Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 7.62x39 for deer

Since they ain't even from Alaska, I was under the impression that you were the chick on that show with the thick bush? Haha

By your own admission the delta v between the .30-30 and x39 is inconsequential.

The same delta v exists at 150 grains. The velocity diff isn't much and isn't of any consequence.

With 170s, I don't know as I haven't loaded that heavy in the x39. I do shoot them in my .30-30 because I don't like the performance of the only 150s I've tried (Winchester Silvertip of 1980s vintage). The 170s stay together better for me, but they still act about the same as the 123s have for me in the x39. You don't need 170s in the x39 because the velocity is low enough with the 150s to be very easy on cup and core bullets.

In my experience the 150 fps bonus gives very little advantage as far as penetration goes, and if anything, the extra velocity usually results in greater expansion which is counter productive to penetration. It's all hairs we are splitting here.

I can't argue this anymore. It's pointless.

I hope you have a great thanksgiving.

I was kinda underwhelmed by the 7.62x39 AK, so I bought a Ruger #1 in the caliber. Should prove interesting...

I had a suspicion that you wouldn't be able to resist those. That ought to make a neat little pig popper.

Looking at getting an encore barrel in the 7.62x39.

308 bore??

What's the best barrel length?

What's the best twist?

That would be fun. I remember meeting you and seeing your collection of #1s at ASC in Houston 3 or 4 years ago. A damn fine group of rifles you have.

Yep, I recall that - I had a couple of them out that day. So far this year the #1 .270 has been out a few days. It smoked a jake turkey last weekend, so we had wild turkey for Thanksgiving dinner

I'm increasingly of the opinion that where you don't have long shots, or big deer, a smaller cartridge, say .30-30 or smaller, is plenty, and spooks fewer deer in the area. This year I used an old .351 Winchester when I shot a cull buck on opening weekend. Maybe 10-15 seconds after I shot the buck, a doe walked out looking around, curious as to what the noise was.

I'm not expecting any DRT shots like you get with a .270, with the 7.62, but I suspect it will do fine

The doe I shot last weekend left her running buddy wondering where she went so quickly. The aforementioned pal sat eating acorns until I made it down from the tree 18 yards away and gave her a standing ovation. Had I another antlerless tag or my bow, I'd of had twice the work to do...and the herd better off for it perhaps.

I do like the ease of carrying a shorter, lighter rifle when shots aren't going to be over throwing distance. At that range a premium is needed for anything of high speed, or enough bullet weight to reduce velocity and increase recoil.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the best blood trail I've ever followed. It started at the point of impact and was immediately saucer to plate sized in footprint.

Quieter never hurts... and FWIW I am now toying wiht a suppressed.. Lord forgive me, 300/221 with subsonic 194 lehighs, so far have easily killed deer to about 175 yards. And most of the time the others don't run off, they might run with the hit deer, but they calm down right away...

It takes a good performing bullet in the right place. It doesn't take horsepower if you are picky about the shots. None of the close to 10 suppressed deer I've shot in the ribcage has made it over 80 yards. 2 of them made it all of 20 or less.

Not to mention the few I've shot with.... gasp.. 32-20 and none of those made it more than 50 steps as best I can recall....

I will probably tinker some with a .300 Blackout still this year. Maybe a .25-20, too.

The Ruger 7.62x39 will require some time to study as I want to push the envelope a bit with it. Between the stout action and the 22" barrel it should beat the AK's performance level.

Now you're just showing off...

Yeah, I chrony'd a 10 round string of the fusion load with an average velocity of 2305, and very low es.

I'd image going from a 16" to a 22" bbl would be beneficial to some extent. Is the ruger a .308 or .310 bore? A 125 Accubond would be the berries at 2400 +/-

125 ballistic tip is what the nephew shoots out of his X39 AR parts gun.

I've shot a few big pigs with it through the shields. I was impressed that it blew all the way through.

Evidently the slower speeds work fine with the BTs.

Of course I run varmint nosler bts 80 grain out of 243 at about 1600 fps and they work just like a normal bullet starting that slow. Kills deer really well too without typical BT blowing up chit all over the place.

Anyone???

Vast majority of my guns shoot BTs. I think they are the perfect deer bullet. There are other good ones but I love the BTs.

I don't own one, I would not buy anything but a 308 bore. Nephew has no issues with surplus creating pressure in his.

Length? I'd have to know what i was after...

Twist, always depends on what train of thought you follow, Keith or OConnor.

I"m of the thought that since i can shoot 52 bthps in my 223 with 6.5 twist, that fast twist is never really a negative... slow twist can be for sure. I hate oblong holes when I'm trying to work a load up...

I avoid the bombs like the plague generally speaking. Having used them early on and huge exit holes, I just don't care for the destruction when its not needed or called for. Just my take on it. Especially since Barnes came along.

You've heard the BT's have evolved, right?

Maybe I'm just lucky but I have never had the explosive result some people have. I generally don't shoot shoulders and mainly aim for the pocket behind the front leg. Obviously the issue exists, but I've been fortunate to not have experienced it. At the velocities I shoot, generally speaking, it's not a problem.

Edited for copious usage of the word "issue".