The firearm thread

[wbks]

I probably asked this before, but can't remember and it must be atleast a hundred pages back now, so why do people recommend against SKS' as a first hunting rifle? Cheap, 308, accurate enough to hit an animal within a couple hundred meters...

[jono035]

I probably asked this before, but can't remember and it must be atleast a hundred pages back now, so why do people recommend against SKS' as a first hunting rifle? Cheap, 308, accurate enough to hit an animal within a couple hundred meters...

It's semi-auto? A bolt action would be a safer alternative...

[Mr Merde]

I probably asked this before, but can't remember and it must be atleast a hundred pages back now, so why do people recommend against SKS' as a first hunting rifle? Cheap, 308, accurate enough to hit an animal within a couple hundred meters...

A semi auto in a large calibre is a steeper learning curve when lear ning to shoot accurately

The same with pistols. A revolver is easier to learn to shoot with than a semi.

A good bolt action rifle can be very accurate with very little work or learning. A semi auto rifle needs quite a lot of work to improve its accuracy. You also have to learn to deal with all the moveme nt in the action.

[wbks]

It's semi-auto? A bolt action would be a safer alternative...

Safer?...

A semi auto in a large calibre is a steeper learning curve when lear ning to shoot accurately

The same with pistols. A revolver is easier to learn to shoot with than a semi.

A good bolt action rifle can be very accurate with very little work or learning. A semi auto rifle needs quite a lot of work to improve its accuracy. You also have to learn to deal with all the moveme nt in the action.

You mean I might tend to pull the trigger as fast as I can without focusing on accuracy?

[jono035]

Safer?...

You mean I might tend to pull the trigger as fast as I can without focusing on accuracy?

Bolt action is safer because after firing the bolt is closed on a fired cartridge. If you don't fire then it is easy to hold the bolt at half open or unload back to the magazine.

Semi auto is inherently unsafe because after firing there is a live round loaded. It is also inherently harder to unload requiring removal of magazine and working the bolt (against the return spring) and collecting the ejected round before sticking it back in the magazine.

I don't consider a safety to be an acceptable alternative, if it malfunctions, gets knocked off or doesn't get engaged properly, you're going to end up shooting yourself or someone else.

You shouldn't be shooting at anything that you need a semi-auto to kill anyway!

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Mate it's the first shot that counts, if thats good you don't need to fire again.
A good bolt action teaches you its 'quality. not quantity'
Having said that the SKS cartridge isn't bad, I think you can pick up a 'cheaper' bolt action for 700 or so. Personally I'd recommend .243, but then I'm biased.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

[jono035]

Yeah, I remember a guy showing up at the range to sight in his semi-auto .22 and I got talking to him about possum hunting. He was saying it was amazing how tough they were and that he could empty an entire magazine into them before they fell out of the tree...

I hunt using a bolt-action and it pisses me off when I don't drop them with the first hit...

[Drunken Monkey]

I probably asked this before, but can't remember and it must be atleast a hundred pages back now, so why do people recommend against SKS' as a first hunting rifle? Cheap, 308, accurate enough to hit an animal within a couple hundred meters...

The SKS might fire 7.62 (7.62x39), but not .308 (7.62x51)...Don't get them confused, they are chalk and cheese.
In fact SAAMI .308 Winchester isn't exactly the same as 7.62x51 NATO, but for the large part they are interchangeable, but that's another thread...

[ready4whatever]

I have a good collection, but my favourite deer hunting gun is my Remington 700 .308 that i won at a deerstalkers shoot. Its one lethal weopen with its 3-9 Zeiss scope. I've shot all sorts ranging from goats to sambar to thar. I recommend a 30 cal rifle but thats just me. Plenty of good .270's etc around that'll do the job (for red deer). Sambar and wild cattle i wouldnt settle for anything less that the .308. Those 400 pound+ stags dont go down too easily. For those I'd prefer my dads 30-06, with another 5 more bombs in the mag..

[Swoop]

Do not forget that the trigger on an SKS is bloody horrible... All the right ingredients to get you into the wrong habits.

[Wolf]

Do not forget that the trigger on an SKS is bloody horrible... All the right ingredients to get you into the wrong habits.

And for such a small round, it has a sharp, nasty kick.

I'm quite serious when I say that Shiny side up's .30-06 is a nicer weapon to shoot (old Husqvarna Mauser-action) - the recoil is there but its a shove, not a smack.

The 7.62x39 in the SKS slams sharply back into the shoulder. I fired off a few rounds rapid at Chris' place (as you do when you have a semi on the range) and it was painful and nasty.

I fired SSU's 'ought-six and it just pushed back into my shoulder.

[Mr Merde]

..... All the right ingredients to get you into the wrong habits.

Thats pretty much what I have been , in my bumbling way, trying to say.


WKBS -- The best gun to learn to hunt and shoot with is a single shot rifle. This will force you to use that one shot to the best of your ability and the capabilities of the rifle.

Once you have learnt how to shoot and can "call your shot" then think about moving on to a different action type.

What use hunting with a 7 shot wonder semi auto if you cause excess pain and suffering to the animal by not giving it the dignity of a quick one shot kill and rely on the "spray and pray" technique

[Wolf]

Thats pretty much what I have been , in my bumbling way, trying to say.


WKBS -- The best gun to learn to hunt and shoot with is a single shot rifle. This will force you to use that one shot to the best of your ability and the capabilities of the rifle.

Once you have learnt how to shoot and can "call your shot" then think about moving on to a different action type.

What use hunting with a 7 shot wonder semi auto if you cause excess pain and suffering to the animal by not giving it the dignity of a quick one shot kill and rely on the "spray and pray" technique

My first ever rifle (of my own, anyway, ignoring the farm rifles that I only ever "plinked" with) was a Gecado single-shot .22

Beaut weapon.

[jono035]

My first ever rifle (of my own, anyway, ignoring the farm rifles that I only ever "plinked" with) was a Gecado single-shot .22

Beaut weapon.

Nice. The rifle that I learned to shoot on (apart from .22 and .177 spring air rifles) was my neighbours single shot bolt action .22... Old as hell but shot beautifully. Many a possum was turned into dog food by that rifle...

[Indiana_Jones]

I love my .22 Martini

-Indy