hows the ruger american in 7.62x39mm?

[DannyLandrum]

"Except that the 7.62x39 is only capable of deer sized game."

I'd have to disagree. People have been killing piles of moose and elk with .303 brit and .30-30 win for about 100 years, and 762x39 is not far behind those two in power ... and they've done that with cup and core bullets. Today's premium bullets are much much better constructed. Nothing will stop a handloader from loading a premium 150 (e.g. Partition) in a 762x39 and going to work on very large game. With a head shot, it's more than adequate for the largest N.A. game - bison, coastal brownies, walrus etc.

Don't forget, the Inuits use .22lr to kill caribou crossing the streams, and in my understanding, most of them use .22 mag and .223 rem on the bou for vitals shots on land (with a smattering of .243 win, .30-30, .303, x39, x54, and a few other things mixed in). Bou are on the larger side of what most people think of as "deer sized game".

Although you are right if by "deer sized game", you included deer types up to and including moose. Then I'd pretty much agree.

 

[CraigC]

The .30-30 and .303 are capable of using much heavier bullets. Read my next post.

With a head shot, it's more than adequate for the largest N.A. game - bison, coastal brownies, walrus etc.....Don't forget, the Inuits use .22lr to kill caribou crossing the streams

That right there is about the single most infuriating crap I see on forums today. In any discussion about what cartridges and loads are appropriate to what game, there is always at least one person who will chime in with some nonsense about .22's, archery, headshots and/or "placement is everything". Whether they're defending their favorite toy, or have zero understanding of terminal ballistics and the concept of using enough gun. Sorry but that crap has no place in a serious discussion about hunting amongst ethical hunters. Sure, Eskimos might head-shoot caribou while they're swimming, poachers might use .22Mag's and some folks think head shots on elk are a good idea but that sort of nonsense has no place here. Eskimos are allowed certain exceptions because it's their heritage to hunt critters we can't, with tools we wouldn't use. In the real world, marginal cartridges are frowned upon. Rimfires for big game are illegal. Shooting swimming deer is illegal. Head shots are stupid, unless it's an elephant, or a charging hippo/Cape buffalo and often result in wounded animals. No, by "deer sized game", that means whitetail. Not elk, moose or bears. If you can afford to hunt anything bigger than a whitetail, you can afford an appropriate weapon to do it with.

 

[DannyLandrum]

Well actually I tend to agree with your rant there, so mea culpa. However, the point is that you don't *need* heavier bullets when you have premium 150s available. There's not a quartering a shot on an elk from any angle that you could construct which would prevent a 150 gr Partition going 2100 fps from reaching the vitals, IMO. So the fact remains that this statement is probably not really correct: "Except that the 7.62x39 is only capable of deer sized game."

 

[CraigC]

Premium components only make it a better deer cartridge. They're not magic and a 150gr at 2100fps is not enough for reliable use on something that may weigh 800-1000lbs. Let alone 1500lb moose.

 

[Toprudder]

Either one of these rifles in 7.62x45 would be just about ideal!

Yes, as long as you can find ammo.

As a reloader, 7.62x39 boxer primed brass (or factory ammo) is not nearly as common as other calibers, but still reasonably obtainable.

 

[ECVMatt]

Yes, as long as you can find ammo.

As a reloader, 7.62x39 boxer primed brass (or factory ammo) is not nearly as common as other calibers, but still reasonably obtainable.

There might have been a bit of tongue and cheek in there.....

I will admit to being a bit of a rifle nut and always trying to find the exact caliber and rifle for very specific needs. Having said that, I enjoy reading about others trying to do the same thing. I think the 7.62x39 with a 125 bullet over a good dose of CFE Black will do everything that I require of the 7.62x39.

 

[Toprudder]

There might have been a bit of tongue and cheek in there.....

I will admit to being a bit of a rifle nut and always trying to find the exact caliber and rifle for very specific needs. Having said that, I enjoy reading about others trying to do the same thing. I think the 7.62x39 with a 125 bullet over a good dose of CFE Black will do everything that I require of the 7.62x39.

Yeah, I wondered if there shouldn't have been a sarcasm flag waving in your post.

I did some test loads in 7.62x39 for my Ruger Mini, and had a couple that showed some promise, but ended up moving to other things. I had used .308 bullets, as my Mini-30 is an older one and everyone told me it was a .308 bore. I later did a bore cast and found out it is really .310. And, since I now also have an AR in the same caliber, I want to revisit test loads in that caliber. I've found load data up to 150gn bullets and have procured some, as well as several 123-125gn bullets. But this is just for my own curiosity as I won't be hunting with x39.

 

[boom boom]

Yes, as long as you can find ammo.

As a reloader, 7.62x39 boxer primed brass (or factory ammo) is not nearly as common as other calibers, but still reasonably obtainable.

Yes it is. Boxer primed ammo and brass was even available at the height of the great ammo shortages as both brass and loaded ammunition. That is how I got into reloading it. There are advantages to not having everything in the mainstream.

 

[boom boom]

There might have been a bit of tongue and cheek in there.....

I will admit to being a bit of a rifle nut and always trying to find the exact caliber and rifle for very specific needs. Having said that, I enjoy reading about others trying to do the same thing. I think the 7.62x39 with a 125 bullet over a good dose of CFE Black will do everything that I require of the 7.62x39.

When I last reloaded for this cartridge, several years ago, I used H 4198 to pretty good effect--better than AA 1680. Curious about your experience if you care to explain with CFE Black and the 7.62x39 as that powder was not out when I last reloaded for that round.

 

[someguy2800]

I finally ordered a set of 7.62x39 dies today. I’m going to take my AR along deer hunting. Planning to use my Krag as my primary deer rifle but my take the AR to fill a doe tag or if we have to go tracking. Never thought I would take an AR15 deer hunting but I have grown really fond of it over this last year.

 

[troy fairweather]

I finally ordered a set of 7.62x39 dies today. I’m going to take my AR along deer hunting. Planning to use my Krag as my primary deer rifle but my take the AR to fill a doe tag or if we have to go tracking. Never thought I would take an AR15 deer hunting but I have grown really fond of it over this last year.

what dies did u get, i think i will get the lee set they never failed me yet. i to will be hunting with the 7.62x39 this year.

 

[someguy2800]

what dies did u get, i think i will get the lee set they never failed me yet. i to will be hunting with the 7.62x39 this year.

A used set of RCBS. I’ve used every brand of dies and they are all fine but for rifle dies I like rcbs the best.