Author Topic: 7.62X39 Handi-rifle (Read 1890 times)

Swampman · « **on:** October 01, 2004, 05:11:37 AM »

I notice that adapters are available to shoot 7.62X39 in .308 Chambers. Do you think they would work in a .308 H&R or NEF rifle? How about extraction?

Cottonwood · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2004, 05:32:08 AM »

Swampman

Your headstamp on the 7.62x39 should be the same as the 7.62 (.308) cartridge. I personally do not know anyone who has these chamber converters but it should work.

Now, the only problem is in using 7.62x39 ammo, you will not want to use Wolf or other military surplus cartridges since the bullet diamiter is a 31 cal or .311 dia bullet. This will cause your bullet to squeeze down once fired in the barrel.

I do believe that the Black Hills, Winchester and Remington are loading .308 dia bullets for the American made barrels. You can also reload the 7.62x39 after the case mouth is re-sized to fit a .308 dia bullet as well as Black Hills Ammo has the 150-gr ammo avail. There is also load data for the 150-gr bullets now.

But as far as reloading, cost would be about the same AND you will get better performance from the .308 cartridge.

JMHO

Cottonwood · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2004, 05:54:00 AM »

inexpensive would be the .223 Remington and could second as a varment/preditor getter.

Donaldo · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2004, 06:16:37 AM »

Depends on how big the deer are in your area. The 223 seems to be plenty big enough for hunting people. :roll: Either Sierra or Speer makes a special "big game bullet" for the 223. I wouldn't mind hunting deer with the 223. Just as long as I could shoot them in the neck.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2004, 07:08:12 AM »

The .357 Handis and barrels are reportedly going to be reintroduced in a while, within 6 months I believe....<><.... :grin:

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2004, 10:54:44 AM »

The Montanan, I would not worry about the .310-311 bullets in 7.62x39 since the steel core stuff has not been importable for years. The Marlin made barrels seem to all be oversized anyway, mostly around .309. If I had a .308 or .30-06 barrel, I'd sure try one of those adapters.

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2004, 12:58:46 PM »

223 might be on the light side for deer but is adequate. My cousin has used a 222 for deer for a few years now. He gets his deer every year. Neck shots are what he prefers but will also take a lung shot. Now if a 222 will do the job then a 223 certainly will.

Sourdough · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2004, 06:27:40 PM »

.223 is cheap and economical to shoot but only good for varmits. Yes some people use it for deer, some people also use .243 for Grizzlies, Not me. The 7.62X39 is an extreamly weak cartridge. Less than a 30-30. A lot of the imported stuff uses corrosive primers also. Quality control is very poor too with the imported stuff. Remember you get what you pay for. Cheap ammo is exactilly that cheap ammo. The adaptors I have seen will be ejected each time you open the action. To me they are more trouble than they are worth.

If you want to hunt deer get a deer gun, one capable of making a clean kill, even if you don't do your part correctly. Keep looking you should be able to find a .357 Handi around, check things like Guns Americia or similer programs. My wife likes to take one of my .35 Whelens and reload some light .357 pistol bullets with a reduced load. Real light recoil and fun to shoot in a large caliber hunting rifle. When I want to shoot something with no recoil I shoot a .22, great practice. We go through two bricks of .22LR a month in this house. The major problem I have with a .223 is wind drift. The slightest breeze will blow it off 6 to 8 inches at 200 yards, it's hard to just hit the paper (12X12) at 300 yards. I carry a .223 during the winter for foxes. It's also great for shooting the heads off Grouse and Ptarmigan at 50 to 100 yards.

jgalar · « **Reply #8 on:** October 02, 2004, 03:05:51 AM »

EAA imports single shot rifles from Russia chambered in 7.62x39
http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/rifles/sidebyside/izh18mh308t.shtml

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #9 on:** October 02, 2004, 05:07:23 AM »

Quote from: jgalar

EAA imports single shot rifles from Russia chambered in 7.62x39
http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/rifles/sidebyside/izh18mh308t.shtml

Unfortunately, they just list them. They don't really import them. Some of us have been waiting for years.

Loader 3009 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 02, 2004, 12:25:14 PM »

I have a bolt action Interarms MiniMauser in 7.62x39. It is bored for .310/.311 bullets. I got some 125 gr. hollow point of Russian manufacture from Widener's.

I wouldn't use these in a .308 bore for fear of high pressure, even with reduced loads.

MGMorden · « **Reply #11 on:** October 02, 2004, 01:25:41 PM »

Quote from: Leftoverdj

Quote from: jgalar
EAA imports single shot rifles from Russia chambered in 7.62x39
http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/rifles/sidebyside/izh18mh308t.shtml

Unfortunately, they just list them. They don't really import them. Some of us have been waiting for years.

Yeah, they list 6.5x55 too which is a heck of a nice round that I wish was chambered in a Handi. I've got a completely sporterized Swede m96 Mauser in 6.5x55 that serves my needs, but I'd like to get a second gun in this chambering (not sure why I need another, but I really like it :grin:). That front swivel stud on the EAA guns looks terrible though. If I got one I'd consider grinding that off and putting a proper swivel stud in the forearm :lol:.

Please not though, that Rossi DOES still import a .357 Mag single shot rifle. Last time I looked at the Wal-mart special order catalog they were listed at $134.

Mohawk · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2004, 12:21:11 PM »

Here in Texas I think the .222, .223, and .22-250 are used by young hunters more than larger calibers. They seem to work just fine. As has been said, neck shots are good, but lung shots also get it done. Therefore, I would, and probably will, buy a .223 Handi to use for both plinking and critter hunting as well. And I would not hesitate to use it on Texas Whitetails within 100yds with a Core-locked soft-point. Good Shooting!!! :-)

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2004, 01:10:46 PM »

LOL Mohawk have you too noticed that the kids and Mama shoot 222, 223, 243, while Dad thinks you can't hunt with anything less than 7mm mag?

Mohawk · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2004, 04:25:26 PM »

Funny you mention that. I forget the name but there is a publication that floats around about Texas Deer hunting with pictures of hunters and their deer in a portion of the magazine. I kid-you-not, it appears that every young hunter with their first, maybe second, deer in the photos was taken with nothing more than a .243. LOTS of deer listed that were taken with .222, 223, and even .218 Bee. It seems that calibers heavier than .243 aren't mentioned much until you get to the adult photo section. My neighbor still uses a Winchester .32-20 rifle with 50yr old soft-point cartridges on his deer. Says they run about 50yds through the lungs and fall dead. He says he has had the rifle since he was a boy, he's in his 70's now, and the rifle was advertised as a deer rifle when his father bought it for him. Maybe it is all mental

Loader 3009 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2004, 11:54:38 PM »

Probably more machismo than mental. I've got a friend who kills them with a .22 rimfire to the eye. Swears he has never lost one. It may boil down to muzzle evergy vs. marksmanship.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2004, 02:46:43 AM »

.22 LR to the eye?, it must work because I have spoken to some senior (old) Mainers who recalled stories of their younger days helping feed their families as boys and as young men half a century and longer ago.
They recalled poaching a hundred or more deer a year at night with .22's by shooting with a flashlight a night and aiming at the deers eyes. They are not proud of what they did many years ago but it was a way of life out in the "boonies" then.
Even now .22 WMR's are still legal for deer in Maine!!! I don't know of or have heard of anyone who uses one though...more 30-06's, 30/30's, 45-70's, 7mm Mags(!), .308's, .32's and .270's than anything else....<><.... :grin:

edited twice for spelling 10/05

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2004, 04:56:20 AM »

The law here in Ky used to be nothing less than 243. However that has been changed to any centerfire weapon. You can even hunt with a .32 auto pistol if you are of a mind to. With this change there has been no noticeable increase in tales of wounding and lossing deer.
Now if we could just convince the people at Fish and Wildlife that crossbows should be included in archery season this place would be hunting paradise. (btw I use a longbow) :grin:

BnSC · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2004, 07:49:56 AM »

I've been hunting w/ a 22-250 here in SC for several years. It really puzzles a few people... lol

You're right about the macho part. We've got guys running around shooting at 100# does at 50 yds w/ 7mm magnums and can't hit the broadside of the barn. "I need the knockdown power" lol...

I pick my shots w/ this gun.. My preferred shot w/ this gun is a slightly "quartering to" shot that gets the neck then buries the round in the opposite shoulder..

I've taken 2 so far w/ it this year. a 95# doe - headshot @ 60 yds, and 150# 5 pt. 14" inside spread - "quartering" shot @ 60 yds....

BnSC · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2004, 09:10:52 AM »

swamp, the headshot is not my preferred shot and usually shy away from it. However, w/ the scope set on 18x I felt I could safely make the shot @60 yds as it was the only one offered. I had to wait a while for the shot to be right, and I also picked where on the head to make the shot.

When I first started using the 22-250, I passed on really nice 7 pt that offered that same shot.. I knew at that time it may be beyond my skill level w/ that weapon..

I don't see where either that shot or my using a small caliber rifle is a stunt of any kind. Both shots were close range off a shooting rail...

I'm not looking to start any kind of flaming. I'm sure others may share your sentiment, I don't. I confidence in this weapon as long as I do my part.

My post was only to reinforce what others had said about marksmanship vs. power. I use a variety calibers for deer ranging from the 22-250 through 45-70.

LMM · « **Reply #20 on:** October 05, 2004, 09:42:55 AM »

There is a lot to be said about marksmanship!

On another forum I remember a poster qualifying his statement that ".243 isn't enough for deer and should never be used because...............a friend of his using a 300 Winchester Magnum shot a deer at 75yds and it ran about 150yds before it dropped. When they got to the deer it was still alive and had to be finished off."

When inquiries were made as to shot placement he advised the deer was struck in the rear quarter. This poster advised he wouldn't hunt deer with anything smaller than a 300 Winchester Magnum. :eek: :shock: :roll:

Stories of failed kills usually tells you more about the shooter than the gun he used.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #21 on:** October 05, 2004, 10:06:08 AM »

How right you are LMM, good shot placement is worth 2 magnums any day!!!....<><.... :grin:

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #22 on:** October 05, 2004, 12:51:01 PM »

I read somewhere about a game warden who was helping a hunter field dress his deer. The hunter said he was using a 223. The officer asked where do you place the shot for a sure kill with such a small caliber. The hunter (who was an ex-sniper) said "Anywhere, in the eye". I thought this was sort of a profound statement. If you can hit a squirrel in the head with your 22 there is no reason to look and shooting a deer in the head as a "stunt". It is actually not that hard and is a quick kill.

Mohawk · « **Reply #23 on:** October 05, 2004, 04:35:35 PM »

Shot placement is it. I still carry a revolver on duty. I've seen SWC and lead round nose do things I've never heard anyone on-line talk about :wink:

It helped influence my decision.

Mohawk · « **Reply #24 on:** October 06, 2004, 06:08:26 AM »

I've seen the 7.62x39 used on a hog and it did well. Soft-point load, I think a 120gr? Anyway, it did well through the lungs. Haven't seen it on a deer though but I think it should be fine within range.