Author Topic: 7.62x39 (Read 895 times)

Hunter Mann · « **on:** December 02, 2005, 05:02:14 PM »

I have a couple SKS rifles that I enjoy shooting. Ammo is fairly cheap, and they are a kick to knock down bowling pins with....and any brush dogs that might step into the scope.

The question is has anyone shot the 7.62x39 in an Encore, and how do they shoot? What other caliber/round is comparable that you can buy factory ammo for? I still haven't got a reloading area set up yet.

guncats · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2005, 05:35:48 PM »

I think the barrel is 308 bore, one should not use 310-311 commercial/military ammo in it, right?
Even if it shoots 310-311 ok, the lacquer on steel case will melt and the case will tend to stick in the chamber. Price is high for ammo with brass case.
I fired two rounds of wolf 223 in my contender and the action was hard to open. Forced it to open but the extractor was bent when trying to push the case out. Not a good thing.

rickyp · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2005, 01:43:58 AM »

Quote

What other caliber/round is comparable that you can buy factory ammo for? I still haven't got a reloading area set up yet.

The 30 -30 is the closest thing to the 7.62x39.
since you have an encore you may look into a 308 (7.62 NATO) barrel. ammo can be cheap and you will get bette performance from it.

All encore barrels that I know of use a .308 bore and shooting factory 7.62x39 ammo is not a real good idea it will give a higher pressure then normal and they should be considered a handload only barrel

soup · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2005, 02:28:03 AM »

I have a Fox Ridge SS 20" barrel with a MT. It shoots AA1680 & Sierra 125gr spitzers @ 2380 fps in 1 hole all day.
SOUP

Hunter Mann · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2005, 04:22:12 AM »

Quote from: guncats

I think the barrel is 308 bore, one should not use 310-311 commercial/military ammo in it, right?
Even if it shoots 310-311 ok, the lacquer on steel case will melt and the case will tend to stick in the chamber. Price is high for ammo with brass case.
I fired two rounds of wolf 223 in my contender and the action was hard to open. Forced it to open but the extractor was bent when trying to push the case out. Not a good thing.

I was thinking more about the Remmington 7.62x39 factory ammo. Brass case and jacketed bullet. They actually make hunting rounds for this.....ooooh....and they are designed for game....not people as the military ammo was.

I already have the .270 hunter package. But I also have a couple 30/30 rifles. How does the 30/30 fire out of an Encore. From what I've read here, reports are not that positive. I've always used 30/30s for brush guns and swamps, but if that were to continue, I would want to use a better bullet. The round nose jacketed 30/30 bullets just don't expand the way I would like them to. Anyone handload 30/30 and use a better bullet (hollow point)....maybe something like the Barnes Triple Shock X?

I would think this might be a nicer close range round that my .270. But being a Thompson rookie, I asking you incredible collection of experts.

Thanks for putting up with silly questions

rickyp · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2005, 07:25:10 AM »

If you handload (and I know you do not yet) One can loaded pointed bullets in the 30-30 for the contender and encore and If you get one of the single shot pistol bullets you will find preformance quite satafactory. Now If you use heavy bullets desinged for rifles you will not be as happy.

Check with remington and see waht the 7.62x39 bullets are sized to and make sure they are not .310 or so.

Like I said before if you want to stick with a factory round in 30 cailber you can not go wrong with the 308 winchester.

Hunter Mann · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2005, 03:09:37 PM »

Quote from: rickyp

If you get one of the single shot pistol bullets you will find preformance quite satafactory. Now If you use heavy bullets desinged for rifles you will not be as happy.

OK Ricky, define the difference between a single shot pistol bullet and a heavy weight rifle bullet for those of us who are "handload impaired."

Are you saying that if I handload, I would not want to use the 150gr or 170gr 30/30 bullets that I am used to firing out of that lever action Marlin I own? I might want to use something in a 120gr or 130gr? Got a bullet recommendation? And could the same type round be better than factory ammo if I ran it through my rifle? Although I guess if I did this, I would just save the rifle for my 8 yr old when he starts hunting.

Am I talking foolish here, or would this be a better close range round than my .270? Man, my head is swimming. I'm going to have to start a trust fund just to keep up with all the possibilities.

When you guys said that getting into Thompson handguns was going to change my life, you weren't kidding. My wife has always said that trying to feed my outdoor desires was like trying to support a heroin addiction. She had no idea what she stepped into when she said, "Honey, if you want that pistol, buy it!" :-D

rickyp · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2005, 10:10:09 AM »

Quote

OK Ricky, define the difference between a single shot pistol bullet and a heavy weight rifle bullet for those of us who are "handload impaired

The single shot bullre softer then normal rifle bullets they are made to take the lower speed of a handgun.

you can use the normal rifle bullets but with not as good results as they tend to be made to handle higher speeds, you can find good quilaty bulets that will would but will be more $$$

Gregory · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:32:41 AM »

Quote from: Hunter Mann

Am I talking foolish here, or would this be a better close range round than my .270? Man, my head is swimming. I'm going to have to start a trust fund just to keep up with all the possibilities. :-D

What's wrong with your 270 for close range? You could load some of these Hornady's for close range:

270 CAL .277 150 GR RN

Hunter Mann · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2005, 04:30:08 PM »

I haven't been dissatisfied with the .270 one bit. I was just thinking of a way to not only reload something for a 30/30 Encore pistol, but also develope a better cartridge for my rifle at the same time.

As my wife just mentioned, I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone. I've never been that satisfied with the factory 30/30 ammo for my rifle. If I can come up with a better 30/30 bullet for that rifle (actually two 30/30s...a pre 64 winny, and a Marlin) I would snag a barrel for the Encore.

Anyone hunt with a 30/30 rifle and an Encore, handload for both and been satisfied with the results in both guns?

guncats · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2005, 12:05:21 PM »

Rem UMC uses .310 bullet, too big for the 7.62x39 TC bore (308), unless you can find somebody to make a 7.62x39 for you with .310 bored barrel. I had asked around and nobody makes such barrel to fit a TC.

I just placed an ordered for a 14.5" 7.62x39 to Bullberry, 308 bore. Pretty much have to handload for hunting. For practice I can use Cheetah which is still fairly cheap. Cheetah for some reason uses 308 projectile.

armory414 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2005, 12:45:47 PM »

The Encore 7.62x39 barrel will have a .308 bore, but it is capable of shooting the military ammo because it has an extra long throat to account for the extra pressures. The downside of this is that it won't necessarily be the most accurate with milsurp ammo. The second downside of milsurp ammo is that it is made with deep-set primers for safe use in the military guns without a firing pin return spring to prevent slam-fires. In some cases, this is too deep for the reach of the Encore's firing pin, resulting in failure to fire. Many milsurp and Wolf ammo usually won't fire in my Encore with that barrel. U.S.-made factory ammo fires just fine. To get the most out of this barrel, you really need to handload (to both use .308 bullets and to account for the extra long throat). This kinda defeats the purpose of having this barrel, and I don't think it's offered by TC any more.