7.62x39 Hunting rounds

[geartow]

I noticed some 123 round nose soft points. Also noticed hornady Z tipped. After reading that it is a carbon copy of the 30/30 what should be reasonable expitations using this as a hunting round. 150 yard range on white tail /pig sized animals?

[44 Man]

Yes, those bullets should be fine for deer/pig sized animals as far out as 150 yds easily.  My gunsmith buddy Marshall, just calls the 762X39 the '30-30 short'.  In other words he feels it performs like a 30-30, but with a shorter case.  I tend to agree with him.  44 Man

[Deerhunter#1]

In my handi 762x39 the 123 grain hornady 310 sp shoots great either rel7 or h4198. I have recently picked up a cheap set of lee rgb dies took the expander out put it in a drill and sanded it down to .308. Now i am using the hornady 130 grain 308 bullet which has a higher bc and gives a little extra down range energy. I contacted hornady and they said ti use the same powder loads that you would for the 123 grain. Have shot them twice with the two listed powders with good results. 150-200 you should be good. more than that get a bigger gun.

[tjf76]

I shoot federal fusion 123gr, good to about 200yrds on pigs/deer

[LedLobber]

I took my 1st Buck with the 7.62x39 at about 165 yards. I only had a neck shot available, so I took it. Hit him in the base of the neck with a Winchester 123gr SP. I have Never seen a animal go down so hard. I have no issues using it out to 200 yards, maybe just a smidge past. If it was Rimmed, the 7.62x39 would be My pick over. 30-30 any day.

[gendoc]

dang,  i wonder why this all sounds kinda familier to me.
 
its great to know that i'm not tha only fan of tha "39"......................
 
mine is so accurate, i don't hunt with it much. i just use it make others cry

[handi243]

watched my boss shoot a large doe (145-150) at 198 yrds by the rangefinder with the winchester 123 sp bullets. She didnt take a step!! also the bullet exited with a nice hole bout a half dollar size.

[moorepower]

The 7.62X39 will do as you ask it to do. You can get a 123-150 grain bullet that will work well for you. The Z-max, is the V-max varmint bullet, not a deer bullet. That being said, saying a 7.62X39 is a carbon copy of the .30-30 is like saying the .308 is a carbon copy of the .300 H&H magnum. It is not close unless you call 3-400 fps. close.