The firearm thread

[SMOKEU]

I've seen the 7.62X39 ammo starts at around $65 for 100 rounds. Is there any place to get them much cheaper than that, other than reloading them myself? I was thinking it would be nice for a bit of goat or wild boar hunting maybe.

[jono035]

I've seen the 7.62X39 ammo starts at around $65 for 100 rounds. Is there any place to get them much cheaper than that, other than reloading them myself? I was thinking it would be nice for a bit of goat or wild boar hunting maybe.

Even reloading you won't get it all that much cheaper, that's pretty base as it is.

~10c per primer, 20-30c per projectile, 5-20c of powder, depending.

[Swoop]

Has anyone here had any experience with a Norinco SKS?

SKS. Good bush rifle that can be bashed around. Good out to 100/150m and has a fixed magazine.

SKK is the same but accepts detachable mags. Seem to remember they use the AK mag (??).

I use mine for goats. Have posted pictures previously in this thread of my scope setup. A great rifle overall.

[carver]

Some more pics, PM me for interest

[carver]

I've seen the 7.62X39 ammo starts at around $65 for 100 rounds. Is there any place to get them much cheaper than that, other than reloading them myself? I was thinking it would be nice for a bit of goat or wild boar hunting maybe.

You can get them a bit cheaper from barnaul (russianz)

[SMOKEU]

I'll need to save up for a bit longer, but I'm tempted to buy a 20" SKS instead of the 16" version. Does anyone here know if the 20" model will have similar accuracy to an AK47? I know it's a bit of a hard question to answer since there are so many different AK47 and SKS models out there. With a good scope will it come close to MOA?

I'll probably just keep the iron sights and get some practice at the NZHA range. Speaking of the NZHA range near Christchurch, has anyone here been skeet shooting there, and how much does it cost? I can supply all my own gear except for the clay thrower.

[Flip]

I would not think a SKS/SKM would ever meet MOA without heaps of work and very accurate ammo. The SKM does take the AL47 mag.

I can make cast bullets that, well, cost nothing. I load them into 308 and provided I push them no faster than 2200fps they shoot about 2 MOA out of my Ruger Mk2.

I have some experience with AK74s while working in Nigera, they are real nice to shoot. 30 rounds of rock and roll is a great feeling.

A friend of mine has a E cat SKS with a plastic folding stock that is a blast to shoot. The factory ones are just a nasty soviet rifle, ie work brillantly but look like shit.

[SMOKEU]

I would not think a SKS/SKM would ever meet MOA without heaps of work and very accurate ammo. The SKM does take the AL47 mag.

I can make cast bullets that, well, cost nothing. I load them into 308 and provided I push them no faster than 2200fps they shoot about 2 MOA out of my Ruger Mk2.

I have some experience with AK74s while working in Nigera, they are real nice to shoot. 30 rounds of rock and roll is a great feeling.

A friend of mine has a E cat SKS with a plastic folding stock that is a blast to shoot. The factory ones are just a nasty soviet rifle, ie work brillantly but look like shit.

Do you get scrap lead for free and cast them yourself? I've been looking at reloading purely on a cost basis instead of as a hobby, but since I've weighed up the options it seems like a whole lot of work for not a hell of a lot of money saved considering I don't shoot a huge number of rounds.

Have you ever reloaded 2 3/4" 12ga lead bird or buckshot shells before, and if you have, do you save a lot of money?

[jono035]

Do you get scrap lead for free and cast them yourself? I've been looking at reloading purely on a cost basis instead of as a hobby, but since I've weighed up the options it seems like a whole lot of work for not a hell of a lot of money saved considering I don't shoot a huge number of rounds.

Have you ever reloaded 2 3/4" 12ga lead bird or buckshot shells before, and if you have, do you save a lot of money?

I ran the numbers on reloading for shotgun and it was really quite difficult to make it worthwhile. With a shot casting setup it's cheaper, but even then not by much.

I've done a bit of bullet casting myself and I'd say go for it if you're interested, but I wouldn't take to it if you're just planning to save money. It can get pretty time consuming, but it's a lot of fun and quite 'zen' once you get into the groove.

The best lead stock I've found was wheel weights from some of the friendlier tire places. Between that, a bucket of leadhead nails and a few old lead pipes I've got probably 50-60kg of lead stock sitting around as muffins now. Makes for really good hold-down weights.

[Flip]

I have just called my mate with the SKK, he said it shoots 3 MOA with cheap chineese ammo and 1 1/2 with good hand loads. He also said it shoots the pants off an AK.

I have 2 muzzle loaders and a couple of 308's i load with cast bullets. The most accurate cast bullet I have is a 130 g small round nose bullet. It is very accurate when made of linotype lead alloy. It is good all rounder when made of weel weights. You can heat treat cast bullets in weel weights for a range of hardness. Basically a hard bullet shoots faster and is more accurate, a soft bullet kills game better. I suggest you get the Lyman cast book handbook which is a must if you get into cast bullets.

There is nothing in it for 12g. The cheap 12g ammo I buy by the case is cheaper than I can load. I shoot about 2 1/2 thousand rabbits a year and I have gone through a case and a half in one night spotlighting in central, so the cost of ammo adds up quickly. My trusty 12g Saga does not care if its cheap or expensive, it shoots anything all the time no problems.

I scrounge lead off demolition sites, flashing lead is soft and perfect for round balls but is far too soft for centre fire projectiles. My 75 cal smooth bore shoots a 540 g projectile so you don't get many from a pound of lead.

[jono035]

I have just called my mate with the SKK, he said it shoots 3 MOA with cheap chineese ammo and 1 1/2 with good hand loads. He also said it shoots the pants off an AK.

I have 2 muzzle loaders and a couple of 308's i load with cast bullets. The most accurate cast bullet I have is a 130 g small round nose bullet. It is very accurate when made of linotype lead alloy. It is good all rounder when made of weel weights. You can heat treat cast bullets in weel weights for a range of hardness. Basically a hard bullet shoots faster and is more accurate, a soft bullet kills game better. I suggest you get the Lyman cast book handbook which is a must if you get into cast bullets.

There is nothing in it for 12g. The cheap 12g ammo I buy by the case is cheaper than I can load. I have gone through a case and a half in one night spotlighting in central, so the cost adds up quickly. My 12g Saga does not care if its cheap or expensive, it shoots all ammo.

I scrounge lead off demolition sites, flashing lead is soft and perfect for round balls but is far too soft for centre fire projectiles. My 75 cal smooth bore shoots a 540 g projectile so you don't get many from a pound of lead.

Ah of course. If you're casting for a muzzle loader that makes life a lot easier. I've never had all that much luck finding any other sources for alloying metals beyond wheel weights, and that's a bit of a crapshoot, not to mention messy.

I don't shoot enough rounds through my .303 for it to be worth casting for, and the only other centerfire rifle I have is the AR-15, which I wouldn't feed bare lead through anyway, especially not with the humungous gas port.

I've shot cast rounds with reasonable results in 9mm and great results in .44 mag (once I got ones large enough for the oversized Taurus barrels.).

[SMOKEU]

and the only other centerfire rifle I have is the AR-15

That sounds like a lot of fun!

[jono035]

That sounds like a lot of fun!

Sure has been. Have only had a couple of chances to take it out and shoot it, but it's a fun little beast.

Don't have it cycling with subs and suppressor yet, but haven't had a chance to muck with any handloads for it, so I'm pretty confident I'll get it running, even if I have to muck around with the spring/buffer/bcg.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130333194

For subs, some ulrta-heavy cast bullets would be brilliant. Could always get a replacement un-drilled barrel and use it as a straight-pull bolt action!

[scumdog]

I'll need to save up for a bit longer, but I'm tempted to buy a 20" SKS instead of the 16" version. Does anyone here know if the 20" model will have similar accuracy to an AK47? I know it's a bit of a hard question to answer since there are so many different AK47 and SKS models out there. With a good scope will it come close to MOA?

I'll probably just keep the iron sights and get some practice at the NZHA range.

Unless you have a cat E licence you'll have to stick to a SKS (and even then its mag will have to be 'fixed' to hold no more than 7 rounds.

And generally 'AK47' and 'accurate' are mutually exclusive.

And saying a SKK 'looks nicer' with its 'sticking out mag' is what I'd expect from a boy...

[SMOKEU]

And saying a SKK 'looks nicer' with its 'sticking out mag' is what I'd expect from a boy...

You're entitled to your opinion.