Ballistic gelatin test results : 7.62x39 Wolf 154gr Softpoint

[Brass Fetcher]

This test was done in response to this thread : http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=269880

Many thanks to krochus for helping out with this test.

Cartridge : 7.62x39mm Wolf 154gr Soft Point

Firearm : 7.62x39mm rifle with 20" barrel length

Block calibration : 9.3cm @ 595 ft/sec

Single shot fired from 10' distance. Impacted the block at 2095 ft/sec, penetrated 16.3" of ballistic gelatin and ~ 5" of polyester fiber. Jacket was shed at 7.3" penetration.

Bullet was recovered at 0.476" average diameter and 114.7gr weight.

 

[Kilgor]

Velocity?

The bullet was moving right to left in the block correct?

Thanks for taking to time to do it. I'd like to see it redone a couple of times to see if that jacket separation was a fluke.

Field reports on deer have been positive.

 

[R.W.Dale]

SWEET! Thanks for the test, Looks like a valid deer round to me.


Do you have a pic of what was left of the bullet?

 

[Lucky]

Kilgor it says 2095 fps, and direction is always left to right, aiui.,

 

[KHAN]

Cool, can't wait for deer season. Thanks for posting this.

 

[GTSteve03]

Sweet!

Looks pretty effective. I might have to stash 1k of the 154s along with my 1k of 124 HP Military Classic for my SHTF collection.

If I donate enough for you to buy a box of the 124gr Wolf Military Classic Hollowpoints, will you test them in some gel?

Thanks for all the hard work, JE223!

 

[Bigfoot]

Wow, I didn't expect that. It should drop deer right now, and would make a great SD load also. The low velocity and the resulting trajectory limits it to 200 yards, but that's just about the limit for the 7.62x39s power anyway.

 

[Thin Black Line]

JE, once again "thank you" (and any sponsors) for this test.

I think this will put to rest once and for all the usual bullcr@p from ppl who say
this caliber isn't capable of stopping power. This will massively mess something up.

 

[ZeSpectre]

It's the .30-30 all over again <grin>.

Thanks for the test, visual confirmation is nice to see!

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Bullet

Here is the bullet, re-placed in the jacket (only way I could get it to stand up for the photo). Please note that core/jacket separation did occur in the block.

 

[Plink]

JE223 and Krochus, thanks for the test! Good info.

 

[Cosmoline]

Thanks! That's a great visual image to show all the yahoos who claim the x39 is no good for hunting.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Thanks! That's a great visual image to show all the yahoos who claim the x39 is no good for hunting.

Compare to this test, About the only difference is 130 fps and $15

http://www.brassfetcher.com/160grHornady3030.html

 

[rockstar.esq]

Exceedingly cool!

 

[Bigfoot]

RE: SD use. I can't see if it fragmented. Was the weight w/o the jacket 114.7g or with it? If w/o, how much did the core and jacket weigh together? I'm trying to find out how much weight it lost other than losing the jacket.

 

[kungfuhippie]

What sells me on the 7.62x39 being enough for deer is the california hog hunting guide that lists popular calibers and suggests them for under 90lb and over 90 lb hogs. They also exclude some calibers altogether. It is based on energy at 100 yards. the .30-30 is only reccomended for sub 90lb hogs, but the 7.62x39 is reccomended for both the sub and over 90lb hogs. So, if a .30-30 can get deer, a 7.62x39 can get deer too.
Isn't fuzzy logic fun!!!

 

[AZTOY]

If I donate enough for you to buy a box of the 124gr Wolf Military Classic Hollowpoints, will you test them in some gel?

I would like to see this too!

 

[Brass Fetcher]

@ZeSpectre: (Hornady 160gr LeverEvolution 30-30 is on left and the Wolf 154gr 7.62x39mm Softpoint is on the right)

@Bigfoot - The weight given was for the bullet core. It's hard to say whether the Wolf bullet executed a controlled expansion or whether it just barely avoided blowing up into fragments or not expanding at all. I've been surprised in the past by Wolf bullets that had a 'hollowpoint' that was not designed for expansion, but drag reduction... It is a happy finding that these bullets are suitable for small/medium game.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Je223,
That is very cool. Thanks for digging up that .30-30 round.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Thanks for the test.
I have a case of that ammo but I heard that it wouldn't expand/mushroom.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

If anyone tells you that - shoot the ammo in question into a half-gallon orange juice jug, that is filled to the top with water and capped. If the carton 'explodes', there is a great chance that the bullet expanded.

To capture the bullet and decide definitively what happened - tear apart some old polyester stuffing from old pillows, stuff it tight into a cardboard box, place it behind your (cardboard) OJ jug and it will capture the bullet without further deforming it. Be very careful removing the bullet from the fiber - the expanded jacket is usually jagged on the edges. JE223

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Thanks for the testing JE223, cool stuff. I am starting on a case of that ammo, about 200 rounds into it.

I'd like to see it redone a couple of times to see if that jacket separation was a fluke.

From the handful of Wolf 154gr S.P. bullets I've recovered from the soft dirt hillside behind my target I haven't found any yet that didn't seperate (although I didn't really dig to find them, just turned over a few clumps. Maybe intact ones are in there a ways).

 

[Cosmoline]

Compare to this test, About the only difference is 130 fps and $15

http://www.brassfetcher.com/160grHornady3030.html

Looks good as well. I don't think anyone would argue the .30-30 is NOT a good deer round. But prices on both ammo and rifles in that chambering is heading north. I've seen ratty old Win. '94's for over four or five bills locally, and even the poorly made USRACS are going for more than they should. The 7.62x39 has in many respects replaced the .30-30 as the poor man's backwoods cartridge. I know a lot of sourdoughs and end of the roaders who hunt with SKS's.

 

[chris in va]

The best price I can find on 30-30 at Gander is about $12/box. Frankly it's pretty expensive to practice with that gun. I like the fact my CZ carbine is great for cheap plinking AND hunting if so desired.

 

[Thin Black Line]

If anyone tells you that - shoot the ammo in question into a half-gallon orange juice jug, that is filled to the top with water and capped. If the carton 'explodes', there is a great chance that the bullet expanded.

How about a full gallon milk jug? I did this with Rem's 9mm CQT rd, it exploded
and had one of the zinc strands sticking back through the front it. Plenty of
other little strands in the woodchip pile behind it......