Military cartridges good for hunting?

[matai]

I really don't know much about hunting, but I'm trying to figure out how my rifles could be utilized if I wanted, or needed to hunt with them.

5.56x45 from a 14.5" barrel
7.62x39 from a 16" barrel
7.62x51 from a 16" or 18" barrel

Do you guys know how I could use these cartridges in these barrel lengths to hunt both legally or in an emergency situation?

Thanks

 

[Powerglide]

Get 5 round clips to be legal.They all are good in their own realms.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

the X39 (I have a Mini30) is a good bush gun for deer/hogs/bear.
IMO the 123gr slug isn't good for a quartering shot on large game past about 75 yds, I've had good luck (on paper so far) loading Speer's .308 150gr sp which I'm more confident with.
I used my M30 to fill a couple doe tags, one shot at about 50 yds into base of skull/neck dern near took the head off the other a front-on shot right down the gullet at near dark at about 75 yds the jacket peeled off the Win sp the core was stuck in the pelvis bone. both good sized does, dead is dead of course but a big buck or muley I'd feel better with a 150gr slug.
my nephew's SKS an early Chinese with good fit and finish can really sock good ammo (Lapua or Sako, Fiocchi etc) into the black @ 100 rested w/4 X glass it's a good deer/hog rifle IMO.

 

[Birddog1911]

You should check the laws in Wa; I'm pretty sure that 5.56 would be illegal for deer. The calibers are good, but not milsurp ammo. You want a soft point or hunting specific bullet that will rapidly expand and cause major trauma.

 

[MachIVshooter]

5.56mm/.22 caliber is not legal for big game in many places. Check local laws. Aside from that, with proper bullet selection and shot placement, it'll work for smaller deer species, antelope, etc. Though I'd be leary to use it out of a 14.5, as velocity loss will be even more pronounced with heavier bullets.

The 7.62x39 is an acceptable short range cartridge for medium game, again with proper bullet selection and shot placement.

The .308 is a popular big game cartridge, and is acceptable for everything up to and including elk and moose. However, if firing from a short 16 or 18 barrel, be aware that the resulting ballistic loss limits your range a little bit. Make shots accordingly.

As well, I think just about anywhere in the US requires the use of 5-shot magazine capacity for big game hunting. These stubby mags are available for most popular autoloaders.

 

[Tirod]

The 5.56 where legal is a varmint round, not considered suitable for bigger species such as deer. It will do the job with expanding bullets, but if hunting is the effort, then being as sure as possible means using something with more punch.

The 7.62 x 39 works ok because it's the same ballistic track as the .30-30. Think short range shooting, and practice holdover because either has yards of drop at 300m. This is where the 5.56 has the advantage, it shoots much flatter.

7.62 x 51, or .308, is a longer range hitter for major game up to elk at shorter ranges. It's also a heavier gun that can cause a hunter to think about cutting down walks to a stand, or what hills have to be climbed to get to game.

Depending on the local laws, 5 to 10 round magazines are probably the only ones legal, and only civilian hunting ammo allowed, no full metal jacket. Scopes are likely OK, but lights and lasers, not so much, be careful about carrying a flashlight that has a rail mount adapter, it may not pass muster as legal. If you're in possession of illegal equipment, it doesn't make a difference that you wouldn't use it that way. Be aware of what's legal and what's not.

 

[nathan]

Im not sure in Texas PWD but ( .22 LR is illegal ) 5.56 could be okey wth deer. I have to check on that for sure.

 

[Al Diehl]

OK, lets get something straight. First, not all states require a 5 round magazine. Most do (Louisiana, for example does not specify). Second, not all states allow a .22 caliber centerfire for big game hunting. Some do (Wyoming, for instance, requires .23 caliber or larger. I know of no state that allows .22 rimfire for large game hunting.).

The best advice you have received on this thread is that you must check the laws where you intend to hunt.

However, if you are talking shtf scenario and you are trying to survive then everything you have listed is ample for taking up to deer size animals and the 7.62x51/.308 could be used for some larger game.

Hope this helps.
Al

 

[berettashotgun]

"AN EMERGENCY SITUATION"

AH.......anything that goes bang.

 

[JuryRig]

To hunt legally in WA, you would need .224 caliber or higher for deer, elk, or bear. You can hunt cougar and coyote with a .223, and I suppose grouse too. As far as I have found in the regs, there is no magazine limit for rifles in WA. Shotguns yes, rifles no.

In an emergency situation, any of those would work at the right range with a good (or lucky) shot.

 

[foghornl]

Short answer: Check where you plan to hunt for exact rules-n-regs. Do NOT use Full metal jacket (FMJ) or as it is also known, Military Ball Ammo.

Game and Fish folks tend to be rather humorless when discovering someone using under-sized calibres or (area dependent) FMJ ammo or over-sized magazines.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

You should check the laws in Wa; I'm pretty sure that 5.56 would be illegal for deer. The calibers are good, but not milsurp ammo. You want a soft point or hunting specific bullet that will rapidly expand and cause major trauma.

Good advice. I assume you are talking Washington state specifically or are you talking in generalities? Here(Alabama) there is no limit to the magazine capacity for hunting and no minimum caliber for deer but is centerfire only. Military FMJ ammo is not allowed for hunting here,it must be mushrooming ammo only.

 

[Cosmoline]

The only time I've used ball FMJ was on small fur bearers, and it was either mass overkill (exploding squirrel) or had no real effect at all (grouse on the ground). It's just not good stuff for the job. Also, a lot of states outlaw it.

 

[Buzzard]

5.56/.223 is illegal for deer or other big game in WA. I know two people who work for WDFW and ask them weird questions on a regular basis (do I have to pick up a varmint I shot if it landed in the water? even though it says 'no lead shot', what about hunting squirrels? etc.) Plus I've read the WA Hunt Regs booklet (download it for free: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/huntregs2010.pdf )

It states the following on pp. 70, top left:

Rifles:
Big Game, except for cougar, must be hunted with a minimum of 24 caliber (6mm) centerfire rifle. Cougar may be hunted with a 22 caliber centerfire rifle. Rimfire rifles are not legal for big game.

Handguns:
Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturer's specification and fire a minimum 24 caliber centerfire cartridge. Cougar may be hunted with 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire handguns are not legal for big game.

There is, in fact, a magazine limit in Washington. No rifle can have a magazine capacity exceeding 30 rounds. This is for rifles in general, not specific to hunting. Don't ask me why they did this because I'm just a shooter, not a politician.

On the other hand, your .30 Russian and the .308 Win are perfectly legal. My advice would be to secure a couple of 10 round magazines and use those for hunting instead of the hi-cap mags. Just my opinion.

 

[sprocket3]

Don't use FMJ when you hunt. Use a hunting round that matches the game you are after. 5.56 is great for small game.

 

[hirundo82]

I know of no state that allows .22 rimfire for large game hunting.

Montana (pdf warning):

Methods & Means of Hunting
Firearms
• General Season
• There is no rifle or handgun caliber
limitation for the taking of big game
animals.

 

[mbt2001]

Well, provided the state laws says that it is OK, then you can use the below as a guideline.

1.) 223 - Fine to use UP TO DEER (works fine on hill country sized white tail, approx 100 lbs)
2.) 7.62x39 - About the same as the 30-30, more range though. That means it is good up to Black Bear.
3.) 7.62x51 - Again, fine to use up to Elk / Black bear. Perhaps could use it for more, but it isn't ideal for the larger game.

FMJ's, if they are legal, work fine. I have said it time in again, but people use Hard Cast all the time, and FMJ's deform more than Hard Casts. Shot placement matters if you are using FMJ, so know your limits.

 

[IdahoLT1]

OK, lets get something straight. First, not all states require a 5 round magazine. Most do (Louisiana, for example does not specify). Second, not all states allow a .22 caliber centerfire for big game hunting. Some do (Wyoming, for instance, requires .23 caliber or larger. I know of no state that allows .22 rimfire for large game hunting.).

Mountain lion is a big game species in Idaho and a person can legally hunt them with a rimfire pistol or rifle. There is no minimum caliber requirement for other big game animals, just has to be center fire.