Hornady SST 7.62x39 for Whitetail Deer - Page 2

deerslayer303 · October 24, 2016, 06:50 PM

Who does that?

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Mr. Hill · October 24, 2016, 07:06 PM

Apparently someone Chuck knew, lol.

deerslayer303 · October 24, 2016, 07:31 PM

lol

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jackstrawIII · November 21, 2016, 11:38 AM

Hey, I don't mean to drag up an old thread, but I wanted to share my experiences with using the Hornady factory 123 grain SST load in my CZ 527 this week (the opening of gun season in my part of NYS).

In short, it worked great.

I made a well placed double lung shot on my first buck ever at about 40 yards. Had a clean pass through with about a quarter sized exit hole. Plenty of blood trail, but the deer only made it 30 yards or so before dropping. That works for me.

Yes, the Hornady steel cased SST works just fine on deer.

alex0535 · November 21, 2016, 07:23 PM

Glad you were successful, reading it I was pretty sure it would do just fine inside 150 yards or so. I have wanted a 527 in 7.62x39 for a while for a deer and hog rifle, and generally be a handy woods rifle for the close ranges I've come to consider typical here.

smee78 · November 21, 2016, 09:41 PM

Good to hear, thanks for sharing.

globemaster3 · November 22, 2016, 08:45 AM

I appreciate the concern you have for wanting to make a smart, ethical choice.

Under the conditions you describe, I would not hesitate to shoot a deer with your setup.

Congrats on the first buck and may it be the first of many for you!

bamaranger · December 14, 2016, 02:33 AM

Hey, wanted to run this post up the list again to advise that today bamaboy (now more of a man than I am!) shot a meat doe with the x39mm Ruger 77MkII and one of my SST reloads. This was the first deer taken with the x39mm and the SST slug, all others falling to the 135 gr Sierra SSP (now discontinued). Yes, I know about the diameter discrepancy..,308 v. .311.

The load runs a clocked 2225 fps from the 20" Ruger bolt rifle. Range was 70 paces on a very typical mature whitetail which I doubt weighed more than 120 lbs live if that. Shot was broadside, in behind the pocket on the foreleg, and out in the same manner on the opposite side, The slug did not touch the shoulder blade, traveling below same. Shot appeared to center a rib at entrance, and expansion as gauged by holes in the chest cavity and damage to the top of the heart and the associated vessels and a bit of lung was very evident. Deer lashed w/ hind legs and death bolted about 15 yds into a wire fence, where she collapsed most dead. Honestly, I could not tell the difference in the deer's reaction, nor the wounding, than if the animal had been shot with a "real" deer caliber. I am also pleased to report that the SST, on this shot anyhow, delivered what seemed a noticeably larger wound than the 135 gr Sierra SSP (single shot pistol) slug that we have used in the little rifle on previous deer. The SST is also more accurate in the load we worked up as well.

I was fortunate to observe the whole business, and was tickled hear bamaboy whisper "Where do you want me to shoot her?" just before he broke the shot. Pretty cool customer. I'd told him earlier this year that he was going to have to shoot some meat deer himself as he'd eaten the most of the ones I'd put up for us from the prior season.

Mobuck · December 14, 2016, 08:09 AM

very concise shot report "bamaranger". This type of followup is good info and much better than the typical anecdotal information.
Seventy yards is well within the effective range of the "x39" and obviously, the bullet performed as expected. I saw very similar results while using the older Remington 125(mikes at .3095" BTW) bullet.

jackstrawIII · December 14, 2016, 08:37 AM

Thanks for sharing Bamaranger. Enjoyed the read.

Erno86 · December 14, 2016, 04:46 PM

Deer death bolts into wire fences are amazing to watch!!!

Aussie Gun Lover · February 11, 2017, 09:25 AM

For anything under 250 yards the Russian 7.62x39 will be more than enough for even the biggest Whitetail Deer. Don't listen to everything you read even from the likes of a self confessed expert like Chuck Hawks who according to him the Tikka T3 is the cheapest hunk of junk rifle in the budget price range that would never live up to or outshoot it's accuracy guarantee!!!

theblakester · February 13, 2017, 02:53 AM

I shot a small 8 or buck at about 65 yds this past year (last hour last hunt last day & landowner told me he'd rather me shoot a smaller buck than a doe if I didn't see a big boy) with a 16" 7.62x39 and a 123 grain Hornady SST. Bullet entered juuust behind the shoulder and edited toward the front of the opposite side shoulder. The deer jumped up and ran into the woods falling about 20 yards away. Strangely there was 0 blood trail the first 10-15 yards and a whole lot of blood 5-10 yards from where he fell.

I agree about how far ammo has come in recent years. I zero that gun at about 175, which puts me about 1.75" high at 100-125 yds. I'm confident with it on deer/hogs out to 200 yds when it come to energy/knockdown power and not having to hold over for bullet drop.

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eastbank · February 13, 2017, 07:53 AM

i shot a doe with my aac rem model 7 in 300bk with a 130gr HP bullet at 2100 fps at 80 yards, the shot was right ahead of the front shoulder with a complete pass thru with lots of blood out both sides after about 20 yards. as the 7.62x39 is faster by 200 hundred fps, i see no reason why the 7.62x39 would not be a better round for deer and hogs. eastbank.

bamaranger · February 15, 2017, 01:47 AM

Hey, eastbank,

Whose 130 gr HP slug are you using?? Is it the Speer?

eastbank · February 15, 2017, 03:45 PM

BAMARANGER, yes a speer 130 flatbase HP with a top load of win 296. eastbank.

November 21, 2016, 11:38 AM	#29
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 901	Hey, I don't mean to drag up an old thread, but I wanted to share my experiences with using the Hornady factory 123 grain SST load in my CZ 527 this week (the opening of gun season in my part of NYS). In short, it worked great. I made a well placed double lung shot on my first buck ever at about 40 yards. Had a clean pass through with about a quarter sized exit hole. Plenty of blood trail, but the deer only made it 30 yards or so before dropping. That works for me. Yes, the Hornady steel cased SST works just fine on deer. __________________ In God we trust.

November 21, 2016, 09:41 PM	#31
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	Good to hear, thanks for sharing. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

November 22, 2016, 08:45 AM	#32
globemaster3 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Posts: 1,482	I appreciate the concern you have for wanting to make a smart, ethical choice. Under the conditions you describe, I would not hesitate to shoot a deer with your setup. Congrats on the first buck and may it be the first of many for you! __________________ NRA Life Member "We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control."

December 14, 2016, 02:33 AM	#33
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	another SST kill Hey, wanted to run this post up the list again to advise that today bamaboy (now more of a man than I am!) shot a meat doe with the x39mm Ruger 77MkII and one of my SST reloads. This was the first deer taken with the x39mm and the SST slug, all others falling to the 135 gr Sierra SSP (now discontinued). Yes, I know about the diameter discrepancy..,308 v. .311. The load runs a clocked 2225 fps from the 20" Ruger bolt rifle. Range was 70 paces on a very typical mature whitetail which I doubt weighed more than 120 lbs live if that. Shot was broadside, in behind the pocket on the foreleg, and out in the same manner on the opposite side, The slug did not touch the shoulder blade, traveling below same. Shot appeared to center a rib at entrance, and expansion as gauged by holes in the chest cavity and damage to the top of the heart and the associated vessels and a bit of lung was very evident. Deer lashed w/ hind legs and death bolted about 15 yds into a wire fence, where she collapsed most dead. Honestly, I could not tell the difference in the deer's reaction, nor the wounding, than if the animal had been shot with a "real" deer caliber. I am also pleased to report that the SST, on this shot anyhow, delivered what seemed a noticeably larger wound than the 135 gr Sierra SSP (single shot pistol) slug that we have used in the little rifle on previous deer. The SST is also more accurate in the load we worked up as well. I was fortunate to observe the whole business, and was tickled hear bamaboy whisper "Where do you want me to shoot her?" just before he broke the shot. Pretty cool customer. I'd told him earlier this year that he was going to have to shoot some meat deer himself as he'd eaten the most of the ones I'd put up for us from the prior season.

December 14, 2016, 08:37 AM	#35
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 901	Thanks for sharing Bamaranger. Enjoyed the read. __________________ In God we trust.

October 24, 2016, 06:50 PM	#26
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Who does that? Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

October 24, 2016, 07:06 PM	#27
Mr. Hill Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2015 Posts: 384	Apparently someone Chuck knew, lol.

October 24, 2016, 07:31 PM	#28
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	lol Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

November 21, 2016, 07:23 PM	#30
alex0535 Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 908	Glad you were successful, reading it I was pretty sure it would do just fine inside 150 yards or so. I have wanted a 527 in 7.62x39 for a while for a deer and hog rifle, and generally be a handy woods rifle for the close ranges I've come to consider typical here.

December 14, 2016, 08:09 AM	#34
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	very concise shot report "bamaranger". This type of followup is good info and much better than the typical anecdotal information. Seventy yards is well within the effective range of the "x39" and obviously, the bullet performed as expected. I saw very similar results while using the older Remington 125(mikes at .3095" BTW) bullet.

December 14, 2016, 04:46 PM	#36
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,739	Deer death bolts into wire fences are amazing to watch!!! __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell

February 11, 2017, 09:25 AM	#37
Aussie Gun Lover Junior Member Join Date: February 10, 2017 Posts: 2	For anything under 250 yards the Russian 7.62x39 will be more than enough for even the biggest Whitetail Deer. Don't listen to everything you read even from the likes of a self confessed expert like Chuck Hawks who according to him the Tikka T3 is the cheapest hunk of junk rifle in the budget price range that would never live up to or outshoot it's accuracy guarantee!!!

February 13, 2017, 02:53 AM	#38
theblakester Member Join Date: May 6, 2011 Posts: 88	Hornady SST 7.62x39 for Whitetail Deer I shot a small 8 or buck at about 65 yds this past year (last hour last hunt last day & landowner told me he'd rather me shoot a smaller buck than a doe if I didn't see a big boy) with a 16" 7.62x39 and a 123 grain Hornady SST. Bullet entered juuust behind the shoulder and edited toward the front of the opposite side shoulder. The deer jumped up and ran into the woods falling about 20 yards away. Strangely there was 0 blood trail the first 10-15 yards and a whole lot of blood 5-10 yards from where he fell. I agree about how far ammo has come in recent years. I zero that gun at about 175, which puts me about 1.75" high at 100-125 yds. I'm confident with it on deer/hogs out to 200 yds when it come to energy/knockdown power and not having to hold over for bullet drop. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

February 13, 2017, 07:53 AM	#39
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	i shot a doe with my aac rem model 7 in 300bk with a 130gr HP bullet at 2100 fps at 80 yards, the shot was right ahead of the front shoulder with a complete pass thru with lots of blood out both sides after about 20 yards. as the 7.62x39 is faster by 200 hundred fps, i see no reason why the 7.62x39 would not be a better round for deer and hogs. eastbank.

February 15, 2017, 01:47 AM	#40
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	which Hey, eastbank, Whose 130 gr HP slug are you using?? Is it the Speer?

February 15, 2017, 03:45 PM	#41
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	BAMARANGER, yes a speer 130 flatbase HP with a top load of win 296. eastbank.