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7.62WildBill
11-12-12, 16:32
I had a friend ask me today about the idea of hunting with an AK. He is a retired doctor in his late 60's, and is tired of getting beat-up by his .270 and 12 gauge slug gun. In the club where he hunts the longest shots possible are out to 300 yards. He "still" hunts from a tree stand with a rail for a rest. It is a traditional old Southern gentlemen-type club, where each member has a cabin and there is a communal dining house. I think he likes the idea of shaking things up a bit.

I was thinking something like a SGL-21 with a 1-8x might fit the bill. He is not opposed to the AR platform. In fact, shooting my 6920 last week is what started turning the wheels in his head. But he likes the idea of a relatively inexpensive and readily available round that is lethal out to 300 yards. Any comments or thoughts would be appreciated, as I would like to give him the most informed recommendation I can.

Edit: Maybe a 1-8x is out of the price range, perhaps a 2-7x would be more appropriate.

PA PATRIOT
11-12-12, 18:04
Accuracy is going to be the main problem when ranged shots present their selfs and I found that my 18½ inch barrel CZ-527 in 7.62x39 only has practical hunting accuracy out to 175yds with commercial ammunition and I can stretch that to 225yds with tailored hand loads.

Its not a flat shooter by any means and unless the good doctor is willing to put in the range time to become intimate with the trajectory then I would suggest another proven flat shooting caliber like the 257 Roberts or the .260 which is lower in recoil then the .270 and shoot well out to 300yds.

RWBlue
11-12-12, 18:10
IMHO,

How can you get beat up shooting 1 round from a 270?



300 yards is a long way out for a 7.62x39. There is going to be a lot of drop. I also don't know if an AK can group good enough for a 300 yard one shot drop.


If he is stand hunting and wanting less recoil and wanting to disrupt the norm...... I am thinking AR-10 or clone with a heavy barrel. Weight is going to reduce felt recoil. Gas system will reduce felt recoil. 308 can make it out to 300 yards for a 1 shot kill. I don't see a need for a 1-8 scope if he will be sitting still. I am thinking something like a 4-16x50 Leupold.

7.62WildBill
11-12-12, 18:36
I don't think he minds the recoil so much during the hunt, but for the last 3 years he has asked me to shoot his guns to check the zero due his aversion to recoil. I know he wants to go with an auto-loading platform like his slug gun. Although I have never heard of him having to take a second shot. Also, he has a nice 3-9x Swarovski on his .270 that he will most likely use on the new set-up. But he killed a deer Thursday at 25 yards and has asked about more low power range.

I will research the .308 AR. Thank you for the suggestions.

RD62
11-12-12, 20:43
I don't think a .308 AR is going to be a big improvement over a .270, but maybe that's just me.

C-grunt
11-12-12, 20:54
How about a 6.8 or a 300 Blk?

rushca01
11-12-12, 20:55
I don't think a .308 AR is going to be a big improvement over a .270, but maybe that's just me.

IMHO shooting a 308 ar has less recoil than both a 12 gauge slug gun and a 30-30 lever action.

SPQR476
11-12-12, 21:12
Any good AK will get you to over 200 easily with Hornady SST. 300 is probably a stretch for responsible hunting...got to have a pretty solid idea of range past 225 or so. Plenty of smack, especially if you are talking southern deer, and most of mine are 2 MOA rifles, plus or minus, with it, although your results may vary with the spectrum of available rifles. (Except my Norinco. Chinese barrel has some kind of objection to grouping.)

If he truly wants 300 yds and something different, get a 6.5G or 6.8 SPC AR.

AKs are:Cheap, Accurate, and Reliable...but you only get to pick 2 of those attributes.

7.62WildBill
11-12-12, 21:35
7mm-08 offers very impressive terminal performance--GREAT cartridge!


I have killed deer with this round fired from a Rem 700, and know it is very manageable. I know the Remington R-25 is made buy either DPMS or Bushmaster, so...what other options are there in 7mm-08 and is this a viable caliber in the AR platform?

7.62WildBill
11-12-12, 21:49
With regard to the the 6.5 Grendal and 6.8 SPC, I don't think you can find them on the shelf as easily as 7-08. Which does not rule them out, but it is a consideration. And .300 BLK at 300 yards, is that advisable?

nineteenkilo
11-12-12, 22:02
7mm-08 or 257 Bob or 243.

All light hitters and extraordinarily adept at deer size game. My wife outkills me year after year with a Win 70 in 243. She uses 100 gr handloads by yours truly.

RWBlue
11-14-12, 19:46
How about a 6.8 or a 300 Blk?

I don't think the 200Blk is an option. I think the light weight bullets will run out of gas before 300 yards (not to mention the bullets are not designed for hunting deer) and the the heavies will have a lot of drop.

RWBlue
11-14-12, 19:48
I don't think a .308 AR is going to be a big improvement over a .270, but maybe that's just me.

A bolt action rifle is fairly light weight in comparison to the AR-10 clone. This along with it being a semi-auto reduces the felt recoil.

FlyingHunter
11-14-12, 21:37
A 6.8spc is a solid option. My kids have taken a number of deer with this round, accurate, soft shooting (even on the little one's frame - less than 90#), and has plenty of terminal performance with the right load and of course, right placement.

Snake Plissken
11-14-12, 22:32
If he has such an aversion to recoil...is he even making good shots on game? It all sounds like an old fudd edition of a pissing match. Let him buy whatever he wants because it sounds like it will only be out of the safe twice a year at best. Personally I'd just get something like a Tikka T3 Lite in 243 Winchester, load it up with 85 gr Barnes TSX rounds, and call it good with a tweener budget optic like a 2-7x Burris Fullfield.

300 Blackout is an overhyped cartridge pushing the "let's see what more shit we can shove in a USGI 5.56 magazine!" envelope. Suggesting that it would be a viable option for 300 yard hunting is laughable. Slow, low sectional density, and drops like a rock past 150 yards. A terrible choice for hunting. It was never very popular under the SDK name for good reason. It's good that AAC is selling lots of suppressors to people because of it, but that's about it.

nhskull21
11-14-12, 22:41
Check out the barnes 110 gr black tip .300

usmcvet
11-14-12, 22:51
IMHO shooting a 308 ar has less recoil than both a 12 gauge slug gun and a 30-30 lever action.

Depends on the load.

7mm-08 would be an excellent choice. BUT, if he is afraid to check his own rifles zeroed he should not be hunting, especially at 300 yards.

7.62WildBill
11-15-12, 18:52
Depends on the load.

7mm-08 would be an excellent choice. BUT, if he is afraid to check his own rifles zeroed he should not be hunting, especially at 300 yards.

He just wants a rifle that is more comfortable to shot that will serve his purpose. He is a very physically active and mentally competent individual. He is looking at the Remington R-25 in 7mm-08, and has found one local for $1300 (new). I realize this is not the rifle anyone would recommend for "serious" use, but in this case, any thoughts?

Snake Plissken
11-15-12, 19:31
I'm not sure why it wouldn't be approved for serious use. Maybe if you subscribe to brand loyalty/fanboyism maybe, but who the hell cares? What's not serious about a dependable hunting and target shooting rifle?

nhskull21
11-15-12, 19:38
What rifles does he own now? Has he went to walmart or somewhere and found a recoil pad for the stock. Bought one of those padded shoulder shirts that shot gunners use. Has he tried lighter loads in the current rifle.

Matt C.
11-22-12, 08:08
7mm-08 or 257 Bob or 243.

All light hitters and extraordinarily adept at deer size game. My wife outkills me year after year with a Win 70 in 243. She uses 100 gr handloads by yours truly.


This ^
(6.5 will also do nicely)

Arik
11-22-12, 08:44
Ive seen guys on other forums hunt deer with an AK74. While the caliber didnt "drop" the deer in its tracks it was just as deadly. One guy posted pics of the dissection. The Soviet surplus bullet liquefied both lungs and part of the heart.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

evilblackgun
11-22-12, 14:06
I have taken a few moose here in Alaska over the years with a AK and a SKS and they have both performed really well for me with SP ammo. I took my longest shot on a moose at around 80ish yards here in the Alaska brush/wooded areas I hunt in the interior. I use a suppressed AR 10 now days but one day I'll break out one of my AK pattern rifles for a moose hunt when my son decides that he want to come with me probable in the next 2 hunting seasons.

7.62WildBill
12-18-12, 16:25
I talked to the Dr. for the first time in a few weeks today. He ended up getting a R-25 in .308 from a local shop for just under $1400. I will shoot it with him soon and get some pics and targets. Thanks for the input.

murphman
12-26-12, 13:43
Do they make a soft tip in 7.62x39? was at the range last week making sure my father ar15 was assembled correclty after i swapped the fixed carry handle receiver for a flap top and re sighted the new sights and front post pin. Got to talking with the guy next to me and he said his first deer was from an AK47. I should have asked him in more detail about it because i wonder how much shot placement is needed with that round.

evilblackgun
12-26-12, 14:13
I think it was golden bear or wolf 154gr soft point and like I said 80ish yards in the neck they get shot, they die what else could I ask for?

jbjh
12-28-12, 23:19
There's always 6.5x55 swede. I think that, along with 257Bob, 7mm-08 and 260 are great rounds. The problem with 243 is the inability to get over 100gr projectiles. That said, the TSX folks will tell you that the bullet is magic, so maybe loaded with that pill, it ups the performance

jbjh
12-29-12, 10:02
The R-25 in 308, with the right ammo should work well for him. Take a look online (Cabelas, Midway, Brownells) and see what lighter ammo you can find. 125-130gr will shoot a bit softer for him, especially in that gun.

He might also look into a vest or jacket with a shooting pad built in. I have a buddy who can barely touch off a 20ga without it, but can shoot 4-5 rounds of skeet with the vest on.

7.62WildBill
05-17-13, 06:41
This is what the Dr. ended up with. Remington R-25 in .308 with a Nightforce NSX 5.5x22-56. We will hopefully shoot it this Sat, weather permitting.

http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s488/wildwoodbill000/860F2C0D-4507-4368-8623-CE6B7249D34F-40318-00001652DC77E1C2_zps03513556.jpg (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/wildwoodbill000/media/860F2C0D-4507-4368-8623-CE6B7249D34F-40318-00001652DC77E1C2_zps03513556.jpg.html)

Campbell
05-19-13, 14:41
Holy deer scopes!:blink:

7.62WildBill
05-19-13, 16:30
Holy deer scopes!:blink:

Yeah, I have access to a private 1000 yard range. So he opted for the Nightforce so he could try some long distance shooting.

titsonritz
05-19-13, 17:17
Do they make a soft tip in 7.62x39? .

I have some Remington 125 gr PTD soft points and a couple 5 rounds mags around for AK deer slaying.

7.62WildBill
05-19-13, 17:35
I have some Remington 125 gr PTD soft points and a couple 5 rounds mags around for AK deer slaying.

No hunting mag limits in NC. :D

PA PATRIOT
06-08-13, 17:36
I don't think that new .308 is a wise choice if he considers the .270 as harsh but to each his own.

7.62WildBill
06-08-13, 20:15
I don't think that new .308 is a wise choice if he considers the .270 as harsh but to each his own.

Having fired his .270 Browning 5 or 6 times and his very heavy .308 about 30 times, I say the R-25's recoil is much more manageable.

Coincidentally, I shot this gun today. The Dr. left it with me to try at my buddy's range. Only had a little ammo, so we just fired a couple three shot groups at 200 meters. The best was about 1 3/4".

Edit: Used Hornady Superformance 150 gr SST.

jmk
08-04-13, 21:57
Having fired his .270 Browning 5 or 6 times and his very heavy .308 about 30 times, I say the R-25's recoil is much more manageable.


seems like a JP Recoil Eliminator (or sjc titan, etc.) would be a great addition to address the Dr's needs.