7.62x39's hunting capabilities?

[ds92]

Hello everybody,
I'm trying to find a gun that will do lots, and my most recent pick is a new, 580 series ruger mini 30. I'm going to be hunting with this gun, and i'm worrying a bit about how effective the x39 round is for animals such as deer and wild pig (which i might hunt in the future). I live in the northeast, CT specifically, so long shots are few and far in between (heh...pun) but about how far away would you feel confident in the x39's ability to drop a deer, if at all?

Thanks,
DS

 

[yenchisks]

7.62x39 is compatible with the 30-30 and good out to 150

 

[lvcat2004]

I was in North Carolina last year and had a shot at a deer at about 60 yards with my AK........but I missed. Sorry, this doesn't help, but have I gotten a clean shot, it would have been a kill. Considering that there are some people hunting deer with 223, I have no doubt that 7.62x39 would be more than adequate in relatively short distances.

 

[bang_bang]

My grandpa has taken several deer with an SKS, most of which dropped. He used cheap HP ammo, comparable to Wolf. He always used open sights.

Here is a post about a guy that took a doe at over 270 yards using an AR based 7.62x39.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=405210&highlight=7.62x39+doe

 

[PotatoJudge]

My confidence in range would mostly be limited by my familiarity with bullet drop and bullet construction (Rem Core Lokts are good and cheap, so you can practice enough to know bullet drop with a load you know is adequate). I would have no reservation hunting medium game with the x39.

 

[R.W.Dale]

My confidence in range would mostly be limited by my familiarity with bullet drop and bullet construction (Rem Core Lokts are good and cheap, so you can practice enough to know bullet drop with a load you know is adequate). I would have no reservation hunting medium game with the x39.

The only thing I would add to this is if you don't handload to skip the overpriced and underpowered American made ammo and use full powered Russian ammunition loaded with a SP pr HP bullet

See sig line one and three for performance data in different bbl lengths

EDIT;bang_bang beat me to it

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I use my M30 on doe day or for wild/feral hogs with good results. don't use Win sp's they will come apart.
range? good placement is the main thing of course but easy 150 yds.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

7.62x39 is compatible with the 30-30 and good out to 150

I just want to clarify to anyone reading, DO NOT shoot 7.62x39 from a 30-30, or 30-30 from a 7.62x39

Although I believe it is true that they are ballistically similiar.

 

[wyocarp]

Deer and antelope have been no problem.

 

[Clipper]

7.62x39 is compatible with the 30-30 and good out to 150

No, it isn't compatible, however it is comparable.

HUGE difference...

 

[kmrcstintn]

chipmunks, squirrels, and smaller rabbits are instantly vaporized; foxes, coyotes, and coydogs usually flop over and die; deer and antelope will run a bit and expire; small to medium feral hogs usually take 1 or 2 good hits and flop over after a jaunt and pass on

 

[tnieto2004]

I have shot hogs and deer both at about 100yards, both dropped.

 

[rbernie]

Been hunting deer and hog with it for years, in a home-build AR. Works fine. It's a bit underpowered for the big (500lb+) hogs, but it'll do the job on the edible ones.

 

[MCgunner]

Killed a deer with my SKS at 80 yards. Tough angle, too. Ammo is important. I used to handload my hunting ammo, but 154 Wolf soft point is pretty impressive. If a .30-30 can kill it, the SKS can. Stay away from FMJ even if they're legal in your state. Use decent hunting ammo. I don't trust that 123 grain hollow point stuff, either, though I haven't tried it on game. I just don't think it'd expand. If you can't get the 154 Wolf (stuff is accurate, too), there's plenty of domestic soft point loads to choose from. If you use FMJ, you'll probably lose game.

 

[tango2echo]

Choose one of the 123 or 130gr PSP bullets from Win, Fed, or Rem. Avoid FMJ ammo. I have taken dozens of deer out to 150 yards with a Mini-30.

 

[Darkyle6]

I put a 123 grain federal soft point through both shoulder blades and the spine of a 95 lbs hog at about 70 yards with my 16 inch saiga, the bullet was just under the skin on the other side, ive also taken 3 moderatly sized deer with it using cheap 123 grain wolf mil classic hollow points

 

[Austinite]

I've shot 5 or so deer with the 7.62x39 using Federal (3 deer) and Winchester (2 deer) soft points. I've got complete penetration on everything except for a steeply angled spike (bullet still penetrated 16"+).

Deer do tend to run a bit farther than when hit with the .308, but I'm comfortable with this round on deer-sized game inside 100 yards.

Ammo selection is everthing. I'd use American made soft points without exception.

 

[CajunBass]

I think it's funny how if you read these forums you'll hear that the 5.56 isn't fit to use in a battle rifle against human sized targets, but it's perfectly fine to use for deer hunting. At the same time, you'll read that the 7.62x39 kills like the wrath of God on a man sized target, but isn't enough for whitetail deer.

Now I'm not saying the same people say such contradictory things, but that you can read them.

 

[pbrktrt]

I use the Cor-Bon 150 gr JSP in my M30 for whitetail in Mich. It drops them with authority and accurate in my rifle. It is expensive but how many shots do you take deer hunting? I'm on the same box after 5 years and 9 deer.

 

[T.R.]

Ragner Benson has spent more time in Africa than anyone I know. He stated that AK-47 carbines have taken every animal in Africa at one time or the other. How many shots were req'd to knock down a 700 lb eland? I do not know.

I read about brown bear guides in Siberia who "back up" their clients with SKS carbines. How many shots are req'd to knock down a 1,000 lb brown bear? I do not know.

In summary: those 123 grain bullets do not bounce off animals. Multiple hits produce considerable organ damage.

TR

 

[averius]

I keep reading contradictory statements about the quality of the Russian made wolf ammo in 7.62 x 30 cal. Some people say that its cheap russian garbage others seem to think that its better than most of the domestic ammo...

which is it? I have a new arsenal saiag 21 and would like to know if the wolf ammo is non-corrosive and safe on the rifle to use long term.

 

[averius]

sorry I meant to write 7.62x39

 

[chris in va]

Yes, Wolf is non corrosive and should work just fine. It's not terribly accurate and uses hard primers, but that's really the only reason they call it 'garbage'. I happen to like it very much for general plinking.

The AK and Wolf are like 'peas and carrots'.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I keep reading contradictory statements about the quality of the Russian made wolf ammo in 7.62 x 30 cal. Some people say that its cheap russian garbage others seem to think that its better than most of the domestic ammo...

which is it? I have a new arsenal saiag 21 and would like to know if the wolf ammo is non-corrosive and safe on the rifle to use long term.

It depends IME

American made 7.62x39 tends to not be any more accurate but is loaded with more reliable projectiles vs Russian produced loadings.

BUT

Every American x39 load I've chronied has been laughably underloaded and is not coming anywhere close to reaching the cartridges potential.

Myself I'm willing to err on the side of more practice (cheaper) and more energy (russian) vs a somewhat better known bullet (american)

Consideration also must be given to the fact that just on bullet weight alone no domestic load is made that's comparable to the 154grn wolf

 

[Redemption]

That round killed lots of GI's. Just sayin'........