SKS For hunting

JeffJames said:
A 30-06 is my first choice, I am just trying to weasel an SKS into the collection some how without getting my pee pee slapped by the old lady lol, and as much as I like the SKS I always wondered what they are like for a hunting gun.

Where I am located we cant hunt with anything bigger than a .270 caliber. But when I go north for moose that would be where I could hunt with the SKS.

I like hunting with as much vintage equipment as common sense will allow.
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Getting back to the OP's question:
Since you live in Hamilton buy a .270 Win (if you haven't already) and don't look back. It is a very well rounded caliber and is sufficient for moose. Like several other guys have been saying shot placement is more important that bullet diameter. You can use the .270 effectively on coyotes, deer, bear, or moose, and still hunt with it in your area. The 7.62x39 would not be my choice for a dedicated hunting rifle.
 
RickR1100 said:
Really? Hmm...I guess I must have had bad instructors in the Canadian Forces!

Canadian military snipers are part of the infantry. The Role of the Infantry: To close with and destroy the enemy. Destroy includes kill. Wouldn't be much of an infantryman if we couldn't do that. Nor would our snipers (I wasn't that skilled) be worth much if all they were supposed to do was wound.

I'm not going to elaborate further, but whoever told you the military sniper is all about wounding the enemy, was just plain wrong. You are however very correct that snipers and hunters are not the same, and really shouldn't be compared.
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Since I used to be one (sniper) 20 years ago I say you're making it up. Or don't know what "destroy" means in the military.
And since you claim to have been a soldier, I'm surprised you don't know about the Hague Convention. Need I say more? Were you asleep during training? Did you actually go through military training?
 
rookie wildcat said:
Well, I guess you caught me in a lie. But, you may be right. She really isn't much of a shot and she did get lucky with the headshot. All three times last year at ranges from 95-170yds. She fired 4 shots in the field last year.
How many rounds do you shoot a year. She fired over 1000 last year. She also got lucky when she used that same .243 on about 50 gophers last season.
Also, apparently, if you check with a "decent" hunting course, you will find that it is supposedly "unethical" to hunt with any firearms that is not capable of delivering 2100ft-lbs of energy, or, in other words, nothing less than a .300WM
That is the best thing about luck, it never hangs around, and there is no way to beat the odds. Unless of course, you actually practice.
And, my wife? Since she is such a poor shot, perhaps you would like to hold a target for her. Maybe a clay at 200yds?
There is an old saying that I will modify for your benefit, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, call names".
Thanks so much for playing. Stay with kiddies, the grown-ups table is too tough for you.
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I like it how people who know they are wrong keep adding unprovable and unrelated facts to their attempt to justify themselves.

But then again, maybe deer in your area have more than the average half pound brain and they also stand still while your wife aims for the head.

And really, do take the time attend a decent CORE course. You'll learn a lot about hunting ethics. That's what differentiates a hunter from a slob hunter (CORE manual terminology).

I won't comment on the number of rounds I shoot a year because 1000 doesn't even begin to cover it.

(somehow shooting gophers is the the same as shooting moose in your mind)
 
for those who don't know, the average deer brain is about 1.5" in diameter and has to be hit dead on or the bullet will ricochet.
deer%20skull.jpg
 
So, Legion, since you're a former sniper in Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces, and still do a lot of precision shooting, you're probably pretty darned qualified to answer this question for "Rookie Wildcat" and others: Do you think it's ethical and consistently do-able to put bullets at various ranges, in hunting conditions, into that 1.5" brain of a buck? I can do that very consistently on a bench at the gun range, knowing I'm shooting always at 100 yards, but I think anyone claiming they could do that 10 out of 10 times on a buck in the woods after they've been hiking, etc, is a liar...
 
Why is the headshot such an issue? It's stupid to aim for the head when you can go for the chest where the heart and the lungs are. If you miss by a bit in the head, the deer dies slowly and painfully and may wander off. If you miss in the chest, the deer dies quickly by drowning in its blood.
 
the Dakota kid said:
Getting back to the OP's question:
Since you live in Hamilton buy a .270 Win (if you haven't already) and don't look back. It is a very well rounded caliber and is sufficient for moose. Like several other guys have been saying shot placement is more important that bullet diameter. You can use the .270 effectively on coyotes, deer, bear, or moose, and still hunt with it in your area. The 7.62x39 would not be my choice for a dedicated hunting rifle.
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I have a .270,,, Seeing how I generally do not go moose hunting, My dad uses it. With dad being sick and this possibly being his last hunt we are making a family thing of it. But I dont want to tell the old boy he cant use the .270 and make him buy a new gun.... hmmm although, I could tell him to buy a new one and will it to me!! ( I am so joking, in not that much of a jerk lol )

Like I said earlier, I do have a .303 available for me to use until I come up with a valid excuse to buy an SKS :)
 
My exact point Muffins37, the shot in the lower centre of the chest if the deer/moose is facing you, or right behind the shoulder if it's a side shot, is THE shot that all ethical experienced hunters use! On a deer that gives you an 8" kill zone to target, which is do-able at any reasonable distance by a decent rifleman with a decent rifle, even if he just reached the top of a ridge and spots the animal on the other side, like I've done. Just before I crest the ridge I pull out my Harris Bipod, and even if I'm breathing heavy I've always made an ethical, accurate shot that took the animal down fast!
 
JeffJames said:
I have a .270,,, Seeing how I generally do not go moose hunting, My dad uses it. With dad being sick and this possibly being his last hunt we are making a family thing of it. But I dont want to tell the old boy he cant use the .270 and make him buy a new gun.... hmmm although, I could tell him to buy a new one and will it to me!! ( I am so joking, in not that much of a jerk lol )

Like I said earlier, I do have a .303 available for me to use until I come up with a valid excuse to buy an SKS :)
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I must have missed the part about you also having a .303.
If your dad is using the .270 the .303 will be more than suited to the job of taking a moose, just don't use FMJs. Good luck on the future hunt.
 
JeffJames said:
I have a .270,,, Seeing how I generally do not go moose hunting, My dad uses it. With dad being sick and this possibly being his last hunt we are making a family thing of it. But I dont want to tell the old boy he cant use the .270 and make him buy a new gun.... hmmm although, I could tell him to buy a new one and will it to me!! ( I am so joking, in not that much of a jerk lol )

Like I said earlier, I do have a .303 available for me to use until I come up with a valid excuse to buy an SKS :)
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Heres one: theyre fun! cheap to buy and cheaper to shoot, you can get tons of practice in the off season to keep your skills sharp. Its the very least you can do for the animals you hunt. ;)
 
Jeff, if the .303 rifle is in good condition, and has a scope on it, you might consider getting your local gunsmith to make up a hot 180 grain load for you...the commercial ammo available for a .303 these days is pretty weak, and really limits you to about 150 yards. The ammo manufacturers are keeping the loads light because a lot of the .303 rifles out there are in less than perfect condition, and they don't want to get sued.
 
pisces-guy said:
Jeff, if the .303 rifle is in good condition, and has a scope on it, you might consider getting your local gunsmith to make up a hot 180 grain load for you...the commercial ammo available for a .303 these days is pretty weak, and really limits you to about 150 yards. The ammo manufacturers are keeping the loads light because a lot of the .303 rifles out there are in less than perfect condition, and they don't want to get sued.
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Huh:confused: I just finished shooting old milsurp FMJ corrosive,Brand new Winchester commercial,and older "white box" Winchester commercial. The ONLY difference I found was the smell/taste:p of the old corrosive powder was quite different to anything I've shot before.{not even eastern 7.62x39}
I certainly didn't notice a lighter load between old and brand new ammo for the .303British, if in fact it is lighter,I wouldn't think it would restrict you to a 150yards,that's nonsense:redface: sorry bud but:slap:
 
If you are buying it for fun, for deer and maybe for moose once in a while....ok. If you are buying it as a "Moose Gun" get something else.
 
asphalt599 said:
If you are buying it for fun, for deer and maybe for moose once in a while....ok. If you are buying it as a "Moose Gun" get something else.
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nothing wrong with hunting moose with an SKS. Sure there are plenty of other rifles capable of doing the job, but the OP wanted to know if an SKS can do it. And to put it simply, yes it is. I've shot a moose with an SKS, I have friends who bag them all the time with an SKS. So they are not just limited to smaller game. Knowing your shot placement is key and keeping it under 150yds is optimum for a good clean kill.

If you can't hit a target the size of an over door (side shot) at 100yds then you shouldn't be taking the shot :D :p
 
Plinker, the new commercial ammo is loaded pretty light, and my point about 150 yards is that it contributes to the rainbow trajectory, and those with open sights would be pressed to shoot accurately past 150 yards...as well as the bullet having the proper energy for moose or elk with the light loading. The trajectory can be compensated for much easier if you've a scope on your .303, but the bullet still doesn't have anywhere near the energy it should have. You'd be surprised what a hot hand-load can do for a 180 grain .303 cartridge...it's night and day!
 
pisces-guy said:
Plinker, the new commercial ammo is loaded pretty light, and my point about 150 yards is that it contributes to the rainbow trajectory, and those with open sights would be pressed to shoot accurately past 150 yards...as well as the bullet having the proper energy for moose or elk with the light loading. The trajectory can be compensated for much easier if you've a scope on your .303, but the bullet still doesn't have anywhere near the energy it should have. You'd be surprised what a hot hand-load can do for a 180 grain .303 cartridge...it's night and day!
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Enfield No4 micrometer sights are graduated out to 1300m, if thats not enough elevation then you need to stop shooting moose at 2Km :p
 
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