I'm honestly a little worried asking this question because I have just bought a Russian Sks because it's durable, a good start to my collection, and I thought I could use it for hunting. However I want to ask you guys and see what you think. So is a Russian SKS a good gun for hunting?
Russian Sks
- Thread starter Bblinch
- Start date
Depends on what you want to hunt and at what range. 7.62x39mm doesn't have the most brilliant trajectory and the 125gr bullets aren't the heaviest penetrators. It'll do fine for deer at short range, say under 200 yards for good, reliable penetration.
Yup its fine. It's light for moose but for deer its fine. The question about it is really honestly how accurate are you with it. If you wont shoot past 100 yards 4 MOA is acceptable off of the bench. However more importantly can you consistently kill a dinner plate at 100 yards from feild positions. If you can then your good to go with that gun. Get a soft point load sight it in and have at her.
No.. its not.
There are plenty of decent, accurate rifles that are made for hunting.
The SKS is primarily a good close range practice gun at the range, and a great gravel pit gun for blasting away at random targets.
We all know the right cartridges to use on big game, and we know what species they are good for, ... so untill you shoot and get to know youre sks, I would have to say they aren't good for hunting.
You will learn about the SKS's severe limitations only by shooting it.. and accuracy is the most important one, for me anyways.. Best of luck with youre new SKS!
Oh and welcome to CGN Bblinch.Yes, its a great close range rifle. With practice it can be used for deer and varmints.
It's a capable brush rifle, but it is never my first choice because I now have a .270 Winchester and a .30-06... both of which are far better choices.
SKS 45 rifle 7.62x39mm muzzle velocity 2350 fps = 1500 ft lb's
30-06 Springfield muzzle velocity 2900 fps = 2800 ft lb's
If you can place an accurate shot with in 150 meters into the vitals of a deer sized target it will die.
It's a capable brush rifle, but it is never my first choice because I now have a .270 Winchester and a .30-06... both of which are far better choices.
SKS 45 rifle 7.62x39mm muzzle velocity 2350 fps = 1500 ft lb's
30-06 Springfield muzzle velocity 2900 fps = 2800 ft lb's
If you can place an accurate shot with in 150 meters into the vitals of a deer sized target it will die.
^ makes for easy field dressing...lol
I brought mine up north last November for deer, it made a good brush gun. Didn't get a shot, but I felt comfortable with it. The thing got absolutely soaked, and it functioned beautifully. With a decent load, 100-150 yards (assuming your comfortable and capable), it should get the job done. I've moved to a .308 for this year, in case I want to reach out and touch something. There's better choices for a deer rifle, but if it's short range brush work, it should do fine.
I brought mine up north last November for deer, it made a good brush gun. Didn't get a shot, but I felt comfortable with it. The thing got absolutely soaked, and it functioned beautifully. With a decent load, 100-150 yards (assuming your comfortable and capable), it should get the job done. I've moved to a .308 for this year, in case I want to reach out and touch something. There's better choices for a deer rifle, but if it's short range brush work, it should do fine.
I for one love the SKS and own several of them. Occasionally, I'll hear or read someone ask whether or not the SKS can be used for hunting. Sure it can. In the same way that a Jeep can be used for road racing. The simple fact is the SKS was designed as a short range combat rifle with a medium powered cartridge that was optimized for wounding and or killing humans in battle - it was never intended to be used for hunting. There are countless inexpensive Enfield, Mosin, Mauser etc etc sporters that have the power to effectively take down deer and other larger game humanely and at much greater distances. Tradex has pages of good quality used hunting rifles for sale for not much more than an SKS. Save the SKS for the gun range or when SHTF.
It has similar kinetics to a 30-30 and lots of deer have dropped in the past from those. Keep in mind though, lots of the ammunition available for the SKS is Full Metal Jacket which, if I recall correctly, is NOT allowed for hunting. Just something else to keep in mind
Hello and Welcome,
A lot will depend on the condition of the barrel, my first Russian SKS had a bore that looked like a Shotgun! it was completely worn out and it was very inaccurate ...after that I made sure to always order a non Issued Rifle or ask the Dealer to send one with a good bore.The 2 Chinese that I purchased were in factory new condition and are extremely accurate at a 100 yds.
A lot will depend on the condition of the barrel, my first Russian SKS had a bore that looked like a Shotgun! it was completely worn out and it was very inaccurate ...after that I made sure to always order a non Issued Rifle or ask the Dealer to send one with a good bore.The 2 Chinese that I purchased were in factory new condition and are extremely accurate at a 100 yds.
Sks is carbine(Karabin) more of a close engagement weapon. I've heard of people taking deer at 150 yards, but it depends on the gun. I would not use my Tula sks for deer personally. Coyote and wolf hell yeah. You are better off with a long rifle. ie 243, 270, .308(7.62x51) or 30-06 (7.62x63). The 7.62x39 round isn't bad, but you have to know your gun and your ballistics. My sks doesn't pattern nearly as well as my AIA m10 A1. For bush gun I use a .303 sporter lol love that gun.
Silent8Strike
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa, Ontario
I shot 2 deer this past season with my SKS, dropped them no problem. One was around 150 yards in a field, the other about 20 running at me in the bush. Next year I hope to have a shorty M14 for hunting, the extra punch of a higher power round is defiantly a plus, but with proper hunting ammo dont be afraid to use the SKS.
Depends on the terrain. Long range prairie or mountain top to mountain top shooting? NO. Brush bucking out east, or in any other thick cover or where shots are restricted to 150m or less it will work fine. Believe me it works, there are more than a few deer from the opposite end of my SKSs buttplate that will confirm that. It has more than adequate power to reliably kill a whitetail deer. Anyone else that says it won't prescribes to the " A magnum will allow for less precise shot placement and still kill instantly" school of thinking (no offence to guys who shoot "magnum" calibers I happen to have a few.) Point is, shot placement is the key with any caliber and within the range limitations and the ballistic ability of the cartridge and assuming YOU can plant a bullet where it needs to go the 7.62X39mm platform will fit the bill.
I used the sks last year for deer while covering the bush. For me this rifle is for no more than 70yrds(for deer hunting). If you are short on $$$ and this is the only rifle you have, it can be used. Always sight in your rifle with the ammo you are going to use for hunting. Also do some research on on ballistics for the hunting rounds which will be SP or PSP. I used the 125gr.
And after you run out of ammo, you can fix bayonet and charge.
Grizz
haha :-D funny stuff
I have an Izzy (russian) refurb with tech (peep) sights and a mil chinese with a 4-12 vortex scope. Both a very accurate. But I'm not comfortable shooting with the peep sights beyond 100 yds.
Surprisingly, last fall I tested my offhand shooting ability between my savage model 14 in 30-06, chin. sks, and brno combo in .308 at 100 yds. My best targets were with the sks. After that I decided that I would take any shot up to 225 yds on a deer. Believe it or not, that sks with s&b hunting ammo puts 5 shot around 1.25" at 100 yds, which was better that my 30-06 (3 in 1.5"). Plus, the 30-06 scoped me from the bench once (good reason to sell it).
Did I mention the semi auto is nice to have for deer hunting.
In my opinion, the sks makes an excellent deer gun, esp with a good quality well mounted scope.
Surprisingly, last fall I tested my offhand shooting ability between my savage model 14 in 30-06, chin. sks, and brno combo in .308 at 100 yds. My best targets were with the sks. After that I decided that I would take any shot up to 225 yds on a deer. Believe it or not, that sks with s&b hunting ammo puts 5 shot around 1.25" at 100 yds, which was better that my 30-06 (3 in 1.5"). Plus, the 30-06 scoped me from the bench once (good reason to sell it).
Did I mention the semi auto is nice to have for deer hunting.
In my opinion, the sks makes an excellent deer gun, esp with a good quality well mounted scope.
