Opinion required on SKS for hunting

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rosh7674

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Hello Fellows,
I have a Russian SKS, I used it to hunt deer last season was successful at taking a deer at 150 yard but it was purely a lucky shot. Since then this gun has not performed. I took it to a range at 40m it was making holes all over the place. I am using iron sights right now, and find it very difficult to shoot with it. I want to know

1. How can I make this gun accurate?
2. How to shoot with it properly and accurately? Meaning where to place the riffle?
3. Is it worth to buy accessories like scope mounts, if so which scope mount use the on gas tube or on action, and bi-pod.
4. Or should I just keep this as a plinking/fun gun and use my Remington 870 express with riffled barrel for hunting?
5. Since with it original wood stock I find the gun very heavy and was not able to stabilize when shooting. It was constantly moving.
6. The reason I bought this gun was it was cheap semi auto, since I am a lefty it hard for me to find a cheap gun in the range of 400.


Any info provided would be appreciated.

Thanks
Rosh
 
Sounds like the most likely cause of the problem is a loose sight - have you checked that?

I put Williams fire sites on mine when I hunted with it - works like a red dot.

I don't think that it is worth scoping an SKS.
 
A lot if discussion on this topic occurred in the Red Rifle Section
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=586285

Also, it seems there are three acceptable methods of mounting the scope. Choate, Russian Side mount and modified Weaver Converta mounts. All have details in the Stickied SKS scope mount post which you should read in entirety.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439418

Also, "holes all over the place at 40 yards" is pretty vague. What ammo where you using, was it from a rest, how big where the groups in inches and how good are you with irons.

I'm terrible with irons but from a rest, I can put 30 rounds in a 8-10 inch group with Czech surplus ammo @ 100 yards while playing around.

Also, a lot more information on the SKS can be found in the Red Rifle section. Start reading, many of these questions on accurizing etc have already been hashed over pretty well.
 
I am using the same expandable hunting ammo from Russian or some other country. I was using a rest but was having a hard time, because of the bayonet. Also I am using the original wood stock, because of its weight it was hard for me to keep the gun stable. I am going to install the ati folding stock, and remove the bayonet tonight.
 
I'd check the front sight, make sure it's not moving, and then practice from a bench rest at a 100 yard target. Get one of those sight adjustment tools to move the centre of your group to the upper part of the bulleye, and do not shoot at any game past 150 yards.
 
It's designed as an assault rifle... it isn't supposed to be an accurate hunting rifle. Game animals deserve better.
 
guntech said:
It's designed as an assault rifle... it isn't supposed to be an accurate hunting rifle. Game animals deserve better.
Click to expand...

Well 2-3 MOA is more than accurate enough for a short to medium range bush gun for me. The 3 deer I have shot havent complaned about my rifle of choice. Anyway the SKS is chambered for one of the best deer cartridges out there.
 
Guy JR said:
Well 2-3 MOA is more than accurate enough for a short to medium range bush gun for me. The 3 deer I have shot havent complaned about my rifle of choice. Anyway the SKS is chambered for one of the best deer cartridges out there.
Click to expand...

What makes 7.62x39 any better then any other cartridge?

I'd say due to the characteristics of the SKS, their are a lot better choices out their in terms of a hunting gun.

He said it himself he cant hold the gun steady. No amount of sight tightening or fancy scope is going to stop that.

To the OP, I'd try your 870 and see how you do with that. The SKS was not designed as a hunting rifle.
 
blasted_saber said:
What makes 7.62x39 any better then any other cartridge?

I'd say due to the characteristics of the SKS, their are a lot better choices out their in terms of a hunting gun.

He said it himself he cant hold the gun steady. No amount of sight tightening or fancy scope is going to stop that.

To the OP, I'd try your 870 and see how you do with that. The SKS was not designed as a hunting rifle.
Click to expand...
I feel the 7.62x39 is a good combination of bullet size/weight and velocity. A lot of guys I hunt with over gun for somthing the size of a deer but that is just my opinion. Sure there are better choices for a hunting rifle but most cant be easily purchased for under $200. If the OP cant hold the rifle steady it sounds more like a shooter problem than a gun problem. The SKS was not designed as a hunting rifle but neither was the mauser which is what most bolt action hunting rifles today are based on. My reason for steping into this post was the "deserves better" comment which to me is just silly.
 
Guy JR said:
I feel the 7.62x39 is a good combination of bullet size/weight and velocity. A lot of guys I hunt with over gun for somthing the size of a deer but that is just my opinion. Sure there are better choices for a hunting rifle but most cant be easily purchased for under $200. If the OP cant hold the rifle steady it sounds more like a shooter problem than a gun problem. The SKS was not designed as a hunting rifle but neither was the mauser which is what most bolt action hunting rifles today are based on. My reason for steping into this post was the "deserves better" comment which to me is just silly.
Click to expand...

Key word "based" on. Meaning they have been improved and changed to be a better design for hunting.

And I agree it sounds more like a poor shooter problem, then a gun problem. But our difference of opinion lies in that if he had a better hunting firearm he'd be a better hunter.
 
guntech said:
It's designed as an assault rifle... it isn't supposed to be an accurate hunting rifle. Game animals deserve better.
Click to expand...
x2! .... A sporterized Lee Enfield would be a better choice, but OTOH the SKS bayonet may come in handy for hunting if ammo gets short in supply.
 
rosh7674 said:
Hello Fellows,
I have a Russian SKS, I used it to hunt deer last season was successful at taking a deer at 150 yard but it was purely a lucky shot. Since then this gun has not performed. I took it to a range at 40m it was making holes all over the place. I am using iron sights right now, and find it very difficult to shoot with it.
Click to expand...

I don't mean to be a #### but why didn't you sort this out before you shot at a living thing?
 
Guy JR said:
.... the SKS is chambered for one of the best deer cartridges out there.
Click to expand...



Its certainly a matter of opinion, but I don't subscribe to that, nor have I seen any evidence to support it, here or elsewhere. I chalk this up the same as claims of shooting sub-MOA with SKS.


Having that said, SKS is ok for up to medium sized game shooting at less than 130 or 140 yards. That bullet runs out of energy real fast and its only 125 grain to begin with. I've shot deer early in doe season, but I go to something much heavier for the big animals later in the season.
 
If I were you, I'd sell the SKS, take that money and find a sporter enfield. .303 is a better hunting cartridge. Don't limit yourself because you are a lefty. I have coached a Canadian Ranger rifle team, they use Enfields and half of our team were lefties, they managed just fine and fired rapid acurate shots as fast as the right handers.
 
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