Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Which load for my 7.62x39 deer rifle

Got a Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 that I want to take deer hunting.

Have some PPU 123gr PSP and found a great deal on Hornady Black 123gr SST at today’s gun show. Both shoot to the same point of impact. See 100 yd target below (not two groups of 3, just 6 shots intermingled).

I know either will work fine for deer, BUT!, there has been a good sized black bear showing up on my game camera regularly.

Which load would you want to be down the pipe if Mr. Big comes in?

My grandson has killed three bucks with that Hornady Black, including one that yielded 70lbs of boned meat, which supposedly means a live weight of 200+, I’m told. No reason to switch, unless he or his dad decide to go lead-free at some point. IIRC, they haven’t recovered any.