SKS or M14 which is better for hunting

rosh7674 · #1 11-22-2010, 12:04 PM

Hi,
I have a SKS which I used for hunting this year. I was using an iron sight I am not an excelent marks man but not that bad either. So I don't know if it was just me or the firearm. I could not hit the deer at which were over 150-200 yards. Last time I used this gun I was able to kill running deer at 80-100 yards. So my questions to all the wise people here is do are.

1. What is the effective kill range for SKS? and also how often people come shoot deer within 100 yards?
2. What is the effective kill range for M14 with and without scope?

Thanking you in advance for your replies.

PoppaW · #2 11-22-2010, 02:22 PM

Power wise the SKS is like a 30-30. The m14 is 308. This alone I would say the m14 has 100 yds on the SKS. The guns- I would say the m14 is potentially more accurate with better sights and easier scoping. 300 yard gun as the SKS may be a 150 yd gun as the sights are crude. Thats my take on it. Some may see it different.

timsesink · #3 11-22-2010, 02:26 PM

x2 on Poppa, if you're hunting wit either the m14 has a clear advatnage in both gun design, sights, carttridge and handling characteristics. The SKS was made to be used by millions of untrained pheasants in mass warafare vs. the M14 which is a far more advanced weapon.

elkhunter11 · #4 11-22-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

I could not hit the deer at which were over 150-200 yards.

How are you at hitting paper targets at 200 yards with the SKS and the same load that you fired at the deer?

bukwild · #5 11-22-2010, 03:26 PM

"The SKS was made to be used by millions of untrained pheasants"
I wish Alberta had millions of untrained pheasants. Although, hunting them would definatly be harder if they were all using SKS'S.

madatter · #6 11-22-2010, 04:31 PM

With open sights I dont think I would even try a 200 yard shot with the SKS.....I know people say they hit pretty regular out that distance but that would not be me.
The SKS has crappy sights to begin with,I put Williams firesight on mine which helps.
The 308 round is a better hunting round especially out farther.....

timsesink · #7 11-22-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bukwild

"The SKS was made to be used by millions of untrained pheasants"
I wish Alberta had millions of untrained pheasants. Although, hunting them would definatly be harder if they were all using SKS'S.

I didn't even notice my mistake, could you imagine you flush a pheasant take a shot and have to dive for cover as they all let loose with SKS's.

But on a serious note they were meant to arm the masses of "peasants"

Turtlewolf · #8 11-23-2010, 07:21 AM

The SKS is certainly a decent firearm, but after about 125 yards the tiny bullet looses energy fast and isn'y very effective on deer generaly. The M14 rifle in .308 is a good cartridge and the peep sights are an advantage over the SKS. In my oppinion no shot beyond 150 yards should be attempted with the SKS on deer where the M14 should be effective to 200 with the open sights, that being said with a scope the .308 is more than effective at 300 yards where the 7.62x39mm SKS is still a 150 yard rifle.
If you do scope the M14 however you are likely going to have a 12 pound rifle and that poundage tells on a long stalk.

Turtlewolf

7mmremmag · #9 11-23-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bukwild

"The SKS was made to be used by millions of untrained pheasants"
I wish Alberta had millions of untrained pheasants. Although, hunting them would definatly be harder if they were all using SKS'S.

HAHAHAHA that is one of the funniest posts ive read on AO

rosh7674 · #10 11-23-2010, 01:11 PM

I want to thank everyone for replying to my post. What I am hearing is M14 would be better than SKS. I hope that I get my money back on my SKS. I customized it with a folding stock, red dot and thinking about puting a scope on it too.

elkhunter11 · #11 11-23-2010, 01:26 PM

Of course you could simply purchase a rifle that was actually designed to be a hunting rifle.

rosh7674 · #12 11-23-2010, 10:23 PM

what should be the reasonable asking price for this SKS, which includes a

* Folding Stock
* RedDot sight
* Scope/RedDot mount
* Orignal SKS stock
* AMMO 250 rounds plus 10 hunting rounds

mudbug · #13 11-23-2010, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosh7674

I want to thank everyone for replying to my post. What I am hearing is M14 would be better than SKS. I hope that I get my money back on my SKS. I customized it with a folding stock, red dot and thinking about puting a scope on it too.

Keep the SKS and get the M14 just my 2 cents

rosh7674 · #14 11-23-2010, 10:41 PM

would love to but my old lady wont allow me to have three guns

mudbug · #15 11-23-2010, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosh7674

would love to but my old lady wont allow me to have three guns

Get her into the sport and i bet she has a change in heart

Turtlewolf · #16 11-23-2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosh7674

what should be the reasonable asking price for this SKS, which includes a

* Folding Stock
* RedDot sight
* Scope/RedDot mount
* Orignal SKS stock
* AMMO 250 rounds plus 10 hunting rounds

What year is that and is it a Russian? I will add try and get her on board with the firearms, the SKS and M14 are both amazing guns and I say find a way to keep them.

Turtlewolf

rosh7674 · #17 11-24-2010, 08:58 AM

It is the orginal Russian SKS

Turtlewolf · #18 11-24-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosh7674

It is the orginal Russian SKS

What year/maker? The bolt looks blackened is that correct?

Turtlewolf

Huntsman · #19 11-24-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosh7674

would love to but my old lady wont allow me to have three guns

Time to trade her in

or...just don't tell her

rosh7674 · #20 11-25-2010, 10:27 AM

It is a russian (1955), I got it last year from moving target. Customized it. Accessories for SKS are expensive. Overall I love this gun. This baby got me my first deer. So I am also having seconds thoughts about selling. I am thinking about getting detach mag and scope for it.

Been doing some reading, although it is true that these guns were not designed to be sniper or for long range shooting. But I think if I practice a little, I should be able to take a deer at 200-250 with scope on.

drake · #21 11-25-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosh7674

It is a russian (1955), I got it last year from moving target. Customized it. Accessories for SKS are expensive. Overall I love this gun. This baby got me my first deer. So I am also having seconds thoughts about selling. I am thinking about getting detach mag and scope for it.

Been doing some reading, although it is true that these guns were not designed to be sniper or for long range shooting. But I think if I practice a little, I should be able to take a deer at 200-250 with scope on.

Good luck with that bud!!........i would suggest practicing a lot!!!

Nester · #22 11-25-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosh7674

But I think if I practice a little, I should be able to take a deer at 200-250 with scope on.

M14 for the win.

The US Army selects the M14 EBR to meet the urgent need for "longer range" infantry rifles to be used in Afghanistan.

The extremely accurate, ultra reliable MK14 SEI Mod 0 continues to be built up for US NAVY SEALs, PJs and others.

fordtruckin · #23 11-25-2010, 12:37 PM

Well the US Army does use the M14 still, they use the M24 and M110 more often. THe M14EBR is more of a Navy deal although some select units in the Army do carry it. Either way your way better off going with an M1A (civilian version of an M14). I know I can't wait until I get mine in a few months!!!

Turtlewolf · #24 11-25-2010, 10:34 PM

The 7.62x39mm does not have the energy to reliably kill deer at 250 yards. It could be done but the odds of wounded game is unacceptable. Sorry for that, I love the cartridge but it is a fairly short range unit.

Turtlewolf

glenmore · #25 11-26-2010, 01:17 PM

I have both and I used both for deer hunting. M14+scope+ammo could be over 14 pounds and its length is 44 inches long, so if you don't feel it is too heavy and too long for hunting with your m14 in the bush, by all means. But I normally use it only for longer distance, saying 200 yard +. 7.62x39 is ok for anything withing 150 yards, and I'd say less than 200 yards. It drops too much over 200 yards, and it will out of most of people's control.

If you can have a clean shot, it mostly depends on where you hit. I believe someone in the world can kill a deer from over 300 yards using SKS. May be you can do it either if you are trained.

rosh7674 · #26 11-26-2010, 03:19 PM

Thanks Glen. Thinking of keeping my SKS will spend another 100 bucks on it to get a scope and detach magazine.

I did some reading, and found out that all the bullets make a small ark, which I was not aware off.
@ 100 yards bullet hits 4" high
@ 150 yard bullet is flat
@ 200 yard it drops 4"
@ 300 yard it drop 15"

At the beginning of this season I had no clue at how far is 100 yards so I now I have a good understanding, all the deer I saw this year were under 200 yards. So it not accuracy of my riffle, it was me who didn't calculated the distance properly.
M14 is a great rifle but I agree it’s heavy. Heck I thought SKS with wood stock was heavy for me. I got tired after constantly walking it for 2 hours.

Turtlewolf · #27 11-26-2010, 08:25 PM

Rosh, check the energy figures for the 7.62x39mm as well, it drops very quickly as the small 125 grain bullet is neither streamlined or effecient.

Turtlewolf

elkhunter11 · #28 11-27-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

I did some reading, and found out that all the bullets make a small ark, which I was not aware off.
@ 100 yards bullet hits 4" high
@ 150 yard bullet is flat
@ 200 yard it drops 4"
@ 300 yard it drop 15"

Theory is fine,but you need to verify those numbers by shooting with your gun,and your hunting load.I for one would not shoot at a deer at 200 yards or more with such an anemic cartridge,it just doesn't have enough energy to guarantee clean kills at that range.

rosh7674 · #29 11-27-2010, 11:43 AM

I agree Elkhunter. I now know how far is 200 yards, max I will go with sks is 150. at 200 the volicity of the bullet is 1700 and energy is only 800. I think a good marksman/woman will be able to kill a deer but not me. So why wound the animal spend whole day retreiving it.

boone052 · #30 12-01-2010, 11:17 AM

My advice: buy a package gun (Savage 111xxx, or Weatherby Vanguard package maybe?) or a good, used hunting rifle that is already set up (to keep price down), and use that. Keep the SKS for plinking and range shooting and the occasional short-range hunt.

Just a thought...

As for getting your wife/gf into hunting and shooting:
I got a slug gun for my wife; it was a pretty good trade for me!