Well I started the last thread that got locked, looks like this one is headed that way as well. I just purchased a 1954 Izzy, chromed bore, very nice rifle. It has one of the best triggers I've ever shot, even compared to my .308 Weatherby Vanguard with a trigger job. It is a refurb so I assume it hasn't been touched, but it is very nice. The rifle is also very accurate for a SKS, 1" group at 55yards and 3-4" groups at 125yards (my range has messed up target boards hence the odd ranges). That is just holding the rifle at a bench with no bags at all. I am 100% confident I could hit a deer with it.
SKS accuracy
- Thread starter Gatehouse
- Start date
lol this was a captured rifle,so the story goes. I posted this pic because another member claimed that an SkS was never used as a sniper rifle. Use what you got.
Ha! The part of the deer that will kill it I should say. And if that doesn't work there are lots of barns around to aim at.
I don't....... both eyes open and I'm a damn good shot. just ask everything I've killed in the past 25 years
I really am looking forward to the end of hunting season when the HEY GUYS!! look what I killed with my sks" thread starts LOL
have at er boys, aim small miss small and have fun getting er done
The deer are small where I live more and more guys are using sks for hunting them
I like the cheep 7.62x39 so much I got AIA enfield in 7.62x39 I find bolt action's and lever action's hander for me most of the time
I can pick up a box of 7.62x39 hunting ammo for $15.00 or less
When im hunting deer with 7.62x39 I never take long shoots 15 to 75 yards is good with 7.62x39
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- Location
- Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
FWIW, I'm a fan of accuracy, and enjoy shooting small groups on paper.
For the purposes of hunting, though, as others have pointed out, a rifles ability to shoot those small groups is a rather small part of the equation.
In all the time I have shot at various ranges, I don't recall anyone other than competitive rifle shooters practicing offhand shooting. I don't know about everyone else's hunting locations, but mine don't have convenient benches to shoot from. You could have an excellent rifle that shoots .5 MOA or less, but unless you practice shooting from the positions you will find yourself in while hunting, it won't make you shoot any better than a 2-3 MOA rifle.
The fellow that has a rifle with mediocre accuracy, but shots it a lot, under different conditions and from different positions, will likely bring home the venison far more often than the guy who only shoots off a bench with a high powered scope, once or twice a year.
Someone who has mastered a 3 MOA rifle will likely do well in Ontario. IIRC, the average range at which deer are shot is pretty short, less than 100 yards. The last one I shot walked out of the woods about 60 yards away, and one round through the heart did him in.
By all means, get the best rig and ammo you can afford. Then master it.
For the purposes of hunting, though, as others have pointed out, a rifles ability to shoot those small groups is a rather small part of the equation.
In all the time I have shot at various ranges, I don't recall anyone other than competitive rifle shooters practicing offhand shooting. I don't know about everyone else's hunting locations, but mine don't have convenient benches to shoot from. You could have an excellent rifle that shoots .5 MOA or less, but unless you practice shooting from the positions you will find yourself in while hunting, it won't make you shoot any better than a 2-3 MOA rifle.
The fellow that has a rifle with mediocre accuracy, but shots it a lot, under different conditions and from different positions, will likely bring home the venison far more often than the guy who only shoots off a bench with a high powered scope, once or twice a year.
Someone who has mastered a 3 MOA rifle will likely do well in Ontario. IIRC, the average range at which deer are shot is pretty short, less than 100 yards. The last one I shot walked out of the woods about 60 yards away, and one round through the heart did him in.
By all means, get the best rig and ammo you can afford. Then master it.
FreedomIsn'tFree
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Buffalo.
This my deer SKS and would not hesitate dropping a deer out to 150 yards. I use Hornady SST ammo sighted in at 100 yards and get 3" groups from a bench rest.
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FreedomIsn'tFree
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Buffalo.
Offhand at 100 yards 7-8" 3 shot groups, with bipod removed.
Ok.... my take.... gatehouse I am calling you out here (in a friendly way)..... with a buttload of effort you managed what?.. a 3 inch group?... my ruger scout (not known for accuracy) delivers about one and a quarter with stock rem core lokt at 100..... same conditions as you.... bench rested etc except I put zero effort into it....
I reiterate my stance.... and that stance is against the guy that buys an sks off the shelf and figures he has a good 100 plus yard deer rifle.... that guy isnt going to put your effort I to it like it or not.....
I am no rifle snob by any means.... mine are all rem 700 and ruger 77.... but I take my hunting seriously and these are not hunting rigs Without pouring cash into them.... so why bother?... and why encourage people to think of these as a Hunting Rig?
I reiterate my stance.... and that stance is against the guy that buys an sks off the shelf and figures he has a good 100 plus yard deer rifle.... that guy isnt going to put your effort I to it like it or not.....
I am no rifle snob by any means.... mine are all rem 700 and ruger 77.... but I take my hunting seriously and these are not hunting rigs Without pouring cash into them.... so why bother?... and why encourage people to think of these as a Hunting Rig?
On the range or heart pumping after a walk and a Trophy buck Running across your firing line with limited seconds to shoot?.... just curious.....
FreedomIsn'tFree
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Buffalo.
At the range. The walking and heart pumping will affect your shot no matter what the rifle. After shooting IPSC for awhile now I have managed to stay reasonable calm in exciting situations. It's not my only hunting rifle, but it does work and people have dropped many deer with an SKS over the years. I wouldn't go out hunting with the iron sights, but with a solid scope mount it works well within 150 yards. A decent hunting round is also a must if your going to use an SKS for hunting. The choate scope mount was $70.00 and a little time to drill and tap the receiver, so a butt load of extra cash isn't needed for a solid scope mount.
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Just to stir the pot...
Why would you shoot any animal offhand?
Dont you owe the animal the absolute best shot you can take?
Why would someone with a 1.5MOA rifle from the bench shoot it offhand at an animal where it becomes a 4 MOA rifle and then call an SKS with a field rested 3" group unsuitable for hunting. Kind of hypocritical if you ask me.
In my progressed years, I think shooting animals offhand is ludicrous. Even if I hit it, it won't be the best I could have done and I will have to work hard to retrieve it. Laziness COMPELS me to use shooting sticks, bi-pods, mono-pods, a tree branch, a log... You always have a rest available. If you don't get the shot, don't take it. Shoot the next one. And to be honest, the only deer I have ever had to shoot off-hand was my first. 20yds away and with a single shot 20ga. He walked right out in front of me while I was peeing. Shotgun in one had. Forgot about peeing, raised the shotgun, shot the buck, tucked things away and zipped up. Then the shakes started.
I have older Russian sks rifles and a couple 1960's chi com. If you want accuracy, go with the later. The chi has a screwed in barrel and milled receiver. The accuracy between the 2 rifles is night and day. My buddy just bought a Russian last week from the gun store....., Its an absolute pile of junk ! These last remaining ruskies are made up of all different parts and pieces painted black to hide all the damage. Its got zero accuracy and has misfires "lousy head space" .Its a 50 yard gun at best.
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Shooting offhand is perfectly reasonable, if you practice and attain proficiency.
In some countries, you have to pass an offhand shooting proficiency test in order to get your tag for big game.
Not everyone sits in a blind, or is waiting to have game driven to them.
I feel perfectly comfortable doing offhand shots up to a hundred yards or so, depending on conditions (light, wind, etc).
Practicing offhand, kneeling, sitting and prone shots is easy with a .22. Practice how you hunt. Developing .5 MOA skills off a bench is a waste of time for the vast majority of hunters.
Of course, you try to use whatever support is available to you for best accuracy.
