How big of a grain for hunting

[Lung.__.shot]

So I bought my very own gun as I'm 13 and its hard to get money, I bought a nice little SKS and I was very excited to hunt whitetails with it this season and as of target shooting I am using some cheap Surplus ammo, what would be the ideal grain, for taking down a nice buck? Suggestions?

[sillyak]

Sellier&Bellot makes 123 grain soft point ammo for your SKS. This is what you want for hunting. Sounds like you know this, but military ammo is not legal or good to hunt with! You must have soft points to be both legal and ethical.

[wolf308]

oh a 165 gr in a 30-06 cartridge ....

the 7.62x39 basically only comes in two sizes i think ...123 gr and 125 gr ...

maybe get a savage axis ...really afforddable hunting rifle with a scope ...

[Au revoir, Gopher]

Originally Posted by wolf308

oh a 165 gr in a 30-06 cartridge ....

the 7.62x39 basically only comes in two sizes i think ...123 gr and 125 gr ...

maybe get a savage axis ...really afforddable hunting rifle with a scope ...

Good answer.... wrong question, but a good answer.

ARG

[propliner]

I cleanly took a whitetail buck at 304 yards with a Hornady 123 grain spire point in a bolt-action Hawkeye.

I would not try this distance with an SKS by any means, and would prefer to keep it under 150 yards for accuracy's sake. The bullet, on the other hand, is an excellent performer. I'm sure the SST is even better.

[Buckhunter123]

you will do just fine with that rifle. No shoulder shots and u will do good. Hornady and others make soft point even federal fusion. 150 to 200 max but it's all you need just practise lots. Good luck and hope you get a nice one

[Buckhunter123]

Also clean your rifle after using corrosive, real good.

[Okotokian]

Anything legal (not full metal jacket, etc.) that your gun can shoot will kill a whitetail. It's not that difficult of an animal to kill. Find a legal round that your gun can shoot accurately (it takes a bit of trial and error) and that will do the trick. good luck!

[JD848]

You can kill a deer with a 22 mag 22 hornet,223 but I don't recommend you do what guys did 40 years ago including my self, every one was a poacher back then and you ate everything you shot within a few weeks.If the hutterites would speed up the clock and get with the times because ever one I meet shoot's every thing that walks or crawls,and they will tell you there the biggest and best hunter out there and believe me they believe it.
Go to a small gunshop and ask for help ,they seem to take more time in helping younger hunters out and put you on the right ammo and gear,

Shooting your first deer is like doing it with the first girl you meet,set your standards higher for the good looken chicks, if shes a knock out away you go and apply that same system to hunting and you will understand what I mean later on.

[Lung.__.shot]

Originally Posted by wolf308

oh a 165 gr in a 30-06 cartridge ....

the 7.62x39 basically only comes in two sizes i think ...123 gr and 125 gr ...

maybe get a savage axis ...really afforddable hunting rifle with a scope ...

I also have a .303 British, but I only wanted to try something new

[Lung.__.shot]

Originally Posted by propliner

I cleanly took a whitetail buck at 304 yards with a Hornady 123 grain spire point in a bolt-action Hawkeye.

I would not try this distance with an SKS by any means, and would prefer to keep it under 150 yards for accuracy's sake. The bullet, on the other hand, is an excellent performer. I'm sure the SST is even better.

My Russian sks was hitting 3/4 of an inch with ****ty surplus ammo, I'm pretty confident my rifle can make it out to nearly 400 Yards with scope?

[Lung.__.shot]

Originally Posted by Buckhunter123

you will do just fine with that rifle. No shoulder shots and u will do good. Hornady and others make soft point even federal fusion. 150 to 200 max but it's all you need just practise lots. Good luck and hope you get a nice one

Thanks, now gonna get a scope on my rifle and see if I can get a Hornady round ( because I use that round the most) and happy hunting!

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by Lung.__.shot

My Russian sks was hitting 3/4 of an inch with ****ty surplus ammo, I'm pretty confident my rifle can make it out to nearly 400 Yards with scope?

i'm confident the bullet will travel that far

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by fish_e_o

i'm confident the bullet will travel that far

As to how big a target would have to be in order to hit it consistently with an SKS is another matter.

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

As to how big a target would have to be in order to hit it consistently with an SKS is another matter.

i also think it would kill a deer at that distance.



it just might not be the one you're aiming at

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by Lung.__.shot

My Russian sks was hitting 3/4 of an inch with ****ty surplus ammo, I'm pretty confident my rifle can make it out to nearly 400 Yards with scope?

Where do you live young fella. If you can make 3/4 groups at 100yds using a surplus rifle with surplus ammo using a platform that was never intended for accurate shootin( or scope mounting for that matter) we should go shooting sometime so you can teach me how to shoot.
Hope you bag a big one this year

[Lung.__.shot]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

Where do you live young fella. If you can make 3/4 groups at 100yds using a surplus rifle with surplus ammo using a platform that was never intended for accurate shootin( or scope mounting for that matter) we should go shooting sometime so you can teach me how to shoot.
Hope you bag a big one this year

Pretty sure you'd be teaching me, I've only got a few years of experience with shooting, and only 4 days with my surplus rifle

[petew]

Originally Posted by Lung.__.shot

I also have a .303 British, but I only wanted to try something new

Ust the 303.

[Au revoir, Gopher]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

Where do you live young fella.[...]

Originally Posted by Lung.__.shot

Pretty sure you'd be teaching me, I've only got a few years of experience with shooting, and only 4 days with my surplus rifle

Seriously, post a (general) location. There are lots of people here who would help you with your shooting/hunting. What have you got to loose?

BTW, if it was me, I would use the .303, but if you keep the range under 200 it shouldn't matter.

ARG

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by Lung.__.shot

Pretty sure you'd be teaching me, I've only got a few years of experience with shooting, and only 4 days with my surplus rifle

Seriously if you are getting 3/4"groups at 100 yds with a surplus asks with or without a scope using surplus ammo you not only got lucky with the gun you have but you have shooting skills that many using 8-900 dollar bolt guns with 1200$ glass would love to have.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

Seriously if you are getting 3/4"groups at 100 yds with a surplus asks with or without a scope using surplus ammo you not only got lucky with the gun you have but you have shooting skills that many using 8-900 dollar bolt guns with 1200$ glass would love to have.

Of course that depends on how the groups ere measured, and how much exaggeration is involved.

[Lung.__.shot]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Of course that depends on how the groups ere measured, and how much exaggeration is involved.

No exaggeration, took four targets, three of which as I said were 3/4 of an inch from farthest point and my first target was alright but not up to expectation, was 1/4 of a inch, all at 100 yards, but my dad and his friend also made the same groupings with the SKS as well, my uncle had one when he was a child and he said it couldnt hit a damn at 50 yards. I think I lucked out for 300$

[Lung.__.shot]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

Seriously if you are getting 3/4"groups at 100 yds with a surplus asks with or without a scope using surplus ammo you not only got lucky with the gun you have but you have shooting skills that many using 8-900 dollar bolt guns with 1200$ glass would love to have.

Sorry, still new to this site, not sure how to enable location?

[elkhunter11]

No exaggeration, took four targets, three of which as I said were 3/4 of an inch from farthest point and my first target was alright but not up to expectation, was 1/4 of a inch, all at 100 yards

Apparently you don't understand how to measure groups, or you would know that 1/4" is much better than 3/4". By the way, three 3/4" groups at 100 yards, with an SKS and surplus ammunition would be amazing, but 1/4" is about as likely as the odds of being struck by lightning.

[DiabeticKripple]

the SKS is more than capable of killing a deer. go have some fun

[Flieguy]

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple

the SKS is more than capable of killing a deer. go have some fun

yup, not far off a 30-30.

I'd take an sks over a savage axis any day, no plastic parts, and with the price or surplus ammo you can target shoot to your heart's content so you know how to shoot it well.

[JD848]

Your only 13 and this a big deal for you and I can understand this.

Their is many older hunters who were very proud in there teens about hunting with a 303 ,I have mine from my first kill in the early 70's and I shot moose,deer,wolf's and still take it out the odd time to shoot a little target and would not think twice about taking it hunting.

Very dependable and plenty of power and you can say in 50 years you shot your deer with a 303,good luck,you can't go wrong with a bolt action.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by JD 848

Your only 13 and this a big deal for you and I can understand this.

Their is many older hunters who were very proud in there teens about hunting with a 303 ,I have mine from my first kill in the early 70's and I shot moose,deer,wolf's and still take it out the odd time to shoot a little target and would not think twice about taking it hunting.

Very dependable and plenty of power and you can say in 50 years you shot your deer with a 303,good luck,you can't go wrong with a bolt action.

Heck I'm still using a 303 for hunting - although it is not in an Enield action, not that I don't own a few of those!
Cat

[dewalt18]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Heck I'm still using a 303 for hunting - although it is not in an Enield action, not that I don't own a few of those!
Cat

Don't you still consider the 303 a hot new cartridge?

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by dewalt18

Don't you still consider the 303 a hot new cartridge?

Oh yeah, it has it all over the ,"old" cartridges!!
Cat