SKS for spring bear??

Now having asked the question and field tested my SKS with premium hunting ammo, I KNOW that I don't have the ability, experience nor courage to tackle a bear at 50 + yds. I just don't trust my skills or the SKS that much. It's great for an afternoon of fun with cheap ammo but when called to perform as a PRECISION rifle, it definitely is not IN MY HANDS.
I have sighted in the 30-06 I borrowed, Hoytcanon. It easily groups within 3 inches at a 100 yds for me at point of aim. I am definitely happy with that caliber and confident I can hit something at that range. I have spoken to my brother in law about it and he is ok with it being my hunting rifle for life!! The SKS can be a fun camp gun which is what it's best for IN MY HANDS.
 
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I get a kick outta how those cartridges look. Sorta like Mini-Me with a boner! ;)
Don't let the anti-bait folks worry yer none...They're just jealous.

In my neck of the woods, it ain't baiting if you're cookin' up some bacon an eggs on the Primos stove
out in the toolies, an a bear just happens to show up to share the meal. Just don't be up a tree while
the food's cookin'. That could get a Gamey somewhat suspicious.;)
 
If you can place a good shot I don't think you would have a problem, my hunting partner dropped a record book black bear at 100 yards with his .243, it was truly a monster. Green it was #1 in BC but after it drunk I think it ended up about 5th. Defiantly wasn't his gun of choice or would it be mine, but it was what he had with him. He didn't know any better and shot it through the eye and came really close to wrecking the crown of the skull so it couldn't be scored.
 
And, it would not be my gun of choice in a stalk and hunt if open fields were the fare. As for a bait, my bear was sitting under a crab apple tree at 9:00 in the morning, completely absorbed in his breakfast.

As anyone on here has read, I am an '06 man, and in the case of the OP, this time out, he is as well. But I am not under gunned with an SKS on a bear hunt under 100yds, nor have I ever felt the need for any of the "magnum" cartridges for any of my hunting.

I would have loaned the OP a .303 for his hunt, but by the time I read the whole thread, he had that BSA.

OP, good luck this weekend.
 
OP, I am confused.

I have re-read this entire thread. You have stated that you are intimately familiar with your SKS as a paper-puncher, but you can't hit anything with it at 100 yds with the hunting ammo you chose.

Then you state that you have an XCR in .308 but you don't want to damage or lose it. I have been hunting for more than 30 years. Walking, riding, canoeing. I have never LOST a firearm! Yes, scratches can occur, but why would that stop you from carrying a 12lb rifle that will easily get the job done?

"With all the guns you have, you can't hunt with one?" Do you shoot these guns?

Now you have a scoped BSA that you can get to group 3-4 inches at 100yds! A SCOPED rifle with a 3" group? Please tell me that's offhand! Otherwise, I think the problem here is the guy behind the trigger. You definitely need to shoot more!
 
rookie wildcat said:
OP, I am confused.

I have re-read this entire thread. You have stated that you are intimately familiar with your SKS as a paper-puncher, but you can't hit anything with it at 100 yds with the hunting ammo you chose.

Then you state that you have an XCR in .308 but you don't want to damage or lose it. I have been hunting for more than 30 years. Walking, riding, canoeing. I have never LOST a firearm! Yes, scratches can occur, but why would that stop you from carrying a 12lb rifle that will easily get the job done?

"With all the guns you have, you can't hunt with one?" Do you shoot these guns?

Now you have a scoped BSA that you can get to group 3-4 inches at 100yds! A SCOPED rifle with a 3" group? Please tell me that's offhand! Otherwise, I think the problem here is the guy behind the trigger. You definitely need to shoot more!
Click to expand...

Hi Rookie Wildcat!
Replying to both posts! First, thanks for the offer of the .303 loan. That is very kind and trusting of you!
Ok, back to SKS accuracy. The SKS is a gun I bought for my kid. He is the one shooting it more. However, I get the job of cleaning it! Don't ask!! I have shot it but it was never good in my hands. I mistakenly thought that maybe good ammo would improve my shot pattern but nope!
I actually was going with the XCR ( see one of the posts) but then the offer of the BSA came up. Lighter rifle, good round. Bolt action vs. tacticool. I had to go with a proper hunting rifle vs a zombie rifle!
LOL! Do I shoot my guns?? You kinda got me there. Yes but I don't put a lot of rounds through them. I like to keep X number of rounds in all calibers I own and since I don't reload and ammo is expensive, I don't shoot them as much as I like hoarding them.
As for accuracy, I went to the range yesterday with the rifle again for a final sight in. Got it to 2 inches at 100m. Left happy. The scope is a single 4X?? Not even sure if it is 4X. No name scope with a single dot in the reticle. I thought 2 inches was pretty good! The scope is at least 30 years old and a bit foggy.
I started shooting in the late 80s but with handgun only. I didn't get into long guns till the last 3 years. In fact, didn't like long guns till now since everyone I ever remember shooting as a kid either hurt or I didn't hit a thing with it or both!
I know I'm no sniper but I have good fundamentals and will improve hopefully. Right now, grouping 2 inches with various scoped rifles is it although I have gonged at 240m with the XCR too.
Hope this answers your questions! Thanks again for your input!
 
Still alive said:
Hi Rookie Wildcat!
Replying to both posts! First, thanks for the offer of the .303 loan. That is very kind and trusting of you!
Ok, back to SKS accuracy. The SKS is a gun I bought for my kid. He is the one shooting it more. However, I get the job of cleaning it! Don't ask!! I have shot it but it was never good in my hands. I mistakenly thought that maybe good ammo would improve my shot pattern but nope!
I actually was going with the XCR ( see one of the posts) but then the offer of the BSA came up. Lighter rifle, good round. Bolt action vs. tacticool. I had to go with a proper hunting rifle vs a zombie rifle!
LOL! Do I shoot my guns?? You kinda got me there. Yes but I don't put a lot of rounds through them. I like to keep X number of rounds in all calibers I own and since I don't reload and ammo is expensive, I don't shoot them as much as I like hoarding them.
As for accuracy, I went to the range yesterday with the rifle again for a final sight in. Got it to 2 inches at 100m. Left happy. The scope is a single 4X?? Not even sure if it is 4X. No name scope with a single dot in the reticle. I thought 2 inches was pretty good! The scope is at least 30 years old and a bit foggy.
I started shooting in the late 80s but with handgun only. I didn't get into long guns till the last 3 years. In fact, didn't like long guns till now since everyone I ever remember shooting as a kid either hurt or I didn't hit a thing with it or both!
I know I'm no sniper but I have good fundamentals and will improve hopefully. Right now, grouping 2 inches with various scoped rifles is it although I have gonged at 240m with the XCR too.
Hope this answers your questions! Thanks again for your input!
Click to expand...

That was a much friendlier reply than I would've given to that post. Hats off to you!
 
bearkilr said:
That was a much friendlier reply than I would've given to that post. Hats off to you!
Click to expand...

Thanks bearkilr and hoytcanon,
I thought rookie wildcat's post was civil and he did hit the points I was weak in. As H. Callahan says " A man's gotta know his limitations!" I am a noob hunter and I truly appreciate the tips I got from here. Glad the 30-06 meets with everyone's approval.
Will post on return next Monday whether I get anything or not! Or if I return with limbs or not!!
 
Still alive said:
Hi Rookie Wildcat!
Replying to both posts! First, thanks for the offer of the .303 loan. That is very kind and trusting of you!
Ok, back to SKS accuracy. The SKS is a gun I bought for my kid. He is the one shooting it more. However, I get the job of cleaning it! Don't ask!! I have shot it but it was never good in my hands. I mistakenly thought that maybe good ammo would improve my shot pattern but nope!
I actually was going with the XCR ( see one of the posts) but then the offer of the BSA came up. Lighter rifle, good round. Bolt action vs. tacticool. I had to go with a proper hunting rifle vs a zombie rifle!
LOL! Do I shoot my guns?? You kinda got me there. Yes but I don't put a lot of rounds through them. I like to keep X number of rounds in all calibers I own and since I don't reload and ammo is expensive, I don't shoot them as much as I like hoarding them.
As for accuracy, I went to the range yesterday with the rifle again for a final sight in. Got it to 2 inches at 100m. Left happy. The scope is a single 4X?? Not even sure if it is 4X. No name scope with a single dot in the reticle. I thought 2 inches was pretty good! The scope is at least 30 years old and a bit foggy.
I started shooting in the late 80s but with handgun only. I didn't get into long guns till the last 3 years. In fact, didn't like long guns till now since everyone I ever remember shooting as a kid either hurt or I didn't hit a thing with it or both!
I know I'm no sniper but I have good fundamentals and will improve hopefully. Right now, grouping 2 inches with various scoped rifles is it although I have gonged at 240m with the XCR too.
Hope this answers your questions! Thanks again for your input!
Click to expand...

Thank you. Frickin' deadly honesty!! Appreciate that! Don't get me wrong, a 3" group at 100yds is MORE than enough for hunting, especially with a new hunter, new rifle, and foggy scope (I had one of those once for a couple of years) and 2" is even better. Not a problem with the rifle. I do not know your circumstances, but with you conserving ammo, probably not where you can buy anything you want. That being the case, and now that that will be your hunting rifle, I probably got a less foggy scope (a Banner, I think) I took off of a rifle that will handle a .30-06 I can let you have for shipping. PM your address and I will get it out COD and you'll have it by the time you get back from your trip. If I could send ammo, I'd build some rounds for your rifle and get them to you, but, ALAS, I cannot.

I understand the "bought for my kid, but I clean it". My youngest son got a great deal on a 10/22. Used, but the guy only wanted $150 and it was in great condition (in the pics my son sent me) the guy just wanted to get rid of it. My son bought it, brought it home, loaded it up, fired a round, but the trigger did not reset. He called me, thinking he had gotten taken. I told him to bring the rifle home next time he came up. He did that next weekend. I fired a round, trigger had to be reset by pushing it forward. I stripped the rifle, stripped the FILTHY trigger group, stripped the bolt and cleaned EVERYTHING! Shoots like a dream and the dang thing is near brand new. Buddy got it gummed up, thought it was broken, and unloaded it on a kid. Jokes on him, though. Nothing wrong with it, just dirty.
 
Home3 said:
A well placed shot from an original stock SKS, beyond 50 meters is an oxymoron. At least that is my experience.
Click to expand...

My wife shot her first deer with an original stock Norc SKS with a scope. 140 yds. Right in the boiler room. Iron sights from 50yds and I can hit a popcan with almost everyone of my SKSs almost every time from a solid kneeling or improvised rest.
 
rookie wildcat said:
Thank you. Frickin' deadly honesty!! Appreciate that! Don't get me wrong, a 3" group at 100yds is MORE than enough for hunting, especially with a new hunter, new rifle, and foggy scope (I had one of those once for a couple of years) and 2" is even better. Not a problem with the rifle. I do not know your circumstances, but with you conserving ammo, probably not where you can buy anything you want. That being the case, and now that that will be your hunting rifle, I probably got a less foggy scope (a Banner, I think) I took off of a rifle that will handle a .30-06 I can let you have for shipping. PM your address and I will get it out COD and you'll have it by the time you get back from your trip. If I could send ammo, I'd build some rounds for your rifle and get them to you, but, ALAS, I cannot.

I understand the "bought for my kid, but I clean it". My youngest son got a great deal on a 10/22. Used, but the guy only wanted $150 and it was in great condition (in the pics my son sent me) the guy just wanted to get rid of it. My son bought it, brought it home, loaded it up, fired a round, but the trigger did not reset. He called me, thinking he had gotten taken. I told him to bring the rifle home next time he came up. He did that next weekend. I fired a round, trigger had to be reset by pushing it forward. I stripped the rifle, stripped the FILTHY trigger group, stripped the bolt and cleaned EVERYTHING! Shoots like a dream and the dang thing is near brand new. Buddy got it gummed up, thought it was broken, and unloaded it on a kid. Jokes on him, though. Nothing wrong with it, just dirty.
Click to expand...
Hi rookie wildcat,
Congrats on the good deal with the 10/22. Good fail on the guy who sold the gun to your son!
PM sent to you on other topic!
Cheers!
 
Back from the hunt! Results are..... A big fat zero!
In the Ross Lk. area close to Hope. Weather was perfect. Did early am and late pm hunts. 3 days, 0 bear! Tons of mule dear but closed season on those. Oh well, also put in a LEH for the fall. Let's see what happens then.
 
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