Can you hunt with AK-47?

[Conner Williams]

I am buying my first AK-47, but I have barely any experience with AK's. Could you hunt with a tactical AK in 7.62? Or would that just explode the poor thing? How bad does it kick?

 

[jmr40]

Depends on where you live and the magazine capacity limits. No problems here in GA,but some places have restrictions on the number of rounds legal to hunt with. If you can locate magazines that only hold 3-5 rounds it would be legal most places. At the present time Pennsylvania is the only state where semi-autos are banned, but that may be changing soon.

Then there is ammo. MOST 7.62X39 ammo is FMJ and not legal to hunt with in most places. If you buy softpoint ammo yes.

The 7.62X39 round is a very low powered round, it wouldn't explode a deer. In fact it would be on the low end of acceptable and only then at closer ranges.

 

[Telekinesis]

An AK is less powerful than most "hunting" rifles. It is roughly the power of a 30-30, and is significantly less powerful than something like a .308 or .30-06. the kick will disturb your sight picture, but is otherwise negligible.

To hunt with an AK, you'll need good ammo (standard FMJ won't cut it, and some of the steel cased HP and SP expands well, some doesn't), you'll need to make sure you're not firing at extended range, you'll need to check on mag size limits for hunting, and you'll need to make sure that you're up to the task of accurately putting a round where you want it depending on if you use irons or add a scope. My general thought is that if you really need to or want to, you can hunt with an AK, but there are much better options out there.

 

[horsey300]

I am buying my first AK-47, but I have barely any experience with AK's. Could you hunt with a tactical AK in 7.62? Or would that just explode the poor thing? How bad does it kick?

Hunt what? A lot of states will limit Mag size. Other than that, 200 yd deer rd, little recoil, less than the 7-08, and with the right ammo, very feasible. Handloading would help, a hybrid .308 barrel REALLY makes a difference, but as far as exploding anything? You're looking at a super slow .308 so even at muzzle, you'll have a hard time splodin more than a water balloon. Speed makes splosions when you're looking at .308 and smaller diameter game bullets.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Welcome, Conner! It's impossible to answer definitively without knowing where you live. Semi autos are, broadly speaking, legal for hunting but not everywhere. In places where you can take deer with an auto there's usually a magazine limit. No, it won't "explode" a deer. The 7.62x39 is certainly adequate for deer but it's on the low end of the power spectrum for big game. Again, in broad terms FMJ ammo is illegal and/or inadvisable for big game hunting. If you're going to use the AK for deer you'll need to find some commercial ammo that's either soft point, hollow point, ballistic tip, etc.

Oddly I do kind of feel like the recoil of an AK is slightly unpleasant. That's probably due mostly to the poor ergonomics of the gun, and maybe the large moving mass of the bolt. The recoil isn't bad at all for hunting but shooting a few hundred rounds in a session it catches up with you a little.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Ooops, posted at the same time as the others.

 

[Panzerschwein]

You could easily hunt up to and including boars and deers with an AK-47. The recoil is nice and light and it's accurate enough out to 100 meters.

 

[Browning]

I am buying my first AK-47, but I have barely any experience with AK's. Could you hunt with a tactical AK in 7.62?

Depends on what you're hunting. White-tail deer or hogs? Sure.

Check your state game laws regarding mag capacity, but 5 rd AK mags are available. I don't know about AK's now, but 10-20 years ago almost all the AK's I bought came with a 5 rd mag thrown in.

Or would that just explode the poor thing? How bad does it kick?

No. Having a gun look scary enough for hoplophobes to wet their pants at the mere sight of it doesn't translate into explosive killing power.

Use Hornady SST or Federal Fusion for decent results, Soft points work well too, but I'd give the edge to SST or Fusion for deer or hogs.

Recoil on the 7.62x39 isn't very stout at all.

 

[Prijador]

As others have said above, both the platform and the round have limitations, but I prefer to think of it as a challenge

Edited to add: +1 to what Browning said about ammo (Hornady SST)

 

[Conner Williams]

As others have said above, both the platform and the round have limitations, but I prefer to think of it as a challenge

Edited to add: +1 to what Browning said about ammo (Hornady SST)

Thank you!

 

[Conner Williams]

Depends on what you're hunting. White-tail deer or hogs? Sure.

Check your state game laws regarding mag capacity, but 5 rd AK mags are available. I don't know about AK's now, but 10-20 years ago almost all the AK's I bought came with a 5 rd mag thrown in.


No. Having a gun look scary enough for hoplophobes to wet their pants at the mere sight of it doesn't translate into explosive killing power.

Use Hornady SST or Federal Fusion for decent results, Soft points work well too, but I'd give the edge to SST or Fusion for deer or hogs.

Recoil on the 7.62x39 isn't very stout at all.

Oh wow! I looked at images of the 7.62 and I thought it was big! guess it was the perspective then..

And btw I live in MT, aka gun owners heaven. If you see "only legal in some states" it is definitely legal in MT. Law won't be an issue, thanks for the concern!

 

[Conner Williams]

You could easily hunt up to and including boars and deers with an AK-47. The recoil is nice and light and it's accurate enough out to 100 meters.

Mulies?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Mulies?

Yep, it'll get mulies as well. Just keep the range up to 100 meters and you'll be just fine.

 

[Conner Williams]

Welcome, Conner! It's impossible to answer definitively without knowing where you live. Semi autos are, broadly speaking, legal for hunting but not everywhere. In places where you can take deer with an auto there's usually a magazine limit. No, it won't "explode" a deer. The 7.62x39 is certainly adequate for deer but it's on the low end of the power spectrum for big game. Again, in broad terms FMJ ammo is illegal and/or inadvisable for big game hunting. If you're going to use the AK for deer you'll need to find some commercial ammo that's either soft point, hollow point, ballistic tip, etc.

Oddly I do kind of feel like the recoil of an AK is slightly unpleasant. That's probably due mostly to the poor ergonomics of the gun, and maybe the large moving mass of the bolt. The recoil isn't bad at all for hunting but shooting a few hundred rounds in a session it catches up with you a little.

Oh wow, I thought it was bigger from the pictures of 7.62 I have seen! Must be perspective. And "blow up" was an exaggeration, but you got the gist. Thanks for the insight!

 

[Conner Williams]

Yep, it'll get mulies as well. Just keep the range up to 100 meters and you'll be just fine.

Thank you!

 

[Conner Williams]

Hunt what? A lot of states will limit Mag size. Other than that, 200 yd deer rd, little recoil, less than the 7-08, and with the right ammo, very feasible. Handloading would help, a hybrid .308 barrel REALLY makes a difference, but as far as exploding anything? You're looking at a super slow .308 so even at muzzle, you'll have a hard time splodin more than a water balloon. Speed makes splosions when you're looking at .308 and smaller diameter game bullets.

Wow I thought the 7.62 was a big round from pictures I have seen! Must have been perspective. ETA: Thanks for the insight!

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

it's killed hundreds of thousands of people, should kill a deer...but why? so many other sensible choices.

 

[Conner Williams]

An AK is less powerful than most "hunting" rifles. It is roughly the power of a 30-30, and is significantly less powerful than something like a .308 or .30-06. the kick will disturb your sight picture, but is otherwise negligible.

To hunt with an AK, you'll need good ammo (standard FMJ won't cut it, and some of the steel cased HP and SP expands well, some doesn't), you'll need to make sure you're not firing at extended range, you'll need to check on mag size limits for hunting, and you'll need to make sure that you're up to the task of accurately putting a round where you want it depending on if you use irons or add a scope. My general thought is that if you really need to or want to, you can hunt with an AK, but there are much better options out there.

Wow, I thought 7.62 was bigger than it was! Must be the perspective of pictures I have seen. Thanks!

 

[Conner Williams]

it's killed hundreds of thousands of people, should kill a deer...but why? so many other sensible choices.

Just because I am getting one and I just need to find out the limitations. I don't have to hunt with it, but I hate hunting with my 30-06, because I always jerk and flinch, and end up shooting like a fool. (Hunting is not the reason I am buying) I'd have to buy another hunting rifle after breaking the bank with this gun, so I was just seeing if maybe this could hunt too

 

[Decoy80]

Maybe not the most comofortable tool to use for deer but Ive taken them at close range using soft point ammo. I use a 5 round magazine, I was thinking more of my comfort using it. I didnt think of mag. capacity being illegal here in Ms Ill ask the game warden just so I will know.

 

[horsey300]

Just because I am getting one and I just need to find out the limitations. I don't have to hunt with it, but I hate hunting with my 30-06, because I always jerk and flinch, and end up shooting like a fool. (Hunting is not the reason I am buying) I'd have to buy another hunting rifle after breaking the bank with this gun, so I was just seeing if maybe this could hunt too

You're shooting .310 bullets is why it's hard to make a good hunting round out of it. Hornady offers a 123sst which is close to the heaviest weight you'll wanna use if you wanna cross the 200 yd finish line with enough velocity to create a FAIR wound tract. Think of your -06 at about 350 yds with a 165gr bullet.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

Poachers killed thousands of deer every year with .22 long rifles....I use everything from .22-250 to .308 and everything in between, I hate the term assault rifle but ARs and AKs are the last things I would pull out of my safe.

 

[Conner Williams]

Depends on where you live and the magazine capacity limits. No problems here in GA,but some places have restrictions on the number of rounds legal to hunt with. If you can locate magazines that only hold 3-5 rounds it would be legal most places. At the present time Pennsylvania is the only state where semi-autos are banned, but that may be changing soon.

Then there is ammo. MOST 7.62X39 ammo is FMJ and not legal to hunt with in most places. If you buy softpoint ammo yes.

The 7.62X39 round is a very low powered round, it wouldn't explode a deer. In fact it would be on the low end of acceptable and only then at closer ranges.

Thanks!

Maybe not the most comofortable tool to use for deer but Ive taken them at close range using soft point ammo. I use a 5 round magazine, I was thinking more of my comfort using it. I didnt think of mag. capacity being illegal here in Ms Ill ask the game warden just so I will know.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Conner Williams]

You're shooting .310 bullets is why it's hard to make a good hunting round out of it. Hornady offers a 123sst which is close to the heaviest weight you'll wanna use if you wanna cross the 200 yd finish line with enough velocity to create a FAIR wound tract. Think of your -06 at about 350 yds with a 165gr bullet.

Yeah, will do. Thanks!

 

[Deaf Smith]

I am buying my first AK-47, but I have barely any experience with AK's. Could you hunt with a tactical AK in 7.62? Or would that just explode the poor thing? How bad does it kick?

And AK-47 in Texas is quite legal to hunt with. Kicks less than a 30/30 and has about the same power. There is soft point hunting ammo made and it will take deer and hog quite easily. Noes not kick bad at all. If open sights used, it's a 100+ yard gun. If scope used, 200 yards would be a good max range.

And yep, I have one.

Deaf