Why is the SKS so Underated, Plenty for hunting
- Thread starter bushrats
- Start date
- Status
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Not as classically American as a lever action? Trigger? Weight? Muzzle heavy?
If it works it works, especially if you have one and use it. I've got an SKS and it works well enough.
If it works it works, especially if you have one and use it. I've got an SKS and it works well enough.
ColtPythonElite
Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 10,475
Because there are better suited hunting rifles for the same money
Like a handi single shot .223 for big game, cheap to shoot and very accurate.
Averageman
Member
I like the SKS, that being said the iron sights are less than optimal.
If I wanted a handy rifle to keep in the truck and didnt have one already, that might well be the one I would purchase.
Now if I could only find one that takes AK magazines again. Those were a gem.
If I wanted a handy rifle to keep in the truck and didnt have one already, that might well be the one I would purchase.
Now if I could only find one that takes AK magazines again. Those were a gem.
briansmithwins
Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2005
- Messages
- 4,631
1) Difficult to mount optics.
2) Trigger isn't great.
3) Most Americans don't understand tangent sights.
4) 7.62x39 has the ballistic trajectory of a beach ball.
BSW
2) Trigger isn't great.
3) Most Americans don't understand tangent sights.
4) 7.62x39 has the ballistic trajectory of a beach ball.
BSW
Carl N. Brown
Member
Back when SKS and 7.62x39 was inexpensive, it was often seen as the poor man's deer rifle, like post WWII surplus Mausers and Enfields were seen in the 1950s.
Even today it's ruggedness makes it a good farm utility rifle.
But most folks I know who have them are using them in the local as-issued military rifle target matches. Shootable military collectible.
One guy bought one at the local gun shop because he had been shot in VietNam with a SKS and being on the other end of an SKS at the range or on the farm was theraputic for him.
Even today it's ruggedness makes it a good farm utility rifle.
But most folks I know who have them are using them in the local as-issued military rifle target matches. Shootable military collectible.
One guy bought one at the local gun shop because he had been shot in VietNam with a SKS and being on the other end of an SKS at the range or on the farm was theraputic for him.
Yep, back when you could get one for $86, and a lot of ammo for $50, they were a good do anything truck gun. At today's prices, I would much rather have a Savage Axis or Ruger American in a better caliber. It will be cheaper, more ergonomic, and more accurate.
Tangent sights are easy to understand. It's just that the sights of the SKS are like the rest of the rifle- crude. The SKS is a typical Russian rifle- even a 2x4 has better ergonomics.
If you like the SKS that's fine. It's rugged but it's as unrefined as a stone axe
GBExpat
Member
I have a number of SKS versions purchased a decade, or more, ago.
I immediately liked the SKS because I like all rifles
... but I have never been able to develop much affection for the type ... and this has always puzzled me.
The one that does appeal to me, some, is my Albanian, but I am not sure why ... I do like the looks of that piece, though ... perhaps that is it.
I have found them to be rugged, reliable, and reasonably accurate ... but <shrug>
If I were going to keep a short "emergency" rifle in the truck, however, one of my SKSs would be on the short list of choices.
I immediately liked the SKS because I like all rifles
... but I have never been able to develop much affection for the type ... and this has always puzzled me.The one that does appeal to me, some, is my Albanian, but I am not sure why ... I do like the looks of that piece, though ... perhaps that is it.
I have found them to be rugged, reliable, and reasonably accurate ... but <shrug>
If I were going to keep a short "emergency" rifle in the truck, however, one of my SKSs would be on the short list of choices.
The SKS does exactly what it was designed for: be a combat rifle. It was made to fight with. It was not made to hunt with. You can, but there are better choices. You can ride a dirt bike across the country, but a Goldwing will make it a lot better trip. Just my $0.02 worth.
GBExpat
Member
Ky Larry said:
OH! The Horror! That makes my hands, feet and butt numb just thinking about it ...
I don't think it is under rated at all. It has the handling qualities and balance of a fence post. Accuracy is poor, triggers are poor and they are butt ugly. With decent quality soft point ammo the round is a good deer cartridge, but the good ammo isn't any cheaper than any of the much better choices.
I wouldn't call it good for target shooting unless you're shooting big targets.
It will probably take more abuse and continue to function than most hunting rifles. Not exactly what I'm looking for.
Back when you could get a rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo for $200 I did just that. After I shot up all of the ammo I tired of the gun and sold it for more than I paid for it and the ammo so I did alright. I wouldn't buy another, especially at todays prices.
I wouldn't call it good for target shooting unless you're shooting big targets.
It will probably take more abuse and continue to function than most hunting rifles. Not exactly what I'm looking for.
Back when you could get a rifle and 1000 rounds of ammo for $200 I did just that. After I shot up all of the ammo I tired of the gun and sold it for more than I paid for it and the ammo so I did alright. I wouldn't buy another, especially at todays prices.
I really like the SKS and the 7.62x39 cartridge. I shot my first deer with one 20+ years ago, just because at that time it was cheaper to buy a new unissued SKS than even a used 30-30. Poor accuracy usually comes up in any post about the SKS, but if you feed them good ammo most will shoot 2moa or better. The $4.99 a box steel cased ammo is good enough for most purposes, but it sure as heck isn't match ammo. I don't have an issue with the sights on the SKS. I find them much better than the open sights on most US built sporting rifles of the era. Most shooters would have a hard time shooting a better group with a pre-64 Winchester model 70 with buckhorn sights, than with an SKS.
I also own a Ruger 77 in 7.62x39 that will shoot MOA out to 200yds. It is powerful enough for deer sized game out to 200 +/- yards, with low recoil, muzzle blast, and cost to shoot.
Ballistics wise, it will do everything the .300 Blackout will (besides feed reliably in most AR platform rifles), and gives you the option of super cheap factory plinking ammo.
I also own a Ruger 77 in 7.62x39 that will shoot MOA out to 200yds. It is powerful enough for deer sized game out to 200 +/- yards, with low recoil, muzzle blast, and cost to shoot.
Ballistics wise, it will do everything the .300 Blackout will (besides feed reliably in most AR platform rifles), and gives you the option of super cheap factory plinking ammo.
I don't know where you get the idea that the SKS is underrated.
From what i have seen it is probably the most common deer rifle used in Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota now.
C.I.S. (Russia) states that allow hunting and private ownership of semi auto rifles have large numbers of professional and sport hunters armed with SKS rifles and they use them for all medium and semi large game such as sitka deer and the smaller bears.
The 150 grain soft point loading is suitible for larger game to 150 meters and the 123 soft points are suggested for deer size critters to 300 meters.
Both will just about duplicate what the .30/30 does in the real world.
From what i have seen it is probably the most common deer rifle used in Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota now.
C.I.S. (Russia) states that allow hunting and private ownership of semi auto rifles have large numbers of professional and sport hunters armed with SKS rifles and they use them for all medium and semi large game such as sitka deer and the smaller bears.
The 150 grain soft point loading is suitible for larger game to 150 meters and the 123 soft points are suggested for deer size critters to 300 meters.
Both will just about duplicate what the .30/30 does in the real world.
Same reason people don't quail hunt with pistol grip pump 18" bbl Mossbergs. The PG&18 will work but as "jmr" stated more working against it than for it. Some guns and girls are just too ugly no matter how well they cook. The SKS starts off ugly and goes downhill from there.
So does the Mosin Nagant, but that puts food on the table for thousands and thousands of Americans every year and Tens of thousands of people around the world. It was designed for combat a hundred years ago and still going strong today.
It is the most common deer rifle in Wisconsin and Minnesota? Really! That just seems really really odd.
splattergun
Member
The SKS is not under-rated at all. It is rated perfectly, IMO, as a medium caliber battle rifle. Perfect for utility and plinking.
I have hunted and killed mule deer with my Norinco SKS and good SP ammo. I bought it many years ago for $90 and it was all I had for hunting for several years. Now that I have superior rifles, it is relegated to plinking and "just in case I need to shoot a 'yote" truck gun. The standard stock is about 1 1/4 inch too short for me. Most add-on butt pads that fit it don't fit real well, either. I'm not interested in spending the money to change the stock at this time.
But I do like this gun. I do like to shoot it and, within it's range it is a reasonably accurate and lethal blaster. It is not a tack driver, but it will always hit vitals within 200 yards when I do my part.
I have hunted and killed mule deer with my Norinco SKS and good SP ammo. I bought it many years ago for $90 and it was all I had for hunting for several years. Now that I have superior rifles, it is relegated to plinking and "just in case I need to shoot a 'yote" truck gun. The standard stock is about 1 1/4 inch too short for me. Most add-on butt pads that fit it don't fit real well, either. I'm not interested in spending the money to change the stock at this time.
But I do like this gun. I do like to shoot it and, within it's range it is a reasonably accurate and lethal blaster. It is not a tack driver, but it will always hit vitals within 200 yards when I do my part.
Jackal
Member
A decent SKS will run $400. A new budget hunting rifle that will be more accurate, lighter, better trigger, warranty, easy optic mounting and have a stock made for people with arms longer than a dwarf will set you back $250-350. Its not really too hard to see why most folks arent going to go out of their way to get an SKS for hunting.
Savage Axis with scope in .223. $299.99 shipped free. .308 with scope $319.00 shipped free. And a bunch of calibers in between. .308 is more available and about the same price as 7.62X39 with a large selection of calibers. The SKS just has that hunting quail with a pistol grip gangsta gun thing about it.A decent SKS will run $400. A new budget hunting rifle that will be more accurate, lighter, better trigger, warranty, easy optic mounting and have a stock made for people with arms longer than a dwarf will set you back $250-350. Its not really too hard to see why most folks arent going to go out of their way to get an SKS for hunting.
I'm not sure where you're shopping, but every source I've checked, 7.62x39 steel cased ammo is far cheaper than ANY available .308/7.62x51 ammo by a good measure....I wouldn't go out of my way to buy one at $400, but @$110 in the mid 90's, my SKS has done all I've asked of it, including harvesting several deer.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Poll