Hunting big game with AK47

['Card]

I'm on record here saying (frequently) that I don't think 5.56 is a good choice for deer hunting, but I can't understand why anyone would have a problem hunting with a 7.62. That's the ballistic equivalent of the most popular American hunting cartridges. As far as it being shot from an AK... who really cares? As long as it's accurate enough that you can hit the deer with it. The rifle doesn't matter. The cartridge matters.

just my take...... if you NEED a semi-auto to kill a deer(or anything larger)... you shouldn't be hunting.

I don't NEED my .30-06 Remington 7400 semi-auto, just like I don't NEED my waterproof boots, don't NEED my Gore-tex jacket, don't really NEED a scope, and don't NEED my nifty little whiz-bang GPS unit.

But I sure as hell LIKE them.

Besides, when it comes to semi-autos and deer hunting, I say "Why not?" Rounds are cheap. The gun is accurate and reliable. I'm a big believer in shooting often, and with great enthusiasm.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Krochus,

Run over and take a look here. Good info, easy and fast comparisons.
http://www.remington.com/products/am...on/ballistics/

Yes I'm framilar with that page in fact I user their 30-30 data, but it only allows you to compare REMINGTON products, So you can only compare to remingtons very very crappy underloaded 7.62x39. In my opinion it's silly to go to a domestic mgfr to buy 7.62x39 after all you wouldn't turn to the Russians to find good 30-30 so why in the world would you do the opposite with their pet cartridge.

Domestic ammo manufacturers do 7.62x39 as much a disservice as they do 8x57 by putting out weak underloaded crap

 

[eliphalet]

So you can only compare to remingtons very very crappy underloaded 7.62x39. In my opinion it's silly to go to a domestic mgfr to buy 7.62x39 after all you wouldn't turn to the Russians to find good 30-30 so why in the world would you do the opposite with their pet cartridge.

If I was looking for a quality ammo I doubt I would look to a Russian manufacture that is stamping out metal cased ammo buy the boat load for that quality.
Their(Wolf) 154 soft point is only 2104 FPS but unlike Premium ammunition makers that test their hunting ammo. I would worry Wolf's "soft point" hunting rounds are not what they should be. Have we seen testing to say I am wrong on that? Can you point us to that data?

Remington's 150 grain cor-loc 30-30 is 2390 FPS almost 400 FPS faster with what I know is a good hunting bullet, and data I feel I can trust. Even the 170's are 2200.

I have an AK and a pre 64 Winchester 94 in 30-30, that I have killed deer with. I have not with the AK and odds are I never will.
I guess one could call Remington's ammo what ever they please, but I seem to recall several dozen game animals I have personally shot using that ammo, and my conclusion is they make a pretty good bullet.

Again we are talking a primarily cheap made third world gun with who knows what quality ammo compared to a quality American firearm and ammo.
You hunt with what you want I will do the same but you can be assured a Ak will not be my choice. If you want to lug one around and have everyone in the woods thinking what I know darn well they will be thinking and saying about you and your choice of "hunting rifle" go to it.

We had a guy come upon us once carrying a SKS during elk season, I would have not cared to have been the recipient of the remarks I heard after he walked on down the road, and I tended to agree with what I had heard.

That is one of the great things about this country we are free to make so many decisions on gun ownership and use. I like that freedom but I do try to make good choices.

 

[R.W.Dale]

You'll never see the velocity Remington lists in a 20" barreled 30-30 not even close, Like 250fps less, I have seen this over a chrony numerous times. 170grn 30-30 loads seldom break 2000fps in my 20" rifles

Where as I've chronographed wolf's 154grn sp at just over 2200 fps in a 18" barreled gun. But what makes the deal is Remington's 150grs soft point bullet has a BC of only .193 compared to wolf's .3302. In other words the 30-30 bullet will shed velocity-energy MUCH much faster than the Wolf ammo.

Bottom line is a AK variant WILL do everything a winchester 94 will do. Someone using a 30-30 on elk has no business whatsoever talking down to someone using an SKS as they are both bottom rung choices with no real difference in performance between them. I've used both on game and I can state with conviction that 30-30 and 7.62x39 do the exact same thing to game.

I've taken that High quality 7.62x39 Core lokt ammo and sprayed several 8" groups through a rifle that normally shoots 1.25" groups with handloads and 2" with Wolf. That same ammunition chronographs almost 400 fps SLOWER than Russian made ammo of the same weight. Domestic made 7.62x39 ammo is JUNK pure and simple (good brass though) . If it's a Russian gun shoot Russian ammo in it

I was attempting to be nice, if not I would have given my true thoughts on people that would hunt a big game animal an AK.

Your name wouldn't happen to be Zumbo would it

 

[marksman13]

I have a few friends who use an SKS exclusively when hunting in heavy timber, and I plan on doing the same next season. Do I have more accurate rifles in more traditional hunting platforms? Sure. I am choosing to use the SKS for the nastolgia factor. Whether some of you believe it or not, for some of us a rifle is more than a brand name. Not every hunting situation calls for a tack driver with magnum ballistics. Nothing burns my a$$ like a gun snob, slinging their opnions at the rest of us. If you can't find facts to make your argument, perhaps you should stay out of the fight. The OP asked if hunting with an AK variant was possible. Nobody has said that the AK is the perfect deer rifle, but several have been able to prove that it is quite capable. Different strokes for different folks. There is no need for one to shove his beliefs down another's throat. If you like your bolts and levers, fine, nobody has told you put them down. Why would anybody slam someone else because of their chosen platform? :banghead:

 

[Cosmoline]

Sorry for defending the AK, I guess. Not sure why it's verboten.

 

[eliphalet]

<Art wuz here>

Thank you
I should of known when to stop.
With appoliges to all

 

[Waywatcher]

just my take...... if you NEED a semi-auto to kill a deer(or anything larger)... you shouldn't be hunting. There's a big difference between hunting and killing. But I am probably biased because in Pa, semi-autos are not allowed. Make the first shot count.

There is more to it than that. Have you considered that somebody might choose an AK because it fits them better? Or that the size of the gun and recoil of a gas actuation makes it possible for people other than an average american man to hunt comfortably? Just because someone uses an auto doesnt mean theyre an unethical hunter who doesnt value their first shot.

P.S. I dont hunt with a semi-auto and it is a personal choice--which is how it should be.

 

[Waywatcher]

The catridge is probably capable, but the AK47 is no hunting rifle.

Why not? Because this military rifle was designed 50 years after your military rifle that you use for hunting? All modern 'hunting' rifles owe their roots to military rifles, just remember this small fact when you're so quick to judge.

 

[Waywatcher]

I was attempting to be nice, if not I would have given my true thoughts on people that would hunt a big game animal an AK.

Please do.

I'll share mine: They use what they own because they can and they want to. It may be their only option. Judging a person's character by their rifle's appearance is very prejudicial; I hope we are above that.

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

im curious as why some people think an ak with iron sights isnt sporting but using a bolt gun with a scope you can see other galaxies with in some magnum caliber is. Ive never even had a chance to take a good second shot at a deer when hunting anyways, semi auto or not. Sporting means something different to everyone. If you can only afford one gun youre far better off getting an ak because not only is it sufficient for hunting deer and other things, its a good all around shtf and self defense rifle. If you like to go out and shoot and just let rounds fly youre going to have alot more fun and money leftover than a bolt action that costs 14 dollars for a box of 20. The gun isnt all that expensive and neither is the ammo. Ive never had a dud in my wolf (crappy?) steel cased ammo but i cant say the same about the remington core lockts. If you need more than one shot to take a deer its not sporting? for years people hunted deer with spears. now thats real hunting.

 

[benEzra]

If you want to lug one around and have everyone in the woods thinking what I know darn well they will be thinking and saying about you and your choice of "hunting rifle" go to it.

We had a guy come upon us once carrying a SKS during elk season, I would have not cared to have been the recipient of the remarks I heard after he walked on down the road, and I tended to agree with what I had heard.

This attitude is precisely why I have never taken up hunting. I have enough stress in my life, and I don't need a bunch of judgemental people adding to it because I don't own the latest uber-magnum sniper rifle, or slamming me behind my back for hunting deer with a vaguely military-looking weapon while they themselves are hunting with military-style, military-derived bolt rifles in military calibers like .308 and .30-06.

Now, I can see arguments against using .30-30 or 7.62x39mm for elk-sized game, but the rifle style has nothing to do with it.

I own a civvie AK and a 5-round hunting magazine. Don't want me to hunt deer with it? Fine, I won't hunt, I'll stick to target shooting. Enjoy your sport.

 

[Art Eatman]

benEzra, the best way to deal with naysayers is to grin and show 'em what you shot.

People have been telling me for over forty years, "But, Art, that won't work!" Well, I beat 'em for sports car autocross and race track trophies. I busted feral cats at 400 yards. I've killed a couple of dozen deer each with my .243 and the '06, mostly one-shot kills and neck shots. Same for making a living in Terlingua, for that matter. Same for retiring when I was 45 years old.

Other folks' opinions are generally worth what you paid for 'em.

Except mine, of course.

, Art

 

[benEzra]

Art, good advice. Thanks.

 

[ArmedBear]

LOL Art

The .30-30 lever gun originally became so popular because it allowed quick followup shots and would work on deer as far out as you could aim with iron sights, and then some. It was developed from the design originally used primarily by special military units in the Civil War, the 1860 Henry, sometimes referred to as the "first assault rifle" because it was the first light, rapid fire, medium range, high capacity rifle in military service.

I'm fond of lever guns.

But the AK fills a VERY similar niche as a .30-30 lever gun. VERY similar, just a few decades newer.

I doubt anyone will buy an AK specifically for deer hunting (Saiga maybe). But if you already have one, there's no need to run out and get a 336 to shoot deer in the woods once a year.

 

[bearmgc]

I have a friend that has been using an SKS for years on deer, and even shot a few elk, head shots. Not my choice, but it works for him, and he brings home the game year after year. Never had to track down wounded game. So what's to protest? A rifle is a tool.

 

[MudPuppy]

I built my AK, I shot a deer with it, I cleaned it myself, brought it home and grilled it for the family.

I fired one shot. I don't know about deer elsewhere, but here if you miss that first shot they're immediately running at about 40mph and you don't get a second shot no matter what the action type.

An AK is a good hunting rifle. Zumbo and like minded folks may not agree, but I don't see why someone would take a fancy woodstock expensive bolt gun into the woods either!

AKs come in a variety of calibers too--the PSL is an AK action on steroids and is in 7.62x54r.

And if you're afraid of what other hunters think of your choice and go with the lever action, will you also worry about what the soccer moms think of that choice??? For shame...tsk tsk.

 

[ArmedBear]

I built my AK, I shot a deer with it, I cleaned it myself, brought it home and grilled it for the family.

You cooked your AK for dinner?

What did THAT taste like?

 

[Art Eatman]

Anybody's who's a fairly calm, cool and collected hunter, who's pretty skilled at finding game within reasonable range for his skill level, and who's sorta "married up" with his rifle, is gonna do pretty good no matter what rifle or cartridge is being used.

"Albert Average", OTOH, might have problems.

I've only handled, never shot, an AKM/SKS critter. I think it's obvious that I shouldn't grab one and go hunting. (And, with tri-focals...) By the time I went to serious deer-hunting, way back when, I'd run thousands of rounds through various bolt-actions from .22 to '06.

There's a lot more to the whole deal than "just" the rifle or "just" the cartridge. I've had deer walk under the tree in which I was sitting. I've sneaked up to within ten feet of a fat little buck. How much gun, then, is "enough"?

Art

 

[Deer Hunter]

My first buck was taken with an SKS. I don't want to hear how it's a horrible thing to use against a deer.

I was using FMJs, too. At 9 years old, I took whatever my dad gave me.

 

[tnieto2004]

I took my first 5 deer with SKS .. Very good deer hunting round

 

[bearmgc]

I can't believe that some members of the hunting community have an issue with AKs and SKS's for hunting. Every rifle has its origin somewhere in an ancester military rifle. As long as the round is kept within a reasonable range, its a perfectly good hunting round. Guys coming home from the war used the springfield 01-A1, and Mausers, and Garands for hunting. Now is not the time to get elite about which rifle is appropriate for hunting. There are many reasons why someone would use a military rifle for hunting, and economy is one of them. Any reason is a perfectly ok reason though.

 

[Plink]

We had a guy come upon us once carrying a SKS during elk season, I would have not cared to have been the recipient of the remarks I heard after he walked on down the road, and I tended to agree with what I had heard.

He'd have deserved the remarks if he had been carrying a fine, scoped bolt action in that same caliber also.

Art is right about grinning and showing them what you shot. I'm forever getting ragged on by the scoped inline crowd when I take my traditional sidelock loaded with patched round ball hunting. I seem to have no trouble dropping my game and unlike many of them, I don't have to track mine.

I tend to hunt with different guns for different reasons. The first deer I ever killed was back in the '70's using a military surplus 8mm Mauser. One year I hunted deer, hogs and elk with a FAL. Hunting deer in thick brush, it's often an SKS. Lately I tend to hunt with a traditional muzzleloader even in modern rifle season. I have my share of "real" hunting rifles, but I haven't used them for hunting in years. Spent a number of seasons hunting with an XP-100 pistol in .308. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[Clipper]

When you get down to it, even though the 7.62X39 can't muster up 30/30 horsepower, neither can most popular deer-killing pistol calibers, and nobody screams about how unsuitable a .44mag is...

 

[Plink]

When you get down to it, even though the 7.62X39 can't muster up 30/30 horsepower

It can't at the muzzle, but put them both 100 yards out and the 7.62x39 starts to pull ahead. It's a fine little hunting round within it's limits.