The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

jackstrawIII · October 14, 2016, 02:57 PM

Need some input here.

I was in the market for a new short-range (100 yards and less) deer rifle. After doing a bunch of reading and thinking, I bought a CZ 527 chambered in 7.62x39. It's a great little gun and shoots very well with 125 grain Hornady SST ammo.

With that said, now that hunting season is approaching, I'm having second thoughts. A few friends have questioned my choice, and now I'm wondering if I'm a bit under-gunned.

According to Chuck Hawks (a writer that I respect, and often agree with), here are minimum requirements for a deer rifle:

Caliber: .243
Sectional Density: .200
Impact Velocity: 1500 fps
Kinetic Energy at Impact: 800 ft lbs.

The Hornady SST round checks most of those boxes:
Caliber: 308
Sectional Density: .183 (a bit low)
Impact Velocity: 2040 fps at 100 yards
Kinetic Energy: 1138 ft lbs at 100 yards

I could look at numbers on a screen all day, but I'm still unsure. So... here's my question: has anyone actually killed deer with this round? If so, what was your experience as far as quick/clean kills?

Thanks in advance.

October 14, 2016, 02:57 PM	#1
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 901	Hornady SST 7.62x39 for Whitetail Deer Need some input here. I was in the market for a new short-range (100 yards and less) deer rifle. After doing a bunch of reading and thinking, I bought a CZ 527 chambered in 7.62x39. It's a great little gun and shoots very well with 125 grain Hornady SST ammo. With that said, now that hunting season is approaching, I'm having second thoughts. A few friends have questioned my choice, and now I'm wondering if I'm a bit under-gunned. According to Chuck Hawks (a writer that I respect, and often agree with), here are minimum requirements for a deer rifle: Caliber: .243 Sectional Density: .200 Impact Velocity: 1500 fps Kinetic Energy at Impact: 800 ft lbs. The Hornady SST round checks most of those boxes: Caliber: 308 Sectional Density: .183 (a bit low) Impact Velocity: 2040 fps at 100 yards Kinetic Energy: 1138 ft lbs at 100 yards I could look at numbers on a screen all day, but I'm still unsure. So... here's my question: has anyone actually killed deer with this round? If so, what was your experience as far as quick/clean kills? Thanks in advance. __________________ In God we trust.