What 7.62x39 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?

[25knots]

The title basically says it so I'll add is that, yes, I am aware that the 7.62x39 is not the perfect deer round. I'm gonna use my VZ for deer I just happen upon when I'm out scouting. It seems like every time I'm setting up a new deer stand I end up flushing a really nice deer, so I'm just gonna keep this gun on me for close quarters, quick shooting. Its light, compact and semi-auto--basically perfect.



[Mods changed title for future search needs]

[OLd_Sarge]

start here and see what looks good and you can get
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=7.62x39+ammo+test&tbm=vid

I plan on my 7.62 for varmints and training so I am going cheap, for deer cost would be the last factor for me.

[knoxy]

I don't hunt much, but I keep a supply of 7.62x39 soft points on hand in case I do.

I've got Golden Bear 124gr SPs. They feed and cycle 100% out of my VZ.

There's some 154gr SPs out there that would probably be the best option.

[25knots]

start here and see what looks good and you can get
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=7.62x39+ammo+test&tbm=vid

I plan on my 7.62 for varmints and training so I am going cheap, for deer cost would be the last factor for me.

i agree about price not being an issue. we're talking one box of twenty which will probably last a few years.

the hornady sst and zombie loads looks good.

[RSR]

US domestic soft points actually have a little thinner jackets than the Russian bimetal, which means better or at least earlier expansion. 

Winchester, Remington, and Federal all make decent ~120 grain soft points and Corbon makes a very good ~150 gr soft point.  I think either would suffice for whitetail deer.  For hogs, I'd go heavier and heavier wouldn't be a bad thing for deer either...  Possible feeding issues with heavier soft points, but should hand chamber just fine.

The Hornady polymer tip would probably suffice as well, but I worry/wonder about sufficient penetration for deer with that rapidly expanding ~120 gr bullet.

7.62x39 in the ~150 gr range has ~90% or so of the energy of a 30-30 Winchester, so it's definitely potent and adequate.  And the bullet mass is such that it'll give similar penetration to 30-30 though slightly less energy (so similar permanent cavity, 30-30 soft point bullet might mushroom a little sooner and 30-30 will have slightly larger temporary cavity, but permanent cavities/wound tracks should be quite similar).

Just be aware and do your homework or at least test fire at expected ranges if you have a CSA/Czechpoint rifle.  Their barrels are .311 diameter, whereas Century's are .308.  A lot of domestic 7.62x39 producers make their 7.62x39 bullets .308 in diameter, which does result in reduced accuracy out of .311 barrels.  I believe the Mini-30 is .308 diameter barrel but not 100% certain... (But .308 and .311 are close enough that there's no danger/issue w/ shooting russian diameter bullets out of the .308 barrel... So let's not start that argument.)

That said, any of the bear soft points -- brown, silver, golden -- should work as well, they just won't be as effective as the american domestic stuff...  Generally speaking, the bear soft points seem to provide better results in ballistic gelatin than the Tula loads...

I stock the Hornady for home defense, and Russian soft points for hogs, but for deer with tag limits, tracking blood trails for an extended time/distance in the cold, etc, I'd definitely spend a little more for a better domestic round. 

[Old Rocket]

123gr SPRN PRVI  Partizan
Feeds great and price is good, also use the PRVI  FMJ  and save the brass for reloading.
I am going to reload the Sierra pro hunter soon.

[jwc007]

Been using the Silver Bear 125 grain Softpoints on Deer in heavy brush.  The other Softpoint loads sound interesting, but the Silver Bear is all I've been able to get and I had to mail order that online.  I'm using them out of my Chinese SKS.

Ballistic Gel Test

http://youtu.be/_jfLZYnhT-w

[Old Rocket]

Grafs  seems to have a good selection with reasonable  shipping

[Franz Maurer]

How about lead free7.62x39 ??
Any recommendations on the lead free loadings ?
I've never used any yet and the hunting regulations in North cal will require it soon
Rrrgh...

I'd imagine barnes tsx and ttsx will lead the pack
http://youtu.be/nV8ij1gK-ck

[armoredman]

Their barrels are .311 diameter, whereas Century's are .308

Never in my life have I heard this before.  With the Mini-30s, the FIRST barrels were .308, way back in the day, but they are reportedly all .311 now, for the last 20-30 years.

Do make sure that your SA vz-58 is legal for hunting in your neck of the woods. The lack of 5 round magazines was a problem, but Arizona removed the magazine restriction here, so I can use the easy to find and plentiful 30 round magazines. Looks odd from a Fudd standpoint, but I don't care, and nice to have if I run across two legged coyotes, which is a real problem down here.

The only "hunting" ammo I have is the 123 grain Hornady spire point, (soft point), over 27 grains of AA #1680, which steps out at 2318 FPS through my Pro Chrono, only a few FPS behind Wolf. Russian HP ammo is NOT designed to expand. Use commercial grade hunting ammo if you can, otherwise load it if have the means.

Edited to remove completely redundant sentance...

[IDescribe]

I wouldn't choose to hunt deer with 7.62x39, but if I did, I would roll my own with Barnes 123gr TSX.  If I'm putting the bullet in food, I see no reason not to go with an all-copper bullet.

[RSR]

Their barrels are .311 diameter, whereas Century's are .308

Never in my life have I heard this before. The only 7.62x39mm rifle that uses .308 bullets are the original Mini-14s. As for Mini-30s, the FIRST barrels were .308, way back in the day, but they are reportedly all .311 now, for the last 20-30 years.

Do make sure that your SA vz-58 is legal for hunting in your neck of the woods. The lack of 5 round magazines was a problem, but Arizona removed the magazine restriction here, so I can use the easy to find and plentiful 30 round magazines. Looks odd from a Fudd standpoint, but I don't care, and nice to have if I run across two legged coyotes, which is a real problem down here.

The only "hunting" ammo I have is the 123 grain Hornady spire point, (soft point), over 27 grains of AA #1680, which steps out at 2318 FPS through my Pro Chrono, only a few FPS behind Wolf. Russian HP ammo is NOT designed to expand. Use commercial grade hunting ammo if you can, otherwise load it if have the means.

To clarify, both Russian and American 30 caliber rifles tend to have very similar sized .30 caliber bores as measured from the lands; however, the grooves on American 7.62x39 barrels tend to run in the shallower .308 range while on the Russian Guns the groove depth is usually more in the .310 range and the grooves themselves are usually deeper -- so the difference being more w/ groove depth than actual barrel diameter, if that makes sense...

Apparently ammo makers just loading their premium .308 bullets into 7.62x39 cases has largely become a myth.  So I'll retract that portion...

[RSR]

How about lead free7.62x39 ??
Any recommendations on the lead free loadings ?
I've never used any yet and the hunting regulations in North cal will require it soon
Rrrgh...

I'd imagine barnes tsx and ttsx will lead the pack

Barnes bullets are great, but I wonder how that impacts case capacity/velocity since those copper bullets are usually substantially longer than lead...  Velocity on 7.62x39 is already less than ideal...

[RSR]

Been using the Silver Bear 125 grain Softpoints on Deer in heavy brush.  The other Softpoint loads sound interesting, but the Silver Bear is all I've been able to get and I had to mail order that online.  I'm using them out of my Chinese SKS.

Ballistic Gel Test

Do you find the the ~120 grain sp bullets exiting the deer or remaining w/in when shot broadside, or quartering away for that matter?  Also any experience hitting the shoulder blade and how that affected penetration?

[jwc007]

Do you find the the ~120 grain sp bullets exiting the deer or remaining w/in when shot broadside, or quartering away for that matter?  Also any experience hitting the shoulder blade and how that affected penetration?

Two Deer and One Feral Hog taken so far.  All Bullets have exited the Animals.  Exit wounds did seem larger on the exit sides than the entrance sides.  Both Deer were taken Broadside.  Hog was taken from a slight rear angle that I would not call quartering away.  Both Bucks were taken from a ground blind at around 50 yards.  Hog was shot during a hike turned stalk and was a target of opportunity and taken at about 30 yards.  Closer than I would have liked.

The First Deer/Buck was taken by a Shoulder Shot that also broke the spine and shattered both shoulders. Dropped immediately.

Second Deer/Buck was hit behind the Shoulder into the Rib Cage through the Lung area, breaking a few Ribs entering and exiting.  Deer ran about 10 yards and dropped.
Proximity shock near the Heart probably also helped drop him.

Feral Hog was shot in the Head and the Skull was shattered on both sides.  Bullet entered just behind the left ear and exited out the right temple.  Right Eye was blown out.
Hog moved only about two feet upon being shot and dropped, which I think was just nerve energy.