Ruger American Ranch 7.62x39 Follow up

[Newtosavage]

On paper they are pretty close, but having taken deer with both I would personally rank the 30-30 a notch up on the ladder due to being able to handle heavier bullets and because the soft flat wide nose bullets in the 30-30 are more terminally effective than the numbers would leed you to believe. Both are perfectly adequate within their range when properly loaded.

So, I would have said the same thing a couple years ago. I've shot a LOT of critters with a 30-30 over the past 35 years. And I mean a lot. Over 500, thanks to an abundance of feral pigs around here. And you are absolutely right - the soft, flat wide nose 30-30 bullets do seem to kill with more efficiency than the numbers on paper would predict.

But having said that, now that I have several dozen critters downed with two different 7.62x39 bolt actions (Savage and Howa) and have hand loaded for the 7.62x39 for several years, I'm picking the 7.62x39 over the 30-30 anymore. It's more accurate, and has more range, and the terminal performance is so close to what I saw with my beloved 30-30 for so many years that it's really a toss-up. So given that it's a toss-up, I'll take the improved accuracy and extra 100 yards the 7.62x39 bolt action gives me. You know, because I can.

 

[troy fairweather]

So, I would have said the same thing a couple years ago. I've shot a LOT of critters with a 30-30 over the past 35 years. And I mean a lot. Over 500, thanks to an abundance of feral pigs around here. And you are absolutely right - the soft, flat wide nose 30-30 bullets do seem to kill with more efficiency than the numbers on paper would predict.

But having said that, now that I have several dozen critters downed with two different 7.62x39 bolt actions (Savage and Howa) and have hand loaded for the 7.62x39 for several years, I'm picking the 7.62x39 over the 30-30 anymore. It's more accurate, and has more range, and the terminal performance is so close to what I saw with my beloved 30-30 for so many years that it's really a toss-up. So given that it's a toss-up, I'll take the improved accuracy and extra 100 yards the 7.62x39 bolt action gives me. You know, because I can.

cfe blk closes the gap real tight between the two.

 

[Newtosavage]

FWIW, factory Hornady LeverEvolution ammo with 160-grain FTX bullets run at 2400 fps out of my 30-30. When I hand load that same bullet out of my 7.62x39, they run at 2350 out of my Howa. Same barrel length as the 30-30.

cfe blk closes the gap real tight between the two.

Indeed it does. It's a gamechanger in the 7.62x39 IMO.

And when you load 123 SST's over CFE BLK, you really change the game.

 

[someguy2800]

FWIW, factory Hornady LeverEvolution ammo with 160-grain FTX bullets run at 2400 fps out of my 30-30. When I hand load that same bullet out of my 7.62x39, they run at 2350 out of my Howa. Same barrel length as the 30-30.

Indeed it does. It's a gamechanger in the 7.62x39 IMO.

And when you load 123 SST's over CFE BLK, you really change the game.

What load are you using with that 160 ftx in the 7.62x39?

 

[troy fairweather]

What load are you using with that 160 ftx in the 7.62x39?

yes i am interested to. i need to get the components for my cz 7.62x39

 

[Newtosavage]

24.5 grains of RL-7 gave me 2200 fps and 26 grains of CFE BLK gave me 2350.

I've gotten sub MOA accuracy (routine) and 2600 fps. out of 123 SST's and 29 grains of CFE BLK

All in Lapua cases and CCI 200 primers.

 

[Hookeye]

LGS has a Ruger ranch in .450 BM.
It says nice things to me when I walk in the shop.
Might have to take her home.

 

[troy fairweather]

LGS has a Ruger ranch in .450 BM.
It says nice things to me when I walk in the shop.
Might have to take her home.

just curious what are they asking, i would like to pick up a #1 but they are like hens teeth around here.