7.62x39 Hunting Ammo

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I have used Federal Fusions for deer with good results. They tend to be more accurate than the cheap stuff in a Saiga.
 
Honestly, after shooting a few dozen deer and pigs with my x39 and 123 SST's, the combo reminds me a lof of my old 30-30, which always seemed to kill much more quickly than it had a right to.

The 7.62x39mm has been compared to the .30-30 Winchester cartridge, a proven deer & hog killer for many years.
 
The 7.62x39mm has been compared to the .30-30 Winchester cartridge, a proven deer & hog killer for many years.
That is a common error. Very big difference in sectional density between a 129 gr vs 170 gr cartridge at about the same speeds. The 30-30 has proven lethal on all North American game for over 100 years. I have both. Both work fine on deer. Bear, moose, not so much.
 
That is a common error. Very big difference in sectional density between a 129 gr vs 170 gr cartridge at about the same speeds.
There's nothing that would prevent anyone handloading x39 with heavy, high SD bullets and pushing them within 5...10% of .30-30 velocities. My 150gr hunting loads are faster than most tried and true .30-30 deer killers. Yes, the .30-30 is more powerful and has more potential, but in reality the difference isn't huge and a game animal as "soft" as a whitetail doesn't take much to kill.

That's the unnecessarily long way of saying "close enough". :)
 
Two side notes here:

For one, most 30-30 velocities are reported with a 24" test barrel, while pretty much every 30-30 rifle you're going to see "in the wild" has a 20" barrel. That cuts down on the book velocities by around 100 FPS. The 30-30 will still outrun the x39 in most situations, and it can beat it easily with a longer barrel, but when you start comparing apples to apples with real hunting rifles then that gap really narrows.

For another, with all the mini bolt actions in 7.62x39 starting to proliferate, I'd love to see Buffalo Bore or another boutique manufacturer sell some thermonuclear hunting loads for the x39. Take a heavy bullet of like 150 or 160 grains and launch it as fast as that tiny little case will allow. Don't understand why they haven't tried it already, except maybe the fear of people blowing up an AK or SKS with one.
 
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That is a common error. Very big difference in sectional density between a 129 gr vs 170 gr cartridge at about the same speeds. The 30-30 has proven lethal on all North American game for over 100 years. I have both. Both work fine on deer. Bear, moose, not so much.

You just moved the goalposts. ;)
 
Two side notes here:

For one, most 30-30 velocities are reported with a 24" test barrel, while pretty much every 30-30 rifle you're going to see "in the wild" has a 20" barrel. That cuts down on the book velocities by around 100 FPS. The 30-30 will still outrun the x39 in most situations, and it can beat it easily with a longer barrel, but when you start comparing apples to apples with real hunting rifles then that gap really narrows.

For another, with all the mini bolt actions in 7.62x39 starting to proliferate, I'd love to see Buffalo Bore or another boutique manufacturer sell some thermonuclear hunting loads for the x39. Take a heavy bullet of like 150 or 160 grains and launch it as fast as that tiny little case will allow. Don't understand why they haven't tried it already, except maybe the fear of people blowing up an AK or SKS with one.
First of all, I didn't see anyone trying to compare the 7.62x39 to the 30-30 other than to say they share the same characteristic (along with several other great calibers) of killing disproportionate to their ballistics. That's it.

Anyone trying to make the 7.62x39 into a 30-30 does both rounds a disservice IMO.

And I and many others have built "thermonuclear" 7.62x39 loads for years now. I have loaded 150 and 160-class bullets over RL-7 and better yet, CFE BLK to get ballistics that started to approach standard .308 loads. Most folks simply wouldn't believe what that little round is capable of when you use CFE BLK and good bullets.
 
I had no idea that posting that a 30-30 is more powerful than a 7.62x39 would be controversial. Also if you want .308 performance maybe that is the cartridge you should shoot. Just a thought.
 
LOL that post is positively curmudgeon-like.

the only controversy is the one you are dreaming of. Must be a slow night.
 
I load a 150 grain 'pointy' bullet in a 7.62x39 mm case for a CZ small bolt action. Get about 2250 fps average. According to the loading manuals that is in the lower end of the .30-30 velocity spectrum. Not trying to start anything, but it seems like 'lower' .30-30 performance, but still .30-30. Deer is typically (around here) killed at under 100 yards, this load should serve. Accuracy is acceptable for shooting a deer within 100 yards as well. (Probably better with younger eyes.)

And I don't see any information in my loading manual, so this load may be kept to SKS-AK pressure levels. I'm not sure but I'm guessing it is less than what would be allowed in a bolt gun. I'm not adventurous to try without better information.
 
I'll probably go to firearms hell for saying this, but given the two choices, I'd take my bolt action 7.62x39 over my trusty Win 94 30-30 if it really came down to putting meat on the table. It's just a much, much more accurate platform and from everything I can tell, it kills just as well. I've yet to meet the 30-30 that can hold a candle to the accuracy my bolt action 7.62x39's routinely deliver.
 
I've loaded 7.62x39 with Sierra Pro-Hunter #2300, .311, 150gr spitzer, and IMR 4198. and they seem to do pretty good in wet pack and milk jugs. pretty good on paper, too. I don't doubt they'd do well on deer, but I havent used them for anything serious yet, so I don't know
 
It really is. I get 2620 fps with a 125 grain nosler accubond from a 16" AR15. Will shoot pop cans at 200 yards.
Pop cans at 200 is good, but 4" clays at 300 is pretty routine for my bolt gun. It really is a very accurate caliber and so easy to shoot too.
 
I see that you already found federal fusion. I'm going to say it's got the best BC and expansion you are going to find in x39.
 
Interesting thread, I've owned SKS's, a Siaga AK47 and now a CZ 527 in 7.62x39, in a good rifle the round is quite good enough for Deer out to at least 220 yard (the distance my last two were shot at), I've used the Hornady SST 123 on both and neither went more than thirty yards with one literally dropping in her tracks. I've got Lapua and S&B ammo for testing and am hanging on to my brass.
 
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