hunting with 7.62x39 HP?
- Thread starter saands
- Start date
I guess to be a little more specific ... Aim Surplus has:
"960rd case of Nickel Plated 7.62x39 Hollow Point
Check this out! Nickel Plated Ammo! New product line! Russian manufactured, Silver Bear (Nickel plated steel case). "
http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/AIM_Rifle_Ammunition_8.html
$75/960rds
At this price, it would be OK just to shoot this at the range, but I was wondering if I this might also be a reasonable game getting round ... I always like the idea of practicing with what you use.
Thanks again,
Saands
"960rd case of Nickel Plated 7.62x39 Hollow Point
Check this out! Nickel Plated Ammo! New product line! Russian manufactured, Silver Bear (Nickel plated steel case). "
http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/AIM_Rifle_Ammunition_8.html
$75/960rds
At this price, it would be OK just to shoot this at the range, but I was wondering if I this might also be a reasonable game getting round ... I always like the idea of practicing with what you use.
Thanks again,
Saands
I agree fully with using soft-point ammo vs. the hollow-points!! I know guys who've taken deer with the HPs, but all were < 50 yards [thick woods, they like the handy 30cal]. I've been using the PMC soft-point ammo that they made just for deer hunting [uses their 30-30 Win bullet]. I'd had no reservation in taking a clean shot out to 150 yards. FWIW, my SKS shoots straight-pull bolt-action style [removed the forward gas op rod] and has been accurized.
Why not the 7.62X39? I have a buddy is Florida that hunts with his Mini-30. The deer he shoots are just as dead as the deer shot with a .300 WM. It's performance is almost equal to the .30-30, which ain't bad. I use the Marlin 336SS in .30-30. If it were possible to make a 336 in 7.62X39, which it is not because of the tubular magazine, I'd think about buying it because 7.62X39 ammo is cheaper to plink with, and it's performance is similar.
As for the FMJ HP, I think SP is probably the better choice. I don't think you'll get the expansion with any FMJ type round. For hunting, use the Remington Core-Lokt SP.
As for the FMJ HP, I think SP is probably the better choice. I don't think you'll get the expansion with any FMJ type round. For hunting, use the Remington Core-Lokt SP.
Not all HP designs are equal. About 8 years ago a friend of mine and I shot some Russian HP hunting 7.62 X 39 through his Mini 14 into boxes of wet newspaper. I'm stretching my memory here but I think we got 8 or 10 in. of penetration. What I do remember clearly is the beautifully expanded mushrooms we recovered.
If you look at a 7.62 versus a .30-30 in ammo catolog they are really not all that different in fpe at 100 yds. Oh wait, I forgot about all those guys that say a 30-30 is marginal for deer.
Back to all HPs not being equal: Some of Sierra's HP bullets are specifically designed for the hunting of deer size game. Just because a bullet is a HP doesn't make it a varmint or match bullet. Likewise I've seen spitzer and SP bullets that shed their jackets faster than a stripper does clothes.
If you look at a 7.62 versus a .30-30 in ammo catolog they are really not all that different in fpe at 100 yds. Oh wait, I forgot about all those guys that say a 30-30 is marginal for deer.
Back to all HPs not being equal: Some of Sierra's HP bullets are specifically designed for the hunting of deer size game. Just because a bullet is a HP doesn't make it a varmint or match bullet. Likewise I've seen spitzer and SP bullets that shed their jackets faster than a stripper does clothes.
Performance from the former ComBlock HP seems to be somewhat erratic. My testing in various media has generally given extreme fragmentation. (This is echoed by SOF.)
Others -such as Spartacus- have used this round with NO expansion. He dropped a doe with one, but only because he put one through its neck.
Others -such as Spartacus- have used this round with NO expansion. He dropped a doe with one, but only because he put one through its neck.
While I hunt with a 308, I shoot a ton of ammo thru my little Ruger M77 in 7.62x39. From the results I've seen I'm very sure that the x39 would work fine on small deer.
However, the bullets on the import ammo very greatly in quality & down range performance. I had some HP that "blew up" and make a really nasty looking hole & others that act like FMJ. You just never know what you'll get until you buy it & try it.
Thus, I would recommend that for actual hunting you get some Federal Classic or Winchester ammo. These both use "quality" PSP bullets, 123gr .310 dia. A bonus of using this ammo (at least in my rifle) is greatly increased accuracy at 100 yards. Both of the ammos above cut my groups by 2/3 over the imports, and will always put 5 shots in under 2 inches at 100 yards. "just right" for deer size game! JM.02 k
However, the bullets on the import ammo very greatly in quality & down range performance. I had some HP that "blew up" and make a really nasty looking hole & others that act like FMJ. You just never know what you'll get until you buy it & try it.
Thus, I would recommend that for actual hunting you get some Federal Classic or Winchester ammo. These both use "quality" PSP bullets, 123gr .310 dia. A bonus of using this ammo (at least in my rifle) is greatly increased accuracy at 100 yards. Both of the ammos above cut my groups by 2/3 over the imports, and will always put 5 shots in under 2 inches at 100 yards. "just right" for deer size game! JM.02 k