Thread: 7.62x39 on deer

I had a Howa Mini with 16 inch barrel and DPT - short, light, low recoil; and great for goats, whitetail, and fallow out to 150m (and a sh.tload of wallabies).
Never shot it against reds, but did drop a couple of close nanny Tahr.

Have a Howa Mini chopped to 16” with a hardie can and a red dot on top 123 gn ppu soft points at 2350fps crono’d tips over goats no problem but haven’t got on to a deer with it yet. I feel it should be ok to 100 allowing for the limits of the red dot. Only 2.9kg sweet little bush gun and very quiet.

Get 90% or max speed with a 13" barrel so my norinco is cut to 13" with a hardy compact and 15mm cut off at the butt end as well its a nimble wee rifle l, good bail gun and is fine on deer good 200yrd rifle, shoots good enough to be pushed to 300 with sst projectiles

I've had a Zastava in 7.62x39 for about 6 months. It's killed three goats and one pig all within a 50m range which is my usual shooting distance.

I have a Nikko 1-4x24 scope on top which is nice and compact for the bush. The reticle is a bit chunky for precise shooting but that's not what I got it for.

20" barrel.

I've fired Barnaul SP, No Brand FMJ and PPU SP cartridges and there's no real difference in precision or accuracy there. Blokes at the range say the Chinese ammunition is as good as anything else.

Low noise and recoil and that's without a can.

Lightweight in my book but after a few shots the barrel must bend a bit and the point of impact shifts, which makes sighting in a problem.

I'll get the barrel shortened and threaded for a can sooner or later.

Some say the cartridge is very similar to 30/30 Winchester.

Originally Posted by Waitati Hunter

I've had a Zastava in 7.62x39 for about 6 months. It's killed three goats and one pig all within a 50m range which is my usual shooting distance.

I have a Nikko 1-4x24 scope on top which is nice and compact for the bush. The reticle is a bit chunky for precise shooting but that's not what I got it for.

20" barrel.

I've fired Barnaul SP, No Brand FMJ and PPU SP cartridges and there's no real difference in precision or accuracy there. Blokes at the range say the Chinese ammunition is as good as anything else.

Low noise and recoil and that's without a can.

Lightweight in my book but after a few shots the barrel must bend a bit and the point of impact shifts, which makes sighting in a problem.

I'll get the barrel shortened and threaded for a can sooner or later.

Some say the cartridge is very similar to 30/30 Winchester.

How have you found the nikko stirling 1-4 scope? Is that one of the diamond illuminated ones? Was considering getting one for my bush set up

Yes it's the illuminated kind. So far so good, though I have yet to use it with the light on. Now I know what the light's actually for it sounds quite handy. One thing to note is one click shifts things 1/2" at 100 yards instead of the usual 1/4".

It's NOT that close to 30/30 as the old gal throws heavier pills at same speed. It's a great wee round,they both are but you can push 30/30 harder and it's more suited(on paper at least) for larger animal.

Got a 10 point Red a year or so ago at about 200 meters using Hornady SST factory ammo. Thought I was pushing it a bit at that distance but just aimed at the heart area, hit it and it trotted about 20 meters and fell over. Shot a few Deer and pigs with my Mini 30, SKS`s and even a Red Hind with my AK-47 and Steel core ammo ( Back when we could have them and cause it was what I had in my hand at the time). Would suggest to try and keep shots under 150 meters. Have fired one shot at a Red 7 Pointer with a 223 at a bit over 100 meters, he trotted about 30 meters and fell over.
I did shoot a Billy once at out over 300 meters with a SKS and open sights, that was luck on my part and bad luck on his. 7.62x39 reasonable bush gun just don't over push the distance.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

It's NOT that close to 30/30 as the old gal throws heavier pills at same speed. It's a great wee round,they both are but you can push 30/30 harder and it's more suited(on paper at least) for larger animal.

Splitting hairs with that argument Micky

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222-223
260rem- 6.5creedmore-6.5x55
but yeah if reload bit bigger difference but MOST factory x39mm is 123grn most 30/30 is 150 or 160grn
love them both have shot lots of stuff with both,I often ponder the fact that if I hadnt swapped the 30/30 all those years ago I could still have shot a good 80% of the animals I have done with much bigger,flatter shooting rifles just as dead,just as easy.

its generaldata according to american literature ive presently got is akin to british .303. both are cited as being 200m rounds beyond which holdover is literally in feet!some variation in round speed ,accordin g to which bullet weright used also.of interest of coursae is 7.62x39 is .311 size as opposed to .308. Ive got both .303 and 7.62 x39 -difference in recoil is marked. sahot s hare once with .303 -composted it over two grid squares with a 180gn softnose round noce cricket ball.hehe.good for gewtting deadpossums(who dont know theyre dead!!!) outta trees when used as a chainsaw to sever the branch el jacko is clinging to!!!

My go to x39 is this Howa Mini with Gunworks can & Zeiss 3-9 variable. I've shot quite a few reds; both Hinds & stag & plenty of goats with it as well. It carries light & well balanced with accuracy with my handloads as exceptional for the caliber....2.5inch& 100yds.
Because my eyesight isn't as good as it once was due to my 70 odd years I try to keep the shots within 150yds for deer & about 200 for goats. I generally use just the Chinese non corrosive 123gnsp's as they're easy to come by & pack as much punch as I need while accuracy is good enough to knock them over ok.
In the photo you'll possibly notice that the suppressor is slightly discoloured due to a 3 /5 rnds mag dump on some goats a few years ago... As you can imagine, the barrel was very hot & the blueing/paint on the can got cooked off......Got the goats though & the meat was delicious.
Cheers, Phil.

Started out with a Norinco Mod 103 & that polished off plenty of goats as well, along with a couple of reds....also using the old Norinco ammo

Originally Posted by 7remmagman

Get 90% or max speed with a 13" barrel so my norinco is cut to 13" with a hardy compact and 15mm cut off at the butt end as well its a nimble wee rifle l, good bail gun and is fine on deer good 200yrd rifle, shoots good enough to be pushed to 300 with sst projectiles

Mate shot a big red spiker with mine and cheap ammo at 240 yards in the crease a couple nights ago went 15m and fell over backwards job done, aimed for the backbone and hit perfect

Originally Posted by 7remmagman

Mate shot a big red spiker with mine and cheap ammo at 240 yards in the crease a couple nights ago went 15m and fell over backwards job done, aimed for the backbone and hit perfectAttachment 248564Attachment 248564

Excellent.
Phil.

Originally Posted by BRADS

Splitting hairs with that argument Micky

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Ive got a 30 30 that bites your hand if you want it.