7.62x39 Hunting Ammo

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Those SST's are just nasty on deer. I haven't shot one far enough to keep one from passing through either. 200 yd. with a 123 SST and it still zips right through and leaves a half dollar exit hole.
 
My Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39
is as accurate as I can shoot ,with any steel case 123gr that I had tried ... I have ran a 100+ rounds of 123gr SP PPU through the carbine ..and it also has been spot on ..... Im really suprised with the little carbine .. fit and finish is not much ..a little rough for my liking... But it functions well .. real well
 
They are great barrels, and very affordable. It’s too bad Harrison doesn’t make the 7.62x39 barrels anymore.
Yeah, I bought 5 of his x39 barrels. One for each of my two sons, one for a build for my hunting buddy and two for me. We're all very happy with them. And you're absolutely right about CFE BLK.
 
That is a common error. Very big difference in sectional density between a 129 gr vs 170 gr cartridge at about the same speeds. The 30-30 has proven lethal on all North American game for over 100 years. I have both. Both work fine on deer. Bear, moose, not so much.

I guess you must be talking about brown bear ... I have put several large Black bear down (375-400lb range) with a 30-30 and 170gr Winchester ammo .. not to mention several smaller Black Bear ... I never recovered a bullet ... But If I was going to go looking for Black Bear my 336 in 30-30
would definitely get the nod over the 7.62x39 .... But if a well constructed 150gr SP bullet was produced for the 7.62x39 .. I would consider giving it a second look ... Im just questionable about the consistentancy of the steel cased 154gr fodder ...
 
I guess you must be talking about brown bear ... I have put several large Black bear down (375-400lb range) with a 30-30 and 170gr Winchester ammo .. not to mention several smaller Black Bear ... I never recovered a bullet ... But If I was going to go looking for Black Bear my 336 in 30-30
would definitely get the nod over the 7.62x39 .... But if a well constructed 150gr SP bullet was produced for the 7.62x39 .. I would consider giving it a second look ... Im just questionable about the consistentancy of the steel cased 154gr fodder ...
Sorry I meant to say the 30-30 is a proven performer on everything in North America. I wouldn't use a 7.62x39 on anything bigger than a deer. Course you can do whatever you want.
 
I have some 150s and some Norma 7.7 bullets I'll mess around with one day. But no enough to work many loads. I'd like to try the 30 cal accelerators I have. I have a good Lyman 3030 mold but guys say they can be a pain because the shape of the bullet on most 3030 will jam in the neck, but with some powder coat should be fine in the 7.62x39.
 
I wouldn't use a 7.62x39 on anything bigger than a deer.
As a sidenote, having been used and a consequently being a proven performer is mostly a matter what's available and common. The 7.62x39 is a proven performer on anything in Russia, due to the fact that only 10-15 short years ago foreign tourists' hunting rifles were sometimes held at the customs with no real explanation and outiftters had to equip guests with whatever they had at hand. My friend's father took a brown bear with a well-worn loaner AK, which wasn't too uncommon at the time. Although he mentioned that after the shot he flipped the selector to full auto for possible follow-up shots, just in case...

OTOH, I probably wouldn't use either for moose or larger bears, maybe even elk if I have a choice. For deer all the way up to red stag, absolutely.
 
The comparisons to the 30-30 always crack me up. People dig their trenches and then jump in and snipe from them. :D

I have a LOT of experience with both, so I feel pretty qualified on this topic.

I loaded a lot of 160-grain Hornady FTX bullets in the 7.62x39. Yup, same exact bullet that Hornady uses in their LeverEvolution 30-30 ammo. And they were deadly accurate out of my Savage 7.62x39 bolt gun. Routinely 3/4" groups to the point I didn't even bother shooting for groups anymore. How did they perform on game? Just like they do when they are fired from a 30-30 (shocker!) :D

So, if anyone can explain to me the difference between a 160-grain FTX coming out of my bolt action 7.62x39 and the same bullet coming out of a 30-30, I'm all ears. ;)

It's so entertaining to read arguments about firearms when all that matters are the terminal ballistics.
 
I'll start this off by saying on deer size game I don't think there will be a lick of difference between a 30-30 and a 7.62x39, but on tougher animals where heavier bullets start to make more sense with more sectional density for penetration (123gr SST = .183 vs 170gr Nosler Partition = .256) can start really having an effect.

There is no doubt that 7.62x39 as compared to 30-30 in lighter weight bullets will close the gap on the two cartridges. However, in many if not all of these types of comparisons where the case with the greater volume starts exceeding the other is when heavier and heavier bullets are compared. I have a feeling if one gave as much emphasis on loading the 30-30 with 160gr-180gr bullets to peak performance (as is being done with handloads of the 7.62x39 in 123gr offerings to achieve 2,600fps) one would start to see where the 30-30 would take over on energies when shooting heavy bullets. The combustion chamber size starts to have an effect, especially when bullets start protruding down into the powder area. Much like when comparing something like the 280AI compared to the 7mmRM, in the 140gr class of bullets the difference between the two is negligible, start getting into the 175gr class of bullets and the spread starts widening between the two as the extra case capacity of the 7mmRM starts paying dividends.

This is the case with many comparisons where there is a case volume difference between the two cartridges in question.
  • 30-30 holds about 45 grains of H2O
  • 7.62x39 holds about 31-32 grains of H2O

30-30 Winchester
  • Winchester 170gr Power Points = 2,200fps, 1,827 ft/lbs. (no barrel length specs)
  • Hornady 160 gr. FTX = 2,400fps, 2,046 ft/lbs. (test barrel length 24")
  • Federal Premium 170gr Nosler Partition = 2,200, 1,800 ft./lbs. (no barrel length specs)
  • Handload 160-180gr (curious to know what one can achieve with a bolt action
  • Handload 130gr bullets and I bet they will be close (albeit slightly faster) to the velocities listed below in the handloads for the 7.62x39

7.62x39
  • Hornady 123gr SST = 2,350fps, 1,508ft/lbs. (no barrel length specs)
  • Federal Fusion 123gr bonded = 2,350fps, 1,510ft/lbs. (no barrel length specs)
  • Handload 123gr Hornady SST = 2,500 fps, 1,707 ft/lbs. (16" barrel)

And all of this coming from a person who really likes the 7.62x39, I think it's a very underrated cartridge to be sure. The reputation the x39 was built on provides a false narrative as to what can be achieved, it really has received and lives under a shadow of performance from loose tolerance rifles.
 
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As a sidenote, having been used and a consequently being a proven performer is mostly a matter what's available and common. The 7.62x39 is a proven performer on anything in Russia, due to the fact that only 10-15 short years ago foreign tourists' hunting rifles were sometimes held at the customs with no real explanation and outiftters had to equip guests with whatever they had at hand. My friend's father took a brown bear with a well-worn loaner AK, which wasn't too uncommon at the time. Although he mentioned that after the shot he flipped the selector to full auto for possible follow-up shots, just in case...

OTOH, I probably wouldn't use either for moose or larger bears, maybe even elk if I have a choice. For deer all the way up to red stag, absolutely.

Interesting. I would have thought the common big game rifle would be a Mosin. I watched a documentary on Siberian trappers and that is what they used. But that's all I know. Eskimo's are said to use .223 AR's as well. Braver than I am for sure.
 
Interesting. I would have thought the common big game rifle would be a Mosin.
If one is available, definitely, but especially back in the 90's grey market AK:s were so plentiful that one would be the most likely emergency find when a guest arrives at a hunting camp in a remote hickville in Kola peninsula without his rifle... :)
 
Thanks for the information hq. Interesting to hear first hand from other parts of the world. Especially the old countries. Little bit Fin myself. More Swede though. Might as well admit German and Norwegian too if you believe DNA tests, Not sure myself.
Until recently I was told I was half German and Half Swede and all blockhead.
 
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I can give you a scenario where the 7.62x39 kicks the 30-30's butt, but no old curmudgeon would want to hear it. :D

Measured at the muzzle, of course the 30-30 is going to win. ;)

My handloaded 7.62x39's with 160 FTX would pass up a factory 30-30 170-grain load at 75 yards and be laughing the rest of the way downrange.

How about 1054 vs 760 ft. lbs. at 250 yards? I'll let you figure out which is which. :D
 
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But if a well constructed 150gr SP bullet was produced for the 7.62x39 .. I would consider giving it a second look ... Im just questionable about the consistentancy of the steel cased 154gr fodder ...

It's been suggested that the most accurate tula cartridge is the 154 grain soft points. I can't confirm because I shoot it out of an AK and take deer at 30 yards or less, usually less. If I can hit a pie plate at 100 I'm ok. All steel case has questionable consistency and paying more doesn't guarantee much. In Rob Skis ammo test the brown bear had the lowest chronograph spread and the Hornady was beaten out by several manufacturers of cheaper ammo. All testing through an AK or course.

As an aside it's interesting to see how many guys in here are using the stuff in bolt guns. Then again a WASR costs more than a basic AR-15. I bought AK to go cheap and be done with necked case reloading and all of a sudden my chosen rifle has become for some well-to-do guy.
 
I can give you a scenario where the 7.62x39 kicks the 30-30's butt, but no old curmudgeon would want to hear it. :D

Measured at the muzzle, of course the 30-30 is going to win. ;)

My handloaded 7.62x39's with 160 FTX would pass up a factory 30-30 170-grain load at 75 yards and be laughing the rest of the way downrange.

How about 1054 vs 760 ft. lbs. at 250 yards? I'll let you figure out which is which. :D

I believe in following SAAMI specs. But it's your face and hands. have at it. Call me what you want. I am proud of my accumulated wisdom and age. I am 72 years old, ride Harley with other Combat Vets some less than half my age and I beat them all in pistol competition. No excuses.
 
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I believe in following SAAMI specs.
Surprisingly enough, many cartridges can be loaded HOT without exceeding SAAMI/CIP specs. It all boils down to powder and bullet combination in as strong case (read: "Lapua") as you can find. The x39 is no exception and powders like Norma 200, CFE BLK and many others facilitate rather massive V0:s with little or no overpressure risk. Combine that with a high-end hunting bullet and you're talking.

It also depends on the rifle, but even my lowly 18½"-barreled Mini 30 has clocked ft-lbs close to 2k, with zero signs of overpressure and small orifice gas bushing keeping brass from flying to the next county. Bolt guns seem to be considerably tougher than that.
 
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