Author Topic: Suitable 7.62x39mm Factory deer Loads (Read 1471 times)

targshooter · « **on:** August 24, 2003, 03:10:25 AM »

A shooting friend has asked me if I am aware of any good factory hunting loads for the 7.62x39. As all I shoot is Wolf hollow point ammo (not a deer load from what I can tell) in my Mini-30, and I do not use this caliber for hunting, I am requesting some suggestions regarding good big game loads offered for hunting by the ammo manufacturers. Thanks.

jhm · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2003, 12:15:38 PM »

Targetshooter : As I dont reload or shoot that cal. I dont pay alot of attention to it , like you all I ever hear anybody talk about is the wolf brand or some 3rd world country ammo in that cal, but I cant recall seeing any of it loaded by the big 3 rem. / win / fed. etc maybe they do and I just need to pay a little more attention.

JIM

Rick Teal · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2003, 10:49:41 AM »

When looking for factory 7.62X39 ammo, you have to be careful about bullet diameter. The Ruger mini 30 takes .308 bullets, while all other guns chambered in this cartridge take .311 bullets.

Hunter6657 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2003, 04:27:50 AM »

Remington makes 125gr SP ammo for the 7.62x39 and the last I bought came from walmart. I beleive Winchester and Federal also make SP loads for it, for hunting. PMC also makes SP loads for it.
I don't think I would trust the Wolf ammo or other Russian HP ammo for hunting. I don't think it will expand or it may a little.

freddogs · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2003, 03:25:56 PM »

I had a mini30. I let my buddy's son use it for deer hunting and they used winchester ammo. I had several boxes of some other ammo that I think is no longer made. I got it for my wife and she quit hunting soon after getting it. With all the SKS rifles out there, I would think all the major manufacturers would make ammo for them.

targshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2003, 03:20:30 AM »

Thanks everyone. My friend is looking for the Corbon 150 grain bullet load via the internet. It is not easy to find hunting ammo for this caliber in the sporting stores, as the Winchester and Remington loadings (all apparently 125 gr bullet loadings) are catalogued but very hard to find on store shelves, or so it seems here. Additionally, the Corbon 150 seems like a better round for hunting, and this is going to be a 100 yards and under hunt due to the topography and forest cover.

txpete · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2003, 05:47:29 AM »

over at tuco's gun forum there is a thread going and lots of people have dropped deer with the wolf sp and hp ammo from sks and ak 47's.

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2003, 04:04:25 PM »

Although I do not shoot that cartridge, I noticed in the Midway sale catalog I received today that they ware listing the Russian 7.62x39 soft point 150 grain in 20 round boxes and 500 round lots at some sort of sale price.

NRAJOE · « **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2003, 08:16:14 AM »

I usually shoot the FMJ 122 grn Wolf ammo in my AK's. Accidentally
picked up some 154 grn Soft point and it shot low and to the right...the FMJ was dead on at 100 yds.

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2003, 08:24:23 PM »

The new Wolf hunting load is optimized for the SKS's gas system and barrel length. Something to consider when using it in a different gun. Probably didn't accelerate in the AK as much as it should have. AKs also tap more gas because the piston has more play and everything is rougher. A Mini-14 will probably do better than an AK with it, but I dunno how it would compare to an SKS.

Danny · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2003, 11:26:21 AM »

I have seen several deer shot with the Federal 125 grain load and the Wolf hollowpoint. Both are very effective at reasonable range. One doe shot low in the chest with a Wolf hollowpoint had her heart cut loose and rolling around in her chest; when we dressed her it literally rolled out on the ground. Expansion and penetration were acceptable in every case!