7.62x39 vs 243

[yotesmoker]

Talking about bolt action only and reloading for it ,how does the 7.62x39 compare to the 243? Would be used for deer and coyotes in penna.Maximum distance would be 150 yds.

 

[scythefwd]

Either should do as long as you know your rifle. I don't know how hard it is to get boxer primed x39, but it is obviously out there because people sell it.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

My vote is .243; especially if you plan reload for it.

 

[pmeisel]

243 will be easier to reload for, and will likely be more accurate (impossible to judge independent of gun, but there are lots of accurate 243s,,,)

7.62x39 main advantage used to be lots of cheap ammo... not as big an advantage now.....

 

[MetalHead]

Three more 7.62 advantages, the throat should take far longer to erode out, the rifle can be much trimmer and muzzle blast is less.

 

[jaysouth]

My only 7.62X39 bolt action was a CZ sporter. It was a trim and light rifle that had adequate accuracy for hunting within the envelope of the cartridge, however, recoil was nasty.

I would take a .243 any day for serious hunting. You will double your effective range and get a lot more utility for varmits.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Are we talking carbines?

150 yds leads me to believe so, in which case x39 isn't nearly as loud and this is more pleasant to shoot. 243 on the other hand takes a huge hit in fps from a short bbl and can be quite blasty.

 

[RatDrall]

For 150 yards, 7.62x39mm would be perfect if you already have an SKS, AK, Mini-30, or something else that chambers the round.

If you are reloading, and you don't yet have a rifle in either caliber, .243 makes more sense.

Why not just step up to .308 and have a ton of affordable brass cased ammunition to start with, then load down to 150 yard coyote level while having the ability to shoot full power x51mm loads if you feel like?

 

[DIM]

7.62x39 ballistic is almost the same as 30/30 150 yards would be its limit, 243 on the other hand would give an advantage up to 300 - 400 yards

 

[mljdeckard]

I carry an SKS across the handlebars in case I SEE a coyote. (Or two-legged coyotes growing pot.) But when I actually HUNT them, I like swift rounds.

The other thing is, if you are talking about reloading for bolt rifles, most people think that the 7.62x39 isn't worth reloading at all. Most of the stuff you buy is steel-cased and Berdan-primed. I use it specifically so I DON'T have to whine about losing brass.

 

[lost river rat]

Not hard at all

This is a no brainer. The .243 is versitile flat shooting heavy varmit or medium game round. Very accurate cartridge with pleanty of loading options from varmits to deer at medium to long ranges. Provides the flat shooting needed for varmits The only hunting application for the 7.62X39 is short ranges. Look carefully at the trajectory of the two rounds. The .243 has very good resale value as well. IMO, you cannot beat the Savage due the price, average accuracy, and the awesome trigger.

I don't think you will disappointed in the 243 if you go that way.

 

[armoredman]

I load for the 7.62x39mm round, and use it in one bolt gun, a light CZ 527 carbine. Before my scope went south on me, it was giving 2 3/4-3 inch groups at 200 yards, seated unsupported, 3-9 scope. Recoil was nothing, and I like loading the round, but, 200 yards is about as far as I'd want to go, 6 inch bullet drop, though when I get another scope I will try 275. Why 275? That's as far as our range goes.
The 527 is a very light tough carbine, also available in .223.
I really know nothing about the 243, except it is supposedly a very flat shooting cartridge, while at 300 yards the trajectory of the 7.62x39mm looks like a rainbow.

 

[DIM]

it's not just the rainbow at 200 - 300 the energy start to drop down below 1000 passed 150, if you using FMJ it will penetrate but SP bullets would not expand and will not cause tissue damage as intended. 7.62 x39 is a great round but not for mid - long range for that you'll be better off with 243 which is using same casing as 308. then 308 followed by 7.62 x54 which is outstanding performer same as 30-06, but hen 270 win is another choice... there are many choices so pick one

 

[R.W.Dale]

it's not just the rainbow at 200 - 300 the energy start to drop down below 1000 passed 150, if you using FMJ it will penetrate but SP bullets would not expand and will not cause tissue damage as intended. 7.62 x39 is a great round but not for mid - long range for that you'll be better off with 243 which is using same casing as 308. then 308 followed by 7.62 x54 which is outstanding performer same as 30-06, but hen 270 win is another choice... there are many choices so pick one

see the sig links

 

[DIM]

huh what links?

 

[-v-]

The links in Krochus's signature, detailing his experience with the 7.62x39 loadings. They are very informative on what that cartridge can be made to do with careful hand loading and due care when employing it to hunt wild game.

 

[DIM]

Right with Nosler 125 gr BT clocked at 2400 energy at 100 yards would be 1600 lb per sq inch and at 300 yards bullet would drop 20" and energy would go down to 858 lb per sq inch so at 278 it was about 870, good rule you must have at least 1000 lb per sq inch, what Nosler BT are famous for are over-expansion well in this particular case they worked just fine, but I still wouldn't recommend using 7.62x39 pass 200 for hunting purposes...

 

[bpl]

but I still wouldn't recommend using 7.62x39 pass 200 for hunting purposes...

I agree.

yotesmoker, think of the 7.62x39 as a bolt action 30-30. Choose your game and distances with that in mind. Should be fine for most PA woods hunting for deer. Not so good of a choice for shots over a large field or power line right of way, etc.

 

[R.W.Dale]

70, good rule you must have at least 1000 lb per sq inch

aside from using a completely wrong measurements in your quote I find that deer and similar creatures have no knowledge whatsoever on the "1000 ft lbs" rule. And tend to die quite readily from cartridges well under this threshold. Including handgun rounds.

Just remember KE energy never killed anything. Penetration and bullet expansion does though.

 

[DIM]

my measurements are correct, just face the truth it is never sweet or life it's never fair.

 

[rangerruck]

If keeping distance to 200 yds or less, then the 762 is the way to go; the 243 is overkill from 200 yds on in for your purposes, and the 762 has got to be pretty cheap to reload.

 

[R.W.Dale]

my measurements are correct, just face the truth it is never sweet or life it's never fair.

yes except for expressing KE in units of PRESSURE "1000 lb per sq inch" or PSI

 

[Maverick223]

my measurements are correct, just face the truth it is never sweet or life it's never fair.

Nope, they are not, a bullet's KE is properly expressed as ft-lbs, a measure of work (or interchangeably energy; not to be confused with, but related to, the measurement of torque) in the English system (SI uses joules instead). Also the 7.62x39mm carries more than enough energy to the table, arguably the round actually performs better than the .243Win. despite the energy deficit due to the greater caliber, which in turn creates a larger volume of crushed tissue, though the .243Win. produces greater hydrostatic shock. If it were me, I would take the 7.62x39mm (or the .30-30Win it replicates) up to 100yds. and the .243Win. from there on out. I wouldn't use the 7.62x39mm past 150yds. on large game, whereas I believe the .243Win. is acceptable up to about double that with proper shot placement.

 

[andyffer]

.243 for the win

 

[bgeddes]

Deer and Coyotes in PA, at 150yds., 7.62 is good. A .243 is a far better all around hunting caliber for PA. It will do Deer and Coyotes and well as be accurate enough for ground hogs and the like. I have never been able to gt a 7.62x39 round to shoot very accurate.