deer hunting with 7.62x54

[badbowtie]

I have a m44 7.62x54 I wanted to use it this year in alabama for deer hunting just wondering if anyone has used this rifle for deer hunting. Did you use the iron sights or did you have a scope on it. I want to use it the first week in january just don't think I could get a scope mount that soon and get it sighted in. Most of the shooting their is 15-75 yard shots.
Thanks

 

[sixgunner455]

Shouldn't need a scope at that close range, depending on your eyes, of course. M44 is short enough to be handy, and the caliber is powerful enough to do the job efficiently. Make sure you get or load some softpoints, though.

I had one for a while, and took it as a backup gun on a couple of hunts. I never had to hunt with it, but I could hit what I needed to at the ranges I was hunting, so it wouldn't have been an handicap to have been armed with it instead of the Remington I was carrying.

 

[Clipper]

A scope for 15-75 yards??!

Geez man, those are handgun ranges! Just use the battle sights. As far as suitability for hunting, just think of it as a rimmed 30-06. I'd recommend the Norma ammo, and it's pricey, so spend your money there...

 

[darkknight]

winchester sells soft points for 19.99 in cali i know its pricey but i heard its prolly the best quality for the price and will do the track.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

My buddy used one last season on a nice 10pt whitetail. He used Barnuel? ammo. The bullet was not very tough and disintergrated in the deer, no exit.

 

[Blackfork]

Two does with Dragonov and 7.62X54R

My Brother and his son both heart-shot does with that load. One at 150 yards and one at 40 yards. Both does ran about 30 yards and dropped. They were using cheap soviet ammo that looks like it's been copper washed. Bullets exited both animals, my nephews doe had a three inch gaping gash including a rib blown out on the exit side.

I've used a Garand and LC69 FMJ on two other does with similar results this year and last. That's a similar round.

Dragonov has soviet 4 power scope on it. Seems to be holding zero. I haven't shot it from a bench and really checked it. Does the job so far.

 

[sumpnz]

Blackfork - I'd highly recommend you look up the regulations in TX to see if it's legal to use FMJ or mil-surplus ammo for hunting. AZ and most other states that I'm aware of specifically forbid the use of FMJ's or any ammo designed for military use.

Since I gather you already handload, based on your thread specifically about the Dragunov, I'd highly recommend you load some softpoints for your nephew and for your Garand. If you've got a bullet puller you could just pull the hardball and stuff a softpoint of the same weight back in its place. Keep OAL the same and you're good to go.