Author Topic: What 7.62x39 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?  (Read 9722 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline RSR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4668
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #15 on: November 20, 2014, 03:21:58 AM »

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.

Thanks for the reply!

Then it looks like any concerns I had about the ~120 soft points' penetration seem to be unfounded.

What range were the deer taken at?

Offline jwc007

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8729
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #16 on: November 20, 2014, 01:38:28 PM »
You are most Welcome!  :)

What range were the deer taken at?

  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.

Answer in upper paragraph of original post.  First Buck was taken at 50 Yards or a just a bit less.  Second Buck was taken at 50 yards or just a bit more, but not much more.  They tend to come in close for nearby acorns.  I've also used rifles in .308, 7x57mm Mauser, and .30/06 at this blind, but they now seem like overkill for this short range area.
"Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego." - Yoda


For all of those killed by a 9mm: "Get up! You are not dead! You were shot with a useless cartridge!"

Offline jameslovesjammie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4608
  • The Last Best Place
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #17 on: November 20, 2014, 03:25:52 PM »
I don't shoot/own a 7.62x39, but if I planned on hunting with one, I would use the Sierra 125 grain Pro Hunter.

I have ultimate confidence in Sierra bullets and have used them to harvest deer and pronghorn in .223, .243, .270 Winchester, .270 WSM, .30-30, .30-06, and .357 Magnum.

Offline painter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6231
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #18 on: November 20, 2014, 03:47:54 PM »
How do you feel about the Gameking, James?
« Last Edit: December 01, 2016, 06:05:27 AM by Wobbly »
I had the right to remain silent...

but not the ability.

Offline jameslovesjammie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4608
  • The Last Best Place
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #19 on: November 20, 2014, 04:28:58 PM »
How do you feel about the Gameking James?

If you skip to ~2:00 mark, it will tell you everything about how I feel about Sierra Gamekings.  Broke the closest shoulder, destroyed both lungs, broke second shoulder, bullet laid between the skin and muscle on the far side.  100% energy dump.  Not a very big deer.  This is about as small of a buck that we will harvest.  Odocoileus virginianus dakotensis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WhZKnOEoSQ&list=UUhkblxQQDeR0mdizVUNcZ2g

Offline painter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6231
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #20 on: November 20, 2014, 07:30:08 PM »
Thanks James
I had the right to remain silent...

but not the ability.

Offline IDescribe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4049
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #21 on: November 21, 2014, 09:10:29 AM »
No Gameking, though, for 7.62x39.

Offline painter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6231
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #22 on: November 21, 2014, 09:32:13 AM »
No Gameking, though, for 7.62x39.
Perfect...

I don't own a 7.62x39. ;D
I had the right to remain silent...

but not the ability.

Offline IDescribe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4049
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #23 on: November 21, 2014, 12:22:18 PM »
Foiled again!

In that case, may I recommend the Gameking.  ;)

Offline painter

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6231
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #24 on: November 21, 2014, 01:22:16 PM »
Foiled again!

In that case, may I recommend the Gameking.  ;)
lol...

I was asking for 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser
I had the right to remain silent...

but not the ability.

Offline RSR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4668
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #25 on: February 10, 2016, 09:18:14 PM »
Another deer/premium self-defense load worth considering -- federal is now offering a 7.62x39 version of their fusion line (bonded soft points):

https://youtu.be/xEo6avZd9ys

I've transitioned to this in 5.56 for home-defense use. 

Both calibers seem to run about $1 per round retail, but I've picked up the 5.56 Fusion MSR for in the 50 cents range and have seen it on sale below 70 cents per round quite often...  If you keep an eye on it, I would imagine you can snag some of the 7.62x39 for less than the $1 per round it typically goes for.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2016, 09:27:17 PM by RSR »

Offline jwc007

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8729
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #26 on: February 11, 2016, 01:44:24 PM »
Hornady 7.62x39 SST (Zombie Max) Ballistics Gel Test (HD)

https://youtu.be/yF89dysghUs
"Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego." - Yoda


For all of those killed by a 9mm: "Get up! You are not dead! You were shot with a useless cartridge!"

Offline flyingchipmunk

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #27 on: November 30, 2016, 12:01:21 PM »
Somewhat reviving this thread because I shot a nice buck with my 527 using the Hornady SST bullets. It worked great. Went through one side from a high angle (treestand) passed through a shoulder and out the other side. Dropped right in its tracks, but with very little meat damage, especially compared to the .308 I used last year. This is really the perfect round for whitetails if you are hunting in the forest and don't plan on making any long shots. I topped my 527 with a Leupold 1.5-4x VX-2 scope and it worked like a charm.

Offline Tyerone

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1438
  • Saving the planet.
Re: What 7.62 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #28 on: December 01, 2016, 11:17:31 PM »
Not a VZ owner, but I purchased some of the 154 gr (I think) sp Herters thinking about deer in MI.  My groups at 70 yards practically quintupled from my rifle vs. 122/3 grain fodder so I abandoned the idea -- even though they all on a "paper plate" the standard of generations past.  I suppose the twist rate of the barrel was in play.

Offline RSR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4668
Re: What 7.62x39 Ammo Or Reloads Do You Use for Deer Hunting?
« Reply #29 on: September 28, 2018, 02:03:54 PM »