm on-hand.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Best value for the money with great hunting performance? If you dont mind a long rifle, go for a mosin M91/30! Way better hunting caliber than the 7.62x39, can get milsurp ammo and good commercial hunting ammo as well. Just my opinion:)
Joce
 
AFIK can't take red surplus into the US due to some bribes from the local gun manufacturers that certain people in Clinton administration may or may not have received. CZ might be different, CSA as new production should be safe, SVT no go and the only reasonably available SKS that would work would be Yugo. If you can take the CZ, that would be my #1 choice, Yugo SKS being distant second.
 
Call the ATF and ask if the Russian SKS and SVT can come in before you buy. There number is on the form6 instructions.

I'd personally buy them all under the guise of Russian wall art.
 
You said that you're going with a red milsurp option because of the budget issue. I like red rifles just fine, but if even an SVT is in your budget, then an economy bolt action hunting rifle in .308 is in your budget, and it would surely be better for hunting in general. Just sayin...

But if you want another red rifle that will work as a deer hunting rifle, then: Any rifle in 7.62x39 will probably be fine (it's similar to the 30-30 in performance), but 7.62x54 will unquestionably do the job (similar to the 30.06). Also, as Jocelyn mentioned, you should consider an m91/30 since they are fine rifles and dirt cheap to boot. Yes, an m38 would be more convenient for hunting, but they seem to be quite hard to find right now.

Your other questions... Best irons: Fairly subjective, but the long sighting radius on the m91/30 and the SVT is helpful (both the SKS and the CZ were simply not designed for precise fire). Best accuracy: Depends on the individual rifles (and the operator!), but I'd say usually the m91/30, followed by the SVT, then the CZ, then the SKS. Best value: Highly subjective, but I'd say the SKS and m91/30 are tops.

And if you're new to hunting, please be aware that you should/must use expanding tip ammunition. And please practice with whatever rifle and ammo combination you choose so that you can deliver pie-plate sized groups or better at whatever range you'll be shooting (POI will shift when going from surplus to commercial ammo). Any of the rifles mentioned in this thread should be capable of that level of accuracy.
 
If the CZ-858 is in your budget, get it. Remember though, it's around $700, and at that price point, you're starting to get close to some nice hunting rifles (entry level Winchester M70).
 
All the rifles you listed can do the job then some . I used to have a cz 858 and the sites were pretty good and easy to use but at the same time the rifle is expensive and you can find cheaper for what you want to to.
 
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Thank you for all the pointers, tips and advice. The reason I had limited myself to the red rifles I listed was because I wanted something that:

- was relatively inexpensive
- was reliable & extremely rugged
- was semi-automatic (no nagants, sorry!)
- fired cheap and readily available ammunition for range fun
- had some "cool factor" to show off stateside
- had a decent set of irons (hitting an 8"x8" square consistently at 150 yds is good enough)

I'm also not very interested in a regular bolt action commercial hunting rifle at this time really.

Can anyone confirm that the CZ 858 is or is not allowed stateside? I'll check back in a bit and call if no one has an answer (and post the subsequent answer for those interested)
 
A sported Lee Enfield might do the trick a bit better. They are as cheap as any Russian and not as cumbersome as a Mosin. I have lots of Russians but don't know if I would take a 91/30 into the bush.
 
Jäger said:
Thank you for all the pointers, tips and advice. The reason I had limited myself to the red rifles I listed was because I wanted something that:

- was relatively inexpensive
- was reliable & extremely rugged
- was semi-automatic (no nagants, sorry!)
- fired cheap and readily available ammunition for range fun
- had some "cool factor" to show off stateside
- had a decent set of irons (hitting an 8"x8" square consistently at 150 yds is good enough)

I'm also not very interested in a regular bolt action commercial hunting rifle at this time really.

Can anyone confirm that the CZ 858 is or is not allowed stateside? I'll check back in a bit and call if no one has an answer (and post the subsequent answer for those interested)
Click to expand...


Aha, your reasons make a lot of sense.

If nobody knows here, maybe check the action shooting and/or service rifle forum and ask the three gun guys. They're probably more likely than the rest of us to have checked on taking an 858 to the US.
 
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