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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.