Wolf (Russian) offers a HP version of the 7.62x39 ammo. On this forum and others, the question has been asked if this is a good hunting bullet.
I saw one posting that explained that Wolf makes this ammo so that they can offer it in markets that forbid FMJ ammo. It is lead core. Expansion is reputed to be iffy.
Today I ran a test to see how a Wolf HP would expand. I also made a Mexican match round by pulling a FMJ and inserting a Hornady 123gr Soft Point.
I also took a lead core FMJ round and clipped the tip to expose the lead core. I cut the tip with a side cutter and used a file to trim it up. I wanted to see if this would expand. I did not expect much, since the jacket is so thick.
I shot the rounds into the flat bottom of a 18 liter water jug. The Hornady Soft Point and the clipped lead core both expanded perfectly and the bullets were recovered from the inside of the jug. The Hollow Point exited the other end of the jug. The jug did not blow up as well as the other two bullets, suggesting less expansion.
Shooting water at close range is a very hard target for a bullet. The fact that a bullet expands in water does not mean it will work well hunting.
YouTube of test (after it uploads....) http://youtu.be/x1XJYzvKpyM
I saw one posting that explained that Wolf makes this ammo so that they can offer it in markets that forbid FMJ ammo. It is lead core. Expansion is reputed to be iffy.
Today I ran a test to see how a Wolf HP would expand. I also made a Mexican match round by pulling a FMJ and inserting a Hornady 123gr Soft Point.

I also took a lead core FMJ round and clipped the tip to expose the lead core. I cut the tip with a side cutter and used a file to trim it up. I wanted to see if this would expand. I did not expect much, since the jacket is so thick.
I shot the rounds into the flat bottom of a 18 liter water jug. The Hornady Soft Point and the clipped lead core both expanded perfectly and the bullets were recovered from the inside of the jug. The Hollow Point exited the other end of the jug. The jug did not blow up as well as the other two bullets, suggesting less expansion.

Shooting water at close range is a very hard target for a bullet. The fact that a bullet expands in water does not mean it will work well hunting.

YouTube of test (after it uploads....) http://youtu.be/x1XJYzvKpyM
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