SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Saw a TV blip about the SKS being a popular hunting rifle in Wisconsin! [:-] Give me a break! Surely not! I am not sure it is a popular hunting rifle anywhere! Geez! The anti-gun people will have a field day with this. Hillary and her gang will profit from this. I hope the NRA has already put on their sharpest guys to handle this one. Personally, I think we ought to get rid of all this "junk," but I would hate to see any more bans etc. Most hunters have more sense. BUT, if the SKS is a popular hunting rifle in Wisconsin, now I know why they aren't winning too many football games lately :D:D:D

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

I doubt that they are even popular with the novice hunters! Most hunters know that most of the SKS' don't have the accuracy to be considered a true hunting gun, and the energy that they have is borderline at best!

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

I don't see the SKS as a popular hunting gun,but more of a plinker at targets and such.

I have a SKS but it is just a knock-a-round,bounce in the pick-up and shoot varmits gun.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

what is the magazine capacity of this rifle ?

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

If you think all SKS's are inaccurate, then it must really miff you that people are allowed to hunt deer with smoothbore shotguns, handguns and... egads.. bows. ;)

The 7.62 X .39 is the ballistic equivalent of a 30-30, and the 30-30 has killed more deer than most all other calibers put together.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

While it is not a classic American hunting rifle, it does have what it takes. Deer are pretty easy to bring down. Much of the Eastern backwoods deer hunting chatter I hear frequently sings the praises of the 30-30 carbines being just great for short range deerhunting.

The SKS with its "short russian 7.62" is essentially the ballistic twin to the 30-30 plus you DON'T have to use those flat nose bullets. Bullet selection is way superior for the SKS. Short and quick handling like any carbine. 5 shot magazine with rapid fire easily equal to any lever gun. A proven record of functionality in adverse conditions. At ranges of 30 to 90 yards plenty sufficient accuracy.

Its not my style for a hunting rifle, but for the kind of hunting described above it is way up to the task, even though no doubt it is currently the "devil's gun" in Wisconsin.

EKM

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Exellent points&posts AV&ELK.
My sks,s came with the fixed 10 round fixed mag like 1below .
______________________________
But yep the devils gun to some .
Specifications:
Weapon nomenclature - Samozariadnyia Karabina Simonova (SKS)
System of operation - Gas, Semi-automatic fire only
Bolt type - one-piece, tipping, rear-cocking
Weight (loaded) - 8.8 lbs.
Length, barrel - 20.34 inches
Length, overall - 40.16 inches
Feed device - 10-round, fixed, staggered double-row box magazine
Sights, front - Hooded post
Sights, rear - Tangent leaf, graduated from 100 to 1000 meters
Cartridge - 7.62 x 39 Soviet M43 (Type PS ball)
Muzzle velocity - 2411 fps
Bullet weight - 122 gr.
Working pressure - 45,000 psi
Bore diameter - .301 inches
Groove diameter - .311 inches

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

You can get mags for it that hold 30+ rounds. I'm from Wisconsin, and the SKS is not exactly popular, but amongst the kids from up north around my age, that is the gun I have heard many say they wanted. (I dont understand it either) Personally I dont like the look of it or the way they feel. Never shot one, so the only thing I know about their accuracy is what I just read from above. Its kind of disturbing when you hear thirty shots ring out in the woods (I have). You just hope they are not shooting at deer err make that anything living... :*(

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

I would say that the SKS is much more common than you'd think...I'd venture that there are twice as many SKS's being used as 6.5x55 98's, or likely just as many as TC Encores. I'm sure there are more SKS's being used than Garands or M-1A's. Group all semiauto rifles together and I'd venture that they're every bit as common as those that use handguns for hunting.

No, I don't think it is common for it to be someone's ONLY deer rifle, but I can name at least 10 hunters I know that have at least taken ONE deer with an SKS, for one reason or another, myself being one of them. That said, I do know three hunters that do indeed ONLY use SKS's for ALL of their hunting.

What I'm trying to say is, No, the SKS isn't commonly thought of as a "deer rifle" = the one rifle you plan to use for deer, however, it IS INDEED commonly USED as a deer rifle, at least occasionally by many hunters.


To those concerned about magazine capacity, the standard FIXED box mag is 10 (11 in some magazines), HOWEVER, this magazine is easily removeable (no tools required) and can be replaced by a detachable magazine of any size made available...I have a few 20, 25, and 30rnd magazines for plinking with my SKS's, and I have a 3rnd and two 5rnd magazines to be used while hunting.

Change some hardware around on an SKS and you're not that far from any other "non-assault" semiauto rifle....

To address the "power factor", it's not typically understood to be a "high powered rifle", but most people think of a "high power" as ANY centerfire, and many common folk think of any rifle that has a hole in the front as "high power"....my point is, there is no real, constant dividing line...i.e. is a .44mag rifle a high powered rifle? What about a .223 rem? .32-20? Where do you draw the line, and by what qualifications?

Balistically, the SKS isn't too terribly far behind the .30-30 on energy, roughly the % difference between a .30-06 lt. mag and a .300Win mag, or the .300win mag and the .300WSM, not enough difference that a deer is ever going to know it. The only real draw back with the 7.62x39mm is the light bullets it usually throws, and the fact that most SKS's aren't really accurate, nor is most ammo produced for the 7.62x39mm honestly trying to be accurate, it's trying to be cheap. In quality ammo (I reload mine), you can expect virtually the same performance from the SKS or the Win 94.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Whats to be miffed about? I'm not sure what you are trying to say here, or more to the point, what you are trying to start! I handgun, and bow hunt also!
There are some calibers that are better suited for hunting than others, and there are some types of guns that are more suited to hunting than others!
If hunting with an SKS or similar type gun is what you want, and its legal in your area, by all means, knock yourself out!
I will say again, that most SKS' lack the accuracy, to be most hunters "weapon of choice!"

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

I think what he was trying to say, is that guys KNOW the limitations of their weapons before taking them out...when I take out my 700PSS .308, I know I can shoot a deer as far as I can see it, when I took out a 9mm Carbine, I knew I needed to be within about 40yrds. When I take out my compound (81#), after as many outdoor shoots I've been to, I know I can take a deer at 50yrds no sweat, when I take my 12ga SxS, I'm not taking a shot over 35yrds.

I think his main point is this:
Just because an SKS can't shoot 1MOA out to 600yrds doesn't mean the 4" group it gives at 75yrds won't kill a deer...

And just because you HEARD that SKS's are inaccurate doesn't mean that they all are....my old man was an avid rifleman and shotgunner in his day, he once told me-as I was walking out the door with my SKS to go deer hunting-"Why are you taking that, it isn't accurate!!", I just nodded and said, "yeah, yeah it really is....", he just shook his head and told me to keep my shots short....What he DIDN'T know is that that rifle actually shoots 2.5" groups at 200yrds, on a good day I can get snowmen groups at 100yrds...yes, it's the most accurate SKS I've seen, but it's pretty accurate for ANY rifle, let alone a $102.99 SKS...he didn't say much when I came home that night with the 8pter the "inaccurate SKS" had taken with one shot.

--->another reason people don't think they're accurate is because they've never shot one with a scope....the sights on SKS's suck. They're not precision sights, but a glass on one and you'd be surprised the difference it makes.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Are you kidding me... You would take a deer with a 9mm... O.K. this argument has gotten ridiculous... It is not that you "could" take a deer, it is what is ethical... I just hate to see people injure deer. I have come across too many injured deer to count. It makes me sick. You hunt to Kill a deer, not injure one and you should use an ethical means to the end.

to me an SKS or 9mm carbine just is not ethical... I just see really no need to use a semi-auto weapon. Some skilled hunters are fine with them, but it breeds poor habits... Too many blam, blam, blams I hear (multiple rapid fire shots at animals). It is not really the gun I am concerned about it is the mentality. I wish DNR departments would ban semi-auto rifles for this reason... I know that the BAR's and Rem semi-autos would be dissallowed and that is a shame as most of these "fine" firearms are used by reputable hunters, but that is the price we would have to pay.

By the way, I own a Browning BAR and yes I have varmint hunted with it.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Just to point something else out...the SKS and the 9mm carbine are far and away from being in the same class...the SKS is capable of ~1600ft.lbs. at the muzzle, still over 1000ft.lbs. at 100yrds (many states have a minimum of 1000ft.lbs. at the muzzle requirement)...the 9mm+P carbine performs similarly to a .357mag handgun, capable of ~750ft.lbs. at the muzzle...Very few people find the .357mag in a handgun "unethical" for deer hunting.

I'll challenge that there are fewer deer "injured" with semiautos than you think...truth be told, I'm betting it is universal for all action types, if they're out there taking poor shots, it's not the gun's fault, and I'm sure they don't think that much into it to pick up a semiauto just so they can take a lot of poor shots.

I would HONESTLY bet that there are more deer injured by bullets that EXITED another deer beside them, or by bullets that were deflected by brush than those that are injured by guys spraying and praying with semiautos...and like I said, I'll bet that there aren't really any more deer injured by hunters "rapid firing" semiautos than by hunters with bolt guns that "just winged a shot out there"....

I'd also venture there are FAR more deer deer injured annually by "hunters" who aren't shooters, especially bow hunters (no offense to bow hunting, it's just harder to be "natural" at bow shooting)...guys that take out their rifle and put a few shots on a page at 25yrds, "yep, dead on at 25 is dead on at 100", and then go afield, or guys that leave their bow in the closet until the first day of season.

What you're thinking of is something else, it's not hunting. Guys that just walk out into the woods and let lead fly, from ANY action type, aren't hunters, regardless of whether they bought tags or wore orange, or if season is in or not, of they've got permission to be out there. They may not be honest to God poachers, but they're only not so by the letter of the law, not the intent. But, they aren't hunters. A hunter can ethically kill a deer with virtually any weapon, which is why I feel confident taking a .357mag pistol, or a 9mm carbine afield, I know the capabilities of the round, and I can virtually assure proper bullet placement.

If you banned hunting with semiauto's because guys are out there flinging lead at anything that moves, you'll just see an increase in levergun and pump gun sales...and when you've banned those, you'll still see wounded deer by guys that are just walking out with single shots and winging shots off at deer.

In general function, there is no difference between a SKS and a BAR or 7400, chamber the 7400 in a .30-30 and you've basically got an SKS...they all fire a bullet and automatically load the next round...the difference is in your head, just because you think of the SKS as an assault rifle, and remingtons as hunting rifles.

It's not the guns, it's the people shooting them. Taking away the guns isn't going to stop these so called hunters from being unethical.


I pose these questions: Why is the BAR or 7400 so much more acceptable than an SKS? The only difference is the cartridges? Would a Ruger M77 in 7.62x39mm be ethical then? And how do you feel about the Winchester 94? Why is a leveraction in .30-30, which is basically equivalent in FIRE RATE, POWER, AND ACCURACY acceptable when the SKS isn't?

If it's the fire rate that concerns you, then you can't prefer the BAR, 7400, or Ruger Deerfield, if it's the cartridge, then the .30-30 and the Ruger bolt gun aren't ethical in your eyes either...If it's the accuracy, then you've got to shoot my rifles before you comment on my ethics.

Be honest with yourself, you've fallen for the whole "assault rifle" hype and haven't figured out why yet.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

I guess it is just my frustration with poor sportsman... I would venture a guess that most people whom hunt with SKS's are typically the ones who are taking ill-advised shots. They are using a gun that is basically meant for as you put it spraying in praying. People whom have invested the money into a remington 7400 or Browning BAR are typically hunters whom will not take such shots. Granted these are stereotypes, but if the shoe fits... Also I have seen very few scoped SKS's out there, not many 7400 and BAR's with open sights.

Basically people are trying to retrofit millitary guns into hunting guns... They were meant for different purposes. Now taking a mauser action and overall reworking it is completely differet. taking a stock SKS out and using it as a deer rifle just doesn't make sense. I was completely unaware that the 9mm and 357 are in the same class... I thought a 38 special delivered more than a 9mm, I could be wrong, but are you trying to tell me that a 357 Magnum and a 9mm are the same??? I have a hard time beleiving that to be true. Not really the point here I guess. I would make an argument that the .357 is the absolute minimum handgun cartridge to use for deer, I personally wouldn't hunt with anything under a .44 mag.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

I agree with Newguy...I wouldn't hunt deer or the same sized game with a handgun load less than .44 magnum. I prefer my FN Mauser 30-06 though :]]

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

No, the 9mm and the .357mag aren't in the same class, but the 9mm+P+ from a 16.5" carbine bbl IS about on par with a .357mag from a 5.5" revolver bbl...Both of which I have had one shot stops on deer with, I might add. But, that isn't really the topic at hand.

Rifles are rifles, just because something is issued with killing people in mind doesn't mean it isn't effective at killing game...you won't tell me that a Garand isn't a good choice for deer hunting because it was designed to kill people (although it is a poor choice since it WEIGHS so stinkin much), when it throws a .30-06 round accurately to 600yrds with the open sights.

Guns don't kill, and they don't make people kill...on the same coin, guns don't take bad shots, nor do they make people take bad shots.

I've got a whole drawer full of silverware, but I'm not fat, because I know not to misuse my tools.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Nomercy: "It's not the guns, it's the people shooting them. Taking away the guns isn't going to stop these so called hunters from being unethical."

I'm glad to see you refer to them as "so called hunters", but I think maybe Pennsylvania
has it right - they don't allow semi-autos for hunting.
I'm not advocating the ban or confiscation of semi-auto firearms - of any type. But I don't see them as appropriate for hunting. Yes, they can be used for hunting, but are
they appropriate. And there's just too many "hunters" out there that will shoot at
anything - movement, sound, or what they think may be a part of a deer. Putting a high-cap. semi in their hands is just plain dangerous. It's like giving an indy race car to someone who just got their drivers license - it's asking for an accident to happen.

And, I too have been in the woods when some "hunter" starts cranking off shots with an
SKS. It ain't no fun being in the same area. I'm just thankful to the Lord that this idiot
probably can't hit what he's aiming at (hey, it's why they shoot off 10+ rds.), and praying (as I'm kissing the ground) that I'm not anywhere in his line of fire.[:@]
I then leave the woods - before I forget what it is I'm supposed to be "hunting".

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Nomercy, I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I do not care what type of gun anyone uses. After all, just about all of the guns we use today, were at one time or another, "military weapons!"
I very much dislike a few calibers that some people call "deer calibers" though! My biggest peeve is when a new hunter asks for opinions on a deer gun and caliber, and someone here tells them to get some caliber like the .22 centerfires or the 7.62X39, with the inherent, 3 dollar a box ammo!
When we do that, we do them a huge dis-service, by not taking into account that their skills may, or may not, (probably not) be up to the level that is needed for hunting with these calibers! Not to mention that the respect big game animals deserve, and the ethics of hunting in general, require that we use the best reasonable guns, calibers, and bullets available, to make quick, and humane kills!

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Folks, I can't add much to this discussion. I am 47 now and I find that my tastes in many things, firearms in particular, have changed since I was in my 20s. I don't own an SKS now and ABSOLUTELY would not own one to HUNT with; however, much of my outlook on life is because I now am a well paid manager in middle age whom the Good Lord has blessed with good fortune and opportunity, as opposed to a struggling young man of more modest means. An SKS CAN be used for a variety of tasks, such as hunting, plinking, self defense and so on. I remember a day when I didn't have an extra 20 bucks, and if a guy of modest means, or whose tastes differ from mine, wants an affordable rifle to do a variety of tasks so that he can hunt deer, punch paper, feel safe in his home and do whatever, then power to him!

All I recommend, is that anyone who wants to be a humane and ethical hunter, knows his or her own limitations, knows their weapon, and confine their shots to ethical ones.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Maine has a better answer than a ban on semi autos ..... a limit of 5 rounds in the mag and the mag has to be permently altered if it had a capacity of more than 5 rounds to be 5. This does not apply to .22 rimfire or handguns.

IMHO anyone with a mag holding 20 rounds needs to practice more before going into the woods. SKS or whatever.

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RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Wow. John effen Kerry and Sarah Brady would be proud of you. You don't want to be in the same room as those "dirty poor people" who cannot afford a $1000 rifle for hunting. Spraying and praying? Pulease. The people who do that type of shooting are the guys with with BARs and Remmys 9/10ths of the time, in fact I would bet that 95% of ther people who buy a Remmy 7400 shoot less than a box of shells through their rifle per year- serious rifleman or sportsman my ass.

BTW- the badguy in the shooting in wisconsin did not use a sks- he used a sporting rifle manufactured on an AK action- not much different than a remington 7400 except the color- but then again we aren't going to discriminate now based on color are we?

I've taken deer with mauser 98's and the M1 Garand- alll in original military issue, they work just fine that way, no need to work them over to make them pretty or to exorcise the eeeeevil out of them before hunting. I haven't used an sks for hunting yet, but I think I will next year if only to piss off blissninnies like yourself. And I would bet taht I could shoot one better in the field than you could with any of your prized sporting rifles.


Muddydog- great post, its right on the mark.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Muddydog, I'll look into that and report back.Interesting thought I don't have one of those rifles so I never thought of it. It might specify clip fed thus omiting the tube feeds.

RE: SKS? Popular hunting rifle?
 

Muddydog, (and everyone else too) The following is from the Maine Laws on line

3. Automatic firearm (a firearm that continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back). It is unlawful to hunt with or possess for hunting any automatic firearm.

4. Auto-loading firearm (a firearm which reloads itself after each shot and requires a separate trigger pull for each shot). It is unlawful to hunt with or possess for hunting any auto-loading firearm which has a magazine capacity of more than 5 cartridges,* unless the magazine has been permanently altered to contain not more than 5 cartridges . (Note: This provision does not apply to .22 caliber rimfire guns or to auto-loading pistols with barrel lengths of less than 8 inches). *Plus 1 in the chamber for a total of 6.

so your levers are legal Muddy