Best Hunting Bullet for 7.62x39

[MGMIAM]

Any input on best hunting bullet for the AK47, 7.62x39
Doing all my own reloading
thanks in advance
MGM

 

[MGMIAM]

For all who read any input on best powder , loads etc greatly appreciated
MGM

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

In .308, the 125 Nosler BT has done really well for me at those speeds.

 

[Evan]

Any input on best hunting bullet for the AK47, 7.62x39
Doing all my own reloading
thanks in advance
MGM

For a legit AK, you’re probably going to want .310-.311 bullets, not the more common .308. Checking your bore dimensions would verify. I haven’t used them specifically, but in every other caliber the Hornady SST has been a pretty reliable performer.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

For a legit AK, you’re probably going to want .310-.311 bullets, not the more common .308. Checking your bore dimensions would verify. I haven’t used them specifically, but in every other caliber the Hornady SST has been a pretty reliable performer.

Maybe. A lot don't shoot well enough to tell the difference but if the op has one that does, then I do agree. If it shoots well enough to suit the man that owns it, I guess that's all that matters. The options are certainly wider for the 308 bullets, if they'll give acceptable accuracy. What little experience I have loading for them, I can't tell that the right bullet diameter mattered at all. That doesn't mean it's like that all the time though. Not disagreeing, just saying I'd test them both and see in that gun. Hopefully his shoots well with either.

 

[jds holler]

My SKS's have shot their very best groups with the Hornady 125 gr. SST. And for a Simonov, that's not quite 1 MOA, and most likely 2 MOA. That's just the way it is, and I'd have no qualms about knocking a buck down within 150 yards with one. jd

 

[DocBII]

MGM,

.311 150gr. Sierra GameKing with around 22 grains of N-133 to nominal mag length. WLRs as primers. Many deer taken by several folks with this load. Use the 200yd. sight for 100yd. zero with Chinese SKS.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[RegionRat]

Unfortunately the only thing I can add about killing with 7.62x39 is with Barnes #30391 TSX using CFEBLK.

 

[SGT. Slaughter]

The speer 130 gr hp with h4198 makes a good hunting load. That would be in a bolt gun.

 

[Fuj]

The Speer 125gr TNT did nicely for me with V-120. It shot better then
any boat tail I put thru it. This was thru a Rock River LAR-47 16" HBAR.

 

[Evan]

Maybe. A lot don't shoot well enough to tell the difference but if the op has one that does, then I do agree. If it shoots well enough to suit the man that owns it, I guess that's all that matters. The options are certainly wider for the 308 bullets, if they'll give acceptable accuracy. What little experience I have loading for them, I can't tell that the right bullet diameter mattered at all. That doesn't mean it's like that all the time though. Not disagreeing, just saying I'd test them both and see in that gun. Hopefully his shoots well with either.

Agree entirely. Experimenting will tell you what it likes. Just wanted to put it out there as I have met many people who had no clue that the 7.62x39 is nominally larger than American 30 cal. And smaller than the 303 British, but thats a digression.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Agree entirely. Experimenting will tell you what it likes. Just wanted to put it out there as I have met many people who had no clue that the 7.62x39 is nominally larger than American 30 cal. And smaller than the 303 British, but thats a digression.

Yes, I'd try some std 308 bullets and see how they do. In this game, we tend to think of it as being a huge amount but neglect to actually test. I've played with bbl bore dimensions in BR stuff and really couldn't tell a difference in that 30 cal bbl.

 

[joshb]

I bought a Windham Weaponry AR in 7.62x39 and tested some 308 Sierra 125s in it. I had trouble developing pressure. I sighted in my scope at 25 yards and when I tested at 100, I didn’t have enough vertical adjustment to compensate for bullet drop. Switching to 310-11? Hornady 123s solved the problem.
What drove me nuts was the lack of info on the web about the rifle and bore diameter.

 

[DGP4]

The Sierra Pro Hunter 125 grain soft point bullets shoot well out of my SKS and Howa mini. The steel cased Hornady 123 grain SST ammo shot great, but it was discontinued. It was replaced with brass cased version, but I haven't tried it yet. The bullets are available for reloading.

 

[jds holler]

I bought a Windham Weaponry AR in 7.62x39 and tested some 308 Sierra 125s in it. I had trouble developing pressure. I sighted in my scope at 25 yards and when I tested at 100, I didn’t have enough vertical adjustment to compensate for bullet drop. Switching to 310-11? Hornady 123s solved the problem.
What drove me nuts was the lack of info on the web about the rifle and bore diameter.

Josh, after reading your post, I realized I misspoke in my post above. I went and looked, and the bullets I use are indeed Hornady, 123 gr. SP's - not 125 Gr. SST's. They are .310 diameter.

 

[joshb]

Josh, after reading your post, I realized I misspoke in my post above. I went and looked, and the bullets I use are indeed Hornady, 123 gr. SP's - not 125 Gr. SST's. They are .310 diameter.

I fall to the same malady. Too many guns and too many bullets to remember.

 

[dk17hmr]

What are you hunting?

 

[jds holler]

What are you hunting?

The OP didn't specify, but I'd use that kind of rig for anything up to and including deer and black bear, at the range which you can keep your shots on a paper plate. Frankly not much different from the criteria we should use for most bows, pisols, and rifles that we might use for hunting. jd

 

[nakneker]

I’m using Sierra TGK 125 grains in a bolt 300 BO and a bolt 300 savage, I’ve only shot coyotes with them but they do a serious number on them. If your shooting deer I bet they would do well, the Hornady 125 SST is a bullet I’ve used in the past with good results also.

 

[dk17hmr]

The OP didn't specify, but I'd use that kind of rig for anything up to and including deer and black bear, at the range which you can keep your shots on a paper plate. Frankly not much different from the criteria we should use for most bows, pisols, and rifles that we might use for hunting. jd

Sure. But like anything animal dictates bullet construction. Coyote and deer maybe something a little more explosive like an SST or Nosler ballistic tip. Black bears maybe something a little more solid/bonded like the Speer gold dot or monolithic barnes or Leigh defense. Hogs maybe something cheap like a soft points cup and core.