[HIPOWER]

Hi folks. I'm interested in one of these rifles for deer hunting within 150 yards and it seems like it might be the ticket. What kind of accuracy can I expect? Also, what is the bore size? Is it okay to shoot milsurp .311 diameter stuff with steel cases or should I stick to the US manufactured .308 diameter stuff with brass cases? Thanks for any advice.

[Mannlicher]

This is not a particularly good round for hunting. I don't see any sense handicapping yourself with a so so cartridge, that has just awful bullet selection. There are a multitude of good hunting rounds, there is not much use for this one.

[HIPOWER]

Mannlicher - I know there are a lot of other better options. In fact I usually hunt with a .308 or 300 Win Mag. I'm just looking for something "different" to add a bit of challenge to the hunt. Besides, I think a bolt gun in 7.62x39 would make a nice companion to my AK-47 and SKS.

[Mannlicher]

heck, HIPOWER, I knew logic was not playing a part here. :D I have a number of guns that make little sense to other folks. If that's the itch that needs scratching, then go for it. :D

[inGobwetrust]

Check out http://mysite.elixirlabs.com/index.php?uid=12665&page=1605 and look at the 150 grain soft points. I've used these on deer and boar with very good results. I get 1.5" 3-shot groups from my Mini 30 with these if I let the barrel cool a little between shots.

[JohnKSa]

My take is that if you don't reload this caliber is probably not such a good choice for a general purpose hunting round...

[Jaywalker]

Well, HIPOWER did ask for facts, as opposed to recommendations on the usefullness of his choice. As to that, while my info is dated, with an older tang-safety 77 Ultralight, I've found it isn't particularly accurate.

I'm willing to learn here, but from what I understand, the use of the extremely thin barrel kind of limits your out-of-the-box accuracy, even with three-shot groups. At least with mine, Ruger found it cheaper to put a stock contact point at the front of the barrel, rather than to free-float it. I'm told I could cut my three-shot groups by half, down to about an inch and a half, by free-floating the barrel, then glass-bedding the action and about an inch forward of it.

I'm also told that with the current Ruger, to get acceptable accuracy, you will definitely have to get a trigger job. I'm not handy, so both the bedding and the trigger would cost me some bucks.

I can't address the bore size, sorry.

Jaywalker

[Deadman]

Hipower have you taken a look at one of the CZ 7.62x39 bolt action rifles?

http://www.czusa.com/_p/pdt.php?id=33