Hunting House » Deer Hunting » newbie with a question (go easy on me!)
newbie with a question (go easy on me!)
Question:
> Most states don’t allow hunting of any game with a semiautomatic > rifle or pistol. Check your reg’s for your state.
Actually, YOU should check… "Most" (defined as being more than 25) DO allow using semi-autos or handguns. But you are correct, everyone should check their local state regs. — + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Chris Barnes AOL IM: CNBarnes Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
>I haven’t been hunting since I was a kid but still remember how to field dress >and all. . .but a little background information first. . . *snip! >I realize the 7.62×39 may have an effective range of about 150 yards (maybe 200 >if the wind is behind me 
) and would serve better as a hog gun, but the >.223 and/or .308 should be just as worthwhile on deer no matter what muzzle it >leaves. . .am I mistaken? >Brian
Brian, I think an important thing to remember about hunting is that you only need ONE shot. Hunters use one well-placed shot to kill. Whether it is a hog or a rabbit, we use an accurate shot. So think about accuracy and shot placement. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Brian, I think an important thing to remember about hunting is that you only need ONE shot. Hunters use one well-placed shot to kill. Whether it is a hog or a rabbit, we use an accurate shot. So think about accuracy and shot placement. Agreed. . .don’t get me wrong. I don’t intend to vaporize that which I intend to harvest. I live in Texas (which is legal for semi’s) and have five round magazines for all my rifles — and five rounds is all I intend to take with me when I go out (Earnest Hemmingway only took three rounds with him but I don’t have his confidence. . .yet). At a standing position with iron sights, I can place a bullet within the four-ring at 100 yds., so trying to take the animal down with one shot shouldn’t be a too much of a challenge. Putting me in the bush with my heart racing and my breath shallow as I put the "v" on the target — that’s something else. My original dilemma was why should I have to spend another $500+ on yet another .223 or .30 cal rifle when I already have one of each in semi-automatic? Why are the bolt actions more popular? Is it the weight considerations? Politics? Better ballistics? Better accuracy? All of the above? Can someone give me a "pro’s and con’s" list of each rifle for hunting purposes? Thanks in advance, Brian Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
use the .308! execellent weapon out to 700yds! Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
> I have a MAK90 (shoots 7.62×39), an AR-15 (with both .223 and 7.62×39 uppers) > and an Armalite and have been itching to go deer hunting.
Check the regulations in your state. Pennsylvania for one does not allow hunting with a semiauto rifle. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Most states don’t allow hunting of any game with a semiautomatic rifle or pistol.Check your reg’s for your state. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —— Original Message —– Newsgroups: rec.hunting Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 5:44 PM > I haven’t been hunting since I was a kid but still remember how to field dress > and all. . .but a little background information first. . . > I have a MAK90 (shoots 7.62×39), an AR-15 (with both .223 and 7.62×39 uppers) > and an Armalite and have been itching to go deer hunting. After checking my > options, I really don’t want to spend $500+ on another .30 caliber rifle (bolt > action .30-06 or .308) when I’m getting 1/2" groups at 100 yards with any of > these. . .my question is this: > What is this group’s opinion about hunting with either of these rifles? Any > experience? Other than not spitting brass as far, what are the advantages of > hunting with a bolt action rifle over a mak90, ar-15 or armalite with 5-round > magazines? > I realize the 7.62×39 may have an effective range of about 150 yards (maybe 200 > if the wind is behind me ) and would serve better as a hog gun, but the > .223 and/or .308 should be just as worthwhile on deer no matter what muzzle it > leaves. . .am I mistaken? > Brian > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Bolt guns are popular because of relyablility, and better acuracy in general. They rarely jam, aren’t fussy about ammo, and have very strong extraction of spent cartridges. I’ve had mine over twenty years and only had one foul up. I had a case neck tear off and stay in the chamber on a case reloaded one too many times. When I ran the next cartridge in the bolt wouldn’t close, so I pulled the bolt back and saw the case neck clinging to the bullet of the cartrige I had tried to chamber. I’d go with the .308 if your comfortable with the gun. > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Sure, you CAN kill deer with your military-type rifles, assuming it is legal. And I certainly understand the desire to use what you’ve got. & your gun are in the top end of the top 1% – nearly supernatural! You’re ready to go! My MAK wasn’t nearly that good (neither am I). No offense meant, but I’d have to see that – then I’d offer to buy the gun. Anyhow – yeah, the 7.62 russkie will kill deer, as will the .223. Both are less than ideal, especially. the .223. Here was my experience: I started hunting 2 years ago, and planned to use the SKS. I never did, though. For one thing, the SKS wasn’t very accurate. Even being very careful at a bench, I couldn’t get groups much better than ditto for my MAK, though it had a somewhat better trigger than the SKS. I sold the MAK and spent part of the money on a Savage 110 synthetic in .270 with a 3×9x32 scope, and have never looked back. The scope is much, MUCH better than the crappy iron sights on the SKS/MAK. Out of the box the Savage trigger was much better than an SKS/MAK/AR; I recently diddled with it, and now it is better than it was new. From a rest I can easily & repeatedly hit a plate-sized target at 200+ yards; that would be a very doubtful Hail Mary shot with a MAK or SKS. You asked about advantages of a bolt gun. I would put accuracy first – but since you’re getting 1/2" groups (hmmmm…..) out your MAK, it won’t get any better for you with a bolt gun. So, let’s talk cartridge. A .270 has more energy at 350 yards than the MAK has AT THE MUZZLE. A .223 is even weaker. There are lots of much, MUCH better choices than 7.62×39 or .223 for deer. Of course, the one buck I shot with the rifle last year was only about 60 yards away. Bottom line – you can hunt with military-type rifles. But they are not as good as a hunting rifle. The ONLY thing they do better, in my opinion, is shoot fast, and they’re fun for blasting things with cheap ammo. But they’re second-rate, when it comes to hunting. JB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text —— Original Message —– Newsgroups: rec.hunting Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 2:44 PM > I haven’t been hunting since I was a kid but still remember how to field dress > and all. . .but a little background information first. . . > I have a MAK90 (shoots 7.62×39), an AR-15 (with both .223 and 7.62×39 uppers) > and an Armalite and have been itching to go deer hunting. After checking my > options, I really don’t want to spend $500+ on another .30 caliber rifle (bolt > action .30-06 or .308) when I’m getting 1/2" groups at 100 yards with any of > these. . .my question is this: > What is this group’s opinion about hunting with either of these rifles? Any > experience? Other than not spitting brass as far, what are the advantages of > hunting with a bolt action rifle over a mak90, ar-15 or armalite with 5-round > magazines? > I realize the 7.62×39 may have an effective range of about 150 yards (maybe 200 > if the wind is behind me ) and would serve better as a hog gun, but the > .223 and/or .308 should be just as worthwhile on deer no matter what muzzle it > leaves. . .am I mistaken? > Brian > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I haven’t been hunting since I was a kid but still remember how to field dress > and all. . .but a little background information first. . . > I have a MAK90 (shoots 7.62×39), an AR-15 (with both .223 and 7.62×39 uppers) > and an Armalite and have been itching to go deer hunting. After checking my > options, I really don’t want to spend $500+ on another .30 caliber rifle (bolt > action .30-06 or .308) when I’m getting 1/2" groups at 100 yards with any of > these. . .my question is this: > What is this group’s opinion about hunting with either of these rifles? Any > experience? Other than not spitting brass as far, what are the advantages of > hunting with a bolt action rifle over a mak90, ar-15 or armalite with 5-round > magazines? > I realize the 7.62×39 may have an effective range of about 150 yards (maybe 200 > if the wind is behind me ) and would serve better as a hog gun, but the > .223 and/or .308 should be just as worthwhile on deer no matter what muzzle it > leaves. . .am I mistaken? > Brian
The 7.62×39 will be every bit as effective on deer as a lot of handgun calibers and will serve well within 100 yards. Haven’t checked the velocity or energy tables for that caliber, but 150 yards might be pushing it, as it is with a .30-30. Check your local hunting regulations as there may be restrictions on magazine capacity. (Don’t know of any, but I only hunt one state.) Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I haven’t been hunting since I was a kid but still remember how to field dress > and all. . .but a little background information first. . . > I have a MAK90 (shoots 7.62×39), an AR-15 (with both .223 and 7.62×39 uppers) > and an Armalite and have been itching to go deer hunting. After checking my > options, I really don’t want to spend $500+ on another .30 caliber rifle (bolt > action .30-06 or .308) when I’m getting 1/2" groups at 100 yards with any of > these. . .my question is this: > What is this group’s opinion about hunting with either of these rifles? Any > experience? Other than not spitting brass as far, what are the advantages of > hunting with a bolt action rifle over a mak90, ar-15 or armalite with 5-round > magazines? > I realize the 7.62×39 may have an effective range of about 150 yards (maybe 200 > if the wind is behind me ) and would serve better as a hog gun, but the > .223 and/or .308 should be just as worthwhile on deer no matter what muzzle it > leaves. . .am I mistaken?
In some states the .223 is illegal to hunt deer with. The .308 is an excellent choice for deer, especially if you get half inch groups at 100 yards. You might get some strange looks using what the "liberals" believe to be an assault rifle…but hey, a .308 out of a BAR (Browning) or a semi auto Remington (7600 or is it 7400?) or an Armalite is a .308. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
I haven’t been hunting since I was a kid but still remember how to field dress and all. . .but a little background information first. . . I have a MAK90 (shoots 7.62×39), an AR-15 (with both .223 and 7.62×39 uppers) and an Armalite and have been itching to go deer hunting. After checking my options, I really don’t want to spend $500+ on another .30 caliber rifle (bolt action .30-06 or .308) when I’m getting 1/2" groups at 100 yards with any of these. . .my question is this: What is this group’s opinion about hunting with either of these rifles? Any experience? Other than not spitting brass as far, what are the advantages of hunting with a bolt action rifle over a mak90, ar-15 or armalite with 5-round magazines? I realize the 7.62×39 may have an effective range of about 150 yards (maybe 200 if the wind is behind me ) and would serve better as a hog gun, but the .223 and/or .308 should be just as worthwhile on deer no matter what muzzle it leaves. . .am I mistaken? Brian Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/