Moose with 7.62 X 39

madtrapper143

madtrapper143

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
302   0   1
Location
Steep Rock Lake NWO
NOTE: This is not a "will this take down a moose thread...." it is only a simple question. Has anyone on the site taken a moose with the 7.62x39 round? If you have, how was the performance and the details, range, size etc.

regards, Darryl
 
I dont think the light bullet will penetrate well
30.30 winchester 150 gr = 1100 fp lbs @175 yds / 1500 fp @ 75 yds
7.62x39 124 gr = 1100 fp lbs @100 yds/1500 fp @muzzel
 
I have heavily researched the figures between the .30WCF and the 39 round. I was curious about an actual use on a moose sized animal. Sometimes cartridges perform better on meat than on paper.

Darryl
 
No. A 170 gr 30-30 is my lowest limit for moose. There will be people say you can kill a moose with a .22lr...and they may be right. No 7.62x39 for me.

Dave
 
lewiss009 said:
no one has experience cause knowledge tells them otherwise, at best it would be a decent bear gun.
Click to expand...

I killed a 350-400lb black bear with one @ about 10 feet between the blinkers.

It seemed very dead.

That warning about inadvertintly calling in predators on the packageing that cow/calf elk calls come in is for real.
 
I have killed bears with my 7.62X39 (Ruger M77 Hawkeye) loaded with 150 grain hornady spire points. out to 150 yards. All one shot kills.

The spire pointed bullet maintains enough velocity to over take the 30-30 by the time it goes approximately 75 yards. Making it basically equal to a 30-30, and better at 150 yards.

A moose is a big critter, and the 7.62X39 will work when put into the right spot.
I tend to give myself a little more room for error.
 
There's been some pretty big northern Whitetails and Black Bears taken with the 7.62X39mm. I haven't heard of anyone taking an adult Moose with one. It would be adequate for a calf or yearling. In a pinch, even an adult up to 100 yards, but I'd make sure to fire multiple shots into the boiler room to ensure a fast kill. When all is said and done, Moose really aren't that hard to kill just as long as you put a decent quality bullet into its vital area. That said, the round wouldn't be my first pick.
 
I shot a cow,and calf with a mini-30 quite a few years back. About 80yds they stood up in a bit of a blow down that I was walking into to start a drive..I fired two rounds at the cow, and she went down within 20ft of where last hit. I then took one shot at the calf that went about the same distace before falling..

When we skinned them, the cow had two bullets about 4'' apart under the hide on the far side completely flat, almost the size of a dime(estimate)..The calf had a through and through..I was using 123gr factory Rem...
 
It looks like the SKS/ CZ/ other shooters with actual experience have limits for the round and say it works. The others are like me , no practical experience with the 7.62X39 but have opinion based on the ballistics. Side to side penetration on a cow isn't too shabby. I should qualify myself in that I do not expect the round to perform at 300 yards under all conditions. Thanks to all who contributed, very interesting.

Darryl
 
There are really no positive attributes in using it over many other available calibers, the risks far outweigh the rewards. Moose are big animals and we all know that perfect shots aren't always attainable nor do many have the discipline to refrain from shooting when they don't present themselves perfectly.
 
I've shot a road kill deer (the meat was long past salvage) decent size doe at 75 yards a 123gr prvi soft point did a wonderful job destroying the inner chest and leaving a 1" hole on the far side. A second shot went thru the chest and ended up mangled in the rear rump roast at 50 yards or so. I know a dead deer is not a moose but it has the potential to cleanly kill a moose if placed accurately at close range. Not my first choice or my second but can work. I've met guys that have hunted moose all their life with mini 30s and 3030 levers. Know your limits
 
The 7.62X39 has similar power to a 30-30, but the 124 grain soft points that the ammo comes in is only fit for deer at closer ranges. If Barnes were to load 140 grain TTSX ammo for the 7.62X39, that would be different, and would make the round useable for moose out to 100 yards. As it is, I agree with others that the minimum you should use is a 30-30 with bonded bullets...and preferably a .308, 30.06, 7mm RM, .300 WM, etc, with bonded or mono metal bullets.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom