7.62x39mm HPs or soft points- do any expand?

[The Last Confederate]

Softpoint would be more lethal on game and humans than hollowpoint, correct?

 

[sumpnz]

Softpoint would be more lethal on game and humans than hollowpoint, correct?

Depends on the hollow point I imagine. Most hollow points (for rifles anyway) are designed for varmint hunting as they typically are meant to violently and quickly expand and fragment. This usually leads to very large but shallow wounds. That's great if your target is coyote size or smaller as the largest part of wound channel is usually right in the vital region of the animal. Softpoints are usually meant for more controlled expansion with fragmentation typically being undesirable. This allows for significantly greater penetration, although diameter of the wound channel is sacrificed to get that penetration. So to answer your question, soft points are really only "more lethal" if the hollow point would not be able to penetrate sufficiently to reach the vital organs of the target creature. In some cases the hollow point may be more desirable, especially where over-penetration might be a big concern.

 

[benEzra]

I inquired with Georgia Arms about their 7.62x39mm Ballistic Tip load and they informed me the bullet is .308"

I mic'ed Corbon's 7.62x39mm Tactical HP bullet at the case mouth (i.e., I did not pull the bullet from the case) and that sure looks to me like a .308" bullet as well.

To me, the Cor-Bon Tactical HP would seem to be the cat's meow for a defensive load for the 7.62x39, but I have read that American primers are allegedly much softer than those of the ammo these guns were designed for, making slamfires much more likely if American-made ammo is used.

Does anybody have any information on American-made ammo causing slamfires?

 

[Pug Puppy]

If the HPs have a lead core around the round cartrdge tip hole, yes.
If it is SP, yes.
SP is more liable to kill people than HP, because it creates a wound that
penetrates deeply. This will damage severely internal organs.