7.62x39 Hunting Ammo

[drmajor]

Looking for decent 7.62 ammo.
Tried some Russian junk. High/Low of 2-3" at 100.
Want to use for hunting deer at 100 yds and less.

 

[Armored farmer]

I like wolf 123gr hp. It shoots good in my RAR.

 

[troy fairweather]

Witch 7.62

 

[drmajor]

Bear Creek upper, on AR15 lower.

 

[troy fairweather]

Try other steel case. For brass ppu or s&b is good and cheap. 2-3 inches is not bad since the bca is sammi and not cip.

 

[skeeterfogger]

PPU is good ammo. Don't think 7.62x39 going to be hole on hole out of most anything.

 

[drmajor]

forgot-- it's 7.62x39.
Typically like Winchester Soft Point in my 30/06. Good on Deer & Hogs.

 

[skeeterfogger]

forgot-- it's 7.62x39.
Typically like Winchester Soft Point in my 30/06. Good on Deer & Hogs.

It's descent round but not noted for nail driving. Consider it like a 30-30. 3 up, 3 down, 3 left, 3 right at 100 still kill zone. Personally would not trust it out further.

 

[illinoisburt]

Try the 154 grain soft points from Tula or marketed as Herters at Cabelas. They tend to shoot well and usually perform ok.

 

[illinoisburt]

I believe federal had a fusion line with a speer bullet loaded in 7.62x39 if you can find them. There was also a Winchester power point hunting load. Either would be a solid choice for hunting, though it will likely price out similar to other hunting ammo around $1 per round so not exactly high volume range fodder.

 

[fireside44]

Try the 154 grain soft points from Tula or marketed as Herters at Cabelas. They tend to shoot well and usually perform ok.

I'll second that. Taken several deer with that round. It works well.

 

[hq]

Want to use for hunting deer at 100 yds and less.

If you're into totally unnecessarily accurate ammo with premium bullets, Sako 123gr Gamehead is a very solid choice and my personal 2nd of all factory loads, right behind the now-discontinued Lapua SP. On the other hand 3" group = 1½" deviation from POA is largely meaningless for deer.

 

[someguy2800]

It's descent round but not noted for nail driving. Consider it like a 30-30. 3 up, 3 down, 3 left, 3 right at 100 still kill zone. Personally would not trust it out further.

It has a reputation for being inaccurate because for many years it was only chambered in inaccurate firearms. This is 5 rounds of handloads from my 7.62x39 AR15.



And this is $4 a box wolf hollow points.



It is normal for a modern 7.62x39 rifle with a good barrel to shoot moa even with steel case ammo.

 

[Robbins290]

Having used a few for deer. I can say, the PPU round points are very effective.

 

[FL-NC]

I have used Russian soft point as well as Winchester soft point on white tails. Sometimes out of a SKS, sometimes a mini 30. Never got an exit wound with either round- unimpressed.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Hornady has the SST offering for 7.62x39

 

[Newtosavage]

^^^ This. Best all-around hunting ammo I know of for the 7.62x39. I've used it with great success on pigs and deer and it drops them fast.

 

[Newtosavage]

It has a reputation for being inaccurate because for many years it was only chambered in inaccurate firearms. This is 5 rounds of handloads from my 7.62x39 AR15.

It is normal for a modern 7.62x39 rifle with a good barrel to shoot moa even with steel case ammo.

In fact, with every bolt action 7.62x39 I've owned or seen in action, 1" groups is pretty routine with a lot of ammo - even cheap cheap stuff.

 

[<*(((><]

Hornady has the SST offering for 7.62x39

Great round for the x39.

 

[<*(((><]

It has a reputation for being inaccurate because for many years it was only chambered in inaccurate firearms. This is 5 rounds of handloads from my 7.62x39 AR15.

View attachment 874208


And this is $4 a box wolf hollow points.

View attachment 874209

It is normal for a modern 7.62x39 rifle with a good barrel to shoot moa even with steel case ammo.

Totally agree, the past reputation of the x39 was based off experiences in shooting it through worn out AK’s and SKS’s with loose tolerances. Get yourself an AR47 or bolt gun in the chambering and be prepared to be surprised at the accuracy; even with cheap Russian fodder.

I can place bullets on a 10” plate at 300 yards with quick succession out of my 16” AR47 with a red dot and 3x magnifier with cheap steel case. Mine in particular likes Wolf 125 gr SP’s but shoots well with Red Army, Tula and Monarch as well.

 

[hq]

It has a reputation for being inaccurate because for many years it was only chambered in inaccurate firearms.

Not just that. The vast majority of ammo has been utter crap. Always remember that the x39 is the parent case of .22PPC, evolved to 6mm PPC, famous for sub-1" 300m (328yd) 5-shot benchrest groups. There's nothing wrong with the cartridge itself, quite the opposite.

 

[drmajor]

At Palmetto State Arms--
Federal Fusion 7.62x39mm Soviet 123gr 20 Rounds Ammunition - F76239FS1

2 Reviews | 1 Question, 2 Answers
In stock

$ 13.97

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I'd use the Federal now. In the day, Norma sold x39 for hunting with their 180 gr soft point. I wonder if that's still available.

*Correction* I overlaid the 7.62x54 180 gr. memory on my 125 gr. 7.62x39 memory.

Lots of folk used it and and SKS with a magazine block/low cap on Forts Bragg and Campbell. GREAT *brush gun* combo.


Todd.

 

[hq]

Norma sold THE **** in x39 hunting with their 180 gr soft point. I wonder if that's still available.

Unfortunately NLA. I searched for it everywhere and eventually contacted Norma about it. It can be duplicated and improved by handloading, of course.

 

[NR53]

The Hornady SST and the Federal Fusion would be my top choices for factory ammo. For reloading I use the 123 gn Hornady SST and the 123 gn Speer Gold Dot.

ETA...Always wanted to try the Tula or Wolf 124 gn HP 8M3 on critters.