Posted: 11/29/2005 4:09:13 PM EDT
| Do most of you think an SKS can kill a deer from 200yds. How 'bout 300? I dont know if I should get an SKS for a hunting rifle or a marlin 336. Thanks. WHat are some other rifles to consider? Would an AK fair any better? |
Actually my Yugo is very accurate. Much more so then any AK. It will shoot pretty straight out to about 200 yards. Then forget it. It will give you a decent chance at 200 yards. |
Really? I've never shot mine out past 100. It fares well at that distance, but I had assumed that it would open up quite a bit after that. But you know what they say about assumptions. 
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With BOTH 7.62x39mm and .30-30, you should have enough terminal ballistic effectiveness to kill a deer out to 200 yards or so without a problem, but as many here have already pointed out, getting enough RELIABLE ACCURACY, especially in field conditions, at ranges beyond 150 yards or so, is unlikely. This isn't like combat where you're going to keep pumping rounds downrange; you need to be able to count on first-shot kills, and neither gun is really going to be accurate enough beyond 200 yards for this. As a consolation, distances look much different in the woods than on a range, and distances that "look" like 200 yards to most people often MEASURE to be more like 80 yards. Very, very few of those "I shot that deer from over 300 yards!" hunting stories are factual. -Troy |
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I vote SKS. It's the cheapest option, and overall IMHO the best for the scenario. It's cheap. If it gets beat to hell, who cares. Ballistics are acceptable for deer hunting. You're not gonna be shooting it at 300+, but how often do you realy take deer at more than 100 yards? the .30-30 has probably killed more deer than any other caliber. the 336 isn't a bad option either. however, it's gonna be a bit more pricey than the SKS, and you'll get roughly the same ballistics. |
I shoot a 30-30 Thompson Contender single and would NOT attempt a kill shot over 150. Just get the All-American 30-06 and call it a day. |
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You need a scoped 30-06 for those long shots. the 30-30 is a great gun, but to really reach out there a 30-06 is in order. lots of used bolt guns out there tom choose from The thing that none of these guys ever seems to consider is the fact that the deer will not be at a KNOWN range. You need a flat shooting gun for long shots for that reason. |
| If all you want is a deer rifle, get a bolt scope combo for less than $400. If you want a double duty rifle, get an SKS for shots a little out of shotgun range. Im pretty sure a good 30.30 would be a little more accurate though. How about a good slug gun? I would not attempt shots in the field over about 200 yds, without a scoped rifle and a "hunting" round( .270, 7mm,.30 cal ect...) |
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I've killed 5 deer with my AR. One buck went down and stayed down with a busted sholder at a measured 315 yds. M-855. I did have to pop him with the .45 upon getting to him. Shot two and missed one this year. Missed a doe at 200+yds who was moving directly away from me. I think I shot a tad high trying not to get down into her pooper and bust her guts. This year I found out that KY mandates hollowpoint ammo so I used 62 gr Wolf JHP. Works fine. Mule deer would be marginal, but for whitetail an AR is fine. |
Someone else with field experience...thanks for posting. |
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I have killed a deer with both my AR and my SKS (one each). With the AR I was using Winchester Power Point Plus ammo, and it took the 4 point mulie down with no trouble at all. When I used the SKS it was just a doe, but did not have any trouble dropping it on the spot. Both shots were under 100 yards. |
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Ok, here's what has workes for me: .223 for Coyote .308 for Deer and Elk Standard .223 fired from a 16" barrel drops .5" at 200yrds. Standard 7.62x39 fired from a 16" drops 3" 200yrds. To be honest I don't know how much a 30/30winchester round drops at 200yrds but I do know that there have been thousands if not millions of deer take with 30/30's. I am sure that if you properly placed a .223 round at 300yrd it would kill a deer or even an elk perhaps even a Moose or an elephant. The same can be said for 7.62x39, .243, 22-250 or any number of other rounds. The real question is, what do you want? Do you want an excuse to buy an SKS, AK or an AR or do you want a Deer Rifle? I don't own any SKS's anymore though they are respectible rifles. I do own a variety of AK and AR type rifles but when I go Deer or Elk Hunting the rifle I use is a Ruger M-77 MKII .308 light weight with a nice Leupold scope. |