7.62 x 39 hunting ammo

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7.62 x 39 hunting ammo

Posted: 8/13/2005 3:54:06 AM EDT

I'm looking for recommendations on 7.62 x 39 ammo suitable for hunting hogs. I have SKS, Poly- Tech AKS as well as a Ruger mini30. Actually, I'm thinking about using the mini30 on an upcoming pig hunt.
I've read that most of the Chinese and Eastern bloc ammo doesn't really work well, even SP of HP. Can anyone confirm or recommend anything else?

Posted: 8/13/2005 4:26:26 AM EDT

[#1]

Remington makes a 123gr or 125gr SP. That should be just fine for hogs.

Posted: 8/15/2005 12:48:07 PM EDT

[#2]

I used some hollow point russion ammo deer hunting once. It was in the grey cardboard that said made to hunting specs. It worked like shit. I almost load a doe I shot THREE TIMES with this ammo. Bullets acted like FMJ and didn't seem to expand at all.

I suggest that you stick with some americian made ammo with a good expanding bullet if you want to use the 7.62x39 for hunting.

Posted: 8/15/2005 1:27:27 PM EDT

[#3]

i am not a hunter so i simply don't know.

but is there anything that says you cant hunt with a FMJ round?

Posted: 8/15/2005 1:34:02 PM EDT

[#4]

Georgia Arms loads a nice 7.62x39mm hunting round (125gr. Nosler "Ballistic Tip") that should be cheaper in bulk than the "name brand" stuff. It is good ammo - what I use in my 7.62x39mm ARs and what my wife uses for deer in her bolt-action in that caliber.

www.georgia-arms.com/precision.htm

Posted: 8/16/2005 5:51:04 AM EDT

[#5]

Federal makes some.

Posted: 8/16/2005 7:36:24 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
i am not a hunter so i simply don't know.

but is there anything that says you cant hunt with a FMJ round?

Yes. In some states, WI for example, it is illegal to even have a FMJ round in your possession while hunting. Also, it is more ethical to use an expanding bullet in order to ensure a clean kill on your game animal. I know that some states allow FMJ and I'm not trying to start a huge debate here. I like to make the cleanest kill possible on game so I choose some sort of expanding bullet.

Posted: 8/16/2005 7:44:33 AM EDT

[#7]

How about some of the Russian 125gr. SP rounds, such as Barnaul, Brown bear, etc? Are they reliable expanders in tissue?

Posted: 8/16/2005 8:33:07 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
How about some of the Russian 125gr. SP rounds, such as Barnaul, Brown bear, etc? Are they reliable expanders in tissue?

Sorta, and they also tend to not stay in one piece and break apart. The 154gr SP Wolf is better for the extra inertia if you hit ribs first. My budget choice if I was in the boonies with lots of chances (and the unofficial choice of WVa). I otherwise suggest Rem CorLokts for decent quality and nice mushroom expansion with full mass retention.

Fuzzy memory says the Mini30 started as .308 bore, then changed to .310 bore to better accept commie ammo. Get some lead sinkers, use a wood dowell to bang them down each bore, compare measurements. Then pick bullets.

Posted: 8/18/2005 4:44:49 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
i am not a hunter so i simply don't know.

but is there anything that says you cant hunt with a FMJ round?

Actually FMJ ammo is illegal for ANY hunting purposes, I'd try to find some silvertips and reload them to the highest pressure possible for feral hogs.

As mentioned above HP ammo will not give reliable penetration, I really have my reservations about hunting dangerous game with the 7.62 x 39 caliber, and a 250 lb hog with tusks 5 inches long I consider dangerous.

My favorite hog gun is a russian model 44 chambered in 7.62 x54r modified with the ATI fiberglass stock and add on bent bolt kit from ATI with a 3x9 50 mm scope.

This is just my personal preference and isn't meant to vilify the AK, SKS guns or the 7.62 x 39 caliber, I just feel it's too weak for D/G hunting.

Ron

Posted: 8/18/2005 9:26:23 AM EDT

[#10]

Headshot, I believe that in some states you can hunt with a FMJ.

Posted: 8/19/2005 6:22:04 PM EDT

[#11]

I use Barnaul 125gr sp in my Saiga. At 50 to 100 yards the stuff is deadly. Through the lungs or heart they don't go very far. I've got 3 antlerless and no problems.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7.62 x 39 hunting ammo

AK-47 » Ammunition

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