LOL!! I was thinking the same thing because that's what happened to me when I bought my first Mosin years ago.At one time I had 8 of these rifles in various models.I wish I still had all of them but sold them off to fund various projects quite some time ago.
Would I regret buying a 91/30
- Thread starter iamcanjim
- Start date
LOL!! I was thinking the same thing because that's what happened to me when I bought my first Mosin years ago.At one time I had 8 of these rifles in various models.I wish I still had all of them but sold them off to fund various projects quite some time ago.
- Location
- Georgetown Ontario
And the guy with the Belt Fed Browning is after the whole herd of Deer.
I can not really recommend the SKS for Deer Hunting.
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Why don't you like the SKS for deer? The x39 has more than enough power for deer and the SKS is accurate enough and fairly handy lengthwise.
.@CRASHCOLLINS:
The SKS cartridge is handy and dandy out to 100 yards on deer IF you can place your bullet. Around here (BUFFDOG lives 20 miles South of me) a 300-yard shot is often necessary because the distances between the road and the closest cover can be half a mile or more.... and many deer over the years have been taken at 600, 700 and a few even farther. At those ranges, the 7.62x39 will only wound the animal. It just does not have enough power or stability and the ammunition is made with too much dispersion built-in. It is an area-fire-application cartridge with enough power to make a man hit with it at 300 yards, lie down and holler for a medic. That's what it was designed to do and it does it rather well.
On the other hand, the 7.62x54R used in the Moisin-Nagant has everything going for it that a .30-06 has. It WILL make a clean kill at 300 if the animal is hit in a vital spot.... and the rifle is accurate enough to make the shot if you can see the critter.
Okay?
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The SKS cartridge is handy and dandy out to 100 yards on deer IF you can place your bullet. Around here (BUFFDOG lives 20 miles South of me) a 300-yard shot is often necessary because the distances between the road and the closest cover can be half a mile or more.... and many deer over the years have been taken at 600, 700 and a few even farther. At those ranges, the 7.62x39 will only wound the animal. It just does not have enough power or stability and the ammunition is made with too much dispersion built-in. It is an area-fire-application cartridge with enough power to make a man hit with it at 300 yards, lie down and holler for a medic. That's what it was designed to do and it does it rather well.
On the other hand, the 7.62x54R used in the Moisin-Nagant has everything going for it that a .30-06 has. It WILL make a clean kill at 300 if the animal is hit in a vital spot.... and the rifle is accurate enough to make the shot if you can see the critter.
Okay?
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I'm going to step out on a bit of a limb here and say "YES"
You already list all of the reasons why you shouldn't own one. They aren't a "good start" unless you are a bit of a history buff and live in a location where hunting as well as milsurp ammo is easy to locate.
As Smellie so aptly pointed out, it all depends on condition. Condition is everything when it comes to accuracy.
It also depends on your eyesight, physical strength and ergonomics.
The MNs were designed to be battle rifles that could be used as spears or clubs and weigh in accordingly.
They are cheap to acquire but so are sportered Lee Enfields. Most gunshops will have a couple of those stashed away somewhere for as low as $100, for a decent one. Then again, it's buyer beware as well. All used firearms are. Take someone with you that knows what they are doing, when you actually decide to part with some hard come by cash.
Recently at a gunshow, I picked up a very pretty Mod 94 30-30 Winchester for $200. It retained about 60% blue and was one of the models made in Japan, with a Birch stock. It had a bore that looked as new. I only had the rifle in my rack for an hour before a youngster came along with his Dad and proposed an interest in it as his first rifle. We made a deal where I came out even and a happy youngster and his Dad, walked away to look for some ammo that wasn't to be found at the show. Not only that but flipped a rifle that had been registered at one time, twice in the same hour, to disappear into limbo.
Nope, I honestly think that from your first post and second post stating that you want to shoot coyotes as well that the MN 91/30 would be a poor choice.
At that same show, I also sold a 70s built Rem 700 in 270, complete with a period Bushnell Scopechief, sling, box of ammo for $400, all in.
You need to get out there and look around. The EE here is a good place to start but most of the sellers have a high opinion of the value of their offerings. Don't be afraid to barter or dicker on price. If prices are firm, unless it's something really special, move on because there is a lot of stuff out there for sale.
Take out an ad in your local paper, you will get more offers than you can handle.
I have had several firearms given to me because people just want them gone from the house for whatever reason and don't want to deal with other people.
The Mosin is a fine rifle for its intended purposes and in many areas of the world it was and still is used for a hunting rifle. In many cases, highly modified for ergonomic as well as esthetic reasons. That is a whole different issue and not really worthwhile anymore unless you want the work.
One man's junk is another man's treasure. The MN can be either. It all really depends on the man and his personal preferences or needs.
I suspect if you dropped one on your toe, you would regret it...
As stated above (many times over) bang for buck, a Mosin is the best buy available in our current market. You can be a 'surp collector, hunter, and a target shooter for under 200 bucks. (you should even be able to get some ammo for that price)
As stated above (many times over) bang for buck, a Mosin is the best buy available in our current market. You can be a 'surp collector, hunter, and a target shooter for under 200 bucks. (you should even be able to get some ammo for that price)
Why not the SKS for Deer Hunting? Over 55 years of hunting experience across Canada from the Rock to Vancouver Island. There are much better cartridges and rifles for a Deer rifle, especially for a new hunter.
Yes, the 7.62x39 Russian cartridge will take a Deer, with the proper soft point bullet or a good 150 grain reload. It has about the same performance as the 30-30 Winchester cartridge UNDER 100 yards, but for longer ranges is not really suitable. And I have used the SKS on Deer, along with almost everything from the .22 rimfire up to the .375 Holland and Holland. Shot placement is the biggest factor, but I have also trailed and recovered a lot of Deer and other Game Animals shot by other people.
I grew up in Southern Ontario, moving to Alberta and BC when I was over 30 years old, and I am familiar with the Georgetown area, and the hunting conditions in that area. I have shot Deer in the thick brush of Vancouver Island, where the Deer are about the weight of a large Saint Bernard dog, in the mountains of B.C. and Alberta where some very large deer are found, on the Prairies where long shots are common and you better know something about wind and where some real monster deer are, in the Cedar swamps of Ontario, and the clear cuts of the Maritimes. In my opinion, the SKS, while a very good military battle rifle, is not a really good deer rifle.
We owe it to the Game to dispatch it without unnecessary suffering. This, to me, is to use enough gun to drop an animal, and not wound it. I have probably shot more Big Game, that is White Tail Deer, Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, and a few Bears, Goats and Sheep, then 99% of the hunters in Canada.I have dressed them out, and analyzed wound channels and bullet performance, and I have hunted with other Hunters who have dropped a lot of game.
When we look at the 7.62x39 cartridge itself, it was designed to shoot People. To kill or wound a human being. The lighter full metal jacket tends to tumble slightly and/or break apart. In fact, if you can wound someone, it takes two more people to take the casualty off the battlefield. Deer and other animals are much tougher than people.
While people are going to use the SKS for Deer, there are many better options. Would you use your Wife's family car for hauling a load of gravel? A pick-up truck is a much better alternative for this. If we look at muzzle energy, a .22-250 has about the same energy as a .45-70, but if there is a Bear facing you at 25 yards, which one is more suitable?
My opinion is that the SKS is not really a suitable Deer rifle, especially for a Newby hunter.
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Depends on the range of animals encountered.
SKS - with iron sights is a 100-150 yard weapon. The semi-auto action provides quick follow up shots if required. The SKS can be readily scoped and with optics the lethal/ethical range of taking shots on game is extended. With good shot placement, deer size game can be taken.
91/30 - the cartridge is lethal out to 600 yards as proven in WWII, but the rifle is not as readily scoped. Any rifle with iron sights is a 100-150 yard weapon (exception fine marksmen with practice). The limitation of iron sights restricts this more robust calibre to the same distance of the SKS.
Shot placement is vital with deer. Use a 375 H&H and poorly place a bullet - you will lose/wound deer. Use a 7.62x39 and place a bullet wisely - you will have a dead deer.
Practice, practice, practice. Bigger bullets and greater velocities will provide more energy which may lead to greater killing power, but the bullet needs to be placed well in the first place.
SKS - with iron sights is a 100-150 yard weapon. The semi-auto action provides quick follow up shots if required. The SKS can be readily scoped and with optics the lethal/ethical range of taking shots on game is extended. With good shot placement, deer size game can be taken.
91/30 - the cartridge is lethal out to 600 yards as proven in WWII, but the rifle is not as readily scoped. Any rifle with iron sights is a 100-150 yard weapon (exception fine marksmen with practice). The limitation of iron sights restricts this more robust calibre to the same distance of the SKS.
Shot placement is vital with deer. Use a 375 H&H and poorly place a bullet - you will lose/wound deer. Use a 7.62x39 and place a bullet wisely - you will have a dead deer.
Practice, practice, practice. Bigger bullets and greater velocities will provide more energy which may lead to greater killing power, but the bullet needs to be placed well in the first place.
Either rifle will work then. Both are neat rifles with interesting histories. I currenlty own several of both.
I have never killed a deer with a mosin, but I have with an M1 Garand, M1 Carbine and K98. Iron sights do restrict your kill range and the weaker round of the M1 Carbine required me to be within 50 yards for an ethical kill.
I have also shot a deer with a CZ858 (7.62x39 round). I still use this rifle when pushing bush for friends.
The smaller round of the SKS will have less recoil and you will have quicker follow up shots. The larger round of the Mosin will be deadlier at longer distances and may have more knockdown power.
If you are an archer you have patience. Just put in some practice time and either rifle will work for deer.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
They are solid rifles and very simple...a little on the long side, but the barrel length makes much better use of the cartridge than the m44 does.
For the price they can't be beat.
For the price they can't be beat.
absolutely love mine! picked it up from a surplus store for $50 on a deal because i was buying a crate of ammo and a SVT40. After i got home and cleaned all the grease off of it i found i had an ex-sniper. Was recently out shooting watermelons with some friends at 600m and the Mosin was hanging with some new rifles that cost far more than mine!
- Location
- Georgetown Ontario
OK thanks that explains it. Around here shots on deer are usually less than 100 yards so the SKS is very handy here. I own 6 SKS's and one 91/30 and one polish M44, if I had to choose only one it would be the M44 because of the extra power and would be more effective as an all around big game rifle ( more effective on moose and more power and range)
Yes, so I bought 2.
- Location
- Where the sun shines
Met too. Only I bought five.
I'm not convinced an m44 is more powerful.... I am pretty certain, if you're close enough, you can bbq one side of bambi!
So, I bought a Mosin. A 1943 Izvhesk. Have put 80 rounds of milsurp through it. This is my first ever gun of any kind. At 50 yards, I was able to kill 5 500 mL pop bottles with 5 shots. Then I started flinching. Today I killed 2 bottles at 100 yards with 8 shots. At least the ammo is cheap.
Shoot lighter loads and buy a cheap slip on recoil pad. The steel buttplate can tend to be a tad unforgiving sometimes.
Also make sure you clean your rifle with boiling water after you shoot milsurp ammo! The primers used in most berdan primed military surplus ammo contain salts to increase the shelf life. However the downside of this is that if left sitting in the barrel and bolt, they will attract moisture and cause rust! A kettle full of boiling water down the barrel (make sure you remove the stock first) will do the trick. Also disassemble the bolt and pour the water over it, especially the bolt face, firing pin, and the inside of the bolt body in the channel where the firing pin sits. Some people say to use Windex to clean corrosive ammo but this is false. The ammonia in Windex actually does nothing to "neutralize" the salts. It's the water that's actually doing it. Boiled water is cheaper anyways.
After you've flushed the barrel and rinsed the bolt, and you're satisfied that the salts are gone, clean as normal with solvent and patches. Lightly oil the barrel and the bolt as the boiling water will rinse away any oil as well as the corrosive salts. Periodically check your gun a few times over the course of the next few days to inspect for rust and ensure you cleaned it properly.
If you treat them right, these rifles will outlast you, your children, and your children's children.
Happy shooting tovarishch!
Also make sure you clean your rifle with boiling water after you shoot milsurp ammo! The primers used in most berdan primed military surplus ammo contain salts to increase the shelf life. However the downside of this is that if left sitting in the barrel and bolt, they will attract moisture and cause rust! A kettle full of boiling water down the barrel (make sure you remove the stock first) will do the trick. Also disassemble the bolt and pour the water over it, especially the bolt face, firing pin, and the inside of the bolt body in the channel where the firing pin sits. Some people say to use Windex to clean corrosive ammo but this is false. The ammonia in Windex actually does nothing to "neutralize" the salts. It's the water that's actually doing it. Boiled water is cheaper anyways.
After you've flushed the barrel and rinsed the bolt, and you're satisfied that the salts are gone, clean as normal with solvent and patches. Lightly oil the barrel and the bolt as the boiling water will rinse away any oil as well as the corrosive salts. Periodically check your gun a few times over the course of the next few days to inspect for rust and ensure you cleaned it properly.
If you treat them right, these rifles will outlast you, your children, and your children's children.
Happy shooting tovarishch!
