"Defensive" 7.62x39 ammo

[Coronach]

The recent thread about 7.62x39 hollowpoints got me thinking, and, without hijacking that thread, I was wondering about what factory 7.62x39 round works best in a SD role.

I can think of two ways to go about it:

1. Shoot the ball ammo that is most accurate in your gun and be done with it. In truth, this has a lot going for it. You don't have to worry about trading penetration for terminal performance, and, while the round might well overpenetrate, it is at least giving you a .30 cal hole. Frankly, this is what I do now.

2. Go with a SP round or some other engineered HP or ballistic tip round.

What do you load up in an AK for serious use?

If you recommend ball ammo, what ball ammo tends to shoot most accurately? I have a smattering of various comblock color-animal rounds (Silver Bear! Golden Tiger! Burnt-Sienna Sloth!), and they all give mediocre accuracy. I shot a buddy's handloads through my Vepr once and can say, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the AK-pattern rifle can get decent groups. I'd like to find some factory offering that at is at least better than "minute of torso".

Thanks,

Mike

 

[TallPine]

For "self defense" distances, I don't think the accuracy variance between different ammo is much of an issue.

Mine is just stoked with Wolf FMJ for whatever vermin might come around. I've seen what it can do to a dog.

I have some JSP for deer hunting, but I've yet to take a deer with it.

 

[Tokugawa]

brown bear 125 gn SP will do 2 moa in my vepr, 4" at 200 yds. Much, much better than wolf.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

For home defense I would look into the V-Max round. I know there is a load for 7.62x39 but I am not sure about speed or weight.

 

[bratch]

The Wolf MC 124 gr HP are supposed to be the best performing of the affordable x39 offerings.

 

[FieroCDSP]

I've got some Remington soft points loaded on H4198. I've shot it into a three inch group with my SKS at 50 yards. Not great, I know, but my skill+iron sights+hand load= happy. I'd rather not contemplate whether it'd expand or not at short range. I've also got a bunch of Wolf in stripper clips, just in case.

 

[George C Morrison]

Not AK-47, but use my Yugo 59 SKS truck gun with Golden Bear 123 grain HP.
A quality round with no problems.
I've fired hundreds of rounds and get about 2-3" at 100 yards.

 

[icebones]

winchester also makes FMJ and HP/SP rounds if memory serves. domestic made brass cased ammo like winchester/remington are made to higher quality (and costs) than russian/chinese made 7.62x39.

a 7.62x39mm is somewhat on par with a .30-30. as far as velocity and energy goes.

think about what your target/s will be, does it need to be
over-penetrated, or does the round need to stop in the target?

the case i can think of where an AK or SKS will reign, is a car-load of armed thugs pull up in the driveway, and start making threatening remarks.

FMJ rounds will slice through car body panels like paper, as will SP/HP rounds, just not as well.

think about any cover your target will be behind. all things must come to mind when perparing for a defensive situation.

plan for the worst, and hope for the best.