7.62x39 round recommendations (Read 6440 times)

Q

7.62x39 round recommendations
« on: November 12, 2018, 10:34:45 PM »
Anyone have experience hunting with 7.62x39 that can recommend a round? I currently run WPA and wolf HPs, but I'm not sure if this would be ideal for pig and axis, as the round tends to fragment rather than expand.

I know lots of guys on The mainland hunt deer with with WPA hollow points, but not sure if it would be better to do with something else.  I'm more of a "good enough" kind of perspective,  but not at the expense of destroying meat.

aieahound

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2018, 10:10:55 PM »
Anyone hunt with 7.62 x 39 ?

I was thinking the same thing.
Perfect pig round.
Short distance. 150 yards in.

tim808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2018, 10:04:04 AM »
Hi Q
Will you be targeting behind the ear or by the armpit?

HP will probably do for ear.  Maybe not so good for armpit in case you hit bone since your concerned about fragments and damaged meat.

I was thinking of HP’s but got SP’s.  I thought I read somewhere that sometimes some HP will act like a FMJ and go straight thru w/out fragmenting

Q

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2018, 10:10:14 AM »
Hi Q
Will you be targeting behind the ear or by the armpit?

HP will probably do for ear.  Maybe not so good for armpit in case you hit bone since your concerned about fragments and damaged meat.

I was thinking of HP’s but got SP’s.  I thought I read somewhere that sometimes some HP will act like a FMJ and go straight thru w/out fragmenting

I'll probably go for the ear with HP as well. Wolf tends to fragment rather than shroom, and could contaminate meat with shrapnel. With a headshot, nothing really to worry about.

If i Could find decently priced SP, those would probably be my go-to for both pig and deer.

tim808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2018, 10:27:00 AM »
I picked up some silver bear SP’s from Danger Close.  I think it was 7.40 for box of 20

I think there were a couple of cases on the floor.   

My upper comes in on Tuesday so I’ll try out the SP’s next week.  Will post results.

About the HP’s acting like FMJ, it was for longer shots.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2018, 10:32:38 AM by tim808 »

hunta808

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« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2019, 02:54:07 PM »
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« Last Edit: March 09, 2020, 09:39:24 PM by hunta808 »

Jmoto808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2019, 09:42:43 AM »
Would be good to know if you are running this in a gas gun or bolt gun? If its a brand new build or you already have parts on hand. I think the 7.62x39 severely hinders your abilities as a hunter in making ethical / efficient kills 100% of the time. If you are building a gas gun, the 6.5 grendel would probably be my pick, especially if you reload. Plus with a  6.5 caliber you can shoot 130ish grain bullets which is a on the higher end of the spectrum vs 7.62x29 you are mostly shooting <130 grain bullets which causes a major loss of sectional density for the 30 caliber family, plus combined with low velocities, I personally think there are a ton of better options. If you are building a bolt gun, your options expand even greater, you could use an old remington or savage action and do a pre-fit barrel and make a 16" 300 savage or 257 roberts / bob. I am building a 16" 30BR later this year for a "brush" type of bolt gun. I predominantly shoot bolt guns, so if you have any questions feel free to hit me up. Gluck with the build!

luckydog1

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2019, 01:41:57 PM »
Hi Q.  Shot a spotted boar 12 years ago with a WPA soft point.  One shot just below the ear at 30 yards with an old SKS dropped him pronto--his head was a mess but that 120 pounder yielded some good meat.  I could not try that shot now given my bad eyesight with irons.  Dropped a large feral ram at Greenwell Ranch decades ago with my mini 14 via Remington SP.  One shot at 50 yards just behind the shoulder--died from shock because no cavity damage.  I am just guessing that the 7.62 X 39 is a better short to medium range hunting round than the 5.56.

tim808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2019, 01:34:40 PM »
6.5 Grendel is better.  For short ranges the 7.62x39 should be ok from what I’ve read. 

Lone Star Boars thinks it is ok.   I think he prefers the 6.8.

7.62x39 soft points are cheap so I went that route.  I don’t expect to take a shot past 50 yards

I’ll be using a gas gun only because the upper was cheap - $190.  A ruger ranch would probably be double that after ffl fee and involve a trip to hpd

I’m interested in the Grendel but too lazy to reload and too cheap to buy 6.5 hunting ammo.
« Last Edit: March 09, 2019, 01:40:42 PM by tim808 »

Q

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« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2019, 06:45:21 PM »
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« Last Edit: November 15, 2023, 10:20:45 PM by Q »

Barrett808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2019, 11:59:35 AM »
7.62x39 is a awesome brush gun. AK folders are awesome in the thick... Try looking for 122 or 123 gr Hollow points are alot better than soft points on game. SP don't seem to expand as much as the HP. The 154 gr SP load in 7.62x39 doesn't have the speed or stopping power like it's big brother the 7.62x54R.
Been looking for 7.62x39 HP see only FMJ these days...
My Uncles and cousins on Molokai love 7.62x39 HPs, the cheap and effective way to fill the freezer.

tim808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2019, 06:16:07 PM »
Try calling Danger Close tactical to see if they still have HP’s

Q

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2019, 07:09:18 PM »
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« Last Edit: February 16, 2021, 09:16:15 PM by Q »

tim808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2019, 09:15:23 PM »
Danger Close Tactical has silver bear sp
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 12:28:16 PM by tim808 »

malocountry808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2019, 08:45:27 PM »
Has anyone tried the Hornady SST round?
« Last Edit: April 05, 2019, 02:14:10 PM by malocountry808 »

Jmoto808

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #15 on: April 06, 2019, 02:49:55 AM »
 :sleeping:
Has anyone tried the Hornady SST round?

No experience with the SST, but here's a hornady 162 ELD M/X out of my bros 7mm-08 at approximately 150ish yards.

hillbilly19

Re: 7.62x39 round recommendations
« Reply #16 on: April 11, 2019, 07:16:30 PM »
bought a case of brown bear 125gr sp from HGS.  Its been a while, but if i remember correctly it was around $200 for a case of 500.  Good for close work. wouldnt recommend on game past 150-200 yds