Which is the absolute best 7.62 round for self defense purposes? How about the best "economy" round for the same purpose? Pros/Cons of FMJ, Soft Point, Hollow Point?
thanks!
Posted: 12/16/2005 11:00:10 AM EDT
[#1]
Just about any round in 7.62x39 will stop someone in their tracks.Hell they just have to see the rifle with a 30rd mag hanging out and they will run for the hills.
Posted: 12/16/2005 11:28:31 AM EDT
[#2]
Some AK's have issues with HP ammo which would be a bummer in a self defense situation.
Otherwise I agree with Mutt... The 7.62 is a fast, hard hitting round. At close range, any of the choices you have listed would have the bad guy dirt napping in no time.
Posted: 12/16/2005 11:34:09 AM EDT
[#3]
If we were talking about actual combat I would say a mix of FMJ and Hollow's.
For home defense I have Hollow's, in the hopes that it will expand enough in the person so as not to go through the background object, and possibly hit someone in another apartment.
Posted: 12/16/2005 11:55:52 AM EDT
[#4]
Posted: 12/16/2005 1:18:41 PM EDT
[#5]
Unless you live in a house by yourself on a hill far away from other homes, I would not use a rifle cartridge for my primary home defense. There is far too great a risk of over penetration through sheetrock and other barriers, especially with FMJ. I use a shotgun for home defense.
Posted: 12/16/2005 1:22:15 PM EDT
[#6]
soft points?
Posted: 12/16/2005 1:29:24 PM EDT
[#7]
The best self defense load is Winchester or Lapua JSP. The best FMJ loads are the following that yaw within 4" of penetration:
-- Yugoslavian M67 124 gr FMJ, flat based, copper-jacketed, lead core bullet which travels only 3.5" in tissue before yawing -- Chinese (PRC) 7.62 x 39 mm 123 gr FMJ, copper-jacketed, lead core bullets which begin their yaw after only 2 to 2.5" of travel in tissue. -- Czech and several types of Western commercially produced lead core 7.62 x 39 mm FMJ yaw within the first 2 to 3 inches of travel in tissue.
Quoted: Unless you live in a house by yourself on a hill far away from other homes, I would not use a rifle cartridge for my primary home defense. There is far too great a risk of over penetration through sheetrock and other barriers, especially with FMJ. I use a shotgun for home defense.
Big +1, Any rifle (especially 7.62x39) poses a great risk of over penetration.
Posted: 12/16/2005 2:28:55 PM EDT
[#9]
From what I read the HP and FMJ when shot at a watermelon just go in and out without much damage while the SP make it explode! The SP feed more reliable then the HP and have the least ammount of over penetration out of the three
Posted: 12/16/2005 5:24:28 PM EDT
[#10]
In combat, I would imagine alternating SP and Steel core for penetration w/ last 3 rounds tracer would be hard to beat.
But, for SD, if you must use 7.62, go with SP.
Posted: 12/16/2005 5:51:11 PM EDT
[#11]
I've got a bunch of Yugoslavian M67 for my rainy day ammo.
If I were well and truely paranoid () I'd stock up on the Winchester or Federal 123 gr. JSP.
Posted: 12/16/2005 7:05:12 PM EDT
[#12]
As stated above I wouldnt suggest using an AK for home defense. As shown in This site it takes more than 9 layers of sheetrock to stop a round. I would suggest a shotgun.......But if you do have to use an ak I would suggest you use a soft point! ETA: <-----Look at that!!!
Posted: 12/16/2005 7:25:01 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
But, for SD, if you must use 7.62, go with SP.
+1
Posted: 12/17/2005 9:05:47 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
But, for SD, if you must use 7.62, go with SP.
+1
All of the terminal ballistics pictures I've seen indicate that the SP 7.62x39 has devastating expansion and fragmentation effects in tissue, whereas the FMJ and HP rounds simply tumble. I'd definately go with the SP rounds if they feed in your rifle. Try it before you use it, just to make sure.