BULK 7.62 x 39 Ammo Purchase - FMJ, Sp or JHP?

[Timradcliffe345]

Planning on making a bulk purchase of 7.62 x 39. I've heard that the FMJ feeds better in most soviet-bloc firearms, however, is the terminal performance reduced? What would you use as an all around hunting, self defense, SHTF round?
Thanks.

 

[rbernie]

The best all-around performing bullet will be the SP. I shot scads of it thru my AKs and have never had a feed issue with it.

 

[Funderb]

most of the time the SP works better than the JHP.

Apparently the ghost of sergi mosin haunts the descendants of 7.62x54r rounds and has a thing against JHP.

 

[Timradcliffe345]

It appears as if the SP bullet is a 154 gr versus 124 for the HP and FMJ bullet. My understanding is that the ideal bullet weight is the 124 gr.

 

[ZombiesAhead]

Wolf military classic FMJ

 

[rbernie]

My understanding is that the ideal bullet weight is the 124 gr.

I hunt with 150gr and 174gr 7.62x39, and they work fine. The 125gr stuff also works well. The heavier bullets have lower velocities, of course, but for work inside of 200 yards any of the available offerings will provide reasonably equal energy and trajectory.

I have a bunch of the Brown Bear 125gr SP 7.62x39, and it's the equal of Wolf.

 

[dispatch55126]

It all depends on your wallet and what your rifle likes.

FMJ would be a better SHTF/TEOTWAWKI round as there is better penetration through objects.

SP is the best hunting round due to expansion.

Though in close quarters it really doesn't matter, HP or SP would work.

Personally, I run HP as its the mutt of the bunch. It's not the "ideal" round but it is accurate and feeds well through my Yugo.

I also seem to be graced by lady luck in that I run Wolf Black Box HP exclusively without any problems, cleaning is easy and isn't that dirty and I can group 1"-2" at 50 yards with fire sights.

 

[nathan]

I use HP . I have seen how it fragments and explodes on game . Nasty would be the description. Great for hunting and for self defense if it comes to shove. ALso accuracy is same with FMJ on my AKs.

 

[FFMedic]

Buy one case of each, duh!

I use Wolf for my HP and SP needs, Golden Tiger is my FMJ of choice although I have yet to use Hot Shot.

FFMedic

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Find out what works for you first and then go from there.

FMJ will likely be the most reliable, although it's not the most accurate or the most lethal...

 

[chris in va]

Considering most states ban the use of FMJ for hunting, I'd say it narrows your choices down a bit.

That being said, my SKS did not like HP Wolf. The flat profile jammed against the chamber face. The Saiga doesn't seem to mind though.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I shoot the 154 grain SP's and the 124 grain HP's out of my SKS. They both shoot great, I've got a case of each, 2000 rounds.

If I were going to choose one round, I'd buy the 154 grain SP's, I like shooting heavy for caliber bullets.

 

[SageMonkey]

Doesn't most 7.62x39 HP fail to expand? I thought that the really tiny hollow point was for manufacturing reasons, and would not expand properly to take game. That would make SP best for normal hunting...

Of course, SHTF, and I know I can take an elk with my ak and fmj... not clean enough for sporting purposes, but reliably enough to eat. And FMJ normally feeds better, penetrates light cover better, and is cheaper. So that'd be my SHTF choice.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

Actually, the 124 grain HP military classic has the "saspan" bullet, it reliably frags out to 125 yards or so, its probably the best round that Wolf makes, second would be the 154 grain SP's.

 

[TooTaxed]

A couple of years ago I tested every brand of ammo I could get my hands on, FMJ and HP, for accuracy in my Norinco SKS...The Wolf HP had a slight edge over everything else, including the Wolf FMJ. I then bought 1,000.

The Wolf 154-gr SPs wasn't available at the time, so I haven't ranked it for accuracy...though that's my hunting round! Got a 320-lb wild pig a couple of months ago with one shot.