Russian SKS for hunting

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CVanDam

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Just wondering if anyone uses or has used an SKS for deer hunting. I think they are pretty cool looking gun. I want to purchase one but haven’t so far.
 
Better do some research on accuracy before you drop the hammer on one if that is going to be your first hunting rifle.

Looks ain't everything.
 
I have but prefer the bolt rifles chambered in 7.62x39. You can really boost performance of this cartridge in the bolt guns, faster FPS and heavier bullets. It is a great deer cartridge out to 200yds especially with the heavier bullets. You are limited in velocity and bullet selection in the semi auto. I took my 5 deer on Haida Gwaii last fall with this cartridge.
 
Yeah people hunt deer with an sks, I know one or two that have. 7.62x39 is pretty close to 30-30 except with lighter bullets, with proper shot placement it will definitely kill deer. Two things will limit you hunting with an sks, accuracy and range. Not all sks shoot good enough groups to hunt with ad in some distance and you it might not be worth it. I’ve shot 3 1/4”-3 3/4” groups with hunting ammo out of one with irons @100y, it can hit an 8” plate easily and groups around 4”-4 1/4 iirc at 200y. That’s about the max range I’d hunt deer with if I had a good rest to shoot from, otherwise 100-150y offhand would be my comfortable limit. Which around here would be plenty, I’ve shot deer from 20-25ft out to 100y locally. 200y would be a long shot lol.
 
Where i live it's mostly Bush. But we often hunt the cut lines. The last deer i shot was 240 yards which i would have passed on if i had an sks (or stalked closer first). Anyway the 7-08 did the job with one shot through both lungs behind the shoulder and i used zero hold over. Glad i didn't have an sks for that shot, due to less accuracy and much more drop.

However if cut line shots are not a possibility in the OP's case, the sks may be fine.
A few things to consider: some skss have a heavy gritty and creepy trigger and need a trigger job bad
Based on my time at the range, the rudimentary stock sights are not what I'd want to use much past 100 yds on deer so i recommend practice to see where your limits are.
If you plan to walk long distances, a loaded unscoped sks weighs 9 ish pounds so a bit of a lump.
Finally the Chinese military ones I've seen had better triggers and were a little more accurate that some of the Russian ones so don't discount a good Chinese ones if you decide it's for you.
Good luck
 
CVanDam said:
Just wondering if anyone uses or has used an SKS for deer hunting. I think they are pretty cool looking gun. I want to purchase one but haven’t so far.
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If you think they are a "pretty cool looking gun" and that's your acceptance criteria for a sporting rifle, go for it.

The experienced will advice otherewise though.
 
I took a nice 6 pt. buck with a tricked-out and accurized SKS. I was using 123 gr. Hornady Interlocks, nailed it through the heart at about 50-60 yds. and it didn't go but 10 ft. and nosed over dead. I love it as a 100 yd. and under bush rifle but now I have a Howa 1500 which is much more accurate and lighter. My brother has the CZ which (to my mind) is a better rifle but out of my budget range. The down side to the Howa is the sensitive mag release. It's very easy to bump or touch it and have the mag drop out unnoticed. I've done it. Found the mag next spring when the snow melted. Now, when I prep the rifle for the fall hunt, I have line going from the mag to the trigger guard. What the other posters suggest is very good advice. The cartridge is great for deer within it's limitations and fantastic as a ladies/youth rifle. If you want to plink with a "bang-bang" rifle, get an SKS. They're fun to shoot. If you're serious about hunting, get a good hunting rifle. Good luck to you, no matter the route you choose to go.
 
Nothing wrong with the caliber which I use myself on deer. As for the SKS, quite a few people were using it efficiently in the Maine woods while I hunted there. I myself use WW PSP's.
 
Can it be done? Yes. Has it been done? Yep. Would it be on my list of picks for a new hunting rifle? Nope. Wouldn't even make the top 25.

Besides the accuracy issues people have brought up and the general lack of good hunting bullets being preloaded and the generally poor performance that 7.62 Soviet has (wow that's a list already): gas guns are much harder to shoot accurately than bolts. They will take any little thing wrong with your fundamentals and punish it. In the field where you're often taking odd or unsupported shots at game, it's very difficult to get the repeatability and accuracy you need. Plus my understanding is mounting a scope to one is a bit of an awkward marriage and gas guns are far harder on scopes due to the triple recoil impulse.

Look at a Remington 783, Winchester SPR, or Browning AB3 in a proven intermediate cartridge. They aren't fancy but they can shoot pretty well, especially at the price. I paid $350 for a 783 brand new for my girlfriend last year, it's enough to get you out the door and see if it's something you'll like. Once you decide you like it and you know what your likely shots will be you'll have a better idea of what you need and want in a good quality rifle.
 
You can hunt deer with and SKS and you should. Why buy an inexpensive and accurate bolt action sporting rifle when you can buy a cheap, shytey SKS and tin cans of cheap ammo and just blast the living shyte out of anything walking the woods... empty the magazine, better yet, empty two magazines... post pics of your successful hunt.
 
hoytcanon said:
You can hunt deer with and SKS and you should. Why buy an inexpensive and accurate bolt action sporting rifle when you can buy a cheap, shytey SKS and tin cans of cheap ammo and just blast the living shyte out of anything walking the woods... empty the magazine, better yet, empty two magazines... post pics of your successful hunt.
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LOL ......... "But it looked cool." <grin>
 
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