SKS For hunting
- Thread starter JeffJames
- Start date
My mosin nagant has taken both moose and deer
The 7.62 x54r is a great round. I load mine with sierra pro hunters at 180 gr. You can go svt 40 if you want a semi. Just get the gas adjustment tool or the gun will eat your brass happy hunting. Oh yeah bring a saw when you moose hunt, you are going to have to chop him up to get him out of the bush.
The 7.62 x54r is a great round. I load mine with sierra pro hunters at 180 gr. You can go svt 40 if you want a semi. Just get the gas adjustment tool or the gun will eat your brass happy hunting. Oh yeah bring a saw when you moose hunt, you are going to have to chop him up to get him out of the bush.
Seeing as how no one has said this yet... 
That being said, I have a CZ 858 (also 7.62x39) and I consider it a great little deer gun. As for using it for something bigger, hmm... Not my first choice, but if it was all I had, yup...
Cheers
Jay
That being said, I have a CZ 858 (also 7.62x39) and I consider it a great little deer gun. As for using it for something bigger, hmm... Not my first choice, but if it was all I had, yup...
Cheers
Jay
Indeed, a 30-30 is sufficient for deer, as would be an SKS (7.62x39).
However, since the OP has stated :"But when I go north for moose" the discussion of a 30-30 or 7.62x39 becomes irrelevant, because neither of them are sufficient for a humane kill on an adult moose.
So the OPs question is not really "SKS for hunting?", it is "SKS for hunting Moose?"
To be thorough, the accepted minimum energy for a humane kill on an adult moose is 2100 ft/lbs. With that in mind, consider that the 7.62x39 round with a 154gr SP has an ideal muzzle energy of about 1500 ft/lbs. By 100 yards, that energy drops to around 1200 ft/lbs (barely more than half of the accepted minimum). Result: injured moose.
Perhaps if one planned to attempt to empty the entire magazine into the moose, one might have a chance. However, this stretches the limits of the definition of "hunting."
OP, please do not use an SKS to hunt moose.
+1 Have to agree here.
This is why I asked the question on this informative board, I can assure you that with all the great feed back I have gotten, I wont be using and SKS for moose.... Now I just have to find another excuse to buy one
I wish we could legally hunt in my area with a caliber of this size, I would love to carry an SKS is the bush with me.
Maybe before I buy one, I will buy something nice for the wife so she cant complain too much lol.
Christ I'm glad I'm single
A 7.62x39 is a bit down the list of calibers I would use moose hunting, obviously it's capable of killing a moose but just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Seems to me you should bump it up a notch and try and sneak a Norc M14 past the wife's critical scrutiny
A 7.62x39 is a bit down the list of calibers I would use moose hunting, obviously it's capable of killing a moose but just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Seems to me you should bump it up a notch and try and sneak a Norc M14 past the wife's critical scrutiny
Just wondering where your info comes from?
First, if I am reading this correctly, 2100ftlbs is the MINIMUM terminal energy. Now, just which, of the many rifle cartridges listed in this thread delivers that at 400yds?
Second, if that 2100ftlbs was a reference to minimum MUZZLE energy, then, of course, all of the aforementioned cartridges would do it.
Third, if it was indeed a reference to muzzle energy, then of course, what is the accepted minimum terminal energy at 400yds?
Fourth, as I read it, a commercially loaded 150gnSP Hornady LM InterLock .30-06 leaves the muzzle with 3200ftlbs of energy. At 400yds, it still has 1410 ftlbs.
Same bullet handloaded in a SKS leaves the muzzle with 1600ftlbs, at 100yds it still retains over 1400ftlbs of energy.
Now, if all this is wrong, then SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL ALL THOSE MOOSE THAT HAVE BEEN SHOT WITH .30-30 FOR THE PAST 120YRS THAT THEY ARE NOT REALLY DEAD AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN EATEN BECAUSE THE RIFLE THAT KILLED THEM DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MUZZLE ENERGY TO DO THE JOB.
WHAT A CROCK!
Now, OP. All this doesn't mean you should go out and hunt moose with an SKS just anywhere. What it does mean is that, with a little preparation, scouting, practice, the SKS will take a moose easily within 100yds if the conditions are right. Put that round in another rifle (bolt action) and it will easily head-shoot a moose at 200yd. And that will kill the moose.
SKS? Nope, boiler room shots only and you HAVE to know where the round is going.
My info comes from the Ontario Hunter Education Course Manual.
Yes, minimum terminal energy. None of the discussed cartridges can carry that much energy to 400 yards. Who said anything about 400 yards?
It wasn't a reference to muzzle energy.
See above.
And I would not attempt to take a moose with a 30-06 from 400 yards. An extremely accurate shot (or two) might bring the moose down. This is not ethical hunting, IMO, but this is a matter of personal opinion.
Are there historical records of how many hunters took how many moose with 30-30 caliber rifles over the past 120 years? If not, then I can only assume that you are citing anecdotal evidence. While I do believe there have been moose taken with the 30-30, I believe they were taken at very, very short range, with very accurate rifles, by excellent marksmen. I also believe that far more moose have become (and will become) crow food at the hands of the 30-30 than something such as the .308 or .30-06. The reason for this was discussed earlier.
The use of "easily" in your third sentence is hyperbole. I don't know why you would want to mislead this guy like this. Headshots? Really?
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
So the moral of the story, really, is that if you're hunting moose, use a 30.06 (or a more powerful cartridge) with 165-180 grain bullets...and if you are using a 30.06, keep the shot to 300 yards or less.
How many people here agree that the .303 Brit is a good reliable rifle for moose? Many moose have been taken with them so...And I quote my box of Federal 180 gr. .303 British:
MV: 2460 fps 100yd: 2210 fps 200yd: 1970 fps 300yd: 1740 fps 400yd: 1540 fps
ME: 2420 ft.lb 100yd: 1945 ft.lb 200yd: 1545 ft.lb 300yd: 1215 tf.lb 400yd: 950 ft.lb
So I geuss all those moose didnt really die and all those families went hungry. I dont trust a figure quoted by a lawyer, I trust rifles that have been getting the job done for longer than Ive been alive. This is like the new shooter I overheard at a local shop asking if a .300wm was enough to kill a deer...
MV: 2460 fps 100yd: 2210 fps 200yd: 1970 fps 300yd: 1740 fps 400yd: 1540 fps
ME: 2420 ft.lb 100yd: 1945 ft.lb 200yd: 1545 ft.lb 300yd: 1215 tf.lb 400yd: 950 ft.lb
So I geuss all those moose didnt really die and all those families went hungry. I dont trust a figure quoted by a lawyer, I trust rifles that have been getting the job done for longer than Ive been alive. This is like the new shooter I overheard at a local shop asking if a .300wm was enough to kill a deer...
Supernova,
The .303 British is considerably more powerful than a 30-30 or 7.62x39.
Despite that, I would be willing to wager that the vast majority of the moose taken humanely with a .303 British were within 100 yards. In other words, still very close to the recommended minimum of 2100 ft/lbs.
These are all just guidelines, of course, and everyone has heard stories of someone taking a huge bull moose with a head-shot from a .22. This doesn't make it "right".
It is irresponsible to ignore these guidelines and suggest that a 30-30 or 7.62x39 are good choices for moose hunting. They aren't, and no anecdotal "my uncle shot a .... with a ..." makes this less true.
The .303 British is considerably more powerful than a 30-30 or 7.62x39.
Despite that, I would be willing to wager that the vast majority of the moose taken humanely with a .303 British were within 100 yards. In other words, still very close to the recommended minimum of 2100 ft/lbs.
These are all just guidelines, of course, and everyone has heard stories of someone taking a huge bull moose with a head-shot from a .22. This doesn't make it "right".
It is irresponsible to ignore these guidelines and suggest that a 30-30 or 7.62x39 are good choices for moose hunting. They aren't, and no anecdotal "my uncle shot a .... with a ..." makes this less true.
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
Ironsighter is dead on, my dad and uncle from the 50s to the mid 70s when we lived in Kitimat, B.C., used to get a bull moose each every year. We'd fill our deep freezers and share with friends up there, and all those moose were shot with .303 British Lee Enfields with iron sights. The longest shot taken was 130-140 yards, when the .303 cartridge still had good power. The .303 wasn't as powerful as the 30.06, but it was definitely ahead of both the 30-30 and the 7.62X39, which should only be used for deer.
So far, with what the Chek ammo has printed on paper... I woundnt use the darned things for hunting, out of respect for the game.
Fun shoots on paper only, so me and friends, or some kids and ladies can have some fun out on the range... I just keep loading er up, just to see how hot I can get the barrel on that chinese garbage..
I use my sks's for hunting. You dont need a precision gun for hunting but ethically you should use the gun you can shoot most accurately with for humane kill. These animals deserve it. I've had no problems dropping mule deer and black bear with my sks's. I always have a moose tag and if I do see a legal bull moose, damn rights i'm going to shoot it. Now if i'm going on moose hunt, no I would not use it as my primary. I've shot moose from 15yrds all the way out to 350 yrds. Never know the situation. Small to mid size game is adequate. Large game, not first choice but would do the job if situation calls for and within range. Shot placement is key!!
Exactly my point. And to prove it, here we go:
Pisces-guy reports family taking moose with a .303 Brit at 130-140 yds. The ammunition I have (standard stuff) has roughly 1745 ft. lbs. energy at 150 yds (split the difference). A 150 gr. bullet driven at 2300 fps has an ME of 1762 ft. lbs. I have published load data that achieves that from a 7.62x39. Therefore an SKS can take moose at close range, where shot placement is alot easier. Inside 50 yds you should be fine. I'll stick with my .30-06 but it is doable. Just my 2 cents
