7.62 x 39 into a 30-30??

[ihookem]

My cousin has a son that is 11 or 12. He has a 7.62x 39 Rossi. The problem is he has wounded several deer with it. He shoots it good but we are starting to feel it does not have the oommpphh past 100 yds and a good chance the bullets are not up to par. I got the idea that maybe we could turn it into a 30-30. He used his dad's 30-30 this youth and got a doe and nubby so he does shoot it well enough. Can a 7.62 be turned to a 30-30??

[twoshooter]

If the rifle is accurate, I would be looking for better performance ammo as a first step. The two cartridges are similar enough in power that bullet performance is probably more of a contributor to wounded deer than the actual power of the gun.

[tacklebury]

7.62x39 is .311 diameter, not .308 as is 30-30.  It's also a rimless and the 30-30 is rimmed.  They do make 30-30 handi rifles, so perhaps you should put it up here for trade or sale and buy a 30-30?
 
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/55047/H%26R+30-30+Winchester+Single+Shot22%22+Barrel+wRifle+Sights

[trotterlg]

No, the case head of the Russian cartridge is too large to cut a .30-30 chamber in it.  Probably have to go to a .308 or some wildcat.  Larry

[JB White]

The 7.62x39 should have enough energy to drop a whitetail at 100 yards with the right bullet. If he's using 123 gr spitzers it's not going to do the job well unless the shot is perfectly placed. The 150 gr softpoints should perform on par with the 30-30 at 100 yards.
Is he sure about the ranges he's shooting at?

[OldSchoolRanger]

The 7.62x39 should have enough energy to drop a whitetail at 100 yards with the right bullet. If he's using 123 gr spitzers it's not going to do the job well unless the shot is perfectly placed. The 150 gr softpoints should perform on par with the 30-30 at 100 yards.
Is he sure about the ranges he's shooting at?

If the rifle is accurate, I would be looking for better performance ammo as a first step. The two cartridges are similar enough in power that bullet performance is probably more of a contributor to wounded deer than the actual power of the gun.

What they said.  The 30-30 (150grain head) produces a velocity of between 1881fps to 2409fps depending on powder and powder charge.  While the 7.62x39mm (150grain head) produces a velocity between 1800fps to 2192fps, again depending on the powder and powder charge being used.  The performance is almost the same.  You didn't mention what type of ammo was being used;  SP, hollow point, FMJ, bullet weight?  I would also recommend your relative switch over to 150grain SP's for hunting if he is currently using something different.

7.62x39 is .311 diameter, not .308 as is 30-30.  It's also a rimless and the 30-30 is rimmed.  They do make 30-30 handi rifles, so perhaps you should put it up here for trade or sale and buy a 30-30?
 
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/55047/H%26R+30-30+Winchester+Single+Shot22%22+Barrel+wRifle+Sights

Tacklebury - This is not always true.  IIRC some U.S. made guns use a .308 bullet.  The manufacturer's name escapes me at this time.  Maybe someone else remembers.

[quickdtoo]

H&R 7.62x39 barrels are .310"-.311".

Tim

[Airsporter]

I agree the 7.62x39 should do the job at 100 yds but, if you want more power/recoil, rechamber to 7.62x54R.

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

...If he's using 123 gr spitzers it's not going to do the job well unless the shot is perfectly placed. ...

BS

a friend put a 125gr SP Through a MOOSE!  Moose went 14 yds and died.  took out ribs and brisket!

a Deer is NO Problem for a x39 inside 200yds

[cwlongshot]

As said the lil '39 will do the job just fine...  Remember, even a 375 H&H to the hoof, will have any animal running away... (On three feet) 

Stupid question... he IS using a SOFT POINT bullet isn't he?? FMJ bullets are VERY common for this cartridage and while will still kill, will have a VERY LONG tracking job if no big bones hit.

cW

[SHOOTALL]

Ammo is critical. If bore is .310-.311 then using American ammo could be a problem as most if not all is loaded with .308 bullerts . My oldest son killed several deer starting at age 8 with a SKS . It was loaded with commie ammo loaded with "hunting bullets" they had exposed lead points  . They worked really well they looked really crappy.
Oh so some worry warts won't be concerned I sat on the stand with my son , so he was not turned lose with a battle rifle at age 8  .............

[gcrank1]

How does he group with that rifle/ammo combo at the distance under 'stress'?
If you dont think the bullet is doing the job, get a different premium bullet (are you reloading yet?), after all, it is the bullet that kills the animal, not the cartridge case.

[LittleJoe]

303 Brit or 7.62x54 Russian rechamber job

[cwlongshot]

303 Brit or 7.62x54 Russian rechamber job

If you are dead set on re chambering to bigger caliber. IMHO these are two very good choices.

Handloaded, both knock on the "side" door of our 30/06 and factory loaded, will do anything the 308 can.

CW

[ihookem]

I don't know the grain bullet. When I found out the caliber I asked " but are those hunting bullets?" Ya you can use them for hunting. I'm not so sure they knew what I meant. It's a 2" @ 100 yds. though. Just a shame it's all but useless. I think they are set on a bigger caliber. How much would it cost to go with a 303 British? I don't think they will do it but worth a try.

[geartow]

use some federal blue box soft points and there is no in the field difference between a 7.62x39 and a 30/30 . NONE!

[Jeff H]

There's a 30-30 barrel up for grabs in the classifieds and I know someone who posted in this thread has a WTB post for a 7.62x39.
 
 
 
 

[26-t]

Shot placement.

[OldSchoolRanger]

There's a 30-30 barrel up for grabs in the classifieds and I know someone who posted in this thread has a WTB post for a 7.62x39.

And he's still looking!

[Spanky]

The biggest shame is that the kid is out there wounding deer left and right and blaming the cartridge for it.
Anything the 30-30 does the 7.62x39 will also do WITH THE PROPER BULLET... NOT FMJ'S OR SOME OTHER MILITARY LOAD. So maybe, just maybe someone could check the ammo and see what he's been slinging at deer all this time.
 
 
 
Spanky

[gcrank1]

About 20yrs. ago I had an SKS and bought some 'hunting ammo' (not American made). After perforating a deer several times in a long repeat track and jump shoot I finally got it. Little holes, little internal damage found in autopsy. Those 'soft point hunting bullets' looked good but lookin' good is never enough in a hunting bullet, is it. I was sick and disgusted.......thankfully my first shot was low in the lungs, but the holes filled with blood and let the poor thing go farther and live live longer than I ever wish.
I do not blame the cartridge, and neither should they, however, if they have lost confidence in their equipment perhaps something else is appropriate.
I suggest a 45-70, never again could it be said there wasnt enough cartridge.

[Wagguy80]

My first hunting rifle was an SKS using those cheap russian "Hollow points" let me tell you they do the job but they don't expand. Typically they just tumble fast, and the end fagments.  You'll have 1 entrance, and 2 - 3 exit holes.


That being said sounds like range time is needed here.  It's a round that required shot placement.  You have only two options.  First learn to shoot the deer right, for a nice clean humane kill.  Two shoot some shoulder cannon that's so powerful if you shot it in the butt it would come out it's chest, and gut the thing.


Third option for those who get ancy when the deer jumps out...buckshot!

[dave29]

The biggest shame is that the kid is out there wounding deer left and right and blaming the cartridge for it.
Anything the 30-30 does the 7.62x39 will also do WITH THE PROPER BULLET... NOT FMJ'S OR SOME OTHER MILITARY LOAD. So maybe, just maybe someone could check the ammo and see what he's been slinging at deer all this time.
 
 
 
Spanky

Exactly! Sounds like FMJ loads to me.

[Ranger99]

remington has a 7.62x39 core-lokt offering
that is probably what is needed here.
yes, it's twice the price of russian or
chinese, but the other stuff is for plinking
at targets that don't have to linger and suffer.


if that doesn't fix it more practice is in order.

[Hunter6657]

All the major US manufacturers of 7.62x39 ammo use .310 bullets in their ammo. Don't use the cheap 4.95/box Russian ammo to hunt deer as they don't expand but as was stated some may tumble. Some of the cheap SP ammo may expand but they have mild steel jackets and you cannot count on that.
You will have to use Federal, Remington, or Winchester SP ammo for hunting and it is around $25/box. Get a few boxes of that for hunting and save the cheap stuff for blasting cans or finishing shots if needed.
I've heard the 154gr cheap russian ammo may expand but not a lot. A few boxes of ammo is a lot cheaper than rechambering the rifle.
Also the Hornady Zombie ammo uses a VMax bullet that expands too violently and is a varmint bullet or for exploding Zombie heads. I beleive the Hornady SST 50rd box of ammo uses the same bullet so not a good choice.
Do a search on youtube for some hunting videos on using the proper SP ammo for deer hunting.
If you reload you can also use 150gr RN of FP bullets meant for the 30-30 at around 2100fps which is very close to the acutal velocities obtained with 30-30 150gr ammo in 20" barreled lever action rifles. Most of the stuff I chronographed would only achieve 2250fps with the 150gr bullet including the Hornday Leverevolution ammo. 170gr ammo would get 2050fps.
Factories use 24" test barrels in their testing so real world figures are a lot lower.
The 7.62x39 ammo can get more velocity with less powder mainly because they are loaded to higher pressure than 30-30 ammo. If your dead set on getting a 30-30 it would probably be cheaper to sell the gun you have and purchase another in the caliber you want.
Also take a look at the factory quoted ballistics for the low recoil ammo in the 30-30 --- 125gr bullet at 2175fps, the 7.62x39 can shoot the same bullet at 2300-2400fps.
 
Just like Real Estate its location location and in this case bullet construction for placement of shots. Pony up $50 and get 2 boxes of decent ammo to hunt with. the cheap stuff is for shooting cans and maybe varmints or kill a zombie for mombie.
 
PS I got some Prvi Partizan 125gr RN SP ammo in from Sportsmansguide and it cost me $54 for 4 boxes of ammo.
I'll be testing it soon out my Ruger Mini 30 to see how it expands and holds up . Ive heard its a good hunting bullet and you can get 4 boxes for the same price as 2 of the Federal/Winchester/Remington ammo. the later ammo is probably flatter shooting using a spirepoint bullet for greater than 100 yards shots. My Mini 30 will be a 100 yard or less rifle to hunt with so the RN ammo will be just fine.

[geartow]

Prvi Partizan 125gr RN SP ammo ,shoots cloverleafs in my Handi at fifty, I use Blue Box Federal 125sp for hunting.

[wtroger]

Hornady makes a a 150 grain bullet for the 303 brit I use it in the 7.62 x 54 works well.

[Wagguy80]

12 years old if I were to recommend a caliber swap I would go with a .243 it's downright lethal on whitetails, is light in the pants, and has a trajectory like a laser.



My father, mother, nephew, and sister all hunt with a .243 and not one deer shot has taken a step.  They just fall down on the spot. 

[SHOOTALL]

Like I mentioned my son at age 8 killed a 8 point buck with a SKS and  "hunting " ammo . The 7.62X39 will kill any deer the 30-30 will .

[FPH]

Tell that idiot to get the proper hunting bullets to hunt with.  He needs to show some respect for the wildlife.  He has plenty of rifle.