.233 vs 762,x39mm

[livnhel]

.233 or 762,39mm. Only between the 2 cals,which would you take for deer? What would be the next step up from the .233 for our troops in Iraq? Thanks

[Fobos]

.223 is not a good round for deer. If I recall, it's not even a legal big game round in at least one state (Minnesota).

I've used 7.62x39mm in my deer hunting, but only when my firearm collection was small, and my primary big game rifle was in for repairs. I only used it for whitetail, and only in the kind of territory (brush, forest, etc...) that requires shots of 200yds or less - though you might be good out to 300yds (I had no faith in the accuracy of my SKS past 200yds).

[Callahan]

Livnhel:
I have to second Fobos on recommending against .223 for whitetail. I lost count on how many shots it took to kill a small-to-average doe with one.
I had borrowed it for my son to use on his first deer hunt and was with him when he shot. From what I can tell, the bullets just went through without hitting bone or anything vital enough to stop it quickly. May have hit the lungs, probably not the heart.
It got up after being shot 2-3 times and ran into the woods. We listened to it thrashing around in the cover until I couldn't stand it anymore and went in and finished it off.
I use a .270 and .30-06 and find them both excellent for whitetail. I would not recommend anything smaller.
Son now owns his own rifle, a .300 Winchester Magnum. ;D
PS: I'm assuming you can get a hunting round for that military caliber. I would not hunt with a FMJ military round.

Edited for typo.

[5ontarget]

livnhel said:

.233 or 762,39mm. Only between the 2 cals,which would you take for deer?

7.62X39 of the two listed.....
see reasons above....
I know a few guys that hunt with their sporterized SKS's successfully. From what many have told me, get a scope tapped/drilled for best results. The receiver cover mounts/setups don't seem to hold zero very well due to the bolt/recoil...except for the higher $ scopes and mounts that cost as much or more than the SKS.
I have only shot SKS with the iron sights, no scopes or optics. I wouldn't try for more than 200yds, energy and accuracy (at least the ones I've shot) start dropping off rapidly.


For better range & bullet/load choices, .270, .308, 30-06. The newer compact magnums that I have read about look VERY promising too.

[MLB]

I've never hunted deer with a rifle as it's not legal here in NYS. A 1 oz. rifled slug with a magnum load certainly does the job well though.

[Callahan]

MLB said:

I've never hunted deer with a rifle as it's not legal here in NYS. A 1 oz. rifled slug with a magnum load certainly does the job well though.

. . . as we saw proven at the Box O' Truth site. ;D