The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: Rob_J on March 24, 2010, 10:44:56 PM
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Hey Guys,
I was thinking of buying an SKS as a hunting rifle and also changing some of the parts to make it look more like a assult rifle.
My questions are:
A- How well would it work as a hunting rifle?
B- With limited gun knowledge, how hard would it be to change the stock?
C- Is this legal to do in Michigan or Missiouri?
Hope to hear your responses.
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A assuming its legal to use and the shots are close( say 100 yardish) just fine The legal to use for hunting is going to be the hard part.
b Pretty easy
C I'd say yes, but that is a guess
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Think of it as a 125 grain bullet in a 30/30 , about the same velocity with a lighter bullet. It will do the job on Deer.
Changing the stock is butt simple, so is changing the Magazine, I saw on some website a replacement magazine that held 5 rounds for hunting. I think it was Classic Arms.
Hunting with it will vary from State to State.
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Plenty enough guns for deer and pig inside 100 yards. Two things to consider are these. Many states don't allow FMJ for hunting and I don't know how it cycles SP or HP. Also, some states limit mag capacity to five rounds. Check your laws, other wise it seems like a fine, inexpensive brush gun.
FQ13
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7.62 X 39 is available in both HP and SP hunting loads, like the AK the SKS feeds most anything.
As I posted previously 5 round magazines are available, also it is possible to put a block in the mag as with a plug in a shot gun tube Magazine.
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Plenty enough guns for deer and pig inside 100 yards. Two things to consider are these. Many states don't allow FMJ for hunting and I don't know how it cycles SP or HP. Also, some states limit mag capacity to five rounds. Check your laws, other wise it seems like a fine, inexpensive brush gun.
ok couple more questions when you are talking about FMJ SP and HP what do those mean?
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FMJ full metal jacket good for light skinned vehicles not deer.
SP soft point good for hunting animals
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Plenty enough guns for deer and pig inside 100 yards. Two things to consider are these. Many states don't allow FMJ for hunting and I don't know how it cycles SP or HP. Also, some states limit mag capacity to five rounds. Check your laws, other wise it seems like a fine, inexpensive brush gun.
ok couple more questions when you are talking about FMJ SP and HP what do those mean?
FMJ-Full Metal Jacket, military type round. SP-Soft Point, Bullet had a usually lead tip which will flatten (or expand) as it impacts a target. HP-Hollow point, the entire bullet will "bloom" in expansion during impact.
SKS is not a super accurate platform beyond 75-100 yds. Yes it will work, but shot placement will be pivotal or you will be chasing deer and wounded pigs a long way.
Do some research, get to the range, talk to other hunters, stay safe and keep practicing.
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Plenty enough guns for deer and pig inside 100 yards. Two things to consider are these. Many states don't allow FMJ for hunting and I don't know how it cycles SP or HP. Also, some states limit mag capacity to five rounds. Check your laws, other wise it seems like a fine, inexpensive brush gun.
ok couple more questions when you are talking about FMJ SP and HP what do those mean?
FMJ (aka ball, or hardball)= full metal jacket. A non expanding brass coated round as required for military use. High velocity, good accuracy, low jams, and great penetration. Its what you'll get in cheap mil surp ammo. Down side is a small wound channel. Thus in some states its illegal to hut with as it will wound rather than kill.
SP= soft point. A partially jacketed brass covered lead bullet that will expand more rapidly than FMJ. It feeds fairly reliably, but doesn't leave as deep a wound channel as HP.
HP=Hollow point. A jacketed (usually) round with a hollow tip that is ideally designed to form into a mushroom shape on impact. This maximizes the wound channel while severely limiting penetration. Its what you want for knockdown power. However, some rounds with some guns feed less reliably than FMJ.
hope this helps
FQ13
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MI has a 5 round limit on hunting rifles but you can just block the mag and go with it. I do not believe there is a ban on FMJ but quality HP and SP ammo is available, I suggest you go for the premium stuff though, Wolf HP is not a good choice for hunting IMO and you shouldn't burn up to much hunting ammo over the course of a year and you can do your training and such with Wolf or surplus ammo.
The SKS is an amazingly good rifle and I DON'T recommend changing it too much. The 10rd mag is perfectly acceptable as long as you learn to use it well and keep it's limitations in mind. The hi-cap mags, as a rule, suck, they are unreliable and far more prone to breakage and failure than the original. On changing the stock I am ambivalent, too many aftermarket stocks are 'Fudd' optimized with cheek-rests and such and some are not as sturdy, most of the "Tactical" stocks are just crap, heavy and breakage prone with a bunch of stuff that you don't need. I might see putting a red-dot or long eye-relief scope on it (mounted forward to avoid blocking the stripper-guide) and maybe (MAYBE) putting a light on it if it is your only Civilian Defense Rifle but you can do that with the wood stock.
I really suggest you get the book "SKS Rifle Gunfighting" by Gabe Suarez if you want to use the weapon as a CDR. Gabe dislikes the tacti-cool mall ninja garbage you see out there and I completely agree.
I am not a big fan of non-chromed barrels in an SKS either, too much surplus 7.62x39 ammo is corrosive to some degree and thus you run into problems with cleaning and maintenance that could be drastically reduced with the chrome bore. I also recommend having the barrel re-crowned, I have noted significant improvement in accuracy with SKS's that have had this done. No the SKS is never going to be super-accurate no matter what, but I have seen bench-rest groups drop from 4moa to 2moa with some of the better surplus ammo (Yugo is the best).
Hope this helps
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1. Kills deer DEAD. A buddy borrowed mine for a deer hunt and put meat on his table with it.
2. Pretty easy. If you change from the fixed mag to the detachable type, it's hard to change back, should you want to, but other than that, it's pretty easy.
3. Not sure. Check laws there. But I THINK they're legal in those states.
4. It was my very first gun. Still have it, and another one, and they will always be favorites. Also IT WILL feed hollow points just like it will FMJ.
Get one and enjoy. 8)
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If you're looking for a hunting weapon, I think I'd go with a Marlin lever action. Especially in light of the recent news about them closing the plant that makes them.
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I Missouri any center fire cartridge is legal to hunt deer, but FMJ is verbotten. There is also a capacity limit, 5 or 10, not sure, but definately a limit.
Brian
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I Missouri any center fire cartridge is legal to hunt deer, but FMJ is verbotten. There is also a capacity limit, 5 or 10, not sure, but definately a limit.
Brian
so I could hunt deer with my 17 rem mag. yikes.
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so I could hunt deer with my 17 rem mag. yikes.
Not saying it is smart/ethical, just saying it is legal.
Brian
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Although not optimum, the .17 behind the ear will work, once again, not preferred, but can work. Laws on caliber, are not really well thought out, usually decided by state or county seats. Here in Texas, any centerfire round both rifle or pistol. No restrictions on round count, unless it is a federally controlled animal, like duck, dove or geese. Limited to 3 rounds, and for water fowl, steel shot is mandatory.
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Back on thread, the SKS, can be relied upon, for 100 yrds or less, and with HP ammo, good to put a deer down, the crude sights will work if you get a really good zero. Even 200 yards, if you have good eyesight and a willingness to do your home work at the range, and do improve your sighting system, whether iron or optic.
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Not saying it is smart/ethical, just saying it is legal.
Brian
yet something like 44 rimfire. which fires a 200 grainer at about 1200 fps out of a long barreled revo( with black powder mind you. thats hot 44 spl/ low 44 mag rang) would be illegal. Thats why I like states that have a min cal and/or power factor.
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TAB, they're just looking for laws that can be economically enforced by non experts that don't have to make judgement calls about what is "reasonable", just turn to page 36 and get the answer. Its a neccesary evil. In In., I could fire a .270 from a single shot pistol, but not .44 mag from a rifle. Why? Easy to enforce. Pistol equals OK, rifle equals not ok. (They have since sobered up). The same is true of the centerfie rule that most states use. No need for the game warden to brush up on esoteric calibers.
FQ13
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This is take directly from the 2009 – 2010 Louisiana Hunting Regs.
It is illegal to hunt or shoot deer with firearms smaller than .22 caliber center-fire or a shotgun loaded with anything other than buckshot or rifled slug. Handguns may be used for hunting.
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so I could hunt deer with my 17 rem mag. yikes.
Here in TX it's the same way, but we don't have capacity limits. I could hunt deer with my Kimber Ultra Carry, or a .38 Snubbie.
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Here in TX it's the same way, but we don't have capacity limits. I could hunt deer with my Kimber Ultra Carry, or a .38 Snubbie.
I have hunted with and harvested 2 deer with my Glock 21 .45 acp, both shots identical, deer facing me and eating forage on the ground, spine shot just to the rear of the head, in humans , the medulla area. 1 at 25 yds, the other at 40 yds, both dropped like a stone. Killed my biggest buck with a .223, because it was in my hand, and the big boy stepped out, neck shot at 80 yds, 9 point that totaled 154 B&C. Shot placement is key.
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I have a friend who has been known to hunt hogs with his Glock 30. And I wouldn't hesitate to use my G30 on a deer if I knew I could make the shot.
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Thanks for all the info guys. I will keep up getting more info. And about the Marlin I was thinking about getting the 30-30 or sks.
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Thanks for all the info guys. I will keep up getting more info. And about the Marlin I was thinking about getting the 30-30 or sks.
Only real choice there is personal preference. ;D
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so I could hunt deer with my 17 rem mag. yikes.
A lot of nightime meat hunters in the southern states have the 17 HMR as the weapon of choice. Light recoil, light weapon, ammo is relatively quiet in comparison to other ammo, cheap to buy and they take a lot of deer. Code word is to "keyhole" them in the ear hole.
Shot placement is always a key in dropping game.
Game wardens pick up a lot of those 17 rimfires with big ole' scopes on them at night.
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Used to be .22 shorts (subsonic) with a baby bottle nipple at night. Still, not the way to go. For the money and a multi-tasker, SKS is fine. A deer rifle and nothing else? Just get an '06. 180 grain in jacketed SP is fine for anything from ugly brush out to 300 yards.
FQ13