7.62 x 39 as a hunting cartridge?

PinnedAndRecessed · October 14, 2006, 11:24 PM

I've got a Ruger Mini 30 Ranch with Bausch and Lomb 2x6 scope.

Does this gun have value as a hunting rifle? Deer? Hogs?

Advice?

thanx.

**JohnKSa** · October 14, 2006, 11:53 PM

It's in the same general class as the 30-30. It gives up some to the 30-30 in bullet weight, but it has an aerodynamics advantage over most 30-30 ammunition.

Finding good hunting ammo may be an issue, but the caliber itself is a reasonable choice.

I'd say that it's in the range of rifle/ammo combinations that will definitely work if you don't ask too much of them.

Twycross · October 15, 2006, 12:01 AM

With a SP bullet, 7.62x39 will be fine for deer out to ~150 yards. I wouldn't take it any farther than that. I don't know much about hog hunting, so I can't comment about 7.62x39 suitability for that.

timothy75 · October 15, 2006, 01:47 AM

The 762X39 is a first class bullet when loaded with a Barnes X.

dfaugh · October 15, 2006, 07:55 AM

With the right bullet---fine for deer out to (relatively) short ranges, say under 100 yards.

Pigs under 200 lbs. OK with the right bullet but shot placement a bit more critcal.

BIG pigs---get more gun!

My .02

Scorch · October 16, 2006, 04:53 PM

7.62X39 has about 80% as much muzzle energy as a 30-30, at 200 yds they are about equal, beyond that the 7.62X39 has more. But at 200 yds with a 100 yds zero, 7.62X39 with a 150 gr bullet drops 13 inches, and drops drastically past that, so limit yourself accordingly.

FirstFreedom · October 16, 2006, 09:27 PM

Corbon and Wolf both offer 150+ gr soft point hunting ammo - not a half bad l'il whitetail round. Agree that on big-ish hogs or elk, get a bigger gun.

Csspecs · October 16, 2006, 11:32 PM

Most of the charts I looked up show the 30-30 in a 20 or 24 inch barrel. So depending on the gun 7.62x39 can be better.

john in jax · October 17, 2006, 09:43 AM

A great little brush gun - hunted with my Mini-30 Ranch Rifle for years. Personally I tried to limit my shots to 100 yards or less, but that's just where I felt comfortable. The 7.62x39 round easily has enough energy out to 150 yards to drop small whitetails or pigs with decent shot placement.

Hunting (soft point) rounds are easy to find at most retailers. Shot placement is critical, make sure you at least some practice with the same round you will be hunting with.

Mannlicher · October 17, 2006, 04:46 PM

its close to a 30-30, but keep in mind that the commie round is a lighter bullet in most loadings. About the same velocity, lighter bullet. With a well constucted hand load or commercial hunting round, it will take deer just fine. I would keep ranges under 100 yards though.

Jack O'Conner · October 18, 2006, 07:55 AM

My Dad (deceased 2004) hunted mulies and whitetails with a Russian SKS carbine. Plain Winchester SUPER X ammo featuring the 123 grain soft tip did the job. None got away. Watch your distance and you'll do well with this interesting cartridge.

Good hunting to you.
Jack

kjm · October 25, 2006, 05:17 PM

I use my father's AK for pigs and I've had mixed results... However, I've used a 30-06 and had similar mixed results. Pigs seem to need good shot placement over caliber. When I hit them right behind the ear, they drop dead in their tracks, whereas when I take a chest or frontal head-shot, they run usually impressive distances and in many cases we don't find them until they begin to stink.

A good friend of mine shot a hog in the head and I found brain matter all over the yoapon bushes but the hog ran further than we could track. To me that is amazing that a hog missing a good chunk of brain could run.

My brother in law's dad kills pigs with a .22 using the same shot placement (behind the ear, where the neck connects to the skull). His results are mixed, but if they're smaller pigs, he's somewhat successful.

I personally prefer buckshot and a 12 gage, but I hunt very thick brush where most of my shots will be less than 30 yards. The shotgun isn't great for the big sows and boars, but when they have 4 or 5 pigs with them, it does wonderfully at controlling the population.

I'd say keep your range low and your shot-placement good, and you can take your SKS or AK.

UniversalFrost · October 25, 2006, 05:23 PM

Why all these redundant threads on the 7.62X39 as a hunting round. next time, just do a quick search and you will find at least a dozen exact threads on the same flipp'n topic. you can only beat a dead horse so much.

Oh and by the way 7.62X39 (soft point not FMJ) will do the job on pig, deer, etc.. out to about a couple hundred yards with a good rifle and sights as long as the shooter does his job.

October 14, 2006, 11:24 PM	#1
PinnedAndRecessed Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2004 Posts: 449	7.62 x 39 as a hunting cartridge? I've got a Ruger Mini 30 Ranch with Bausch and Lomb 2x6 scope. Does this gun have value as a hunting rifle? Deer? Hogs? Advice? thanx.

October 14, 2006, 11:53 PM	#2
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,972	It's in the same general class as the 30-30. It gives up some to the 30-30 in bullet weight, but it has an aerodynamics advantage over most 30-30 ammunition. Finding good hunting ammo may be an issue, but the caliber itself is a reasonable choice. I'd say that it's in the range of rifle/ammo combinations that will definitely work if you don't ask too much of them. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

October 15, 2006, 12:01 AM	#3
Twycross Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 1,187	With a SP bullet, 7.62x39 will be fine for deer out to ~150 yards. I wouldn't take it any farther than that. I don't know much about hog hunting, so I can't comment about 7.62x39 suitability for that. __________________ The test of character is not 'hanging in' when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty, and persistence of example when you know no light is coming. - Vice Admiral James Stockdale, USN (ret.)

October 15, 2006, 07:55 AM	#5
dfaugh Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,715	With the right bullet---fine for deer out to (relatively) short ranges, say under 100 yards. Pigs under 200 lbs. OK with the right bullet but shot placement a bit more critcal. BIG pigs---get more gun! My .02 __________________ "If you Listen to Fools, the Mob Rules" "No one has the answer, but one thing is true. You'e got to turn on evil, when its coming after you. You've gotta face it down,and when it tries to hide, you've got to go in after it, and never be denied. Time is running out...Let's roll. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for love. We're going after satan, on the wings of a dove. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth."

October 16, 2006, 04:53 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	7.62X39 has about 80% as much muzzle energy as a 30-30, at 200 yds they are about equal, beyond that the 7.62X39 has more. But at 200 yds with a 100 yds zero, 7.62X39 with a 150 gr bullet drops 13 inches, and drops drastically past that, so limit yourself accordingly. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

October 15, 2006, 01:47 AM	#4
timothy75 Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,146	The 762X39 is a first class bullet when loaded with a Barnes X.

October 16, 2006, 09:27 PM	#7
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Corbon and Wolf both offer 150+ gr soft point hunting ammo - not a half bad l'il whitetail round. Agree that on big-ish hogs or elk, get a bigger gun.

October 16, 2006, 11:32 PM	#8
Csspecs Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 1,111	Most of the charts I looked up show the 30-30 in a 20 or 24 inch barrel. So depending on the gun 7.62x39 can be better.

October 17, 2006, 09:43 AM	#9
john in jax Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2005 Posts: 1,177	+1 for the Mini-30 A great little brush gun - hunted with my Mini-30 Ranch Rifle for years. Personally I tried to limit my shots to 100 yards or less, but that's just where I felt comfortable. The 7.62x39 round easily has enough energy out to 150 yards to drop small whitetails or pigs with decent shot placement. Hunting (soft point) rounds are easy to find at most retailers. Shot placement is critical, make sure you at least some practice with the same round you will be hunting with. __________________ America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards. Claire Wolfe

October 17, 2006, 04:46 PM	#10
Mannlicher Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2001 Location: North Central Florida & Miami Posts: 3,209	its close to a 30-30, but keep in mind that the commie round is a lighter bullet in most loadings. About the same velocity, lighter bullet. With a well constucted hand load or commercial hunting round, it will take deer just fine. I would keep ranges under 100 yards though. __________________ Nemo Me Impune Lacesset "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.".........Ronald Reagan

October 18, 2006, 07:55 AM	#11
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	My Dad (deceased 2004) hunted mulies and whitetails with a Russian SKS carbine. Plain Winchester SUPER X ammo featuring the 123 grain soft tip did the job. None got away. Watch your distance and you'll do well with this interesting cartridge. Good hunting to you. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

October 25, 2006, 05:17 PM	#12
kjm Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: College Station, Texas Posts: 1,871	I use my father's AK for pigs and I've had mixed results... However, I've used a 30-06 and had similar mixed results. Pigs seem to need good shot placement over caliber. When I hit them right behind the ear, they drop dead in their tracks, whereas when I take a chest or frontal head-shot, they run usually impressive distances and in many cases we don't find them until they begin to stink. A good friend of mine shot a hog in the head and I found brain matter all over the yoapon bushes but the hog ran further than we could track. To me that is amazing that a hog missing a good chunk of brain could run. My brother in law's dad kills pigs with a .22 using the same shot placement (behind the ear, where the neck connects to the skull). His results are mixed, but if they're smaller pigs, he's somewhat successful. I personally prefer buckshot and a 12 gage, but I hunt very thick brush where most of my shots will be less than 30 yards. The shotgun isn't great for the big sows and boars, but when they have 4 or 5 pigs with them, it does wonderfully at controlling the population. I'd say keep your range low and your shot-placement good, and you can take your SKS or AK. __________________ COME AND TAKE IT!!!

October 25, 2006, 05:23 PM	#13
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	Why all these redundant threads on the 7.62X39 as a hunting round. next time, just do a quick search and you will find at least a dozen exact threads on the same flipp'n topic. you can only beat a dead horse so much. Oh and by the way 7.62X39 (soft point not FMJ) will do the job on pig, deer, etc.. out to about a couple hundred yards with a good rifle and sights as long as the shooter does his job. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green