7.62x39 for hunting
 

Anyone use this calibre for hunting ? I'm looking at a Ruger american to keep my ammo supply in less of a mess . I have other guns for moose and elk but for deer and coyotes i'm hoping i can get away with this .

Yes it works on deer treat it like a 30-30 and you’ll have no issues. Shot a few whitetails with sks and never had problems.

As a deer/coyote cartridge I see no reason why it wouldn’t work….

123 ish grain .310” diameter bullet doing 2300-2400 fps, sounds rather like a 200 ish meter deer cartridge…..

Remember, fmj’s are a no go when hunting deer……

Just pull the fmj's and insert a cup and core.

There’s A LOT of commercially available hunting ammo for 7.62x39 on the market these days no need to pull anything.

why buy it
 

If you can Mexican match. The 7.62x39 is a solid 200 yard deer gun . Kills moose fine as well kept under 100 yards. Have seen 2 out of three 123gr Privi SP go through both sides of a moose at 75 yards.All were kill shots. I also load .311 Sierra 150gr SP in a CZ 527 carbine.

I was pulling bullets, yanked out the 123 grain fmj and just jammed 123 grain Hornady SST bullet right back in on top and it worked great. At less than a quarter of the cost of buying loaded SST ammo.

Sounds interesting, I will have to try that.

Aka
 

Mexican match you can substitute a bullet of lesser or same weight as the factory one.

I wouldn't compare 7.62x39 to a 30-30. The 30-30 is slightly more powerful and usually shoots heavier bullets. The 30-30 also shoots round nose bullets.

Sure a 7.62 x 39 can be a hunting cartridge, but if you are looking for reliable ammo supply and known ballistics, and if you ever have to re sell, a caliber that is well accepted, why not just stick to the accepted North American cartridges? 7.62 is not common in reloading circles, so handloads are not going to be that easy compared to a .308, or a 30.06, and brass is readily available for those cartridges.

As a platform, an SKS is a not a good "accuracy" rifle. Very hard to get a scope mount that is true and solid. Even outside the original wood stock they just are not that precise a gun as a semi auto. Maybe a Chinese build is more refined than a russian build, but if you are hunting with it, why even waste your time on trying to tinker with the SKS platform or going with a bolt gun in 7.62 when there are so many better choices?

Drewski

FYI:

Bullet diameter 7.85–7.9 mm (0.309–0.311") SAAMI[1] 7.92 mm (0.312") CIP[2]

So if you got a sombrero you may want to choose the right bullet diameter. may fly a bit truer. Just saying.

speculation
 

Or experience? I get 1/2" groups out of my CZ527 with either .310 or .311 bullets. Some report acceptable accuracy with .308 diameter. Never shot a deer twice. Any SKS I've ever kept will keep shots in a claybird at 100 yards and an early Chinese made on Russian tooling /blade bayonet will do even better unscoped. Steel sidemounts like Choate are rock solid and you can still clean the gun without screwing with the zero.Skip the Ruger with it's weak magazine design and get a Howa or used CZ527 for the same money. Three grains of Bullseye and a 71gr FMJ designed for the .32ACP is a great chicken load.

Some guys just like to be different or just hunt with what they have. I used to carry an M1 Garand around the bush when I hunted deer and at 9 pounds with a tiny holed rear peep sight it made a terrible hunting rifle. But it sure was fun.

The OP is using a modern bolt action rifle fitted with a scope……..

If it is a straight deer and yote blaster, and you want a caliber that is pretty popular and gives great re sale value in say 10 years, then how about a 25.06? Alot flatter and alot more bullet varieties.

Drewski

I would look at a HOWA if you can find one. They are inexpensive, yet pretty accurate rifles that are chambered in the 7.62x39.

I know the guys at Prophet River carry these occasionally, and you won't get better prices and service anywhere else.

Personally, I'd take the HOWA over the Ruger American any day.

i have other rifles , and TONS of 7.62x39 ammo . Im not planning to buy another sks , looking at a ruger american and now maybe a cz . i dont sell guns , they come here till im gone.

Just took this buck with a Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...1&d=1700529760

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...1&d=1700529760

I also have a Ruger M77mk2 in 7.62x39 which has also taken a WT buck. Both were one shot kills with the bucks only taking a few steps before dropping.

I killed my first two deer with a 527 in x39, at around 80m with PPU PSP cartridges. It's enough for deer. The drawback is going to be bullet drop past short ranges. Familiarize yourself with some ballistic data for the cartridge and see if it's flat enough at the ranges you want to shoot. If it is, knock yourself out and enjoy the relatively cheap ammo!

I'm saving up for a Howa in 6 ARC; I think it will be, for me, the ultimate deer rifle.


Cheers :shake2:

Dropped a 4x4 white tail in his tracks last Sunday night with my CZ 527m. PPU soft point, complete pass through. Iron sights 60 yards.

I've shot the Ruger American in .223 and based on that, might suggest a CZ527 if you can swing it. Or an SKS. My late friend could get a his Russian SKS cloverleafing 1/2 the time @ 40 yards, I never shot them that well. It was using Barnaul non-corrosive FMJ.

Anyhow, my comment was more about the rifle itself. Good luck with the choice, let us know how you make out!

loaded up some 7.62x39 .310
 

Barnes 123gr TSX when I had my last moose tag but was holding a .300 H+H when I met the moose.