7.62x39 for deer?

Question

I'm looking towards getting a Ruger Mini 30 in 7.62x39 (largest round they offer for the Mini series) and I was wondering what everyone's opinion or experience with the round is. Thanks

Casey

Answer 1

you couldn't have picked a more inaccurate rifle for the job. A short barreled 7.62X39mm auto loader should not be used for deer hunting. It is possible to get one with it, but the odds are against you after 75 yds. For the price, there is a million better rifles and calibers for that particular appliction. that caliber is fun at the range with a SKS or cz58, but not a very practical rd. for hunting.

Answer 2

I've heard it's a little light for Deer so you may just want to be careful with the ammo you use.

I think the Corbon DPX in 7.62X39 would be fine for deer.

Good luck

Answer 3

with 150 gr corbon soft point cartridges you can reach out to about 200 yards and maintain about 1100 ft lbs of energy. i guess it's okay for a hunting gun, but there are certainly better hunting rifles out there.  I suspect you are intigued with the idea of owning an AK47. 7.62 x 39 (7.62 russian) was designed as a defense round. if you must have something that is dual purpose (for hunting and self defense) consider the 7.62 x 51, also known as win .308 or 7.62 NATO, the ballistics are so much better, but the ammo is kinda pricy these days. another alternative is the 7.62 x 54R, which is also referred to as 7.62 Soviet, ballistic wise it is somewhere between the .308 Win. and the 30-06 (30-06 being 7.62 x 63.) The 7.62 x 54R ammo can be found pretty cheap, and mosin-nagant rifles can be found dirt cheap although they are kinda ugly in my eyes (but they do make replacement stocks now which does help the asthetics.) Something else you need to consider is the area you are hunting; if its thick with trees and scrub brush you want a heavy bullet (like 240gr +)and 7.62 x 39 would not be my choice. I'd rather use 12 gauge slugs or a 44 mag, or something like a 30-30 under those conditions. Likewise if its clear and you are needing to shoot out to 300 yards, again 7.62x39 is not a good choice either; one of the other calibers i mention above would be more suitable, or a 25-06, 270 etc . . .

Answer 4

First, to those who think it is inaccurate, you are wrong. Mini's work well, and shoot great.

Most people who put it down for hunting , never hunted. Deer die just fine, with a 30 cal hole in the lungs, and a Mini is just that. A 7.62 is the same diameter as a .308.

I prefer a .308, but the Mini works well.

Ammo for practice is cheep. You might get good with practice.

Answer 5

The 7.62X39MM is excellent for deer.... There are some limitations to this cartridge and even though its quite popular I am surprised how much its misunderstood......... The 7.62X39MM is perfect for deer to 150 yards. It still has the required 1000 foot pounds of force for white tail deer to this distance. Do not attempt to shoot a deer at a longer range than this..... It may not knock it down.... The 7.62X39MM is a fairly flat shooting cartridge to 150 yards and drops 3 to 4 inches at 200 yards and as much as 15 inches at 300 yards.... It is not a long range rifle cartridge. It has similar ballistics as the old 30/30 Winchester cartridge ---- Its great for limited distances which falls right into the range of the Ruger Mini 30 rifles capabilities are.....  I own a Ruger Mini 30 rifle and its one of the finest carbines money can buy... Its fairly accurate to a point. The Mini 30 gets a bad rap for accuracy sometimes but thats because a lot of folks dont understand this gun or the ammo it uses.... It does not shoot sub MOA groupings like a bolt action rifle but it gets unfairly compared to bolt action rifles..... Sure its not a competition grade target rifle but I have had NO problem taking deer, wild hogs, coyote and other various critters that have been in my sights.... NO I wouldnt try to take Ground Hogs or Praire dogs with a Ruger Mini 30 to 150 yards - its not that accurate, there would be misses..... YES you can take deer all day at 150 yards with this rifle........  ONLY use soft point hunting ammunition for deer in the Ruger Mini 30..... I'm sure you have seen all that 7.62X39MM FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) ammo on sale at the gun shop and on the internet --- Avoid it for deer and hogs... It may shoot thru the deer only wounding it. Soft point will drop it fast...... I use a 2-7x40MM Nikon shotgun scope on mine and the results have been fantastic!..... Use a scope that has no more power than a 3-9X40... Anymore powerful and the scope could see beyond the capability's of the rifle. Remember 150 yards max for excellent results.....

Answer 6

Ruger did a little cherry-picking on the data and a lot of advertising when they first brought out the Mini 30, comparing it to 30 WCF. It isn't in the same class.

I used marginal calibers for deer in my youth, but got over it as I matured.

Answer 7

I've read it's similar to a 30-30 in ballistics. I don't think you'd have any problems with the round itself not delivering enough energy or doing enough damage for a humane kill. The limiting factor is going to be the distance you feel you can accurately put that round out of that rifle on target.

Answer 8

While living in Alaska I took two Sitka Blacktail cleanly with a Ruger 77 in 7.62x39. Each only required a single shot. Whitetail and Mule deer will be bigger so I'd suggest the 154 gr load from Wolf.

Answer 9

my sis took her first deer with a norinco sks. same round.

Answer 10

I like it, it's a good 100 yard round out of the Mini most likely 75 yrds

Answer 11

As long as your shots are under 100 Yd.s, OK.

You might try some handloads with 150Gr. bullets

instead of that little 125 Gr. load.

Answer 12

200 yards max ,  Don't use fmj rounds use soft point  rounds. It should get the job done.