7.62x39 vs 243

[DIM]

right, joules metric energy-beer feet per pound you get my drift

20" drop at 300 yards and 870 of energy I think those are ft per lbs don't know how psi came up but they did FPL for certain

 

[Maverick223]

I have never been able to gt a 7.62x39 round to shoot very accurate.

That has absolutely nothing to do with the cartridge (just ask the PPC folks out there), it has everything to do with the components used and more importantly the rifle it is chambered in. There is no such thing as a "inherently accurate" cartridge, and nor does a inherently inaccurate one exist.

^I think that may become the new sig. line.

 

[armoredman]

bgeddes, I am no crack shot, this is seated, unsupported, (no bags/rest, with a stock CZ 527 bolt action, 16 inch barreld carbine, firt trying to find loads that show promies, and sighting in a scope that ultimately died...

Sighting in with Hornady soft point load, 100 yards.



200 yards, differant load with Hornady FMJ, no bags/rests


Freak group at 75 yards, while sighting in the scope, That is three rounds.


Carbine without scope...trying to find a new one, with no budget.


Love this rifle, so dadgum light I almost forget it's there, with really low recoil.

 

[Maverick223]

Carbine without scope...trying to find a new one, with no budget.

When you get ready for one a Sightron S-I (or S-II) or Vortex Diamondback (or Viper) is probably your best bet. Not uber-cheap, but they are reliable, clear, bright, and not uber-expensive either.

Sorry for the hijack, yote.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I have never been able to gt a 7.62x39 round to shoot very accurate.

it's not the cartridge that matters it's how the ammunition and rifle are made that matters

and yes this is a 300m 5 shot 7.62x39mm group

 

[armoredman]

That is awesome, someday I would like one of those. What rifle/position, sir?

Edit to add, thanks Maverick, I am actually considering a Redfield 2-7, $129 from Optics Planet, supposedly owned by Leupold now, and according to many, a great buy...now to GET $129...

BUT, as I was saying, I have no experiance with a .243, but have heard they are a good longer range rifle round.

 

[R.W.Dale]

7.62x39mm Stevens 200 custom using s 26" shilen bull barrel 1-16 twist .308" bore, benched off bags, using a leupold 36x scope

 

[armoredman]

Waaay outa my league.

Anyone got a scope they wanna sell, cheap? j/k, sorry, don't mean to thread hijack!

 

[DIM]

7.62x39mm Stevens 200 custom using s 26" shilen bull barrel 1-16 twist .308" bore, benched off bags, using a leupold 36x scope

You must really like this cartridge to build custom rifle for it. I used it long time ago on my first rifle but I outgrown it long time ago, I find .308 more suitable for my needs.

 

[armoredman]

I like the lighter caliber, no thump, and I already load it for my vz-58. I am wanting to get the 527 built into a great camp rifle/escapers rig eventually, but right now it's just fun to shoot, and the longest range I have available is 275. It's just fun to me, and someday I would like to shoot a 1" at 200 yards with this little carbine, just to say I did it.

 

[Col. Plink]

my buddy's building a 7.63x39 AR, I want a .243 in the same platform (and already have an accurate SKS): who's going to be better served? Thanks!

 

[Lloyd Smale]

the 762x39 will EASILY take deer sized game out to 200 yards. Ive shot groups under 2 inch at 200 yards with my ruger. Sighted in 3 inches high at a 100 you can hold center of chest at 200 yards. Coyotes dont take much killing and basicaly if you can hit them there dead no matter the caliber. If ranges are going to be past 200 yards a 243 will serve you better. But the oposite can be said for under a 100 yards. The 243 with alot of its loadings will create a lot of bloodshot meat on a deer shot up close if you hit a bone and many times will not leave an exit hole or a good blood trail even with a good hit. The larger caliber and heavier bullet weight of the 762x39 will usually make them leak better. In all my years of hunting deer ive only shot one that i absolutely couldnt get closer then 200 yards from. Ive shot a few more at longer distance just to do it but in all honesty could have gotten closer. I wouldnt feel undergunned if the only rifle i had left to hunt deer with for the rest of my life was my ruger 762x39

 

[vanfunk]

joules metric energy-beer feet

Now that's a unit of measurement I can get my head around!

As others have stated, I think the rainbow trajectory of the 7.62x39 limits its practicality (for me) to 150 yards. Depending on the quarry, the .243 is a legit 300 yard cartridge.

vanfunk

 

[DIM]

Next thing you know 7,62x39 will win f-class nationals or palma

if someone to resize 7.62 x39 neck to accept .243 or .250 caliber bullets I think we might have better-flatter shouter, I think this is not bad of idea to try it ;-) 243-39 or 25-39

 

[armoredman]

Sorry, I don't know what F-Class or Palma is. The only other rifle I shot at any kind of long range was when I qualified Marksman with the M-14 in the Navy many moons ago. The 200 yard shots I made with the 527 was the second time I had fired longer than 100 yards since 1987, the first was with my vz-58, and non magnified at 200 yards gave about 5 inch groups, using EOtech. The last range I used to go to was 100 yards only.
I just have fun doing it.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Next thing you know 7,62x39 will win f-class nationals or palma

if someone to resize 7.62 x39 neck to accept .243 or .250 caliber bullets I think we might have better-flatter shouter, I think this is not bad of idea to try it ;-) 243-39 or 25-39

Are you really that much out of the loop?

You just described one of the winningest benchrest cartridges ever devised the 6mmPPC



The op still hasn't told us what kind of RIFLE he has in mind which is a very important concideration to base our advice on.

 

[DIM]

not by any means ;-) 6mm PPC was designed from .220 Russian (5.6x39mm) which in the long run was neck-down 7.62x39 so it is not a parent case but more like grandparent :-D

so yotesmoker go with 6mm ppc great ballistics you want regret it

 

[rangerruck]

I can vouch for the cz doing that kinda work; I have 2 of them. one in 223, and the other in 762.39. both shoot moa, without working for it at all...

 

[Bluehawk]

For testing, see this thread: 7.62x39mm Accuracy

 

[lawboy]

200 yards is a long ways off. Most game animals, even coyotes, are shot at much closer ranges. I vote 7.62x39. I have a CZ527 in this caliber. It is very accurate, light, handy and low recoil. I load for it. I have a friend with a fully custom built Savage in 243, great rifle, his. He loads for it. It shoots flatter and faster but it throws light bullets and is blasty. I will tell you how I would set my cz527 up. I would load it with 185gr cast bullets to 1850fps. I would sight it in 3 to 4 inches high at 100 yards. I would put a Weaver V3 scope on it in a 20 MOA mount. I would put a sling on it. Other than large predators, there are very few game animals in my neck of the woods that will not fall to such a carbine within 200 yards. In fact there are none. I said I would tell you. I will also show you. Go here:
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=81943

 

[armoredman]

lawboy, I have to start casting for this round, have a Lee 160gr LRN mould I have yet to use...dagnabbit...
Just got a Picatinney rail adapter for the 527...wonder how it would do with a C-More reflex sight?
Let's find out!

 

[benzy2]

For a max distance of 150 yards I would take the 7.62x39 every time. The .243 is faster and flatter, but at 150 yards, with a proper zero, it doesn't matter. We aren't shooting far enough for the trajectory to matter. The 7.62x39 has taken plenty of deer at 150 yards. Load up your own in a bolt rifle and it only gets better. There have been many people who have shot some very impressive groups with the 7.62x39. It takes a lot of heat as an inaccurate round since it is typically crap steel cased ammo shot in cheaply made rifles. That combo doesn't scream accuracy. Take a properly built bolt rifle with quality made ammo and the thing shines. I think the 7.62x39 in a carbine is a much better choice for deer at 150 yards than the .243. I know some people swear by the .243 but I would rather the 7.62x39. I'll take the bigger wound cavity. I'm not sold on the round for deer. I'm sure people will claim it takes them just fine, and if it works for you great, but I'll take an intermediate .30 cal over the .243 personally.

Plus you get the ability to shoot cheap surplus ammo when you feel like blasting around. Best of both worlds if you ask me.

 

[R.W.Dale]

What I think we should do is back up and really look at what the OP tells us.

First let's apply the range given to firearm selection.
The OP states 150 yds max. Now speaking for myself at those ranges I'm going to trade off the unneeded range of a rifle for a handy carbine.

Now this is where things get technical.

When fired from a less than 20" bbl 243 takes an ENORMOUS hit in velocity almost completly erasing the cartridges theoretical ballastic advantages over 7.62x39mm.

So given this greatly diminished performance disparity let's look at x39's advantages as they relate to use in a carbine

1 less cost to practice

2 fits in a mini Mauser size action

3 much less blast and noise

4 puts a bigger hole in stuff

IMO these are all advantages in favor of the 39 that are well worth concidering. Particularly in context of being fired from a carbine.


Now you throw 200yd + shooting and a 20" or longer bbl in the mix and the balance tips completetly in 243's favor


Posted from my iPhone at work

 

[-v-]

Armoredman: I have the exact scope you mentioned the 2-7x33, and I can say I've been quite pleased with it. On the paperwork it says that it pretty much is made side by side with Leupolds, just one gets a Leupold sticker the other a Redfield sticker. For what they cost now, they are a steal, backed by Leupold's life-time warranty. Only reason they are so cheap now is Leupold is trying to reintroduce the Redfield brand.

As for hunting with 7.62x39 and its trajectory, I find a good ballistic reticle, like the Siminov reticle found in PSOP series scopes make hitting out to 300 meters or beyong a breeze.

 

[armoredman]

Thanks, v! Someday I will get past current bills and snag one!