AK-47 for deer

[chudrockz]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with/ recommends this. Also, if FMJ or HP better? I have an AK Saiga in 7.62 x39 and was strongly considering using it for deer hunting in two weeks.

[ijosef]

Yes, you can harvest a whitetail with an AKM style rifle. I would suggest going with some good quality hunting rounds rather than milsurp or Russian steel-cased stuff (I've heard that Wolf soft point really isn't all that great - I have some but have never shot anything but paper with it). Back when you could buy an SKS anywhere for under $100, it was largely considered the poor man's deer rifle. The 7.62x39mm is plenty capable of eliminating the Bambi menace.

From Whackapedia:
Since approximately 1990, the 7.62×39mm cartridge has seen some use in hunting arms in the US for hunting game up to the size of whitetail deer, as it is approximately as powerful as the .30-30 Winchester round, and has a similar ballistic profile. Large numbers of inexpensive imported semiautomatic rifles, like the SKS and AK-47 clones and variants, are available in this caliber.

[rtk]

I don't see anything wrong with it, the caliber is sufficent for stop/knock down. It would most likely be easier to tote around with a 5 round magazine rather than a 30 rounder though.

[rugersol]

my buddy took his first deer with one ... it's what he had ... and he was well-practiced, with it!

[westhope]

Remember, 25 ACP is a legal deer cartridge in Minnesota.

[northernglocker]

but fmj isnt

[chudrockz]

I don't see anything wrong with it, the caliber is sufficent for stop/knock down. It would most likely be easier to tote around with a 5 round magazine rather than a 30 rounder though.

Yeah, I thought of that. However, I only have a ten round and thirty round magazine. Ten, it is!

[ijosef]

I don't know why you girls still hunt deer with guns. I just scale a tree (no stand, mind you) and patiently wait until a choice specimen comes my way. The deer cannot sense me, for I am learned in the ways of the ancients and have masked my human scent. I wear no clothes save for the loincloth crafted from the 40-point buck I slew on the eve of my fifth birthday. Once the time has arrived, I throw myself down upon the deer's back and proceed to choke it out, using the technique perfected by none other than The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. If the deer should happen to throw me off (which doesn't happen often, but did last year since my strength was comprimised from the previous week's hand-to-hand combat with a black bear), I maintain the grip with my legs and force it to submit to a triangle choke. Once the hunt is complete, I plunge my hand into the deer's viscera and pull out its heart, devouring the still-warm and steaming muscle and gaining the knowledge of the deer and all those before it.

[cobb]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with/ recommends this. Also, if FMJ or HP better? I have an AK Saiga in 7.62 x39 and was strongly considering using it for deer hunting in two weeks.

Non expanding, which would be FMJ and some of the HP for a 7.62x39, are not legal in Minnesota for the taking of big game.
See the top of page 58.
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regula ... l_regs.pdf

The caliber is adequate, just spend a couple extra dollars on some good expanding soft point ammunition designed for hunting. The practice and learn both the rifle's and your limitations and that caliber should work just fine.

[goalie]

7.62x39 is very similar to the 30-30 round. Just use good hunting ammo (load your own or buy it) instead of FMJ or milsurp style steel cased crap and you're fine.

[thunderoussilence]

I don't know why you girls still hunt deer with guns. I just scale a tree (no stand, mind you) and patiently wait until a choice specimen comes my way. The deer cannot sense me, for I am learned in the ways of the ancients and have masked my human scent. I wear no clothes save for the loincloth crafted from the 40-point buck I slew on the eve of my fifth birthday. Once the time has arrived, I throw myself down upon the deer's back and proceed to choke it out, using the technique perfected by none other than The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. If the deer should happen to throw me off (which doesn't happen often, but did last year since my strength was comprimised from the previous week's hand-to-hand combat with a black bear), I maintain the grip with my legs and force it to submit to a triangle choke. Once the hunt is complete, I plunge my hand into the deer's viscera and pull out its heart, devouring the still-warm and steaming muscle and gaining the knowledge of the deer and all those before it.

Wow....You are the man.

[Ramoel]

I've killed a couple of deer with my Ruger Mini-30 which is the same caliber as the AK. I used some Russian steel case hollow point both times. Both times the deer dropped in their tracks. Good expansion and very effective in my opinion.

[rukwikenuf]

I don't know why you girls still hunt deer with guns. I just scale a tree (no stand, mind you) and patiently wait until a choice specimen comes my way. The deer cannot sense me, for I am learned in the ways of the ancients and have masked my human scent. I wear no clothes save for the loincloth crafted from the 40-point buck I slew on the eve of my fifth birthday. Once the time has arrived, I throw myself down upon the deer's back and proceed to choke it out, using the technique perfected by none other than The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. If the deer should happen to throw me off (which doesn't happen often, but did last year since my strength was comprimised from the previous week's hand-to-hand combat with a black bear), I maintain the grip with my legs and force it to submit to a triangle choke. Once the hunt is complete, I plunge my hand into the deer's viscera and pull out its heart, devouring the still-warm and steaming muscle and gaining the knowledge of the deer and all those before it.

that was good for a two minute laugh! i guess what i find most humorous is that you are lunging your loinclothed body onto a deer. personally, i use MIND BULLETS! i convince the deer that there is an orgy of does lap-licking no more than 30 yards from my truck. then, as he approaches, i shoot him dead with bullets of the mind! i've also been known to refer to these cartridges as Mullets.
once dead, i convince the near by ant communities to skin and gut the deer, quartering it as they go. the remaining deer-like materials are then transferred in the back of my truck to the house, where my dog patiently is waiting, with a small paring knife. he knows that his job is coming, he's the one to process the beast
i'll teach you my methods, young Skywalker, but you first need to send 7 easy payments of $467.92 plus s&h. call now, before i change my mind-bullets!

[Shipyard]

make sure you fully read the laws and regulations for deer hunting. it's pretty clear that FMJ is illegal (not to mention unethical as hell... but i digress) for taking deer.

make sure you know what you're doing - and have fun

[chudrockz]

I intend to head to Scheels and inquire about hunting rounds. All I have at home is Wolf FMJ and I would not use that!