7.62x39 for Deer

[mbogo3]

For those who haven't seen what the Ukranian bi-metal hollowpoints do to venison there is a 2x4 exit hole broadside shots worked perfectly on a 175yard mulie. I'm the butcher so I do the autopsies.

 

[Tompullings]

I plan on using my x39 Axis this year. Hopefully the old fudds with 30-06s don’t give me too much guff.

 

[Fox]

You can't compare 243 to 7.62x39. I have shot a lot of deer with my 243 and most of them drop faster than with my 7mag. OP I have seen a lot of deer killed with SKS. Just don't stretch the shot too far regardless what you are shooting the bullet out of.

You can compare the 2 when you consider that they are both just fine for deer. Dead is dead is dead, a deer cannot become more dead than dead, so no need to use anything more than will make it dead.

Sure you have seen deer drop faster with a 243 than a 7 mag, but I have seen deer drop faster with a 50 cal round ball than a 6mm Rem.

 

[mbogo3]

I put a .535 ball over 100grs of FFG through a whitetail bucks heart at 90 yards and he ran off unfazed .No blood trail recovered under a balsam tree 50 yards away.Complete pass through.

 

[Suther]

My friend used to make "hollow points" by taking the tip off surplus 7.62x39 with a Dremel. Thankfully Ive never hunted with him.

I have some of the hollow points that CanadaAmmo was selling years ago, came in white boxes, made in Ukraine IIRC?

I put a few into water jugs. I would NOT hunt anything bigger than a coyote with it, they did not hold together worth a damn, very explosive and virtually no weight retention. Would probably be good for a broadside shot but I like bullets that'll work on off angles too...

For those who haven't seen what the Ukranian bi-metal hollowpoints do to venison there is a 2x4 exit hole broadside shots worked perfectly on a 175yard mulie. I'm the butcher so I do the autopsies.

Yeah those are probably the ones I tried, but shots were much closer than 175yds, more like 20. I shot my 270 at water jugs that same day, federal blue box 130gr. Full jacket separation but a nice mushroom in both the jacket and the lead, with the jacket and core combining for 76gr of weight. The x39 was nothing but small fragments.

 

[bluegrizz77]

Used the Hornady Sst to kill 3 whitetails using the x39, one ran 5 yrds shot at 123 yrds one dropped head shot 105 yrds and last years ran 23 yrds double lungged from 146. I have shot deer with worse and better rounds.

 

[mbogo3]

The 123 SP Privi work on moose

 

[WhelanLad]

great info thread. thanks

i asked a thread about this V the blackout.... surely a few here have both an shot deer with both

 

[Gun123]

Used the Hornady Sst to kill 3 whitetails using the x39, one ran 5 yrds shot at 123 yrds one dropped head shot 105 yrds and last years ran 23 yrds double lungged from 146. I have shot deer with worse and better rounds.

I have read that the sst is too explosive and not enough penetration. That's not your experience? I am debating between sst, Interlock and Barnes tsx.

 

[bluegrizz77]

They all expanded and passed thru, none exploded like grenade. If you reload that caliber then you have more options.

 

[Gun123]

They all expanded and passed thru, none exploded like grenade. If you reload that caliber then you have more options.

That's reassuring. My sst reload are the most accurate. With CFE-BLK I shoot half inch groups at 100 yards.

 

[medvedqc]

every year elk, moose, red deer, wild boar and brown bear (equivalent of our grizzly) are taken in russia with this caliber not what i will use if i have the choice but it is working,

 

[JustSomeGuy1]

When I was younger and poorer I took an SKS deer hunting a few times. Never managed to land a shot with damned thing. I blame the SKS but it was probably just me being green.

 

[blasted_saber]

Has anyone used the Federal Fusion bonded bullet? I wonder how they compare to the SST's.

Ive killed deer with them in 308WIN, very effective. Theyre my goto, in fact.

 

[corey007]

I have read that the sst is too explosive and not enough penetration. That's not your experience? I am debating between sst, Interlock and Barnes tsx.

At 2850 fps and above yes.

But at SKS velocity the SST should perform just fine.

I dont think a Barnes TSX would work as well as SST in SKS.

 

[mbogo3]

Barnes makes a .310 123gr TSX

 

[Gun123]

Barnes makes a .310 123gr TSX

Yes, but can't find it anywhere in Canada.

 

[OvShov]

Last year I used a ruger American ranch in x39 with 123g. soft points. Light and compact to carry around the bush.

I dropped a 4 point white tail in two steps after shot was fired (double lung/heart).

However, the exit side front quarter was turned to jello and thus- unharvestable. I think it is from the characteristics of that round fragging.

Would I use it again?
Maybe
Does it work?
Sure.

 

[mbogo3]

Yes, but can't find it anywhere in Canada.

In my basement

 

[bearhunter]

Last year I used a ruger American ranch in x39 with 123g. soft points. Light and compact to carry around the bush.

I dropped a 4 point white tail in two steps after shot was fired (double lung/heart).

However, the exit side front quarter was turned to jello and thus- unharvestable. I think it is from the characteristics of that round fragging.

Would I use it again?
Maybe
Does it work?
Sure.

Use a better bullet or a heavier bullet.

Most of the 123 grain type bullets are not really suitable, especially at ranges under 50 meters for Deer as they can be very frangible.

I use a 150 grain Speer SPFB Hot Core bullet, loaded to 2300fps in my Howa 1500, chambered for the 7.62x39.

This rifle, like most bolt action rifles in this chambering will shoot .308 in diameter bullets well.

I use this combo from blinds where the shots won't be past 150 meters and the last Deer taken with this load, through the top of the lungs, went about 15 wobbly yards before dropping.

The bullet went through and through.

This load is safe in my rifle. I wouldn't use it in an SKS

150 grain Speer SP Hot Core, 29.5gr H322 over CCI250 primers = 2280 fps average (safely) from my very strong Howa 1500