SKS, AK-47, or Mosin Nagant for target shooting at 100 yards?

[Heavy Metal Hero]

I want so opinions on these rifles in terms of 100 yard shoots. Yes I have done research on ALL the models listed but I am just looking for some follow up information. I have never shot either of the three and I have never experienced the kick of the x39 or x54R. So my question is how would you feel about a day of shooting at 100 yards? How would you rate recoil (is the Mosin going to make me ache the next day )?

I am limited to these choices in terms of price (read: Poor college student).

Any input is welcome. Thank you.

 

[bartsimpson123844]

Target shooting? I would look into a Swiss K-31, actually.
However, out of those three, I would try and find a Finn M39 Mosin Nagant. They seem to be the most accurate MN's. Otherwise, if you can't find one of those, try for a really good condition 91/30, or even better, 91/59. Those should be the most accurate of the bunch if you can find a good one. Otherwise, find a very good to excellent condition SKS.

 

[grimjaw]

If you only get one rifle and you're on a budget, I'd vote Mosin Nagant 91/30. They can be had for the same or less than an SKS, and ammo is in the same range or less than x39 nowadays, if you buy surplus. My second choice would be SKS.

Recoil on 7.62x54R isn't bad if you get a decent recoil pad (I have a Limbsaver slipon that works great). It seems worse out of the carbines but I think it's mostly the blast. I regularly go through 100 rounds of x54R when I take my Mosin Nagants out. I shoot with the recoil pad from a bench and nothing when standing or kneeling. I used to get bruised when shooting from a bench without the pad and wearing light shirts, but it's no big deal now.

Shooting x39 is nothing if you're using one of the gas-operated rifles. It's not like shooting a rimfire, but it's not going to damage you unless you're holding the rifle incorrectly.

jm

 

[Simonovfan]

Make mine a x39

I'm a little biased because I shoot a Yugo M59 SKS and love it. I used to own an AR-15 as well as a Type 56 Norinco SKS. My M59 is my favorite so far. The qaulity is excellent and it was $159.00 with a pristine bore. It shoots 3-1/2" or so groups at 100 yards with an aftermarket Tech-sights aperture sight (peep). In the hands of a better shooter or with a scope it would do better. If you go for an SKs get a Yugo, they don't have chrome lined barrels because of chrome shortages there. Which IMO lends itself to better accuracy.

I've shot tha AK's and they aren't my thang. I haven't shot a Mosin yet, but i've heard they kick like a mule. The SKS is light on recoil and I can shoot all day without getting sore. Hope that helps.



----------------------------------
Yugo M59 (C)23,7xx
Harrison and Richardson single shot 12ga. (Tiger Bluing)
Mossberg 500 20 ga.
Norinco 1911 .45 ACP
Ruger Mark I 22LR
Ruger Single Shot 22LR bolt action
Ruger 10/22
Police Positive .38 Revolver

 

[soul_rapier]

any of them want make you hurt the next kicks about the same about like a .410 shotgun very low recoil have fun

 

[270Win]

I would also vote Mosin. I find 54R recoil to be negligable out of my M38... for what it's worth. Seems on par with .270 or 7.5x55 Swiss to me. I can shoot any of those all day with no adverse effects.

 

[armoredman]

I only shoot at 100 yards with rifle, 'cause that's all the range goes out to!
My SKS will give minute of bad guy at 100 yards.
This is the Mosin 91/30 with handloads.

I know, there are lots of rifles that will do as well, but none of them cost under $100.
As for the AK, well, the WASR10 does nothing to inspire me with any confidence whatsoever at 100 yards.

 

[cracked butt]

The mosin is going to have about 3 or 4 times as much 'felt' recoil than the sks or AK, just by my subjective observation of having shooting all of them. The SKS and Aks feel like popguns to start with though.

For range shooting, I'd reccomend the 91/30- it has better sights than the other two, and almost twice the sight radius making it fairly easy to shoot. Surplus ammo for it is very very cheap, and you can find nearly new rifles for around $100.

 

[Frog48]

Out of those three, my vote goes to the SKS.

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

Thanks for all the replies so far! In case anyone is wondering why I did not put a poll is because I want actual advice and not someone christmas treeing a random choice .

 

[FTF]

Target shooting at 100 yards? Mosin.. probably the 91/30, M44 then M38 in that order of preference. Second choice is the SKS. Last is the AK. Purely for 'target' shooting and accuracy.

7.62x54 WILL kick, but the severity depends on the round as well as the rifle. My little M38 obviously has more felt recoil than my big ol 91/30. Of course, a Small Limbsaver as mentioned below, will go a long way in helping with the recoil of the Mosins. Ammo has a lot to do with it as well.. some of that surplus x54 stuff WILL kick like crazy and throw out a small mushroom cloud of explosive power, but the lighter, newer rounds aren't that bad at all.

SKS is a lot of FUN. I like my SKS. It's not terribly accurate, even from a rest it's pretty crappy, but I like it a lot. Shoot, I got a real nice yugo, all matching except for the stock for about 110 bucks. It's not a tack driver, but I like shooting it. I also like watching other people shoot it because it flings brass about 10 feet in the air.. my girl thinks it has less recoil than my AR and she weighs all of 130lbs... but she can't shoot it offhand because it's so darn heavy.

AK's... I dunno. Personal preference. Too many opinions for me to even voice mine. Accuracy at 100yards isn't necessarily what it's built for.. IMHO.

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

Accuracy is not the do all end all. I just want to have fun.

How is the 147grn Light Ball ammo in x54R? Mostly I will be shooting the gun but say I wanted to bring someone who isn't gun saavy. I don't want to scare him/her off with intense recoil (that they CANNOT appreciate!)

 

[grimjaw]

How is the 147grn Light Ball ammo in x54R?

Heavy Metal Hero, you probably won't notice much difference between that and heavy ball. The biggest difference will be the point of impact between the two loads. Heavy ball tends to have a high POI.

There are some surplus "target" loads in x54R that are only good out to about 100 yards, and those will probably recoil much less if you're interested in introducing someone to shooting rifles.

jm

 

[rangerruck]

well , of those 3 the mosin will be the most accurate by far, but they are a little diff to scope. You'll pay 5 times more money to properly scope it, as you will just buying the weapon. If you get an all matching numbers, unissued mosin they can be 3 moa accurate or better at 100 yds, easy. I've got one myself that is actually moa when I bear down, with open sites! Now that is sick!
As far as kick goes, the mosin will also kick twice as hard, as the others. you must get a slip on recoil pad, a butler creek , size small, will fit the bill nice, but it still is gonna rock your world, especially if you get the shorter and shorter Mosin's, such as the m38, or tanker mosin, with the very short bbl.

 

[dfaugh]

As above stated the Mosin (assumits got a decent bore and crown) will probably be quite a bit more accurate, especially with commercial or handloaded ammo (the only milsurp ammo in any caliber I ever got decent accuracy with was 7.62x54R Czech Silvertip).

But the recoil is WILDLY different. I can shoot x39 all day long outa my SKSs or my buddies AK...But (maybe I'm a wimp, although we also shoot Mausers and his Garand) those Mosins (especial the short ones) kick like mules. I sold my M-44 'cause I hadn't shot it in 3 years, although I did keep my 91/30 so I still had one example of a WWII Russian.

 

[dm1333]

I would get the Mosin. They have the potential to be very accurate and surplus ammo is cheap. My M38 is in an ATI stock and I don't think the recoil is bad by any means. Get some ammo, stripper clips, practice a bit and then impress your friends with how quick you can put out 5 accurate shots at a 100 yards.

 

[Holtzman]

Here is a comparison of an AK47, an AR15 and a Mosin Nagant. Hope it helps.

 

[TIMC]

I would take the Mosin Nagant. My 91/30 does well at 100 and 200 yards. I haven't tried it at any longer distance yet.

Recent target - 100 yard 5 shot group with 180 gn silver bear ammo

 

[Simonovfan]

Need to add one more line....

They forgot the last line that says:

AK-47
The other guy drops
like a sack of potatos

AR-15
He shrugs and says,
why did you shoot me?

Mosin
He vanishes in a red mist

 

[joab]

I have all three of the choices mentioned

91/30 is hands down the most accurate, kicks more and is slower to fire can be ordered on line for about $70

SKS is accurate enough for plinking or informal target and a hell of a lot more fun to shoot, barely kicks and can rapid fire ten round strings, can be ordered on line for about $100 to $150 (Yugo59 (Not 59/66) cracked stock from SOG)

AK variant. I've had it for about two years and only shot two mags out of it. Accurate enough for plinking, I guess, fun to put a lot of rounds down range and brass in the air, little to no kick cost from $300 to who knows.
I just never got in to shooting it for fun

 

[Lonestar.45]

I have all three. A Yugo SKS, M38 Mosin, and WASR AK.

I'd rather shoot the SKS any day of the week. Mine is more accurate than the AK or Mosin (of course my Mosin is a short barreled carbine, maybe a 91/30 would be better). Ammo is cheap, it is semi auto, and super easy to load with stripper clips. Parts are everywhere, you can get excellent to like new ones for under $200. The AK is not as accurate, and the ergonomics to me just aren't as good as the SKS. The Mosin kicks more, and ammo can be more expensive/harder to come by, and when you do find the cheap stuff it is going to be corrosive so more cleanup is needed after a day at the range.

I'm sure you'd like shooting any of the three, but if I could keep or have only one, it would be the SKS.

 

[Charles W Webb]

Get the Mosin Nagant. I love my 1943 m44, and it shoots pretty well for a carbine . One thing that I don't get is how everyone else says the Mosin kicks like a mule, I have never gotten a sore shoulder from firing my Mosin all day and it has no recoil pad.

 

[robbyfarside]

ak 47 or bust

Tactical rifles are not known for their accuracy. Ak is the one for me. Look up muzzlejet.com and accurize your ak, sks, or m4. It's not just muzzle-candy, or a simple weight. it will cut your recoil and make the AK more friendly. Normally the common x39 will make 6-8 inches at 50 yds. great if you're shooting 55 gal drums. Why shoot "between the pockets" when you can shoot "between the eyes"? I bought mine at the Reno hilton show and won't ever take it off.

 

[FieroCDSP]

If you're looking at decent groupings at 100yards, you're probably not going to get that with an AK or SKS. I have a Yugo SKS, and it is definitely fun to shoot, and when the SHTF, it'll be strapped on my back. The problem is the loose tolerances that give both rifles the reliability they have. They're designed to shoot crap ammo nearly every time, no matter what you've done to it. The Nagant is a bolt-action (inherently more accurate and longer reaching) and had sniper variants during the war. It had to shoot right because you had to work the bolt afterwards, taking up precious time in a fire-fight.

For the money you'll spend on the AK, get the Nagant and a sealed crate of ammo for it. That'll last you a while. And the recoil on it isn't as bad as some say. It's noticibly stronger than the 7.62x39, but I'd imagine the 30-06 is worse on the shoulder. It's really not your shoulder that you need to worry about so much as your ears. It's not bad from behind, but it's ear-splitting from any angle but the shooter's. (this is a property is shares with the x39, but the 54 definitely is a chest thumper) Get the best dampening pair of muffs you can find.

 

[FieroCDSP]

additional

Also, should another assault weapons ban be handed down, the SKS and the AK variants are likely to be on it. Supposedly the SKS slam-fire issue is equivalent to full-auto in some peoples' minds. What's to stop someone from purposefully altering one to selectively slam-fire? The libbies don't feel as threatened by a bolt-action, I guess.