SKS accuracy

Unless that animal is a moose. I think the 7.62X39 will very likely work as well as the 30-30 if kept to reasonable ranges. I have shot moose with a 170 grain 30-30, and I very much doubt you'd see the same penetration from a 123 grain bullet.

I intend to take my SKS to the range this weekend if this F ing cold allows, and see how she does. The iron sights on my Russian SKS are far too fine for my eyes anymore, certainly far to fine at last light, so I'll be trying a cheap scope on it for the first time.
 
If moose was the target- and we are using factory ammo here- I'd get some Wolf 154gr soft point @ 2100 fps for the SKS. Comparable to the 30-30 with a factory 170 gr at 2200 fps- especially as many factory 170 gr 30-30 loads clock in at 2000 fps when actually shot over a chronograph.
 
It would be interesting to see what the Wolf loads actual numbers are too. However, I consider the 30-30 to be bottom end for moose, I don't think I'd ever take an SKS out on a moose hunt, unless I had a calf only restriction.
 
An SKS is the low end for moose, due to it being semi-auto, you loose some power due to gas being used to operate the action, if you put the 7.62x39 in a bolt action you will most likely get more power due to no gas being used for the action and rather that extra pressure is getting used to push the bullet out, making it same power as a 30-30. Pushing a 150gr bullet @ 2250fts is probally capable in a bolt action.

this link has some good info regarding good loads for the 7.62x39.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:GdFhLA8Q92IJ:www.loaddata.com/articles/PDF/BenchTopics%252047%2520LR.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca
 
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I wouldn't even take an SKS hunting deer, simply because I have guns I like much more to hunt with. But if a guy really likes his SKS or that's all he has, moose at close range is doable. Apparently the WOlf loads do indeed meet advertised velocity. I read it on the internet. ;)
 
Range test with my SKS, (scoped) and Hornady ammo, just under 3" on average. With the cheap stuff, closer to 5". I was surprised the cheap ammo was that bad compared to the Hornady. Anyway, 5" grouping is good enough for 100yd deer hunting. I may take it out for the hunt next year. I like variety.
 
MY SKS gets good groups with the Russian hunting ammo I bought but I just have to get it to shoot 6 inches lower is all. I would not hesitate to hunt with it once I get it sighted in properly.
 
My sks is in the regular rotation of rifles I use for hunting. I shot a 168 6/8 three years ago with one shot from my sks, that buck was enormous! Same day I shot another buck at a little more than 200m with the same rifle, iron sights. Sks's are OK deer rifles, just like .30-30's. Good basic marksmanship and good field craft when hunting are more important than having a uber accurate rifle. Most hunter's can't shoot worth a damn anyways and they kill lots of deer. Also remember that the deer don't wear body armour, every NA land animal has been killed with a. 22lr, an sks is plenty of gun for killing deer.
 
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