7.62X39 HP FOR WHITETAILS?
I recently purchased a Ruger M77 in 7.62X39 for my son. How effective is it on deer? I bought 500 rounds of current manufacture surplus 123gr. hp's at a gunshow for $29.95. It groups 1/2" at 100 yds from sandbags. Most shots here in eastern Va. are 100 yds or less. Any feedback appreciated.
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I really don't see why it wouldn't do just fine except that it may be a little on the small side.Also,beware of "build-up" from the coating on the milsurp ammo.Wolf has 7.62x39 in a 154gr softpoint that might give you a little more knock-down,but bullet placement is going to be of the utmost importance.JMO
BW
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.0 -
I agree with Bobby it will work fine just go for a heavier bullet as suggested. Shot placement is the key. 0 -
Go with a soft point bullet rather than the HP. The HP is not designed for hunting and may expand to fast and not penetrate causing a wounded animal you may lose. Use the HPs for target practice ammo. -- As far as having enough power it should be similar( slightly less)to a 30-30 Winchester and should be fine at the ranges you mentioned and probably a little farther. Bullet placement would be the key(as with any caliber)........[8D] 0 -
balistics are equal to a 30-30 win. besides 7.63x39 was developed for the mil. to shoot at people, and was very sucessful at it for some 40-50 yrs. or so, so it in my opinion it would be a great short range deer gun, and infact i,ve carried my sks hunting mule deer in heavy brush before.(had my 30-30 in the shop) and it work just fine ed
it's not the type of gun you have in the heat of a battle that counts, only if you have enough ammo for it, lets face it, a gun without ammo is only as good as a base ball bat!!0 -
I've taken a couple deer with it at ranges under 100 yards, one of my hunting buddies has used his sporterized SKS exclusively for deer for 10 years and hasn't ever had any problems with the gun or the round. It isn't a powerhouse, but as long as you know the range you'll be fine... 0 -
If you study the ballistics charts for commercial soft point 7.62x39, it compares very favorably with the .300 savage. That is, more powerful and flatter shooting than a 30/30 but not quite as powerful as a .308. Any of these cartridges are fantastic deer guns. If a guy only had an sks to shoot, I wouldn't want to get shot with it. I think millions of vets would concurr.
....I never met a gun I didn't like!0 -
I killed a few Large deer with my Ruger mini-30, Use a Good soft point round and aim for Behind the shoulder under 100 yards and it will be a dead deer,Good deer round if you do your part[;)] 
"I BRAKE FOR ANIMALS! I eat them and wear thier skins"0 -
cor-bon has a good 7.62x39 hunting round. if i were going to use a 7.62x39 for hunting i would get a better quality round instead of using surplus stuff.
http://www.corbon.com/catalog/index.php?file=catalog&uid=12665&action=catalog_productinfo&prod_pcategory=49276&pi_id=49277&clist=0,49198,49276&uid=126650 -
I've seen a few deer shot with the sks under 150 yards with regular russian hp commercial ammo (wolf I think). They all died fairly quickly but it appeared the damaged was caused by the bullet tumbling instead of expanding. If you reload I would recommend the Hornady 130 grain single shot pistol bullet. It is designed to work at the velocity you'll be getting from the 762x39. I've used them in reduced loads for kids and they work well. Also they are the right diameter for the ruger.
Mobuck0 -
Your M77 will do just fine for deer, use the hollow points that you bought for target practice and find a good soft point bullet to use on game, this should give slightly better results than a 30/30 and don't take that as a slam because I think the 30/30 with 150 grain bullets is a hard to beat deer killer to 150 or 200 yards tops. I wouldn't go with too heavy of a bullet in the 7.62x39 stay around 150. Practice and practice some more and if a shot is placed well you got a deer.
Good luck!0 -
I recently read a story about the Russian military surplus that alot of people here in the United States think are hollow point and alot of gun shops are selling as hollow point that are not designed as that. Im not for sure but the hollow end had something to do with the core design of the round and made for a more accurate shot and these rounds should be considered Full Metal Jacket rounds because the do not expand. I wish I could find the artical I would post it.
Mag44pistol
If you like my first shot? wait until you see my next!0 -
I have a Ruger Mini 30 in 7.62x39 and have shot many whitetails with factory 123gr soft point loads. Under the right conditions (Under 100 yards) the 7.62x39 is a great gun for deer. Mobuck is right, if you load try the 130 Hornady SSP it is a great bullet for the velocities of the 7.62. I also load the Sierra 135gr Single Shot Pistol Pro Hunter. I like the Sierra a little better than the Hornady but both are very good. For deer sized game stay away from surplus HP ammo. Use it for punching paper and get yourself a good softpoint, either handload or the standard 123gr SP from Rem. Win or Fed. 0
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