7.62x39 caliber. Do you use it for hunting? Range?

smitas5 said:
@ grelmar - so buying one of those CZ or Zastava and shooting military surplus, then just taking it to the hunt isnot an option right? Since different ammo will be hitting the target at different hights...
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Correct.

SKS is good fun at certain range 25-100, but after that eyes just not good enough, scope is needed and scopes don't really play nice with SKS from what I heard.
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The Magwedge rails work well, and are easy to install. But you get diminishing returns on accuracy past 100 yards with the platform no matter what. I am skeptical of using x39 for ethical hunting past 150 yards - not in terms of hitting power, but in terms of accuracy.

CZ vs Zastava- yes the looks and the quality plays important role, but one thing I was reading that CZ has issues firing military surplus. Is that the same upgrade needed for CZ too? I assume you were talking about Zastava firing pin upgrade right?
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I have not heard of the CZ's being problematic with surplus ammo, but I was referring to the Zastava in regards the extractor/firing pin upgrades.

It all might sound like more of a hassle than it is in reality. Personally, I would always re-check zero when switching ammo, regardless of the calibre or gun.

Also, I'm fairly conservative when it comes to ethical shooting distances. I'm not in it for the trophies, and I'm never short enough on food to justify making a dodgy shot.
 
I found it easy to adjust the site on my zastava to change poi. Actually if it was dead on at 50 with surplus it would hit a couple inches high with handloads at 100.

I regret selling that rifle but I didn't really have a choice.
 
My buddy and I both have 7.62x39 rifles. I have the Zastava and my bud the 527. He took a nice little buck with it last year using that MFS 123 gr SP. Made a ghastly hole through the deer. I wish I had taken pics of the damage.
 
I'm a proponent of the x39 cartridge, I use that sh!t on everything.

Something to watch for is energy at distance, or lack of. The average x39, be it surplus or commercial, is down to 800 ft-lbf at 230-240 yards. My personal limit is 200, with a small window of forgiveness past that.
 
7.62 X39 is a nice, inexpensive range toy, whether plinking or shooting groups... I have a particularly accurate one in a Ruger Hawkeye Compact, listed in the EE right now. I would have no problem using it on deer or coyotes, but never will as I have numerous better choices...
 
What other caliber would you recommend thatvis stronger?
Still be good to have such, that gives you flexibility to have a lot of fun at the range for cheap, but would work well during hunt.
The Magwedge rails work well, and are easy to install. But you get diminishing returns on accuracy past 100 yards with the platform no matter what. I am skeptical of using x39 for ethical hunting past 150 yards - not in terms of hitting power, but in terms of accuracy.
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xdmer said:
At what distance, and how much damage?
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My buddy shot one with the MFS 123 gr SP at about 50m. The hole was pretty bad going in and out. The deer dropped and was flopping around but was definitely very much dead from that shot. I shot a larger buck with a 300 WSM 180 gr accubond at about 200 yards last year and if you compared the holes between the two deer you would have probably mixed up the deer. Mine had a nice clean entrance hole with a messy exit hole. I may start taking pictures during the butchering but I am not a huge fan of taking pictures of cut up animals. Feel a bit like a psycho doing it...
 
Just don't hunt with surplus - even the dominion hollow points. They grenade. Big time. I recovered less than 20 grains of lead after putting two into some milk jugs. (First one i didn't recover anything, once it blew apart shrapnel went every which way and was not caught in any jugs.) As a comparison, my 130 grain 270 federal ammo retained 90 grains. (I'll be doing a write up on my results once i get the video from a friend.)
 
I am planning on using my cz58 for Island deer this year assuming the anticipated range is less than 100m and in a centerfire zone. It is a "Sporter" after all.
 
smitas5 said:
@grelmar - Zastava M85, how does it compare to CZ do you think? Are you able to shoot military surplus at the range with that too?
Does it make that much difference between SP and FMJ surplus?
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Nearly two months ago, I purchased a Zastava M85 in 7.62x39 mm caliber from CanadaAmmo. Principally, for target shooting/plinking with still not so expensive surplus ammo. I paid $549.99+tax which is their present price. My M85 is a September 2014 production. IMHO the rifle is worth every penny I spent on it. The quality is very good, deep bluing on steel is perfect and it shoots like a dream. After about 100 cycles of the bolt with a few drops of Ballistol on it, it now moves like a knife in a butter. The initial slight roughness in the action is gone. The rifle is extremely handy. I also have a SKS and the M85 is half lighter than the SKS. Despite the total short length of the M85 its LOP is full 14” in contrast to barely 12" for the SKS.
I was also considering the CZ527 in the same caliber and I’m happy that I didn’t buy it. The 527 is twice as expensive as the M85 but, definitely, not twice as good. One thing I like in the M85 is its iron sights. I have not mounted any optics yet. The rear sight is very easily adjustable for elevation. Windage is set up perfect. In contrast, the CZ 527 has a fixed rear sight which in my opinion is cheap.
So far, I’ve been only shooting a NON-CORROSIVE, Chinese surplus 7.62x39 mm military ammo (their 1980’s export) without any issues. During ejection I’m pulling the bolt back gently without any jerking. With this technique it’s hard to imagine that the ejector would crack. I’ve never shot any “lacquered cartridges” so I don’t know how they work. With the iron sights and my aging eyes, I can manage (if I do my part) a 2-2.5” grouping at 100 yards (90 m) bench rest. I’m rather average shooter.
To provide my M85 a companionship I also bought the Zastava M22/Z5 in .22 cal. Excellent rifle. Verry happy with that one, too.
 
I have soft points in a couple different brands and Hornady SST's for hand loads. Haven't looked into performance on game though.
Glock4ever said:
My buddy shot one with the MFS 123 gr SP at about 50m. The hole was pretty bad going in and out. The deer dropped and was flopping around but was definitely very much dead from that shot. I shot a larger buck with a 300 WSM 180 gr accubond at about 200 yards last year and if you compared the holes between the two deer you would have probably mixed up the deer. Mine had a nice clean entrance hole with a messy exit hole. I may start taking pictures during the butchering but I am not a huge fan of taking pictures of cut up animals. Feel a bit like a psycho doing it...
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Kills large bodied AB deer no problem IMR 4198 and 123gr Hornady SP's Haven't had the opportunity at any over 100 yards yet but both deer had exit wounds as well.Bought a 1000 Privi SP's and picked up some Barnes X bullets 123gr.Nice and light for a bush gun and under 1/2" groups from the CZ 527 carbine.Shoots 150gr Sierra .311's quite well too if you want to try something bigger.I carried it a few days hoping to drill a cow moose with it but when it was showtime I was holding a .300H+H..........Harold
 
A guy at my local range let me take a few shots out of his cz 527 today. The rifle was awesome. Buddy said it weighed around 4 to 5 pounds. It shot very consistent. Wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer within 200 yards with it
 
Robert Nicholson said:
I think what the more knowledgable fellows are getting at, is this is a heavy bullet with not much powder behind it, so you want to keep the range short.
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Not exactly. 7.62x39 shoots a 123 grain bullet slower than a 308 shoots a 180 grain bullet. So you've got less mass and less speed, which both lower the energy, and then you add a poor ballistic coefficient on the light-for-caliber bullet, and you can see why effective ranges are limited with the x39.
 
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