SKS for spring bear??

Still alive said:
Totally agree! Did not want my first hunt to be memorable for the wrong reasons!

Also MattLS,
I have a tacticooled 12ga. It has a stupid sling that carries the shotgun low and is uncomfortable. The shotty is also heavy. The BSA 30-06 is the answer for me!
Click to expand...

The BSA .30/06 is a good choice for a hunting rifle... now choose some ammo and get her sighted in... now your cooking with gas!
 
Excellent choice!

Still alive said:
Hi!
OP update!!
Took out a BSA 30-06 with 180gr. JSP Federal ammo. Rifle had not been shot for 15 years. Belonged to my father in law who passed 30 years ago. Took me 20 rounds to sight it in as the scope was completely off. But now, confident to shoot 2 inch groups at 100m.
Funny aside... When I was at the range, some young guy in his 20s with a tacticooled SKS, no scope, was banging a gong at 200m! He was shooting fairly rapidly and hit 4 out of 5 shots. Told me he just got the rifle a week ago. Asked if I wanted to try it. i said NO! Did not want to embarass myself after my own SKS experience.
Click to expand...
 
The ballistic equivalent comparisons are from shots past 150m,the better BC of the 7.62 takes over.Of course Hornady has helped with B Tips.Most bears are not taken past 100m.Remember bears are 2 different animals,the one before the shot is focused on food ,one after is focused on you.personaly use a 45/70 G.G. or a 9.3x62mm .don't like the idea of chasing a wounded bear.
 
Original 30/30 loading used a 160gr bullet at 1970fps for about 1400 ft/lbs of energy. Lots of moose bear and elk died with that load. MOST sks ammo runs in the 1500-1600 ft lbs range.

Some factory ammo makers haven't got the memo about increasing velocity, either. As I mentioned before, some factory ammo lumbers along pretty slow. 170gr bullets at 1900 fps is not anything special, yet guys buy that ammo and go kill stuff every year. They just don't own chrongraphs :)
 
Gatehouse said:
Original 30/30 loading used a 160gr bullet at 1970fps for about 1400 ft/lbs of energy. Lots of moose bear and elk died with that load. MOST sks ammo runs in the 1500-1600 ft lbs range.

Some factory ammo makers haven't got the memo about increasing velocity, either. As I mentioned before, some factory ammo lumbers along pretty slow. 170gr bullets at 1900 fps is not anything special, yet guys buy that ammo and go kill stuff every year. They just don't own chrongraphs :)
Click to expand...

On one hand you praise the 7.62x39 as an equal to the 30-30, figures be damned, and in the same breath the 375 H&H is vastly inferior to the 375 Ruger because of a minute difference in velocity?

Maybe it's time to take a breather and reflect on the nonsense contained in those posts? :D
 
Tikkam65 said:
Just for the comment
30-30 and 7.62 x 39 are the same balisticly
So I'm sure bear have never died by 30-30
Click to expand...

I read this a lot. I have and load for both and load some pretty hot rounds for both in other platforms than SKS and lever actions. I think people who claim that are dfreaming. They have very similar trajectories but the short Russian will never be a .30-30.
 
Id'a taken the xcr. I buy things to use em, don't care about looks or depreciation. It's got a job to do and looking pretty is my girlfriends job, not my guns. My trusty xcr-l got battered, bashed, beaten, and abused. Strapped to the rack on the atv, thrown behind the seat in the truck, strapped to my back while dirtbiking in springtime thunder storms. Put away wet on countless occasions.
 
fuzzynuts54 said:
Id'a taken the xcr. I buy things to use em, don't care about looks or depreciation. It's got a job to do and looking pretty is my girlfriends job, not my guns. My trusty xcr-l got battered, bashed, beaten, and abused. Strapped to the rack on the atv, thrown behind the seat in the truck, strapped to my back while dirtbiking in springtime thunder storms. Put away wet on countless occasions.
Click to expand...
That's where we differ, my friend. I see your point but I'm anal with my guns that I pay good cash for. I have stuff from the 80s that look like they were bought yesterday. It's just me! Gives me pride and joy to see gleaming, scratch free black toys! That's why I have an SKS and a Mosin. They are the playthings but due to my bad preparation, they won't be going with me this weekend!
 
Still alive said:
Thank you Boomer,
That was very eloquently put. I am a novice hunter. I have a lot of experience shooting non moving targets but never big or small game. I will be going with friends who are veteran hunters. Being a noob, that's why I was inquiring about whether the SKS is enough gun. I like it because it's light and rugged, mostly reliable and if I damage the gun in any way, it only cost me $200. I also knew, on paper, it met the .30 cal minimum. As mentioned in my last post, I have a XCR-M in .308 too. I know it is plenty enough for bear but it weighs a ton and costs a pretty penny. A scratch on my beauty would cost me sleep! I was going for practical here. BUT after my range test with the hunting ammo with the SKS, I have ZERO confidence of hitting anything at 50-100 yds with it. I know I can hit accurately with my .308 at that range but not with open sights on the SKS. I would be a liability to my friends if I messed up a bear and it would not be ethical. I will bring the XCR and when I come back from the trip, I will seriously think about getting a dedicated bolt action 7mm mag hunting rifle.
Click to expand...

Therein lies the answer. You have not had Tactical/Practical experience with the SKS nor is your rifle properly set up for accurate shooting on targets or game at sensible range. A well set up SKS can be a very accurate device out to around 400 yds. or so, ON TARGETS. A well set up SKS will run you around $500.oo or more.

For bears inside 100 yds. it will do the job in experienced hands. In the hands of folks without a lot of practical experience or ability,and most of all, self confidence in their own ability, an 8 bore would be a poor choice let alone an SKS.

Use the right gun for the job. Know the rifle and chosen load well. Be well practiced with moving targets as well as still ones to help ensure confidence. Shoot lots of targets year round to help gain that self confidence. Learn from ACTUAL experiences of others who have hunted the game you intend to pursue, then go out and hunt proper.

Nothing will pucker yer winkie like a charging carnivore bearing down on you at 35 mph. from under 50 yds... guaranteed! Been there, done that.:eek:
 
Last edited:
bearkilr said:
On one hand you praise the 7.62x39 as an equal to the 30-30, figures be damned, and in the same breath the 375 H&H is vastly inferior to the 375 Ruger because of a minute difference in velocity?

Maybe it's time to take a breather and reflect on the nonsense contained in those posts? :D
Click to expand...

I'm not praising or damning anything, just presenting facts.
 
I have posted these before, but I will do so again.
2012-04-25_17-15-28_997.jpg

Mexican matched reloads, of course
2012-05-01_13-35-28_177.jpg

Avg 10-shot string. 1954 - 1970fps from a Yugo SKS.
2012-05-01_13-37-25_596.jpg

50yd group, with a scoped rifle.
2012-05-01_13-37-11_52.jpg

same group for measure.
Now, comparing apples to apples, my question is, this bullet leaving the muzzle at 1950 fps hits harder at 100yards than the same bullet from a .300WM hits at 400 yards, leaving the muzzle at 2900fps. So, again, why can't you hunt bear with an SKS at 100yds? Because I KNOW you're not gonna hesitate dropping the hammer at 400 yds on a bear!

also, let's look at the coveted 7mm Magnum. A 139 gn bullet launched at 3150fps has 1218p
ft/lbs at 600yds. That's considered adequate on here for big game shooting and ranges with that round. A 123gn round launched at 2400fps (that's PRVI ammo, BTW) has 1234 ft/lbs of energy at 100yds. Why can't you use an SKS?

my bear last year was shot with an SKS. 25yds, 250lb boar. Through the ribs, both lungs, round exited in the dirt off side. Dropped 20yds and I waited until he was dead.
 
That's a good load which puts it right in 30-30 territory. It is definitely bear boinking medicine within your chosen
parameters. See folks, shooters that do their homework and have experience, can get the job done without
much drama. Good on ya man.:)
 
A 7.62X39 cannot match a .30/30 when both are loaded to max and all other parameters are equal... period...
 
Rookie .. You done well ..25 yards and a 250 pound bear .. hit with a 7.62X39 .. Hit with a well placed shot .. waited for it too die ...equals a dead bear .. And a hunter returning home without any scratches ... I am going too assume and I should never assume anything ,, yuo were shooting from a stand over bait . In this case every 100-250 pound bear will have the same fate ..

In my honest option.. Most bear shot every year will fall under '' ACTUALLY "" under what you did .. A couple hundred pound bear .. shot fairly close .. decent fire power ,,, wait for the bear too die ... dead bear ... "" WE HAVE OURSELVES A BEAR GUN """

But that is not what I would call a bear gun .. The difference between decent power and adequate power is the guy has '' ENOUGH power for those 25 -50 yard shots and then he sees a bear at 100.. Most people will not pass that up..
I do not own a sks but people I work with do .. and they say all the time they are a 3 to 4 inch gun at 100 yards .
That in itself would make me shy away from using it for bear .

So Under the right circumstances .. an SKS is a bear killing machine all day long .. But if you change anything then it becomes a not so good bear killing machine .. Too me a bear gun is a bear gun..
not a bear gun at 25 yards and not at 100 ..
Not a 250 pound bear gun .. But not so good if a biggun happens along ..
not one that is OK if you are in a tree .. and the bear can not maul you ..
But not so good if you happen to walk up on a bear and he close enough to maul and kill you if you do not kill him first ..
Or worst yet you may live through it
In my honest opinion .. A SKS will kill a bear .. YES it will ...
But should you advocate an SKS as a bear gun .. Under less that perfect circumstances I would say NO >NO >>NO ... That is the question .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom