[benEzra]

Is the Cor-Bon 125-gr JHP the least penetrating of affordable 7.62x39 loads? ("Affordable" excludes Glasers/MagSafes.) How do the Russian 123-gr JHP's (Wolf, generic) do in gelatin?

[B27]

Check out the Ballistic Tips loaded by www.georgia-arms.com

[yesterdaysyouth]

i was penetrating(read 1/2 hole) 1/8" steel at 100yds with the wolf jhp out of an sks.... so i'd say not a good choice for least penetration...

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Not sure if it's what you're looking for but the LEAST penetrative 7.62x39mm I’ve ever seen was some old milsurp East German plasticore; essentially it’s a plastic round with a mild steel jacket, round nose profile and probably around 75grns. It will function an AK type no problem and I have no idea what it was originally designed for. They were packed in 10 round packs. If your interested I can post some pics of the rounds I have.

[benEzra]

QuarterBoreGunner,

I'd be interested in seeing those. I've never heard of anything like it.

[CWL]

I remember those plastic core rounds. I believe that they were meant for practice in indoor ranges. You used to be able to buy them by the case.

Not, sure, but seem to recall that they were not all that accurate. Definitely don't think that they'd be effective for SD.

I do know that the folks at the former Natl. Shooting Club in SJ wouldn't let me shoot any at their range! ;)

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy
This is what I was told by some people who came from various parts of europe.

The plastic core E. German ammo is Berlin Wall guard ammo. It will function a rifle, accurate to about 100 meters, will not bounce back at the shooter when it has penetrated, or missed an escapee.

They did not want there guards to fire and duck down or duck down and then fire blind to escape there own rounds bouncing back at them.

DANGER,,,,DANGER,,,, Some people think that this is "less than lethal" ammo. Not true. It is very lethal, within its limits.
I explain and show this type ammo to all the Firearms Safety classes we teach at our local gun club.
Hope this info helps.
Wyo

[Grump]

Metal penetration is not always a good predictor of soft-target penetration. When bullet jackets and cores are melting themselves against steel, the impressive results don't reflect how fast the rounds slow down in other targets.

In military rounds, the Jello tests showed less penetration, occasional breakup at the channelure, and more messy wound cavities with flat-base 123-gr FMJs, than with any BT 123-gr tested.

I can't comment on the HP and SP rounds. No info. Sorry.

YMMV and all that.